Winning Green Friends And Influencing Others

I have a lot of green friends.  I have a lot of friends who are starting to go green.  I am finding that I am also influencing others with the information that I freely give away.

A while back I told you about my commitment to not use take a way containers from restaurants.  Well, last night I was at a networking mixer and ordered the 2-for-1 wings as I usually do at this event.  I ate my fill and pulled out my container to take the rest home with me.  A little while later, I see a friend pulling out her own re-usable container and filling it with her extra wings.  I couldn't believe it!  I did my little happy dance.

I talked with my friend later in the evening and she said that her family was taking up my challenge to reduce the amount of restaurant waste when they go out to eat.  We talked further and she was telling me about more little things they were doing to reduce their overall environmental impact.  Something she said really made me giggle a little and admittedly made me proud.  She said that when they accomplished some challenge I set or tip I had given, they would say "Christopher would be so proud" or if they had a question about something, "What would Christopher do?"

Is Your Business In the Green part 2

The health and well-being of employees and customers should be a top priority for business owners.  In todays business world, however, this is too often overlooked or ignored altogether.  Why?

Most business owners think this is strictly about providing insurance for all of their employees.  They couldn't be more wrong.  Insurance is like a band-aid on the real issue.  The real issue is providing a work environment that is healthy and safe for their workers and customers.  How many of your employees have Asthma or allergies?  Chances are, the majority of your employees have some form of allergy or Asthma.  How many of those employees call in sick, A LOT?  Now think about your customers.  That number goes up exponentially. If a customer or client enters a space that causes them to not feel well, they will leave it and never return.  In their subconscious mind, they are equating your office or retail space with feeling bad. 

Most of the issues these employees and customers face is caused by a chemical trigger.  That trigger could be the chemicals that were used to clean the floor, the chemicals that are being used to give the restrooms that "fresh" scent or even the chemicals that were used to clean the display area.  Does your office area or display area receive full sun in the morning or afternoon?  Is this time time of day when employees are more likely to go home because they are not feeling well?

Changing your cleaning products from chemical based cleaners to all-natural cleaners is fast, easy and will end up saving your company money.  There are some industrial cleaning supply companies out there who have been touting their "all-natural" cleaners, yet they are guilty of green washing.  If you look at the label on a bottle of cleaner and you cannot pronounce or immediately recognize the ingredients as being plants or fruits, then that product is not natural.  Finding truly all-natural products, in the past, has been the hard part of the process and requires a fair amount of work.  As always, I want to make this entire process easier for you.  The ingredients in our cleaning products are very clearly labeled and contain only ingredients that are plants and fruits.  They have been formulated to provide maximum cleaning power and yet leave no scent behind.

As a business owner you want to keep your best employees and customers coming back, yes?  By making this incredibly small change in the way your facility is managed, you are making a bold statement to your employees and customers that says, "We care about you, your families and the environment".  Wouldn't you like to be quoted in the papers saying that?  Businesses who have made this statement in the past have all been hugely successful.  When you tell people you truly care about them, they will choose you over the other guy.

Contact me today and I will show you how your business can become OnlyGreen Qualified.

Topher And The Blustery Day

Living in Arizona we do not often see the effects of climate change.  This year, however, we are seeing some crazy, crazy weather.  We have had days where the temperature only reached the upper 40's during the day and we've already had days that have hit the low 80's.  All this in only the past two months.

Today we are experiencing another day of strong winds which is making it near impossible to enjoy spending any time outside while the temperature is still warm enough.  Most of our winter has been pretty windy.  During one storm we found everything in our back yard (patio furniture, table and chairs, 7 burner grill, etc) thrown against the wall within seconds.  As a native, I can say with certainty that this is not what the weather was like growing up.

With this change in the climate, there comes new opportunities.  There's change blowing on the wind, as they say.  We still have an extreme number of days with full sun, so the application of solar energy production is still a no-brainer here.  However, with the massive increase of windy days, we can now look at wind energy as a viable option as well.

