Leadership And The Environment

How we treat our bodies is how we are treating our environment.How we treat the environment is how we are treating our bodies.The fat and CO2 concentrations aren't the cause of the problem. The are the effects.The cause is our behavior. Our behavior is rooted in our beliefs, emotions, and behaviors.If we want to change the effects, we have to change the causes, which is our behavior and changing behavior is the realm of leadership.Our environmental and obesity-related behaviors, beliefs, emotions, and motivations are more similar than different, they come from similar cultural trends, they have documented problems of disease and death no matter how people change standards to accept them, there's just no changing standards on suffering and death, and the way out is through leadership. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Evelina Utterdahl travels more than most. She writes travel columns. She loves travel as much as anyone, maybe more.Yet she chooses not to fly, as she wrote in Why I have chosen to travel the world without flying.If you've had trouble aligning your life with your values, you may learn from her. Part of a growing number of people who think before they fly, she chooses not to fly not out of ignorance or guilt butExperienceSelf-awarenessDesire to learn and growStewardship of her environment and communityFunin other words, the important skills of leadership, teamwork, and business success.She's practicing in living by her values what many wish we could do but don't have the courage to."Wait," you might say. "Isn't she missing out on the best parts of life? What about family and making a living? I have work. She must not. Probably a trust fund kid."On the contrary. She has the same obligations as anyone else. As you'll see, she has learned to get the value and expe

Bea has become a role model, maybe even a hero to me.People keep saying they're impressed with my waste. It's easy to allow your standards to slide.One problem: my fellow Americans waste more than nearly anyone in human history. I don't want to relax my cleanliness and integrity.Bea has reduced waste for longer and has spoken more about it. She knows what works, what doesn't, how to express it, and more.Most of all, she enjoys it. Like anyone, she started with doubt and incredulity. She worked through the challenges, which shows that you can too.In our conversation she shares what works, how to start, how to face and overcome challenges, and, most of all, how to enjoy living by your values. As with everyone who takes on the difficult challenge of choosing between a deep value and comfort and convenience, the choice improved her life.You will find your life improves the same.Listening to Bea will get you started.For tips and insights on her waste-free lifestyle, join her on Facebook, Instagram and Tw

Why do I think about the United States Constitution when my pressure cooker finishes cooking? Or when I leave a room?The U.S. Constitution guides my environmental behavior and has since I learned it in elementary school.Today is U.S. Constitution Day since today in 1787 the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia and that's why today I'm sharing why I love the document, live by it, and think about it daily---specifically Article VI, paragraph 2, which I read and talk about in today's post. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neither the environment nor your life responds to your awareness. They respond to your behavior.People who speak the truth say, "I'm telling the truth." People who lie say the same thing.People who are aware say they are aware. People who are unaware say the same thing too. Only we're all unaware of what we're unaware of. Saying we're aware only reveals our ignorance of our unawareness. That's pride.If you want to improve the environment or your life, claiming awareness may sound like progress and may get you social approval, but in more cases it stops people from acting.What works? Humility. Viewing action as skills that you develop and practice. How do you develop skills? Practice, practice, practice.The results? Greatness, authenticity, genuine self-expression, and all the other results of mastery, even from environmental skills.Want results? Avoid seeing awareness as a goal. Act. Do. Develop skills. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Going car-free is beautifulDaniel got rid of a car! He chose to from Texas!And he thanks me for inspiring him.Would you think losing a car would cripple your life? Listen on to hear how it brought him joy and happiness. Yes, that's right. Getting rid of what Americans associate with freedom and independence brought him more freedom and independence.Daniel discusses enjoying not having a car. Being able to ride his bike everywhere has changed his perspectives in ways he couldn't have predicted. We also discuss the challenges including the weather and if curses me during these times of struggle. You’ll also hear how Daniel uses my book to teach peer leaders in his mastermind groups on perspective and leadership.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Geoffrey West's work beautifully and elegantly ties biology to how we interact with our environment. Amazingly, his unique views lead to the same conclusions as mine, though coming from totally unrelated directions.You've never seen work like his.If you love nature and science, you'll love Geoffrey's approach. You'll see life and death in new ways.I hope you'll also catch my enthusiasm for his view and a chemistry in our conversation, which I see stemming from the passion and view of the world physicists have that drew me to the field and that tell us new, important things.I kept the conversation mostly intact since if you like nature, you'll appreciate his views. If so, I urge you to stick through to the end, where his views converge with mine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alisa shares what happens behind the scenes to everyone, including world-ranked coaches and speakers.Listening to a podcast with leadership in the title means you've probably read many gurus' books and watched their videos, which are all edited and produced to make them look perfect.We know they aren't perfect.Alisa is humble, open, and generous enough to share what few top leaders do.I bet you'll find her reactions very similar to yours, but I bet also with key differences. Those differences in how she handles not meeting her expectations are what put her on those world rankings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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