How to Win at...Consumerism!
The average smartphone is discarded after just two years, even though it could last five.
How many packages have you received from Amazon this month? I'm probably at about 20.
Every day, we’re surrounded by choices. What to buy, what to wear, what to use, and how to live. In a consumerism-driven culture, these choices carry more weight than we often realize. They shape not only our personal lives but also the world around us—its resources, its systems, and its future.
Yet, so many of these choices feel less like decisions we’re making and more like paths we’re pushed to take. Products break too easily, trends move too quickly, and we’re told—again and again—that what we have, and who we are, isn’t enough.
But what if we paused? What if we reclaimed our power to choose—thoughtfully, intentionally, and responsibly? What if, instead of being swept along by the current of consumerism, we charted our own path?
This article will explore how we can win at consumerism—not by rejecting it outright (no need to forsake all luxuries), but by reshaping it.
The goal of this article is threefold.
We will:
We buy 80 billion pieces of clothing every year, most of which end up in landfills
What Is Consumerism?
At its core, consumerism is the idea that our happiness, success, and value are tied to what we consume. It’s the culture that tells us:
We need the latest gadgets to stay relevant.
We need a new wardrobe every season to fit in.
We need to replace rather than repair, to upgrade rather than maintain.
Planned obsolescence—the deliberate design of products with limited lifespans—is one of the engines of consumerism. It’s the reason so many of the things we buy are designed to break, wear out, or feel outdated long before they should. And pretty much everyone is doing it.
We see it everywhere:
Electronics: Devices with non-replaceable batteries, software updates that slow performance, and accessories that change with every new model.
Fashion: Fast trends and low-quality materials that demand constant wardrobe refreshes.
Appliances: Short warranties, expensive repairs, and products that are built to be replaced rather than fixed.
But perhaps the most insidious example of consumerism isn’t in the products themselves—it’s in the messages that surround them. We’re told that we are not enough. That we need to replace, replenish, or reinvent ourselves to fit in, to keep up, to be valued.
This messaging isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. It thrives on creating dissatisfaction, driving us to consume more while convincing us that what we have, and who we are, will never be enough.
Consumerism thrives on dissatisfaction. Choose to be enough, just as you are.
Recognizing Our Choices
The first step to winning at consumerism is recognizing that we do have choices. Every purchase, every decision, is an opportunity to act with intention rather than defaulting to what’s expected.
As Individuals
What We Buy: Are we prioritizing quality, sustainability, and need over impulse and convenience?
How We Use: Are we taking care of what we own, repairing it when possible, and extending its life?
Why We Buy: Are we motivated by genuine need, or are we trying to fill a void created by marketing and societal pressures?
As Professionals
What We Create: Are we offering products or services that empower people, or are we feeding the cycle of waste and over-consumption?
How We Lead: Are we fostering a culture of intentionality and sustainability within our organizations?
What We Promote: Are we encouraging thoughtful choices, or are we pushing endless upgrades, replacements, and trends?
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s awareness. When we start to see the patterns, we can begin to change them.
Why Consumerism Matters
Consumerism doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s tied to some of the biggest challenges we face as a society.
1. Environmental Impact
Every product we buy has a footprint—from the resources used to create it to the emissions from manufacturing and transport, to the waste it generates at the end of its life. Over-consumption accelerates climate change, pollutes ecosystems, and depletes finite resources.
2. Resource Depletion
The materials we rely on—metals, water, energy—are finite. When we consume mindlessly, we strip the planet of resources future generations will need.
3. Social Inequity
Consumerism often exploits the most vulnerable. Workers in low-wage factories, communities near landfills, and those living in poverty bear the brunt of wasteful practices.
4. Mental Health and Self-Worth
Perhaps the most personal impact of consumerism is the way it shapes how we see ourselves. It feeds a cycle of comparison, dissatisfaction, and the belief that we’re only as good as what we own or how we appear.
How to Make Better Choices
Winning at consumerism isn’t about rejecting consumption entirely—it’s about choosing wisely.
As Individuals
These actions are simple but powerful, and they don’t require anything more than your voice and curiosity.
As Professionals
Rethinking Success
At the heart of consumerism is a flawed definition of success—one that equates more with better. But what if success wasn’t about how much we consume, but about how well we live?
What if businesses measured success by the value they create, not just the profits they generate? What if individuals defined success by the quality of their relationships, experiences, and contributions, rather than the quantity of their possessions?
When we rethink success, we open the door to a culture that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and well-being over excess and waste.
The Power of Choice
Every choice we make, whether as individuals or professionals, sends a message. It tells businesses what we value, shapes cultural norms, and builds the world we’ll leave behind.
Winning at consumerism isn’t about rejecting the things we love or need. It’s about choosing thoughtfully—buying what serves us, supporting what aligns with our values, and rejecting what doesn’t.
When we embrace the power of choice, we reclaim our role as creators of the world we want to live in. Together, we can build a future that values people, the planet, and purpose over profit.
This is how we win at consumerism—not by playing along, but by playing smarter. And it starts with a single choice. What will yours be?
Best,
Kelly Blackmon
?? #ileadwithLove #Sustainability, #FightConsumerism, #RightToRepair,
?? What’s one change you’d suggest to fight consumerism? I’d love to hear your ideas.
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3 天前Kelly B., when we start down the road of "I am what I own, wear, travel, live" we enter a game that is impossible to win because the rules and goalposts are constantly moving. There is nothing intrinsictly wrong with the posession, as long as we possess it and not the other way around. I was doing yard work recently using a hand held dirt screen and a hoe. The hoe was starting to get a loose head on it, but the sifter was as good as ever. The sifter was hand built by my fathers grandfather (so my great, great grandfather) and probably about 100 years old. The hoe was bought at a big box store about 10 years ago. Something very reassuring about doing good work that lasts and passes the test of time. That sifter isn't fancy, but it does the job and there is a lot of pride in knowing that generations have found it useful and instead of chasing the "new and shiny" sticking with what works.