In my over 15 years of talent recruitment–and within them nearly seven years writing and speaking about executive careers in the New Green Economy–I have given a lot of mind space to green jobs.
In 2007, when I first wrote about green jobs, the green jobs narrative was red-hot. Back then, green jobs commanded a lot of real and virtual ink. And more importantly, “green jobs” was the motion lotion that jet-propelled the 2008 Obama for America campaign and movement.
In late 2009, when I presented my book editor the manuscript for Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy, [she] said “your timing is excellent–[this book] is going to sell well because ‘green jobs’ [currently] ranks in the top five of reader interests.”
Fast forward to present day 2014 and thankfully there remain in my world several thought-leaders who continually champion green jobs–and a handful like me who promote green executive careerism. Still, “green jobs” hardly gets mentioned in mainstream media. But when it does, it is usually attached to some perceived failure in public policy or “betting on winners,” such as in this CBS News story.
So given that, is the green jobs narrative still relevant?
Ask a pundit that question, and you’ll get an answer framed according to his or her political bent or special interest: progressives will tend to argue that the green jobs narrative is as valid as it has ever been, especially since the 90 million-strong Millennial generation demands noble and purposeful work that generates profits, but also helps people and saves the planet. On the other end of the spectrum, conservative pundits will tend to argue vociferously that the green jobs narrative is a pipe dream based on fuzzy math and questionable environmental science. Ugh.
But ask entrepreneurs–especially eco-entrepreneurs who create innovation in the cleantech, renewable energy, and resource sustainability sectors–and the answer is an emphatic “YES!” To them, the green jobs narrative is indeed relevant. And we’re sure, most if not all of them would add that [it] is more important than ever.
And we agree. Green jobs–assignments which are both innovative and purposeful–will create millions of economic opportunities that will grow and strengthen the U.S. economy for the next 40 to 50 years. These jobs–whether they are blue-collar ones tinted green or green executive career roles–will help us achieve real economic sustainability while they expand environmental sustainability and many other positive outcomes.
A few years back, I grew a bit distressed when key members of Congress stopped touting green jobs. Now, I believe that their silence on the subject is indeed a blessing.
When we allow elected officials and political pundits to frame the green jobs narrative, it does our growing business space absolutely no good. We as entrepreneurs and professional careerists must wrest control of this narrative. We must re-frame green jobs employment in clear and positive return-on-investment (ROI) language. The cleantech, renewable energy, and resource sustainability innovations we create now and in the next 40 to 50 years will help thousands of businesses save money and return more cash to the bottom line. They will also create lots of new wealth…and steady employment.
And who could argue with that?
At The Green Suits, LLC, we believe that being green is good for business. We also believe that green jobs become more relevant to our economy and society when their benefits are accurately reported and supported in the pages of the Wall Street Journal rather than debated on so many pundit-populated cable news shows.
We, The Green Suits–the ambitious business executives entering the cleantech, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability sectors who seek to turn conventional companies and market verticals green and are hell bent on changing the world–have a solemn responsibility to direct the green jobs narrative towards the benefits they provide and away from manufactured controversy. When we base our successes in clear and irrefutable economic (ROI) terms, we and our growing green business space win.
And when we win, we effectively expand the New Green Economy and support the millions of so-called green jobs that are required.
Our best days lie ahead.
