Leadership And The Environment

Ben Feder is a high level executive who realized he was losing the things that were important to him due to his pursuit of success -- until then defined by others' values. We talk about him taking a year sabbatical with his whole family in Africa, Asia, and Bali, and how it transformed his life and his family.I share how much I’m enjoying his book and how even though he wrote it for his family, its being personal makes it more universal. If you've thought about an extended retreat, Ben's insight and experience will help you with your vision. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I met Jonathan at the World Science Festival and recorded a podcast interview of him that changed my approach to leadership—in principle and in practice. I seek more opposing views. I listen more. I look to learn their intent and the beliefs and values motivating that intent. I challenge myself more.As he colorfully said to me:We are going through an extraordinary time in which social media and other recent changes are turning us all into self-righteous jerks.Our combined jerkitude threatens to destroy society.We all have to turn it down, be more humble. We don't know the truth. We don't have privileged access to the truth and we have to give each other the benefit of the doubt.The links Jonathan mentioned:Resources on environmental action based on The Righteous MindFeinberg & Willer (2012). The Moral Roots of Environmental Attitudes. Psychological Science. Shows that messages that speak to conservatives’ morals narrow partisan gap on environment. See essay summarizing the research here.Ki

Happier NowNataly starts by sharing her personal story of her family escaping Russia to America, navigating life with immigrant parents. She shares some vulnerable and raw experiences. Even so, she shares feeling blessed to be living in Detroit projects. Listen for why.She talks about taking many wrong turns, decades chasing happiness through achievements and success, trying to hide from feelings of pain, sadness, or stress. She hit a wall, but eventually discovered happiness here and now, not always having to strive, is the key.Nataly shares her 5 core happier skills that you can implement now. They're free on her page, with videos, and comprehensively in her book Happier Now. When talking about her challenge we talk about making it fun for her family. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I met Andrew Revkin through the World Science Festival this year, then recorded at my visited me in my New York apartment. I wish I could have brought you the whole conversation. You get the highlights.We covered global warming, pollution, history, relevant people, and why he is hopeful, even seeing the challenges he sees from the vantage point of National Geographic and the New York Times.Andrew shares the decades work he’s done on these issues. He reinforces the importance of action, not just talking,He takes the challenge seriously, even -- gasp -- flying less, which most people consider impossible. Want to expand your horizons? Listen to hear how a guy who has already done a lot takes on doing more -- to improve his life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

People seem impressed when people don't pollute. They say, "That's so good of you!"If not polluting is good, doesn't that mean polluting is normal?I don't think we should see not polluting as special.Let's view it as normal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes what looks like a hurdle activates your team.Scott details how he launched his book---last I checked at 96% 5-star reviews. He tells it from the trenches, so if you lead, hope to lead, or want to write a book, you’ll want to tune into this episode.We also go into his challenge of saving electricity. He found that he was probably the biggest offender in the house. So he had to be humble first to lead by example. He didn't make excuses. What great leaders do?Despite obstacles like his book launch and unexpected surgery, I think you’ll be surprised with how Scott took on his challenge. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Which is more common - an athlete becoming a leading political figure, or a political figure becoming an athlete? After talking to Marquis Flowers of the New England Patriots, I still say that leadership lessons from sports stars are some are some of the best I hear.Listen in to this episode to hear about teams, commitments, riding highs, and getting through lows. As Marquis puts it, what's going to get you through when that 30 minute task suddenly takes 3 hours? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Even leaders need to remember to check-in and communicate with their closest friends.In RJ's third conversation here, he shares what integrity, listening, and communication mean for leaders. He acts with these skills in his professional and personal life. From running mentorship camps to sticking to his values on something so seemingly small as a disposable cup at a bus station, RJ puts actions behind his words.Do you think it's coincidence that someone who acts on details also succeeds at such a global level? I don't, and I suggest that if you pay attention to such detail and act on it then you will help yourself more than anyone else and more than you expect.Check out www.leadpalestine.com to learn more about his work, watch his TEDx talk, and listen to this interview to hear how you can start with simple actions to make big impact. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scott takes on a three-part challenge in this episode . . in the middle of a book launch!We discuss how Scott is bringing his experience running multibillion dollar companies within Proctor and Gamble to helping people make sense of how they see work . . . and to create meaning and purpose in a world that doesn't do it for them any more.We discuss the life of a leader, speaker, and leadership speaker---what I was new to when we spoke (and that he's helped me with before and since). He reiterates one of the major themes emerging from nearly every effective leader on this podcast---that effective leaders focus on the other person.In his case, he focuses on helping others help others.I'll put to you, the reader:How often when you act for your environmental values are you doing it to help others?How often when you act against your environmental values are you putting your interests first?What do effective leaders do?I’m interested to see how Scott holds up on his 3 part challenge while promoting his boo

