environment – leadership dots

leadership dot #4875: measure

February 22, 2026February 20, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I have an Argyle Sweater Page-a-Day calendar (highly recommend for daily chuckles) that came with the obligatory page of corporate identification and publisher information.

It reads:

Andrews McMeel Publishing is committed to the responsible use of natural resources and is dedicated to understanding, measuring, and reducing the impact of our products on the natural world. Recognizing the impact of plastic pollution, we have changed the easel backers on our day-to-day calendars from plastic to paper-based material. Follow our sustainability journey at [link].

I highlighted the word “measuring” because it signals that they are serious about their commitment. It’s easy to write platitudes, but the real impact comes when results are known and shared.

Do you measure things that are important to you? Beyond financials, it could include employee satisfaction, diversity initiatives, innovation, or the number of product returns. Personally, measurements may involve calories, steps, friends met for lunch, letters written, or volunteer hours. The options are limitless.

Measuring is an often overlooked and sometimes dreaded aspect of the change process, but little happens without it. Explicitly incorporate some tracking process for the things you value.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #4736: a waste

September 20, 2025September 19, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I know a good way to reduce the cost of health care: use better mailing lists!

My sister was born in 1960, so she would be turning 65 this November. As a result, she is inundated with mailings urging her to purchase supplemental Medicare plans. The thing is, she died in January 2021, almost five years ago, and was on Medicaid before she passed. These mailings are a total waste of money. Yet, almost every day, I receive mail on her behalf, including this egregious waste from UnitedHealthcare that contained 19 pieces of paper and a reply envelope in a large, non-recyclable mailer.

It’s not just the insurance companies spending thousands on mail that is never opened. If your organization wants to reach the masses, invest the money or time to obtain a cleaner list. Cross-reference with obvious databases, such as who is still alive! You do your brand no favors with unchecked peppering of propaganda.

leadership dot #4599: irreversible

April 22, 2025April 22, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Today is Earth Day, an annual moment to pause and reflect on the value of the natural resources Mother Nature provides. It’s especially important this year, as many of those gifts are under assault with regulatory roll-backs and disregard for the fragile nature of the ecosystem. (Two examples: 1) executive orders seek to remove safeguards for a marine sanctuary and allow commercial fishing in the area, threatening the surrounding sea life, and 2) rollback of federal protections for endangered species strips “habitat destruction” from the list of prohibited actions.)

Certain decisions can be made, and if they don’t work out, you can reverse them. However, other choices are permanent and should be made with much more caution and forethought. Once you cut down a magnolia tree that Andrew Jackson planted at the White House in 1829, you can’t change your mind and put it back, or once you bulldoze over wetlands for a mining road, there is no undoing it.

Commemorate Earth Day today by taking steps to protect this fragile home of ours and asking your legislators to do the same.

Bison Buffalo herd in early morning light in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park

leadership dot #4581: satellites

April 4, 2025April 2, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Yesterday (dot #4580) I wrote about a simple trade-off with the bottoms of my Wellies. One of the more serious trade-offs is occurring in space where the proliferation of satellites is causing orbital congestion and a concern about space debris. Today, there are over 10,000 active satellites orbiting the Earth, increasing the chance of collisions or parts falling to the ground at hypersonic speeds.

All these satellites are improving telecommunications, GPS, space exploration, and broadband connectivity — but it’s a trade-off between innovation and environmental responsibility.

There is always a trade-off. Be sure to consider what you are giving up whenever you are poised to gain.

https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/qvWZC0Aj6VfPnnQ9Fwf2c9Vz8R?domain=beautyofplanet.com

leadership dot #4538: green

February 20, 2025February 18, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you need an example of how a good strategic plan can drive action, look no further than Singapore. The city has developed a Green Plan 2030 designed to make Singapore “A City in Nature,” expanding far beyond just having natural elements in the city.

A City in Nature envisions Singapore as one of the greenest in the world, with every road a “nature way.” The city is three-quarters of the way toward its goal of planting a million trees and is working toward connecting green spaces, lining streets with trees, and developing park networks. But it’s not just greenery; one of their Green Pillars includes enhancing vet and animal care.

