An Open Letter to CEOs Who Make and Sell Stuff
[Editor's Note: If you would like to use any or all of this for the CEOs in your life or as the basis for a letter to the editor of your local paper or even a blog post, feel free to do so.]
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Dear Sir/Ma’am,
I am taking the liberty to write to you on behalf of every single thing that calls this planet home. Most don’t know about it, but I’m sure they won’t mind. Their best interests are at hand.
In respect of your time (I know you are extremely busy) I will cut right to the chase: You are killing us.
In body, in spirit and everything in-between; breaking us down one little widget at a time. We have suffered so much in the pursuit of that which you create, by what you so cleverly market to us as being absolutely necessary to survive.
Where you see raw material we see a beautiful balance in need of sustaining, not destroying. Where you see innovation we see needless waste. Where you see market share and profit we see exploitation of our families, communities and culture. Where you see shareholders we see the rest of us—every living thing creeps, crawls, walks, runs, swims and sits on this planet—trying to exist and thrive in the most basic way.
To some extent it’s not entirely your fault. Many of you inherited this Engine of Consumerism and have been trained like Jedi Masters to make sure it purrs and hums along. You are a product of the Throwaway Culture of Convenience just as much as we are. Only problem is: Where we seek to redefine what it means to consume, you seek to perpetuate and deepen its hold on us.
You argue the economy. You argue that you’re only doing what we ask of you in order to meet our so-called needs wants. All the while you turn a blind eye to the domino effect of all your decisions and actions – from the supply chains to the store fronts. The Mahogany Palaces that are your board rooms echo with the rally cry of your minions: Market – Margin – More! Market – Margin – More!
I admit, not all of you fit this mold. There are a few of you who have recognized that a better way exists and are taking (in some cases bold) steps to turn things around. To refocus on the long-term vitality and viability of your business and the Earth that makes it possible instead of appeasing the short-term whims of this magical demigod known as The Market.
Alas, I arrive at my ask. The simple request that I put forth on behalf of my fellow beings.
Be better than we could ever expect you to be. Be the catalysts of change we all need you to be.
You are smart people. You have (even) smart(er) people working for you. Challenge yourselves to be better. Challenge yourselves to see beyond this quarter’s filings. Beyond the next market cycle. Beyond the next best thing coming out of your R&D shop.
Be human again. See that this planet is more than just an all-you-can-eat buffet of so-called raw material. More than just a big fat wallet waiting to be emptied. More than just bunch of shallow spirits yearning to be made happy by you and the God of Stuff you work for.
Wanting to be successful in business is not necessarily bad – unless it is at the expense of all our futures, yours included. But that’s really what is at stake here: The future. Yours, ours, and that of countless generations to come. Dig deep and see beyond your lifetime. Think of your children, my three children, and the millions of other children out there. What kind of world will they inherit from us? What do you want your legacy to really be? I want to leave them a world that is prosperous not perilous. You play a big role in that.
What kind of business will you have when the raw materials are gone? When your markets dry up because what you’re selling is neither necessary nor affordable in this future world you’ve help to mold?
See the opportunity to be better than your competitor. Get out in front and start changing your business model to reflect our expectations. Define and set that new sustainable trend. Help lead us and your shareholders (of today and tomorrow) to a better day.
Sincerely,
Bill Gerlach
Husband, dad, human with a conscience, eco-being, consumer
If you enjoyed this post and think others might too, please go ahead and share it via Twitter or another social media outlet. Even better, consider subscribing to The New Pursuit and be a part of the journey. While you’re here you might also enjoy these other posts:
- Challenging the Throwaway Culture of Convenience
- You vs. Stuff: Five Strategies for Winning Every Time
- TV Free and Loving It: Reflections on Nearly Three Years Without the Magic Box
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That was really heartfelt; sadly you’ve made so many valid points ): I notice there is a link in this one to the very first post of yours that I read ‘Challenging the throwaway culture of convenience’. I’m glad I found your blog. I LOVE the ‘trend forecast’ too!
Thanks, Majeeda. I’ve just had this growing feeling of late that the proverbial deck is stacked against us in so many ways. We continue to do everything in our humble power to change ourselves and the world around us — only to run into the brick wall of government and business. It’s frustrating more than ever. Think of your post about eliminating plastic bags. Best of intentions — and I’m sure you will take great steps in that direction — but at this juncture, you’ll never be able to totally avoid it. It’s in the DNA of businesses and consumers now.
Still, at the end of the day, I am optimistic that the next generation of business and government leaders will be different. Hopefully, it won’t be too late… Maybe it’s time to reconsider running for my local Town Council…
Hi Bill,
I appreciate you so much, Bill and I agree with Majeeda – this is so heartfelt. You do get to the point quickly!
