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Wednesday, 16 December 2009
So now I'm an author
Yesterday I got my consignment of my first book, The Three Secrets of Green Business. So now I'm officially an author - something I have wanted to achieve since I was about 12 years old - although back then it would have been derivative swords and sandals nonsense rather than trying to save the world. I am genuinely chuffed with it and am glad to see it pulling away from a major rival in the Amazon rankings. If I was going to sum up this book in three words, I would say punchy, practical and provocative. Personally I get bored with business books which are just a compilation of theory and case studies - I want advice, guidance and hints and tips that tell me how to do what I want to do from someone who has been there and done it. I brought these principles to The Three Secrets and I hope readers will appreciate them.
BTW, if you're not a subscriber to The Low Carbon Agenda, then check out the Free Resources page here this afternoon as this month's issue has a whole load of goodies relating to the book.
Labels: low carbon agenda, three secrets of green business
# posted by Gareth Kane : 07:00
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Monday, 30 November 2009
Low Carbon Agenda: Jeers and Cheers
Thanks to everyone who has given feedback on last week's Low Carbon Agenda. Some found that the text wrapped strangely around the central diagram in their mail reader - it worked fine in my Apple Mail, but there appears to be a problem with some versions of Outlook. Apologies for this - the techiesOn the other hand, I have never had such a positive response to an edition of TLCA. Apparently many of you spent Wednesday afternoon using the Sustainability Maturity Model to discuss how ready your business is to implement sustainability. Well, that's why I developed it and I've found it very useful in client workshops - it will also form the basis of my second book, The Green Executive. Thanks for the compliments.
I'll also be using the model at the Low Carbon Best Practice Exchange in Harrogate on Thursday during my session on Long Term Environmental Strategy. If you're going to Harrogate, please do say hello!
Labels: low carbon agenda, sustainability maturity model
# posted by Gareth Kane : 11:25
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Thursday, 29 October 2009
We're almost there...
...apologies if your access to this blog has been disrupted. We were trying to sort out a couple of techie things which had knock on effects and so on - but we should be about there now. This has also delayed this month's edition of The Low Carbon Agenda which should be out later today or early tomorrow.I'm also on semi-paternity leave as we thought new child was on his way yesterday, but it looks as if he's taking his time. It's given me a good chance to catch up on some admin, answer the final proofreading queries on The 3 Secrets of Green Business and keep our projects tapping along. My plan to spring clean the office hasn't really materialised - I could ask imminent mum-to-be to help, but she's upstairs, hanging precariously off a step ladder with a power drill in her hand. I know better than to interfere!
Labels: low carbon agenda, terra infirma
# posted by Gareth Kane : 13:31
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Monday, 12 October 2009
Forthcoming new arrivals...
I'm taking break from doing the final proof edits on The Three Secrets of Green Business. This is extraordinarily tedious, but I have found one big clanger so it is necessary. Despite the tedium, I'm getting really excited. I'm organising a launch event in January - more details when I have them. In the meantime, the Green Executive is really starting to shape up and I hope to get the first draft to the publisher early in the new year.Also coming soon is the new branding, website and Low Carbon Agenda. Just the final tweaks to go, but looking very good indeed.
Part of me worries that all this excitement is displacement activity to distract me from yet another impending new arrival. My second child is due on 1 November, although his mother's maternal vibe is that this one could be early. So if this blog suddenly goes quiet, it probably means I'm up to my elbows in nappies again and/or taking no 1 son to the park. I intend to take two weeks semi-paternity leave - keeping things tapping along but not running any workshops or intensive pieces of work.
It's all so exciting!
Labels: holiday, low carbon agenda, terra infirma, three secrets of green business
# posted by Gareth Kane : 09:50
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Wednesday, 2 September 2009
The summer's gone...
Well it's September, it's wet and we are extraordinarily busy. As well as our existing projects and clients, we've been employed to do some very exciting new work for the Design Council and Innovation Scout. The latter is a new venture by entrepreneurs Nick Devitt and David Townson to identify unmet business opportunities to stimulate innovation and we're contributing opportunities in the Low Carbon Economy.On top of this, I've got edits to do for The Three Secrets of Green Business and I've got some exciting new interviewees for its sequel, The Green Executive. And then of course I'm still working on new entries for Green Gurus - deep ecologist Arne Naess is likely to be the next profile. The rebranding process continues and the new website is looking really good - it will makes much easier to find what you are looking for than at present.