Imagine it; you have solar energy panels on your roof and it's reduced your electric bill to almost zero.  What's preventing you from reaching that zero dollar amount on your next bill?  What if you added a small wind-turbine?  There are new turbines on the market small enough to go in your back yard without being an eyesore.  We have the energy resources we need to take our city off the grid.  My question to you is; why aren't we taking advantage of it?

Earth Hour Every Week

Ever since Earth Hour first started, I have been a huge proponent of the idea.  I love it!  It reminds me to step back from everything and take a breath.  We usually end up going waaaay past the alloted hour each year.  We light a few candles and enjoy spending quality time with the neighbors.

We decided we like the idea so much, why not do it once a month?  So we did.  Once a month we would unplug all the unnecessary devices/appliances in the house and read by candle light or have a drink and play a board game with the neighbors.  This became a habit after a few months.

After our second official Earth Hour we asked ourselves, why don't we try doing this once a week?  So we did. Each week we unplug and spend some quality time together.  There's no ringing, buzzing, beeping or "background noise".

What would happen if you and your family decided to do Earth Hour once a month instead of once a year?

I Tripped!

You never see it coming.  That crack in the sidewalk.  The little stone on the path.  They are always there and always ready to trip you up.  The same goes for when you are undertaking a new long-term venture.  Little things pop-up and trip you.  I went out with some friends after a meeting this past Friday night and without thinking, decided I was going to have a chocolate shake.  I ordered it and it wasn't until I received it that I realized what I had done.  My commitment for this year was to avoid using cups from any outside sources (coffee shops, etc).

Did I beat myself up over this trip?  Nope.  I recognized that there is an area that I didn't consciously think about.  I moved on and continue with my commitment.  Have you ever tripped on a diet or exercise plan?  Did you let that install doubt about your plan.  Don't let that hinder you from reaching your goals.  Recognize and continue.

I Know I Should Do More part 4

"I just don't have the time to go shopping around for green products.  It's easier to just use what I can get at the store."  If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that, I'd be able to afford a new electric car.  Have you ever used this as an excuse to just buy whatever is on sale at the grocery store?  I used to use this excuse before the popularity of the internet rose to what it is today.  Once independent stores started putting up their own websites selling their products, I was on my green path full time.

The first thing you need to do is sign up for my newsletter.  Look to the right of this post and you'll see the sign up form.  Every Monday I will send information that will help you make the informed purchasing decisions that will green up your life.

The second thing you need to do is visit my website, www.onlygreen.com/cruggles, where you can find all of the products you need in one place.

The third thing I would recommend is hosting an EcoWorkshop.  By hosting an EcoWorkshop, you can learn more about ingredients in your current every day products and experience some great green alternatives.  You also get to spend an evening with your friends.  These are fun, informative events that are big on education with no hard selling.  Contact me today to book yours.

I Know I Should Do More part 3

It is my hope that you have thought about taking control of your environment.  The next step is the most vital piece of information you need on your path to going green.  Are you ready?  Here it is: Only buy products as you need them!  Far too many people think they have to change everything all at once.  This will empty your bank account fast.  If you notice that you are running low on a product (shampoo, lotion, bathroom cleaner, etc), then start looking for an all-natural replacement.

If you follow this one simple rule, your transition to a greener, healthier lifestyle will be super easy and will probably actually save you money.  In fact, if you host an OnlyGreen EcoWorkshop, you can take advantage of our wonderful Host Rewards program and receive several of the products you want at no cost.

Variety Is The Spice

The saying goes; "variety is the spice of life".  If that is true, then most of us live pretty exciting lives!  I know I sure do.  I want to throw out a question; Is there any variety in the products you are using every day?  Or are you still using the same products you were using back in 1990 because they are familiar?  It's probably time you took a long look at those products (soaps, lotions, cosmetics, etc) and make the decision to try something new.  Not just something new, something that is all-natural and new.

The majority of us go through our day using products that we don't think about.  We've been using this product for 10 years and it works just fine, why would we switch?  Well, it's not switching just to switch.  It's switching to something that will increase your health and help clean your personal environment.