At the same time, I have trouble with the “us – them” sense to this. Whatever occurs to us in this life and world comes about due to interdependence and not due to any one single factor. There’s also the ripening of our own karma due to our past actions involved. It’s complex and I don’t think we can ever blame and say it’s someone’s fault.
I completely love you and your intention, but I also know you want my honest input. And this is just my take.
A big hug.
And I do Sandra, thanks! That’s why I value the time you take to comment. The fault is not squarely on the shoulders of business by any means. And even saying “business” as an umbrella is not the best thing either. Not all business people (heck, I’m one of them, though far from being a CEO) are out to get “us”. There are many who lead with a conscience and are doing the right things. But — I feel — there are many who continue to put profits ahead of people and the planet.
There are SO many variables at play when it comes to the situations the world finds itself in. There is no silver bullet solution nor single entity driving us awry. Creating factions — business, political, social, spiritual/religious, whatever — is not the answer. It is about recognizing our common ground, our common being, and beginning the conversation there. No one can do it alone. We need everyone on board. I guess my “letter” was kind of an invitation to the discussion table.
Be well!
You are right Bill. I’ve just come from dinner at my Mums tonight with discussion on this very matter over plastic and other issues. This is the same thing that Lynn touched on in her post the other day ‘Can you really change yourself to change the world?’. The gist of our dinner conversation was that changing yourself is a great thing and every person doing their bit should be encouraged. But we also think that if anyone is really serious about big change/lasting change/major change, then the ”more” that needs to be done, the flip side that is missing from ‘just’ lifestyle change, is: working to change government policies, laws, and changing the way corporations do business.
So, basically my guess is the two things go hand in hand: in order to be effective you must be ”living” the changes yourself. I mean, how can you lobby anyone for change if you don’t lift a finger to change yourself? So the lifestyle change is vitally important, but that MUST go along with political action. LIFESTYLE + POLITICAL
@ Sandra – I note what you are saying in that in some way we have all taken part in the system which has brought us to this point, however, I don’t feel uncomfortable about the way Bill wrote this piece. I don’t know if that is because it did not pick anyone out specifically, or because it was so creatively written, but I didn’t find it objectionable at all. He knew quite well that CEO’s were not the only ones to blame for the problems but this was a really creative way to get a point across and possibly to get CEO’s thinking about their roles in the process I guess.
@Majeeda // That must have been quite the dinner conversation. I think the take-away is that a ‘problem’ — what ever that might be, big or small — is best attacked from a variety of angles. Seldom are things so black and while anymore that there is a silver bullet solution.
There is where our innate creativities can shine and blossom. I believe we are all capable of being catalysts, creating momentum both big and small. Not everyone has to have the same creativity or drive or as Tammy at Rowdy Kittens says, “super power”. But therein lies the beauty — there are so many of us that we should have all the bases covered. We just need to take that first step — in our own lives and the life of the communities around us.
I am hoping that since the “Go Green Movement” seems to be almost a necessity in today’s business culture, that the extra amount of time being focused on business practices and the environment can lead towards a sweeping change in the business world. About100 years ago in the early 1900′s, business was transformed in the sense of providing significantly safer working environment for workers that ensured health and safety. I know many of the things that we take for granted when it comes to working conditions, (especially in the West), were not always so. I really hope that we can see a similar revolution but this time, for business philosophy when it comes towards having businesses that embrace and understand the value of having a business that operates in an efficient and sustainable manner.
@ Bill – funny you should mention things not being black & white – my last tweet was to Ali & included “sadly things are rarely as clear cut as we wish them to be ):” – funny. I like your thoughts about there being a lot of us and so hopefully we could have all bases covered.
Haha, dinner was nice – we were on the same page
@ Reggie, very interesting to look at this in light of the way health and safety has been introduced into the workplace over time. I actually feel more hopeful since I read your comment because put like that I feel it’s so do-able.
Hi Reggie // Thanks for stopping by and lending to the conversation. I think the scenario your laying out is totally plausible. Business/companies will change — just like individuals — from the convergence of inside and outside forces. The internal force will come from employees/leaders who begin to marry their personal convictions with those of their business. The external force will come from the marketplace itself, as consumers demand more.
Over the past year, three of my colleagues and I have begun leading that internal change at our employer. We’ve seen tangible results that benefit both the business and the environment (at the same time, go figure!) while growing a groundswell of support in a very grassroots kind of way. Perhaps that story might be the basis of a future post…