Defining the right measures of success

''The end justifies the means". How often we use that little phrase to excuse a whole lot of ugliness.

A quick Google search did not yield a clear source for this statement, but there are apparently clear references to similar sayings going as far back as ancient Greek writings. History is full of memorable endeavors that started with a clear pre-defined outcome (the end) and then set out to achieve that outcome at all costs (the means).

Many quests start out as noble: Every person should be afforded equal rights & opportunities; or we'll put a man on the moon in this decade. But also: let's keep Holy lands safe for Christians (led to the Crusades); let's protect the integrity of the Catholic Church (led to the Inquisition).

Others start out less noble and less specific in their successful outcomes, and that can be dangerous too. Ask most Iraqis how it's felt the last 6 years to be 'liberated'. Or look at the result of the 'advance of civilization' to native American or bison populations in North America.

My point here is that once we decide that a goal is worth reaching, decisions made in the process of reaching that goal are inherently biased. Whether that bias is good or bad is purely subjective and absolutely driven by the quality of the goal itself.

Two simple scenarios to illustrate:
1) I have to get to work on time. Once I've set that as my primary objective, I will find it much more justifiable to break the speed limit, to run lights or stop signs, to engage in aggressive or rude driving.
2) I have to get to work safely. Once I've set that as my primary objective, my behavior is likely to be very different, and certainly more socially acceptable.

In both cases here I am trying to get to work, but the way I qualified or prioritized how I would get there made a big difference in the choices I made to reach that end.

In the movie Food, Inc. (highly recommend), the argument is made that like it or not, the food industry we have today is a result of what we as consumers have valued most, namely convenience and low prices. In the race to compete for our business based on price and convenience, the food industry has made many questionable choices. If instead they defined success (the end) in terms of the public's health or the environmental sustainability of their operations for example, the means they would choose would likely be very different. And they argue they would if we as consumers valued that more than price or convenience...

As with all the big questions our society is having to deal with (healthcare reform, climate change, scarcity of natural resources, poverty, war, etc...), it's important to make sure we define success in the right terms upfront and make sure the means employed to achieve the desired end don't create more problems than they solve. History is full of such examples...

Unity over division

I just finished the book by Kyrsten Sinema, "Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions that Win and Last'. How refreshing!! The book is enjoyable because it is sensible, practical, and to the point. A quick read with some easy-to-refer-back-to sections in each chapter.
I'll let you read the book and get the whole story because I won't do it justice. But in short, the idea is that in politics you can choose to entrench yourself in your ideals and always be a vocal minority who is completely ineffective. Or you can choose to reach across ideological divides, find common ground with the unlikeliest of allies, and do so by anchoring yourself in values and interests, not objectives and pre-defined outcomes. These principles are certainly applicable in the private sector as well where I intend to make good use of them.
Our world is in desperate need of more uniters. We need to reach broadly across constituencies to drive meaningful change in areas like climate change, energy policy or healthcare reform.
Sinema's brand of politics is inspiring and am hoping it starts becoming more the rule than the exception. Well done Rep. Sinema!

Enough about tax hikes!

I'm feeling feisty today, as I write this waiting for a flight that's 2 1/2 hrs late.

I am so tired of all the Washington windbags and others who argue against climate and energy regulation 'because it's just another hidden tax'. HELLO!!

Then again, many of these guys were at the wheel over the past 40 yrs while we repeatedly raped and abused and depleted our poor planet. What's YOUR plan? Do nothing because it might cost money? Didn't seem to bother you to go spend over a trilion dollars to fight an unjust war or bailout Wall Street, but God forbid we spend anything to restore some honor to this generation and leave something sustainable to the next.

Do I sound mad?? Try outraged. Revolted. Mortified. And I'm keeping this PG. Is this going to cost money? You bet!! Try running a bulldozer through your house, then see if you can make it habitable again without paying for it.

Even if there was no other upside than doing what's right it'd be worth doing. But there is in fact plenty:
- Renewable energy technology, sustainable manufacturing methods etc. are going to be in huge demand globally for decades to come. Japan dominated the fuel-efficient car market from day one and hasn't looked back. Does the US need to lose this race also because lobbies are so bent on protecting the status quo?
- The US produces more than 25% of the world's pollution with less than 5% of the world's population. How do you think that makes the world feel about the US when we refuse to sign Kyoto protocol etc... If any other country did this, we'd probably wage war on them citing national security interests. And that'd probably be a good reason!

There is no match anywhere for the power of US ingenuity combined with its entrepreneurial spirit. Let's lead the world in shifting to clean energy, let's make better use of scarce natural resources, let's all make better choices as consumers and citizens. Imagine being able to tell our children we're leaving them the Earth in better shape than the one our parents handed us.

