Time to Get 10% Bolder With Your Climate Influence

I’m calling on you to get 10% bolder with whatever climate influence you may have - and to get smarter about building it, too.

“But, I don’t feel comfortable being on stage or interviewed about my sustainability or climate-acting steps because I am in no way perfect.”?

Does this resonate?

But, could you get just 10% bolder??

I’m taking a cue from the title of one of my favorite books - and podcasts: 10% Happier by Dan Harris. His argument is that exploring mindfulness may be worth it, even for that smidgeon of extra happiness.

Getting just 10% bolder in climate influence will similarly have a much bigger impact than you’d think. Taking that step will help anyone looking for interviewees, speakers, podcast guests and more to truly *see* your emerging leadership and your unique path to it. I’ve run into this challenge in my own Living Change podcast guest-vetting process. Few are willing to share about the personal values behind their business impact, which means we just keep getting the usual suspects speaking on stages and quoted in the media.??

How can those with still unseen climate influence get 10% bolder??

First - I see you, the many corporate, political and cultural leaders out there who have huge sector-specific influence but are afraid to “out” yourselves for fear of trolling or not being perfect-enough in your life’s practices. There are others like you who are a half-step away from more boldly talking about their work, but that just have not - YET -? overcome that last bit of fear.?

Second - You likely DO have a valuable niche platform, whether you are leveraging it or not. You know that it is beyond urgent for everyone to do whatever they can in this climate crisis to make a difference, so this is not a resource to waste.

Third - I’m convinced that if even a handful more of you DID find the will to step out onto a more public stage - whether as a podcast guest, at climate events or via your own influential social media feeds - it would catalyze a sprinkling more of your peers, and that would then launch more visible leadership themselves. Boldness scales.?

Fourth - I know your days are already filled to bursting with work and family, and you just can’t imagine adding this to your mix, even as the existential climate crisis cloud hovers over all you do. How can you be convinced?

This is where *even just 10%* part comes in.?

What if you got way more intentional about what you posted on social media, what you mentioned on conference stages and referenced in any media coverage that you might get??

You see, this is not about adding to your long to-do list. Instead, it’s about refining what you *already* do and becoming much more strategic about including mention of your personal as well as professional climate-related steps.??

Take the example of one of my Living Change podcast guests from Season 1, Alex Fisch:

At the time of our conversation, he was on the Culver City city council (but has since stepped into the big-impact role of Special Assistant AG in California for housing). He had been brave enough a few years ago to be a bit more authentic on social media (Twitter, back in the day) and he built engaged community and visibility that way. That's how I found him and could gather that I'd want to interview him. Having built that engagement and been able to activate community at key moments helps Alex continue to think bigger and bolder, and I’m sure others in his networks have been inspired to follow his lead. (10% bolder leads to others doing the same…)

Every time you get a smidge bolder, you are inclined to go a smidge bigger the next time. It’s human nature. So,... are you ready to get started??

And, worth a note: One way those of us creating content, looking for stories and speakers can help more corporate and political leaders, especially, get 10% bolder is by providing safe spaces for them to share these personal stories. Key to doing this better is not framing their steps as the “be all and end all” of leadership, but telling their unique stories as worthy early moves. This becomes a form of cheering them to continue.???

Heading into such a critical season of climate events like Climate Week NYC and COP28, our world is crying out for 10% bolder. The small steps of a few brave leaders can and will catalyze real change. Very few of these folks will go all-in publicly, but a lot more can be persuaded to make small, more visible moves that build toward bigger ones. True leadership scales quickly.?

Let’s go. I’m ready to help.?

(For a few tips on how to think about whether or not to attend Climate Week NYC and/or how to leverage it well, if you DO, read my latest Substack.)