If you've been on holiday and haven't read the last edition of The Low Carbon Agenda, then I advise you do - it's called Low Carbon Jujitsu and is about how to deal with difficult people. These are probably the most powerful techniques I've revealed on TLCA - and you get them for free!
Labels: green executive, low carbon agenda, terra infirma, three secrets of green business
# posted by Gareth Kane : 10:28
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Monday, 13 October 2008
Low Carbon Agenda snags
Update 14/10/08 6pm: Normal Service resumedLabels: low carbon agenda
# posted by Gareth Kane : 19:56
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Friday, 1 August 2008
We are two!
Happy Birthday, Terra Infirma, two years old today!This is a key milestone as most businesses do not get this far, so I'm sure you'll excuse the self indulgence.
And it's been quite a year - many new clients, some of them very big (the EU...), many exciting projects, becoming an incorporated company and launching The Low Carbon Agenda.
And it's going to be an interesting year - we have a number of clients lined up to start on the Lean, Mean & Green Programme, have been booked to deliver some more workshops at the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange and the Green Business Bible is definitely on its way!
But, with the economic situation, it is going to be a challenge. I believe that spending on environmental issues is not discretionary but essential to cut costs. Many of the problems we solve are hardnosed issues like "why are you throwing away £00000s worth of product?" rather than hugging trees. It has to be said that it is much easier to get this message across these days.
Lastly, I'd like to thank all of you - the readers of this blog (especially those who comment). We'll be raising a glass tonight and I hope you'll raise a metaphorical one with us.
Labels: lean mean and green, low carbon agenda, terra infirma
# posted by Gareth Kane : 08:06
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Monday, 7 July 2008
Weekly Tip #21: Use the Terra Infirma Brainstorming Tool
This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book*:If you want to do effective brainstorming, then use the Terra Infirma Brainstorming Tool. You can see it in the latest edition of the Low Carbon Agenda along with instructions. It is set up for Carbon Emissions, but substitute 'Waste' or a more specific problem eg 'Product Loss in Goods Out' and it's hot to trot for any environmental issue. You can also use it for other applications, even frying an egg.
* It really is very nearly ready. Honest!
Labels: brainstorming, low carbon agenda, tips
# posted by Gareth Kane : 06:00
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Thursday, 29 May 2008
Carbon Trust 'could do better', but can they?
The UK's Committee of Public Accounts has criticised the Carbon Trust's ability to cut emissions as 'pretty small beer'. The committee has listed a number of reasons why the Trust can't be more effective (reluctance of senior executives, EU rules), but, in my opinion, they miss the big one.The Carbon Trust, along with Envirowise and other similar business support organisations, works on the model of an 'expert' walking into a business, spotting a number of potential improvements, writing them up with some signposting to other help and sending the business the results. This is bound to fail for the following reasons:
1. The 'expert' spends most of the visit trying to understand the operations and has limited time to get under the skin of the business. As a result, savings opportunities tend to be drawn from a generic list.
2. The 'expert' is given no opportunity for trial and error, pilot projects or doing anything particularly innovative.
3. The business has little or no ownership of the solutions and is unlikely to implement them.
This doesn't just go for Government backed schemes, but much traditional consultancy. So what can be done differently?
OK, how about:
1. The 'expert' carries out a baseline assessment of the business's operations.
2. The 'expert' and the client put together an team drawn from the client's staff.
3. The 'expert' briefs the team on the baseline and trains them on what a low carbon business would look like (check out this month's Low Carbon Agenda for a generic model).
4. The team meets over an extended period of time to develop solutions, piloting them and monitoring their implementation.
5. The 'expert' gradually hands over the process to the team so it becomes self sustaining.
Trust me, that would beat the old model hands down. If you want to try it, give me a shout on 0191 265 9850.
Labels: carbon trust, change management, envirowise, low carbon agenda
# posted by Gareth Kane : 12:01
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Tuesday, 26 February 2008
New! Low Carbon Agenda Newsletter
This week we're very proud to launch "The Low Carbon Agenda", a new, free, monthly newsletter which will explain what the Low Carbon Economy is and how to make the most of it. Topics include:- Carbon Footprinting
- Carbon Management
- Low Carbon Processes
- Low Carbon Supply Chains
- Low Carbon Products & Services - what they are and how to sell them
To subscribe, simply complete the form here on the Resources Page. Back issues will also appear on this page.
Labels: low carbon agenda
# posted by Gareth Kane : 08:14
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A highly accessible, practical guide to those who want to introduce sustainability into their business or organization quickly and effectively.