This isn't about money. Or politics. It's about humanity and love for our planet and all its creatures, damn it!!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Time to stand up and be counted

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." ~ Jean Baptiste Moliere

I came across this quote on Twitter today. Inaction, or not doing something about a problem, can be as damming as doing something to cause the problem. In France for example, 'non-assistance to a person is danger' is a criminal offense. If you see someone in urgent need of help and do nothing, you are criminally negligent.

There is overwhelming evidence that some of our actions as a people are reckless and putting many animal species as well as fellow human beings in mortal danger. The beautifully produced documentary Home makes a very compelling argument not only about the catastrophic effect of global warming (something some people still like to deny is a problem), but the irrefutable fact that we are depleting vital natural resources at an unsustainable rate.

Many of us - myself included - are aware of and concerned about these problems. We lament the dismal example being set by political and corporate leaders and their myopic focus on the next election or quarterly earnings. But when does OUR inaction become complicit in the fact that we are not addressing the problem? Many ordinary individuals at grassroots levels or through NGOs make great personal sacrifices to make a difference. But many more of us need to step up and take an active part in changing our ways, changing our world.

I have a comfortable, privileged life, even by 'Western world' standards. I have more resources at my disposal than a majority of my fellow citizens. I have a choice to make: Do I continue using these resources to avoid the problems of our world (pay more for 'healthy' food, hire home security services, air conditioning, etc...)? Or do I refocus my spare time and resources to help confront and address these problems?

The answer is obvious. Still, inertia is a powerful force, and I realize the crucial first step is to change my ways, my consumption before I can effectively or credibly seek to change anyone else's.

I'll try to keep coming back here to keep track of concrete steps I'm taking in that direction. All advice and comments are welcome!

Beyond Good Intentions

I ran across this interesting project. Check it out at http://www.beyondgoodintentions.com/. An innovative, fresh look at the important question relative to the effectiveness and net impact of various international aid programs and solutions.
A couple of interesting takeaways so far:
- Rather than import 'Western' solutions and answers, use external resources to empower local people to apply locally-sourced solutions. In many cases this seems to be more effective in the short and long term.
- International aid volunteers seem to overwhelmingly feel like they gain more than give from their experience. Not that this is a bad thing in itself. These individuals are likely to come back to their own communities with a new sense of purpose, a new sensitivity and awareness beyond what the media may portray, and hopefully translate that into some sort of local activism or information sharing.

Certainly, we shouldn't turn away from parts of the world that are suffering. But all help is not created equal. Kind of like your buddy who says he can help you fix your roof. He sure means well and will try his best, doesn't mean he'll do a good job of it, and in the end it may rain inside your house :-)

Nice visit to Mount Vernon

We're in Virginia for a wedding, just outside of washington DC. Flew in yesterday and had a bit of time to go visit Mt Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington. We were among the only people there and ended having a virtually private tour. Very nice! Although Washington was not perfect (he owned slaves for example), he must have been a remarkable man, especially not letting power go to his head. We need more people like that today.

MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO TEACH CHILDREN

I was recently asked the question:
What would you consider THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO TEACH CHILDREN
NOT ONLY TO SUCCEED FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES
BUT TO CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING A BETTER WORLD?

Tough one. Lots of different choices. Below is my attempt at it based on about 60 minutes worth of reflection. Will post this now, and will do follow up posts if I change my mind. I've also put the question out to my network on LinkedIn and on Facebook, so may have reflections based on what others have to say as well.

1. Self-esteem and confidence. Learn to love yourself for who you are and whatever your abilities. This is critical for true happiness, but also to truly love others as well. When we look at all the people in history this earth would have been better without, many of them lacked in this area.
2. Respect yourself. Treat yourself right. Eat well, exercise, cherish your health. Don't let others take advantage of you either.
3. Responsibility and leadership. Gandhi's words, 'Be the change you want to see in the world', are so inspiring. Take responsibility for yourself, your actions, your family, your community, etc... Lead by example. Behave in a way that inspires others to do the same (in a good way!).
4. Be kind to others. Reject intolerance and bigotry in all their forms. Embrace others for who they are, trust in their good intentions, believe that most people are fundamentally good. But don't forget some aren't and know how to deal with that.
5. Learn from the past. Study world history, ancient and recent. Consider multiple points of view, and form your own opinions along the way. The 'truth' is often quite subjective.
6. Travel. Experience other cultures. Appreciate and accept them for their differences, even if they don't all appeal to you. Live in multiple places if you have the chance.
7. Be flexible and embrace change. Whether in work, in life, in technology, change is a constant. Don't be afraid of change. Prepare for its inevitability and don't let it destabilize you. Look for the opportunities it creates and capitalize on them.
8. Be solution-oriented. Don't act like a victim or look for someone to blame. When faced with adversity, focus on what you can do to overcome it, and reflect on what you can learn from it in the process. This is a critical skill to be successful professionally but also in general.
9. Live within or below your means. Don't define your success in financial or material terms. Enjoy nice things, meals, trips if you can afford them. Share with others as much as you can.
10. Respect the earth. Be kind to animals and the environment. Use natural resources wisely.