Jared and I have deep, engaging conversations, starting from before my appearances on his podcast a year before we recorded this one.You’ll hear we quickly get deep on this one. It follows an earlier conversation a topic that many won't talk about or listen on, but that we consider essential, at least to talk about.We discuss resources per person as our populations grow. Some societies controlled their population for thousands of years in concert with their available resources. I wonder how. What mechanisms did they use, since that duration suggests it wasn't by luck. If you know, please let me know.What challenge will Jordan take on? I think you’ll really enjoy this semi-controversial conversation between the two of us. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

(Spoiler alert: Daniel takes on the biggest challenge so far. You could argue his circumstances make it easier than it sounds, but he's coming from Texas!)Leadership education and practice can begin in school. Sadly, in most systems it doesn't.My K-12, college, and graduate school nearly completely lacked training in the social and emotional skills of leadership, and I went to some of the world's great schools.That's why I wish the world had more Daniel Bauers.Beyond being a successful leader as a principal, he is also helping other principals lead more effectively too. He’s promoting servant leadership and leading by example within and outside educational bureaucracies. He doesn't have to. Most of my teachers and principals were satisfied to do their best in their classrooms and schools. Leaders create movements, instigate conversations, and influence systems.Daniel and I became friends before this conversation and seeing the challenges he takes on regularly, I’m not surprised by Daniel's commitment her

Jordan and I got to be friends over a decade ago before he moved to California. We'd get burritos around the corner from my place.In the meantime we toured North Korea not once but twice together and I've seen him in Los Angeles.This time I hosted him and his wife for my famous no-packaging vegetable stew.You get to hear from him how it tasted (spoiler alert: he says it tastes great).He shared the importance of high-level coaching. Listening to Jordan on the Jordan Harbinger show, it's easy to think he was born with the skills of one of today's great interviewers. He's humble enough to share what I think we all need reminding of---that help from people with more skills and experience helps.In other words, he got coaching and a lot of it. He also mentions practice and preparing more than necessary.He and his wife consider themselves environmentally aware and conscious, but, as with nearly everyone, he shares that he may waste water showering and shaving. He doesn't know the answer, which he incorporates into h

This short recording is a teaser for my full interview with Seth Godin, who needs no introduction. It begins and ends with messages from Seth, sandwiching my top-level impressions from meeting with him at his home and talking at length.He talks about his new book, This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See, in our conversation so the full recording will come out when the book does, in November.I prepared by reading Linchpin and Purple Cow, and watching hours of his video and reading dozens maybe hundreds of his blog posts. Then since talking to him, I've reread, rewatched, and read Tribes in his voice, and his work came alive beyond my expectations.Because of hearing him speak on a topic I've spoken to others on so much, I found he answered in unique ways, at least ways I hadn't heard before. Several times I thought he was off track but as he clarified, I realized he was steps ahead of others, anticipating and staving off arguments and excuses.I learned a lot about leadership and the env

