<Eco-Times Home

Less Really is More
By: Nigel Williams

In creating the book The Green Millionaire, I have spent the last year traveling the country meeting some of the most interesting people, many have been lawyers who created cleaning products, dentists who wanted to sell solar panels, students who invented gadgets that can power any device by simply walking.

They all share one thing in common, they want to do something, and just as they want to do something, so do I. I am not an inventor, but I can get you to buy their products, I can help explain how it will make a difference in your life. (A portion of the profits will be given back to inventors out there.)

Big companies want us to consume, we measure the health of the economy by the consumer confidence index, how much stuff are people buying directly equals how well we are doing.

Now there are batteries that can last for 1,000 charges effectively replacing 1,000 batteries and about $1,500 over the life of the battery, why wouldn’t you use them? It’s just marketing making you feel that you need to use the one with the pink bunny that supposedly keeps on going.

You know the number one consideration in car buying is now gas mileage; this is not so people will care about the environment but because they care about their wallets.

And there you have it the simple key to changing you attitude is about saving money and making money getting other people to buy green products.

Many books have been written on the subject, which is good and bad. Good because it raises awareness that we must do something and bad because, quite frankly it paralyzes us about doing anything. It’s like going to the gym and seeing all the exercise equipment. We know it will do us good, but where to start and will one or two things make a difference. That’s where I come in; I want to be a personal trainer of green. I will vet the various options out there and give you my honest opinion; I am not going to suggest any crazy stuff like turning up the thermostat and walking around the house naked, although that isn’t a bad idea. I just don’t think the in-laws would approve when they come to visit.

No, the things I will suggest are simple steps you can take. After all Green is not something you a can attain over night it is something you must head towards. As your buying habits change, so will the products people offer, look at Light beer or Hybrid cars, these are responses to consumers wishes.

You really have more power over big companies than you think.

I was a marketing guy who was able to sell products to people, cars, luggage, liquor, tires, and clothing. I could make you want things that you don’t really need. Now what If I was actually able to use that marketing know-how to actually do something that can change the world. Maybe I am exaggerating but I think that we can actually do something to help this planet, because I think that it is marketing that can change people’s perceptions. Think about it, it was a marketing campaign that helped us win World War 2, Rosie the Riveter, everyone pitched in. Smoking, it was marketing that got us hooked and it was marketing that got us to realize the health dangers of smoking.

I believe that we can change the image of what it means to live a sustainable life. The thing about an image that people respond to is that it has to ask the question: “What’s in it for me?” Well, if the future of our planet and our children’s health wasn’t enough, how about god old-fashioned wealth, imagine that not consuming the earth’s resources could actually make you wealthy beyond your 401K and savings account. This is the biggest challenge facing us and guess what? It can make you wealthy.

Nike doesn’t talk about the health benefits of its products. Use these running shoes and you will lower your cholesterol. No it’s about being cool. Green must become cool and the Green Millionaire is the first book of it’s kind to make people feel smart for the green choices they make.

What the real value of this book is, is education, I will show you how can spread the word and make a ton of green by going green. How does that sound?

How about having an air conditioning system just for your bed that allows you to save on AC at night. It’s called a bed fan and it’s less than $100.

The average family will spend up to $4,000 a year just on beverages such as coffee, bottled water and soda. In the book it shows you how alternatives that are better but at a fraction of the cost (bottled water is 10,000 times more expensive than tap water)

I originally sold the book for $29.95 in a hardback edition but decided to give it away free as an e-book online. (with a $1 admin fee) I did this to really reach as many people as I could. You will also like the fact that you can click on any of the tips and be linked to get more information and videos online.

Nigel J. Williams was born in England and moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. Before changing careers, he enjoyed a successful career in advertising, working with many of the world’s biggest brands and creating some of America’s most memorable TV commercials. He believes that happiness is found in the here-and-now, rather than in the hoped-for future.

He is married with two amazing kids and lives with his family in Los Angeles. This is his first book.

Readers of this magazine can get the book for free at:
www.greenmillionairefree.com