Go into your bathroom right now and look at all the products you have in the cupboard.  How long have you been using each one?  Pick the one you have been using the longest and do an internet search for a healthier version of that product.  In fact, give me a call and I can show you several.

The Cost of Living Green

I attend quite a few networking events here in Phoenix.  I was at one last night, which is my favorite, and met someone who asked me what I do and proceeded to tell me, quite forcefully, that living green was cost prohibitive and that one couldn't sustain that kind of "lifestyle" indefinitely.  She also said that it would eventually lead people to a life of crime to pay to continue living this way.  This last statement really shocked me.  How on earth could living a green life lead one to commit crime?  Her reply to this question was simple: truly green products and services cost too much.  Aha!  I hear that a lot.  "I know I should use natural products, but they cost too much.  I can get the regular stuff much cheaper."

If you are shopping for green products at your local grocery store or boutique store, these products are going to be more expensive.  Are they really more expensive to create and manufacture?  Nope.  They are actually cheaper to produce than the chemical alternatives.  You don't need special training for your employees to handle the ingredients because they are all-natural.  Your insurance costs go down because your employees are healthier.  You don't need special storage and removal equipment and services to handle the, oftentimes, toxic chemicals.  Companies are charging more for these products because they can.  To make matters worse, the majority of these products aren't really "green" at all.  There are several companies, however, that are stepping up to the plate with truly green products at prices that meet or beat what you can purchase at the supermarket.  OnlyGreen is one of those companies.

When you make the decision to stop onto the path of going green, you are laying claim to your personal environment.  I talked about this in a previous blog.  Your environment is that area commonly known as "personal space".  I urge you to read it, it's good stuff!  Once that commitment has been made and you begin walking that path, you are going to find some undeniable truths; your health will improve (which will result in lower medical care costs), all-natural products are often concentrated (you use less to do more, saving you more money), more and more businesses are offering discounts on goods and services (many stores give you a discount for each bag you re-use, many coffee shops give you a discount for bringing your own cup).  If you are saving money at almost every turn, it's impossible to rationalize this idea.

The idea that going green is more expensive is a horrible myth that we must dispel.  I always urge my clients to investigate the products they currently use and the total expense of that product.

It's A Numbers Game

I recently came across an amazing video that I want to share with you.  It was made by National Geographic.  The statistics shown in the video are incredible.

I welcome your comments.

I Know I Should Do More part 2

Do you feel your curb-side recycling takes enough?  They don't.  Most city recycling centers are still in "landfill" mode and don't see the benefits to increasing their recycling capabilities.  This doesn't mean that you can't do more.  You can recycle as much as you want.  If you take a little time at the beginning, the process is simple, quick and actually makes you money.

You can recycle almost anything.  Here are the steps to recycling more:

1. Look at what you are putting in your regular garbage can.  Make a list.  Are you putting in plastics, papers or glass that you suspect could be recycled?

2. You want to locate a good recycling center near you.  To do that, you want to visit this link: Earth911.

3. Almost all recycling centers require you to separate everything once you are there.  Save yourself all that work and separate it before hand.  Look at the list you made in step one and pick up a container for each type of material you are going to take to the center.  Now when you throw that stuff out, it's already sorted and you don't have to do it at the center.

4. Decide when you are going to take your materials to the recycling center.  Will you need to go once a week, two weeks or maybe only once a month?  You'll have a better idea of when you need to take it in once you start collecting it.

5. Take your containers to the recycling center.  They will normally have bins to transfer the materials into.  Since you don't have to stand there and sort everything out, this is super easy and quick.  They will weigh everything and give you a receipt and send you to the office where you will get paid for the materials you brought in.

What are you going to do with that extra money?  I really want to know how you do with this.  Leave a comment telling everyone how your efforts are going and what you are going to do with the extra money.

I Know I Should Do More part 1

This is a comment I hear A LOT!  People who they should do  more, yet don't.  Most often when asked why they don't do what they feel is "more", they usually say, "I just don't have the time" or "I don't know where to start, there's so much to do and I feel overwhelmed".

