StopGlobalWarming.org: The Greener Guys

StopGlobalWarming.org: The Greener Guys

Timberland, IBM, Dupont, 3M, Advanced Micro Devices, the Gap, Wal-Mart, and Johnson & Johnson are all mentioned as "greener guys" in this article on global warming, and reducing carbon emissions. Unfortunately, the article also states that "only 86 companies in the United States, accounting for 8 percent of domestic carbon emissions, have enrolled in Climate Leaders, the Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary program to cut emissions. Emissions in the United States have risen 16 percent since 1990, the agency said."

From IBM's website regarding the topic of climate change--"IBM believes the most constructive approach it can take to address the complex issue of climate change is to apply its technical and engineering expertise to reduce emissions associated with its own operations, and to create products that are increasingly energy efficient."

IBM joined the U.S. EPA 's Climate Leader program in 2002, and has achieved an average CO2 emisions reduction of 6.11 percent from 2000 thru 2003, and a 55.3 percent reduction in the emissions of 6 greenhouse gases.

Further on, the article continues... "Experts say that large reductions in global emissions — 50 percent or more by 2050 — are needed to stop carbon concentrations from rising. But reaching that goal requires a major transformation of how economies and businesses operate. "It's going to change everything we do," said Joseph J. Romm, an analyst at the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions, a group that helps businesses lower emissions."

This sounds like a clear call to action--"a major transformation of how economies and businesses operate"... and a call for Innovation that Matters to me, and to everyone on this planet. To my colleagues at IBM, I say, this is an opportunity--in alignment with our coorporate values, and I would hope, with our individual personal values, provided you believe the peer-reviewed scientific conclusions presented most comprehensively by Al Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth".

What is your company's record on climate control, and protecting the environment? How can you have an impact? If not you, then who? And when?

FOXNews.com - Gore's Global Warming Film Gets Rave Reviews From Climate Scientists - Science News | Current Articles

FOXNews.com - Gore's Global Warming Film Gets Rave Reviews From Climate Scientists - Science News Current Articles

Tonight my husband, my 13 year old-daughter, her girlfriend, and my 10 year old son went to see An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's documentary about global warming. Other than me, my son was the only one that really wanted to go, but I let everyone know (other than Kelsey's friend) that staying home wasn't an option. Kelsey thought it would be "boring", too much science. She couldn't have been more wrong. And we all agree - including Kelsey - everyone on the planet needs to see this movie.

Al Gore presents just the right amount of scientific fact to wake us all up to an incredibly scary issue. Our planet and our lives are in jeopardy IF we don't make changes NOW. In fact, I walked out wondering if it could be too late. AND I am an optimist. Kelsey said she is not sure if she wants to have kids. My husband said the movie should be shown in every school. I said that the movie should be shown in every business.

This is a movie that matters. It matters more than any other movie you might consider seeing this year. And guess what, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

As I have said before, we are not bad people. We are simply unaware of the impact of our actions. This film lets us clearly understand the impact we are already having on the planet. In the movie, Al Gore writes these two equations. Old Habits + Old Technology = Predictable Results. Old Habits + New Technology = Unforeseen Consequences. He uses the example of how warfare changed as we went from simple weapons like spears to guns, tanks, and then the atomic bomb. Suddenly, we became aware that our old habits of taking up arms could destroy the planet! Well, in every industry, in every past-time, we are using new technology that requires energy to do it's thing! Much of that energy burns and adds carbon into the atmosphere, thickening the blanket that keeps us warm. Unfortunately, this is causing some unforeseen consequences... the ice caps are melting. The hottest 10 years on record on the planet have occured in the last 14 years. Check out the climate change facts. The unforeseen consequences are actually very visible in this film, and the path ahead looks very dim, unless we collectively open our eyes and take action.

So see the movie. Bring your kids. Go with friends. Organize a group to attend together. Read the book. Click here for some actions to get started - as a citizen.

And now let's talk a little bit about one of the IBM Values--Innovation that Matters to our company, our clients and the world.... Where there is a challenge- - like global warming, there is an opportunity. In this case, a tremendous opportunity to innovate. As corporate and global citizens, we need to leverage our research and development, our existing technologies and our ingenuity and creativity to find more energy efficient and environmentally sound business, engineering, and production processes! AND we need to design and develop energy efficient, environmentally sound products! And in IBM, we are doing some of that. I say, let's kick it up a notch or two (or ten!).

Most of us have an innate desire to live a life that matters. Sometimes, we think it's enough to raise a loving child, or help a friend, and these are important actions. I am asking you each to consider playing bigger - maybe even playing a Bigger Game. Like Al Gore. His game field is the planet. His compelling purpose is to wake us up so we can save it. I'm in - how about you?

IBM to Focus on Infection Disease Containment, and Finding Your Passion at Work

IBM and Scripps Research Institute to Collaborate on Pandemic Research; ''Project Check-mate'' To Focus on Infectious Disease Containment. This is what makes me proud to be an IBMer. And absolutely, this is about playing a bigger game. For me, from inside of IBM, it feels like we are beginning to put some real meat around the IBM Value, Innovation that Matters. Believe it or not, we have a VP of Global Pandemic Strategy (Roland Harris III).

I know how important it is for me to feel like my work at IBM makes a difference. And it seems that I am not alone - we all want that, don't we? Personal passion or full engagement at work is getting lots of attention right now in popular business books. There is research from Gallup , Institute for Employment Studies, and the Corporate Leadership Council and other sources that indicates that a very large percentage of the workforce is not fully engaged at work, and this is drastically impacting business results!

Many books have been written in the last 5 years that speak to igniting the passion in the workforce, getting the right people in the right jobs, leveraging their strengths, and increasing innovation and productivity. I think one of the best books is The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, not Time is the Key to High Performance. The book is based on years of experiencing in training worldclass athletes to be at their best, and has since been leveraged to build "corporate athletes". Other books include Covey's The Eighth Habit, and Marcus Buckingham's Now Discover Your Strengths. And I stumbled on these books without even trying!

My job at IBM is to develop and enhance the leadership competencies of our sales leaders. Well, guess what? The highest level competency behaviors require a fully engaged employee. Think about it, if you're not fully engaged at work, are you going to take strategic risks, embrace challenge (really!), and go out of your way to develop yourself and other people? Our most effective and inspiring leaders breathe passion and engagement, and they breed it in those around them, like an infection!

These are the leaders, fully engaged, at IBM, and all over the world, that will drive "Innovation that Matters to IBM, our clients and the world". Because they know "what matters" to them, and they care enough to find out "what matters" to their clients. And they are bold enough to draw outside the lines of a typical seller, who will "meet a client's needs", or help a client "solve a business problem" (which are still important - of course!). They will stretch themselves and their clients to play bigger. To dare to think beyond driving profit, and cutting costs, to make an positive impact in their industry, and to drive the human race forward, intentionally. At our best, IBM is already working on curing cancer, stopping pandemics, improving healthcare, transitioning IBMer's to teaching positions, and so much more, as is offered up in our current report on Innovation in Corporate Responsibility.

So let's get personal here... How engaged are you at work on a scale from 1 - 10? How often do you notice yourself "disengaging" - from a conversation, a project, a conference call, a colleague? What brought you to your current job/career? How engaged are your peers, and other employees? How can you increase the passion, and the sense of fulfillment that you get from your work?

Maybe the most important question of all.... what matters to you? And how can you be doing more of that?!!