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In the Midst of Our Ongoing Leadership Crisis: What Would TR Do Today?

Today, October 27th, is the anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's birth in 1858.

TR was a dominant figure in American history a century ago--framing and confronting many issues similar to those before us today.

Amid the financial, economic, strategic and governmental crises bearing down upon us, many increasingly recognize that they're all part of a leadership crisis. TR--who constantly reminded audiences that their "leaders" reflected the nation--would likely emphasize the importance of tending to our "national character."

Roosevelt's life was not limited by politics; his politics were not limited by party. We cannot know his views on today's crises--would that we could!--but we can find inspiration--actionable inspiration--from his views of leadership.

There's no better place to start than TR's "Citizenship in a Republic," his speech at the Sorbonne on April 23, 1910. This represents the culmination of years of Roosevelt's thinking about--and living--leadership. Today it's generally remembered for the famous "man in arena" quotation. Nonetheless, the speech in its entirety is worthy of reading and reflection.

Are we meeting TR's standard today? Should we aspire to it?

Highly Recommended: Adam Werbach's 'Strategy for Sustainability'

Adam Werbach has written an outstanding book on corporate sustainability strategies. I recommend it unreservedly for anyone interested in joining the conversation on this vital topic.

Werbach is a public relations executive with Saatchi & Saatchi, and a former advocate with the Sierra Club. This is reflected in the book's emphasis on stakeholder engagement.

Werbach eloquently argues that sustainability is best understood in the context of stakeholder engagement; as such, its implications are broader than sustainability per se (he characterizes this as expanding from "green" to "blue.").

In my view, Werbach is exactly on point. Understood in this way, effective sustainability strategies and the innovation they require and occasion, are most likely to be meet and exceed expectations when they are tightly aligned with stakeholders.

Werbach's book is subtitled "A Business Manifesto." This is accurate. It is not so much a cookbook, filled with ready to apply recipes. There are, to be sure, plenty of anecdotes included. Nonetheless, those looking for off-the-shelf corporate (and especially small business) programs may find other sources to be more pertinent.

Werbach's book adds value is in laying forth ways of thinking that underly effective sustainability strategies. If you are persuaded, as am I, that the most effective sustainability strategies are part and parcel of an enterprise's core value proposition--and are reliant on ever enhanced stakeholder engagement--you will likely welcome the evidence, passion and provocation of Werbach's entry in the increasing shelf of sustainability titles.  

Werbach ends at what I regard as the inevitable destination: sustainability as a leadership issue. I have more of my own thoughts on this coming out soon.

Breathtaking Interchange on Wall Street, Washington & the Citizens They "Serve"

A recent Bill Moyers programincludes a notable interchange between Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, and economist Simon Johnson, formerly of the International Monetary Fund and author of some widely read articles on the current financial crisis in The Atlantic.

What do you think?

HT/Patrick.net

Will Costco Find Competitive Advantage in Ground Beef Testing?

The recent New York Times series on the tragic consequences of E. coli risk from ground beef has prompted progress: Tyson, one of the nation's largest beef suppliers, has reached an accord with Costco.

Costco, as noted by the Times, has taken the step, apparently encouraged by not required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, of independently testing for E. coli after delivery.

Will Costco receive a competitive boost from the favorable publicity about its protective testing requirements?

Will its competitors--such as Wal-Mart--soon follow suit?

Here's betting they will follow suit.... and the corporate bean counters who doubtless discouraged such testing as unjustifiably costly may have to do some reconsideration.

In today's Information Age, good news travels fast and can create significant value--and missteps can be costly, even if technically not out of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

How is Social Networking Affecting Corporate Sustainability Functions?

Join the discussion at the National Association for Environmental Management Green Tie blog.

Check out GeorgeKao.com for Tremendous, Actionable Social Media Wisdom

Just got off a webinar with George Kao. He does a tremendous job!

I recommend him highly to anyone whose business has a social media component (and that means everyone! :-) ).

His website provides an excellent introduction to his services and experiences.

Uncut Version of Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's Health Care Op-ed Even More Interesting Than As Published by WSJ

Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey strolled with the apparent innocence of integrity into the new world of 21st-century leadership with his recent Wall Street Journal piece on health care reform.

The original, pre-edited, uncut version is even more far-reaching and provocative, going straight toward the ultimate issue: Americans' personal responsibility for our diet.

Mackey's graphic sums it up: The American Diet: Designed for Disease.

 

Brilliant Lecture by Gary Hamel on Shifting Tides Affecting Religious Institutions in USA, 9-27-09

Shifting Tides | Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Shared via AddThis. HT: Craig Hudson.

In 21st Century, Small Aussie Town Can Lead World on Environmental Protection Strategy

A small Australian town bans appallingly wasteful plastic bottles of water from its shelves.

Now, via the Internet, stakeholders across the world will be roused--from local citizens, to government agencies, to politicians, to environmental groups, to bottled water purveyors, to plastic bottle manufacturers, recyclers, and all manner of creative entrepreneurs. 

This is very interesting--get ready for it to be emulated in America, as well as in nations with strong protections for local glass bottlers (including brewers) e.g. Germany. The capacity of a faraway town--in this case Bundanoon, Australia--to have a worldwide impact--is extraordinary in the digital age we're pioneering.

If they can do this today, what can you do?

101 Cookbooks: Terrific Website for Healthy, Sustainable Living

Heidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks is terrific!

I'd say more... but, as the law says, Res ipsa loquitur: the thing speaks for itself!