Have you said those things?  Are you still saying those things?  Someone recently asked me who my main competitor was.  I gave my usual reply and they told me I was wrong.  This was obviously confusing; how could I be wrong?  I keep on top of that kind of thing.  Her reply was, Time.  Time is the competitor to all.  It's always working against us and it's usually in the lead.  So I looked at the "I just don't have time" response and asked someone who has given me that excuse what their typical days consists of.  I was blown away by the response!  This person was doing less in an entire day than I do in 2 hours each day.  Yet, somehow, they just couldn't get things done and are always putting things off.  You've no doubt heard the phrase, work smarter not harder.  We each have the same 24 hours every day.  What makes the difference is HOW those hours are spent.  Are you trying to multi-task?  Here's a secret; multi-tasking doesn't work.  It only serves to keep you distracted from finishing anything.  Do you have systems in place to take care of all the repetitive stuff?  You should.

One of the reasons I started my business was to help people who were "overwhelmed" and give them a starting point.  There is an amazing amount of information out there and it can be extremely time consuming trying to sift through it all to learn what you need.  If you had access to someone who knew the answer, wouldn't give them a call rather than spend all the time trying to find the answer?  I wanted to be that person.  I am that person.  If you have any questions about anything "green" feel free to contact me.

A Different Conversation

The environment, it's not some abstract concept that you can not touch or feel or see.  It is very real and always around you.  This is how I want the conversation to start: Are you concerned about YOUR environment?  This is a pretty easy question to ask, but not one that is easy to answer for most people.

Let's define the idea of "your environment".  We all know what personal space is.  It is a three foot perimeter around you.  And if someone invades that space, most of us get defensive and irritated.  You've already claimed that area around you.  But are you taking care of that space?  What are you doing to ensure that area remains free from cancer-causing chemicals, hormone-altering pesticides or even physical debris?  I've really only changed the name of "personal space" here, however, now that it has a new name and some definition, it has a completely different emotional impact.

Now that you have been put in control of your environment, what are you going to do to make sure it's a healthy space?  How would you feel if someone littered in that space?  Or if they sprayed harmful chemicals in that space?  Your environment doesn't belong to anyone else and no one has the right to pollute it without your permission.  I have already made the commitment to keep my environment as clean as I can.  Will you?

End The Year Right

It's hard to believe I haven't posted anything since the beginning of the month.  For that I apologize.  To make it up to you, keep an eye on this blog in January.  There will be a new post every day.

There has been a lot of activity this year in regards to the environmental movement and I am honored to have been allowed to share some of that with you.  My goal with my business and in my personal life is education.  Educate others about healthier, alternative products and ways of doing things.  I, myself, have learned an amazing amount in such a short time.  By following me online or attending one of my EcoWorkshops or even just meeting me at a networking event, I hope you learned something to.  If you came away from any of my information sources with a new piece of information you then shared with someone else, I have accomplished my goal.  Thank you.

Remember, this blog is not effective unless other people read it.  Please click the button to Follow me and share the link with others.

I hope you have a time during the next few days and I wish you health and prosperity for the new year.

Building Blocks

Last night at a networking event, someone asked me why I joined OnlyGreen.  A number of people have asked me this question and I wanted to share with you, the reason why.

Like so many people in the last three years, I was called into a meeting last summer and was handed my exit package, offered a handshake and thanked for my dedication to the company.  I was devastated and a little bit relieved.  The relief came from the knowledge that I was not going to endure the stress of live television any longer.  The devastation came from knowing that I now had no income and no way to pay my bills.  Which at the time were pretty high due to being laid off from another job just three years prior.  After retreating to the safety of my home and licking my wounds for a week or two I realized I needed a new plan.  Relying on others for a paycheck obviously was not working.  I had been laid off 3 times in three years.  The economy was ruining my personal financial situation.

