I sometimes look at my inbox and want to run away from it. A lot of what I get is junk, some is not expected yet worth keeping and some of it I have been waiting impatiently for. Does this sound like you? Or do you see how many unread messages are there and don't bother looking, you just move on to something else?
When designing my weekly newsletter, I sent out the mock-up to many people asking for feedback. I worked hard to implement the suggestions given. Some of them just didn't work and were scrapped. Others made my newsletter so much better than I had originally planned. I needed it to be something that was easy to read, informative and something that people looked forward to receiving each week.
Have you seen it? I send out a new one every Monday morning. In it you will find a recipe for dinner, information about current eco-issues and questions from subscribers. You'll find the sign-up form just to the right of this post, please take a minute to fill it out and subscribe.
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Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Is Your Business In The Green? part 1
I have said before that I do a lot of networking here in the valley. Every week I meet business owners who may recycle at home, yet they don't in their business. I find this very strange. I know that part of the reason is that there is no recycling service as part of their regular waste disposal in most cities here. I try to impart this little nugget of information to each business owner I meet; greening your business is more than just recycling. Recycling just happens to be the most popular place to start for most people.
Does your business have a break room or kitchen? Do you supply the cups, cutlery and plates/bowls? There are amazing products available to business owners to make a HUGE difference in just this one area. There are cups, cutlery, plates and bowls made from corn, made from sugarcane and other plants, that are biodegradable/compostable. There are garbage bags made from corn that break biodegrade so that the contents can properly break down. Next week, keep an eye on your break room or kitchen and take a mental note of the waste and types of waste produced in five days. Once you have an idea of the amount, now multiply that by 51. Now think about this; what if all of that completely biodegraded and didn't exist after a few months.
Does your business have a break room or kitchen? Do you supply the cups, cutlery and plates/bowls? There are amazing products available to business owners to make a HUGE difference in just this one area. There are cups, cutlery, plates and bowls made from corn, made from sugarcane and other plants, that are biodegradable/compostable. There are garbage bags made from corn that break biodegrade so that the contents can properly break down. Next week, keep an eye on your break room or kitchen and take a mental note of the waste and types of waste produced in five days. Once you have an idea of the amount, now multiply that by 51. Now think about this; what if all of that completely biodegraded and didn't exist after a few months.
Monday, January 17, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
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 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.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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.
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.
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