“Let Them”, climate version.

I read Mel Robbins ’ ‘The Let Them Theory’ book over the holidays, (along with the entire world, seemingly!). I really enjoyed it. In particular, was struck by how much application there was to climate change and the green transition. I wanted to share a few starter ideas I'd unpicked here, in case useful to anyone, to open up the conversation on this because I think it could be quite a fruitful and interesting approach.

The dots I’m connecting? A lot of people working in climate feel they are screaming into an echoless void where their cries for help, urgency, and emergency aren’t being heard. The “Let Them” theory can empower you to take back control of your agency by reframing you to be the protagonist of your own story.

• Step 1 - you admit you can’t control the thoughts/feeling/actions of others, i.e. “Let Them”.
• Step 2 - you decide what action you are going to take to spark the change that you want to make happen, i.e. “Let Me”.

Here are three thoughts on how you could apply the ‘Let Them Theory’ to your climate work to help you take back control and speed up progress towards a just and green transition:

1. Apply it to the climate deniers / polluters / haters in your life.

ave someone in your life that you feel is obstructive to your work? Maybe a relative or friend, maybe someone in your community, maybe an oil company exec, maybe even a funder or hiring manager who rejected you, or maybe even a client or a boss (eek!). Let them!?

The first half of the “let them” idea is about?freeing yourself from the burden of trying to manage other people. A lot of people who work in climate are by association mega empaths and care alot about their work and the people around them. Sometimes this can get you caught in the trap of wanting to please everyone.

Instead, you could try saying to yourself, “let me continue with my work to stop climate change and dismantle systems of opression. Their opinion doesn’t impact my ability to act on my beliefs and do my work. Slowing down my efforts or being fearful of those with opposing opinions to my own doesn’t mean I can’t progress and succeed.”

2. Stop framing your climate idea as part of the defence. Instead, be the offence.?

The key part of the book of the “Let Them” book is the “Let Me” part. That's the part where you take back your power and start to take action. "Let Me" is crucial, because if you allowed everyone to just walk all over you because you “Let Them”, you would get nowhere. You would likely be locked in your bedroom, cut off from the world in a peaceful vacuum, with likely no friends. You wouldn’t have solved any of the climate's problems – you'd be in a state of isolated bliss.

Taking the defence and presenting your solution as to the problems others have created puts you in a reactionary, powerless space. Instead, be a protagonist and present your solution as as something that’s already ‘doing’, happening, and having a positive impact.

By framing your climate technology, idea, work, whatever, as part of the climate solution, and stepping back from framing it as a response to the problem, you take back the narrative power. Stop being on the back foot and leave the polluters’ problems to them. You are part of the solution and you are driving towards the magnetic pull of a brighter future vision, and taking your audience along with you.

You could even say to yourself –?“Instead of focussing of what I want to change in others, let me take control of my own agency present my work in a solutions-focussed narrative.”

So, for example, instead of framing your climate food tech solution as solving the ills of the global food supply chain, tell stories of how it’s positively impacting local communities and the benefits people are feeling from that.

Basically, stop framing your climate solution as a rebuttal or answer to climate change. It is worthy in itself and deserves its own narrative.

3. Tearing down others problems won’t build up your solution.

My biggest lightbulb moment from the book was the realisation that the green transition’s success won’t be found in controlling others—it will be letting them be who they are while focusing on your own ability and capacity to flourish.

Let them languish, whilst you flourish. Let their way of business fade away, as yours presents healthier, cheaper ways of making the things that people need and want in life. Let them continue to deny climate science, whilst you forge a path forward.

Any energy spent trying to control or react to or be outraged by or feel devastated by the loss they are impacting, is energy taken away from furthering the solutions. This is crucial – as people in climate can’t keep giving endlessly to futile outrage and optimism. Languishing in emotion can be a road to nowhere. Taking power back with the “Let Me” action puts you firmly in the driving seat.

Have you read the book? I'd be interested to know your thoughts and interpretations! Let me know in the comments or DM me. X

p.s. this is the first in self-published ideas I'm exploring as part of my new 'Climate Cold Cuts' space. Hot takes and cold cuts on climate. "Coz the cold hard truth is best served up on a platter." ???????? Happy snacking!