I sat down over the course of a week and made a list of my skills and a list of things I am passionate about as well as a list of things I enjoy doing.  I'm a bit of techno-geek so a lot of my skills were computer based.  That list was actually quite easy.  The list of things I am passionate about was a little more difficult to filter down into a list.  Once I started writing things down, a pattern started to emerge.  Making a list of things I enjoy doing was super easy.  Now that I had these three lists and I saw them side by side I instantly saw what I needed.  I needed something that incorporated my passion for the environment, my love of meeting new people, my desire to make a difference in the lives of others, my analytical mind and the security of not relying on others for a paycheck.

I then set about brainstorming how I could acquire all of those things in one job.  Obviously, starting with the financial security issue, I need to be working for myself.  Now the issue was, how do I make that happen and what kind of business to start.  As I finished this brainstorming session with myself, my attention was diverted to a blog reviewing a new company that had just started up and they were looking for independent consultants.  I visited their website and read through all of the information they had available as well as their product line.  Their company vision, mission and business opportunity matched what I was looking for to a T.

Today, the hours I work are set by me and are subject to change as MY needs change, not someone else's.  I have the satisfaction of knowing that the paycheck I earn is not based on someone else's idea of what I am worth.  My paycheck is based on what I KNOW I am worth; which is quite a lot.  :)  In addition to this, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help other people realize their goals and dreams.

This is why I joined OnlyGreen.  Does my story sound familiar?  I am building a strong team of sharp, passionate people who want to make a real difference in their communities.  We make the transition to a greener, healthier lifestyle as seamless and painless as possible.  How do we do this?  Through education and a complete range of all-natural products.  For the month of December, I am making it even easier for people to join my team by reducing the cost of the Starter Kit.  Right now, new team members will receive their Kit for $169.   The actual retail value is over $325.  Have you or someone you know faced hardship in this new economy?  Click this LINK for more information.  Remember, this special price will not be offered again.

Why Should I Go Green?

Today I wanted to write about the reasons why you should be moving toward more all-natural, organic products in your home.  Instead of writing, I decided instead to give you a short video that breaks it all down.



The process of going green is incredibly simple.  The process consists of one part; education.  When you know what is in the products you use every day, you are then able to make Informed Purchasing Decisions.  As is often said by a man that I respect highly, "Once you learn something, your brain never goes back to the size it was."  Once you have the knowledge, you will always have it.  No one can take it away from you.  So the next time you are about to make a purchase, look at the label.  If you don't know what the ingredients are, call me 602-492-5184.

Do you have a green question that is just nagging at you?  Send it to me!  And remember to sign up for my weekly newsletter below.

Catch Me If You Can

How many of us know we should be moving toward the use of all-natural products, yet we either don't know where to look or we don't think we can afford them?

With OnlyGreen, you have the opportunity to shop for all-natural products from the comfort of your home AND they are priced to fit within your budget!

Now I am going to boost the fun and easy ratio by challenging you to Catch Me If You Can!  Connect to my Facebook page, Twitter feed or Foursquare feed and find out where I am at every day.  If you "catch" me at a nearby location, you'll receive an OnlyGreen gift certificate.

I have already given out two since Monday and I want you to receive one too!  And share this with your friends.  Do you recommend new products to friends and neighbors?  Make this recommendation and they will thank you for it!

Changing the Conversation

I had an epiphany last night as I was watching one of my favorite shows online.  We need to stop using the phrase "Save the Planet".  This big blue floating marble we call home is going to be here no matter what we do.  No matter how much we pollute the water, the air and the soil; the earth will still be here floating silently in space.  What won't be here is the plants, animals and us.

It's time we changed the conversation.  We're not saving the earth, we're saving ourselves from extinction.  I know this sounds dire, but that is the plain and simple truth of it.  In talking with people I have always put forward the idea that going green was about creating a healthier environment, but I didn't follow the thinking all the way through to the end.  This is what it's all about.

Think about this scenario; a deserted town, the inhabitants left 100 years ago, has been sitting undisturbed.  Slowly the buildings have begun to crumble and surrounding wilderness has overtaken most of what is left.  The earth will always survive.  We won't.  We can't keep dumping toxic chemicals into our water supply.  We can't keep messing with the genetic makeup of our food supply.  We can't keep releasing gases into the air that choke us.

