I’m not too long ago again from two months off — my “sorta-batical,” as I dubbed it final spring — copious quantities of downtime punctuated with occasional work-related actions. As I introduced in my sign-off column in June, I supposed to have interaction in some psychological rewilding, quieting my mind within the hopes it could repopulate with new concepts, inspirations and insights.

A lot as I loved the summer season of 2023, I’m not but certain what, precisely, sprouted. However it was nonetheless refreshing, a time of pondering, of soul-searching, of evaluation.

Amongst my overriding questions: At age 71, how do I finest present up on this second, professionally talking?

Answering this has grow to be my quest, not only for myself however for my demographic cohort — these of a sure age who’ve spent a long time serving to corporations and their stakeholders embrace sustainability in all its many dimensions, and who are usually not but able to fade away. What’s our highest and finest function on this second? Ought to we proceed to do what we’ve at all times accomplished, or do the instances demand that we present up in a different way?

When, if in any respect, does it make sense for us to depart the scene altogether, gracefully and graciously, passing the baton to a youthful, extra various era and rooting them on from the sidelines?

It’s not a tutorial query. GreenBiz Group, the corporate I co-founded, is rising and prospering. My position lately is essentially to go searching corners to see what’s subsequent, to mentor younger (and a few not-so-young) staff members and to write down sometimes. I’ve been absolved of administration duties: Not considered one of our 80-plus staff experiences to me. As such, there’s a newfound spaciousness in my skilled life.

It’s getting tougher to know the place finest to intervene. What do you suppose?

In the meantime, the world of sustainable enterprise by which GreenBiz operates is doing each higher and worse than hoped. Higher, in that extra corporations are making extra and greater commitments, aided by applied sciences which can be getting higher and cheaper and cleaner. Worse, in that none of that is progressing shortly or boldly sufficient to really handle the local weather disaster, the biodiversity disaster and different essential societal points.

It’s getting tougher to know the place finest to intervene.

So, the questions: What’s my highest and finest function on this planet of sustainability? What initiatives and relationships could be participating and impactful? How a lot to lean in — and the way a lot to step apart?

Asking my friends

This summer season, I checked in with greater than a dozen pals and colleagues — sustainability elders all, whether or not in age, expertise or each — to see how they’re addressing these questions. With little prompting, they let unfastened with a barrage of considerations and anxieties.

“It’s been on my thoughts an important deal,” stated one longtime colleague. (I’ll chorus from figuring out people as a result of not one of the conversations was on the report.) “My dedication is stronger than ever, however my optimism is waning. I really feel like I’m ready and hoping that issues will change, however they by no means actually do.”

“I’m annoyed,” provided one other. “As exhausting as I’m working, it looks like issues are shifting within the improper route. We actually have to step issues up however, frankly, I’m bored with pushing a rock up a hill.”

“I’m not fairly certain what to do subsequent,” confessed a 3rd pal. “There’s so many individuals doing so many issues, however I’m unsure we’re all making sufficient of a distinction. I’m going to maintain doing what I’ve at all times accomplished however, more and more, I’m unsure that’s the correct strategy.”

The conversations ran the gamut: those that are enthusiastic and dedicated as ever; those that are drained and shedding hope; those that’ve grown cynical about whether or not there’ll ever be sufficient cash and political will to propel the world right into a clear, round and equitable financial system — and to take action in comparatively brief order. There is no scarcity of eco-anxiety.

Quite a lot of confessed to experiencing a number of of those seemingly conflicting feelings without delay. I depend myself amongst them.

I may do extra, however what?

Amid all this I’ve been impressed and energized by the budding “fashionable elder” motion, popularized by entrepreneur Chip Conley, who has a terrific ebook and a fascinating TED Speak on the topic. Fashionable elders, says Conley, a profitable entrepreneur within the hospitality sector, are individuals in midlife or older who, amongst different traits, are as curious as they’re smart. And reasonably than looking for the highlight of being a “sage on the stage,” they shift to turning into a “information on the facet,” sharing the knowledge they’ve gleaned via a long time of expertise in life and work.

That moderately describes me lately (though, reality be informed, I nonetheless experience being a “sage on the stage”). I spend a portion of each week serving to my youthful colleagues glean the insights of my 35 years in sustainability (and practically 50 years as a journalist), hoping to speed up their studying curves to grow to be leaders in their very own proper. It’s a pleasure watching them rise to the problem.

However is it sufficient? Hardly. Is there extra I will be doing? Positively. What, precisely, are these issues? That’s — an open query.

I am nonetheless pondering that final query, my contemplative summer season however. Extra importantly, I’m thinking about listening to what others suppose.

I’ve initiated a dialogue on the subject over on LinkedIn and look ahead to your ideas.