My Climate Journey Monthly Update #15 (February 2020)

If you are new to this list, welcome! This is an update to My Climate Journey, which I have been sending monthly to keep people posted on the ground I have been covering, what I am learning along the way, my evolving worldview, and the key areas I am planning to tackle next. It is meant both to be forced accountability, and also a way to enable others who care about climate change to better understand the nature of the problem and what they can do to help. 

February was an action-packed month. For starters, MCJ Collective officially incorporated! This will be the umbrella org for all of MCJ’s efforts, including the podcast and other forms of media, digital/physical events and convening, and my continued personal investing in climate-focused companies. We have a ton of work in front of us, but at least now we’re official!

KEY GOALS FROM LAST MONTH & RESULTS

Goal #1: Hire paid intern or chief of staff

Result: Completed!

Brought on Thai Nguyen as chief of staff (on consulting basis initially) to be my key right hand for keeping the trains running on time across MCJ’s portfolio of activities, as well as a strategic thinking partner. He has been in for a few weeks already, and hasn’t wasted any time in jumping in and making a big impact. Welcome, Thai!

Goal #2: Get pod sponsor model implemented with one sponsor

Result: Got pod sponsor model defined, media deck (almost all the way) put together, and tested a cross-promo with another climate-focused podcast, as a means of distribution, but also to work out the mechanics for sponsorship. It was pretty straightforward, so the next step is to find more mission-aligned sponsors and/or potential cross-promo partners. We will be very selective and tasteful about how we incorporate :) If you know anyone who might be interested to explore, send them my way. But only if they are orgs you love, and ideally if they are already part of this community!

Goal #3: Attend at least one MCJ event

Result: This one was a home run! The event in SF had something like 70 attendees, and we recorded a live MCJ episode there as well. And there have been other recent MCJ events popping up, including one I missed on my home turf here in Boston, that I heard was very good. Definitely an interest area to help facilitate more of these, so if you want to organize one for your city, get in touch and we will help you get going!

KEY GOALS FOR THIS MONTH

Goal #1: First paying pod sponsor

Goal #2: Fleshed out thoughts around what expanding my investing efforts could look like.

Goal #3: Five (5) additional meetups planned, either in existing cities or new ones (this is really a goal for all of you!)

Goal #4: Get a live MCJ taping with a special guest on the calendar on stage at a conference. I had a close call on this with a very high profile guest and event this month that would have been amazing, but the dates didn’t quite work out. It got me excited about the concept, though! If you have suggestions for events and/or luminary guests to try to land, I am all ears :)

Until next month, thanks all! And for those in there already (or who want to be), see you in the slack room.

Jason