Going green means you are saving yourself, your children and your community from becoming extinct.

You might feel overwhelmed with this revelation but there is a clear, easy way to make sure that the human race continues.  Start making small changes in the products you buy each week.  If the products on the label are ones you can't pronounce, are listed as "other" or are not recognizable, don't buy it.  Look for products that are all-natural and biodegradable. Say no to plastic water bottles and use a re-usable bottle or cup.  Take your re-usable shopping bags with you whenever you go shopping.  These are easy, easy steps that everyone can take and they will make a huge difference.  But don't stop there.  Educate yourself on the products that you use, then educate those around you.

What's on your fruits and veggies?

With a focus on 5 servings each day, it’s no secret that we all have to love our fruits and veggies. They are extremely beneficial and packed full of essential fibers and vitamins. With this in mind, we all know that they are a must in our daily intake…but how do you ensure that you are just ingesting the benefits? 

When you walk into your local grocery store, the variety of fresh produce that is available to you is astounding. However, it has to make you wonder, how do they get perfectly fresh looking strawberries in the dead of winter? What pesticides and insecticides did the producers use to grow them? What waxy, synthetic preservatives were used to keep them looking so great on their long journey to get here? 

The Environmental Working Group published a list based on a five-year analysis, completed in 2005, that shows which foods consistently scored the highest in pesticide levels and toxicity and which scored the lowest. Below are the charts with their findings, commonly called ‘The Dirty Dozen’ and ‘The Consistently Clean’ 


*Contamination was measured in six different ways and crops were ranked based on a composite score from all categories. The higher the score, the higher the pesticide load. Get the full results of the study at www.foodnews.org. SOURCE: ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP 


So how do we take better care of exactly what is going into our bodies from our necessary fruits and veggies? A couple of easy ways are to try and buy organic and locally as often as you can. You can also add a safe and high quality fruits and vegetables wash to your meal preparations.

OnlyGreen offers a new all natural Fruits and Veggies Wash, specially formulated using some of the key gentle ingredients from our popular SoapBerry line. Learn more… 

The Story of Cosmetics - A Must See For Everyone!

From the geniuses that brought us the Story of Stuff comes The Story of Cosmetics; a detailed look at the hard truth of the cosmetic industry and what each consumer should be aware of when making a purchasing decision.

Similar to the style of the original Story of Stuff, this latest video explains the cosmetics industry from an educated perspective, but using language and examples that each viewer can associate with. Story of Stuff Project creator, Annie Leonard, walks us through the ingredients, laws and regulations and process that few consumes understand when buying and using health and beauty products. “I like that Annie says it isn't our fault that there are chemicals in our products. She is absolutely right. But, now that we are aware of this, it is our fault if we continue to support these companies that are greenwashing their lines or using chemicals despite the growing evidence against them.” says OnlyGreen EcoAdvisor Tanis Danyluk.

To lend even more clout to an already great film The Story of Stuff Project collaborated with safecosmetics.org to produce this latest video. Safecosmetics.org, creators of the safe cosmetic database, are leaders in bringing cosmetic product knowledge to everyday consumers. 

Following suit with product lines VADA and Halsa, the new Opal line of cosmetics from OnlyGreen is formulated using the safest possible ingredients, giving consumers a healthy alternative while maintaining great quality. The Opal line comes packaged in 100% recycled, handmade and biodegradable boxes that contain wild flower seeds, allowing them to be planted and making this line a zero waste product. “I cringe when I think of all that goes into what we put on OUR FACE, of all places. Not only is the Opal line beautiful but you genuinely feel confident that you are doing the best for your face, your conscience and the environment when you are "beautifying" in the morning. The cute packaging that can be planted to grow flowers is an added bonus!” adds EcoAdvisor Ferrah Graham. 

OnlyGreen is already a proud signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and will have all of our health and beauty and baby care products uploaded to the Safe Cosmetic Database by October 1st, 2010. We are excited to take the proactive step of having our brands added to this great initiative.