2 minutes and 53 seconds to show you the trends people are following back to what used to be normal and healthy.Fight against clean and pure all you want.You'll follow eventually.Why not start now and lead? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tensie and I talked about wine, creating and changing habits, and eating bugs, which happens when you work with the Rainforest Alliance.We also talk about dealing with people when you change, influencing them, and perspectives that make these things work. The people she influences run multi-billion dollar companies.Tensie described and lives the point of this podcast: a lifetime of acting on your values, what you care about, not imposing on others, and having fun.I didn't hear a whisper of guilt, blame, doom, gloom, helplessness, despair, or what many people associate with acting on the environment.I talk to a lot of people who say that they're doing all they can for the environment---usually people still with a lot of easy changes they'd probably like once they did them.Despite all she's done, she found something she could work on. However modest, it didn't stop anything else. On the contrary, it led to more---more self-awareness, fun, interacting with others, and leading others.When you expect the change to

John Lee Dumas took on one of the biggest and longest-term commitment of any guest. Six months in and he's only half through it.He also inspired me back as much as any guest, which is probably related---not to think about things or talk, but to action. As with all environmental action, I expect I'll enjoy it after the initial challenge. I like running as I always have, so trying running how I talk about with him will challenge me.You'll hear how his challenge become something heEnjoysShares with his familyShares with his communityLeads others with, who also enjoy and share it.Learns fromWill augmentDo you think acting on the environment is a distraction? That it keeps you from getting ahead? That it's dirty?I just checked John's site. Last month, June 2018, he made $165,644. That's a typical month. He can pay people to pick up garbage. Yet he enjoys doing it. He shares it. Others follow him.Maybe acting on his values is what led him to success like that. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informati

Dorie shares about the six-month habit she committed to---one of the longest of any guest.Wait, can you just decide one day to start or stop a habit? Isn't that supposed to be impossible?Listen to Dorie's results. She's a master of habits: how to create them, start them, and teach others to do so. She shares how she works.With some guests you feel like they're always conscious of the microphone. Not Dorie. Most of us are so genuine with friends and family. I think we all wish we could stay that way in public, without pretense or affectation.We have a lot of mutual friends. Every one of them will tell you that she's incredibly open, sharing about herself. She shares how she achieves this personal mastery, methodically and effectively.This conversation is more about personal leadership, which environmental action needs, if you ask me. Few people who work on the environment show it.We met at the café of her commitment so you'll hear we're on the street. I liked the informality. See acast.com/privacy for privacy

This podcast continues to break ground.Jeff Brown returns for an unprecedented 4th time. We dive deeper into his work with his home owners association (HOA)---how he created a team of people from his community, how he's making things happen, and his results.We talk about how it need only take a simple decision, a few conversations, and some work---but work you enjoy that creates community---to change this world.Jeff's success inspired me to talk to my co-op board to start creating a sustainability committee. I hope it inspires you too. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does sacrificing something you love mean a worse life?Balint shares his enthusiasm to experiment and find new recipes, tastes and experiences---I would say not despite but because of his choice to act on his values. What you value is better for you.. In his words: "The world is more colorful."His experience shows the difference to your life between talking about acting and acting (not to mention that talking about environmental change doesn't change the environment, and most people stop at talking).Creating momentum toward goals we care about leads to support from others and enthusiasm and joy in yourself.Will Balint continue and augment his commitment? What’s next for him and his challenges? Listen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If anything marked the beginning of the industrial revolution, it was James Watt’s steam engine. It wasn’t the first steam engine, but was more efficient than any before.More efficient means using less energy and less pollution, right?Wrong.Each engine, yes, but more people used engines, so Watt engines used more energy and polluted more than anything. They drained mines, which helped collect more coal, which fed more engines.The direct result is today’s polluted world. If you fantasize that technological improvements will, after centuries since the industrial revolution increasing pollution and demand for natural resources somehow, magically, in your lifetime change their effects, you’re dreaming.Two main effects drive this pattern—obvious when you see them, however counterintuitive at first. People believe self-serving myths in the opposite direction of millennia of countervailing evidence, probably because they prefer comfort and convenience over the guilt that would come from conscious awareness of how th