I’m sure many who were at the table in 2021 when the plan was proposed recited all the reasons why an urban area could not create a City in Nature: the expense, the scarcity of land, the time involved, the value of urban development instead of greenery, etc. But the plan was approved and the results are visible, allowing Singaporeans to have cleaner air and a healthier environment.

Having a clear vision that is translated into a tangible and measurable plan can create magic. Look no further than Singapore to see proof.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #4487: rent

December 31, 2024December 22, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you’ve ever moved, you know that acquiring boxes to transport your possessions is expensive and a hassle, and then you’re left with a mountain of cardboard when you unpack. A new company has envisioned a better way, by renting plastic tubs and dollies to move everything in reusable totes. Stack delivers the totes to your current address and picks them up at the new one, eliminating the waste and difficulty of collecting the boxes yourself.

In the new year, consider what you can rent instead of buy and resolve to own less. Libraries are great resources for baking pans, tools, exercise equipment, games, puzzles, musical instruments, sewing machines, audio-visual equipment, and more. Neighborhood social media groups also provide an avenue to borrow items rather than buying. Garage sales, thrift shops, and estate sales are the next best thing to renting.

We’ve all amassed more in the past month — through gift-giving, Black Friday sales, or post-holiday shopping. Make 2025 the year of acquiring less.

leadership dot #4485: new uses

December 29, 2024December 22, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

As I walked through holiday markets and looked online for gift-giving this year, I was struck by the creativity of artisans who make beautiful things out of castaway materials. Whether it be from metal parts, antique kitchen utensils, books, or broken jewelry, they keep things from landfills and turn them into art. It’s a move that is environmentally and aesthetically smart (and hopefully, financially beneficial, too.)

Before you send something to the landfill, think about ways you can give new life to existing possessions or whether you can donate them to someone else who can. Maybe a crafter wants those old buttons, doors, watches, sea shells, or teacups.

When my parents died, we worked to find people or schools that were delighted to accept donations of their fabric, floral supplies, lumber, and paper. We even gave extra diabetes strips to a grateful veterinarian to use with dogs.

My mom always said: “Someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.” Put in the effort to donate it before you ditch it.

A table in our high school library — fashioned from old books

leadership dot #4402: broken

October 6, 2024October 4, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’ve noticed that at some tourist places, the organization tries to capitalize on the passion of their visitors to sell them items that would normally be discarded. Zoos and animal parks sell chewed-up toys that appear to be trash but are in the gift shop for $5. Warm Springs Farm where the Clydesdales are raised sells used horseshoes for $125. Baseball stadiums offer used balls at a premium, other places sell flags flown on significant dates, and institutions offer bricks or building remnants when tearing down a space that engenders loyalty.

All these things have had a useful life and have fulfilled their purpose for the organization, yet they are promoted as desirable and unique treasures in a second-hand state.

My mother always said: “someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.” Before you toss things you consider worthless, give it a second look through an entrepreneurial eye. Maybe someone else not only wants — but is willing to pay for — the opportunity to own it.

Broken enrichment toy, $5

leadership dot #4362: publicly

August 27, 2024August 26, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The parking lots at Bridgewater State University look like any other, but it turns out that they are carefully designed to be as eco-friendly as paved areas can be. How do I know this? Thank their prominent and descriptive sign that calls attention to the efforts that have been made:

The lots have been right-sized to avoid unnecessary blacktop
There are curb cuts that allow the water to flow off the paved surfaces easily…
and into a retention system that is lower than the lots…
which is filled with soil and plants…
that allows the water to gradually seep back into the earth

Bravo to Bridgewater State — not only for paying attention to a non-sexy element of their infrastructure but for having the foresight and intentionality to tell the story about it.

You, too, are likely doing good things but too many of an organization’s accomplishments go unrecognized. Take a lesson from the parking sign and publicly tell your story in a visible and understandable way.

leadership dot #4323: debris

June 30, 2024June 29, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

They could have put a sign asking people not to use plastic at the beach or requesting that visitors pick up after themselves when leaving the shoreline. Instead, the folks at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii picked up some of the many plastic items left behind and created an eye-catching visual to illustrate their point. “Marine Debris is Everyone’s Problem” read the sign as you entered the recreation area. You couldn’t miss the impact.

Saying that people leave behind items would not be nearly as effective as showing them. Think of how you can make your point in a powerful, visual way. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a wreath of actual 3-D items may prompt a thousand actions.