Are You Spending to Impress?
Posted by Gail | Filed under Life Lessons
Years ago I read the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin and it had a profound effect on me. I mean profound. It was one of the touchpoints of my life – a place where I changed direction (in this case, because I had learned something new). If you haven’t read the book, give it a go and see what you think.
Up until that point, I was willing to spend money to impress. When I bought my sports car, I felt great in it. I had vanity plates and I was HOT! When I wore expensive suits, did my hair up, put on my make-up, I did it to impress. I was very young and suffering from a wicked case of Imposter Syndrome, and all the trappings of success meant I was successful.
As I have moved through my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn a lot lessons. My children came with a huge number of lessons, some of which I am still trying to master. One of the most important lessons I learned – from my kids, from my reading, from my true friends – is that it doesn’t matter what things look like, it’s what things ARE that’s important
What I have found as I’ve observed those who are still struggling with Imposter Syndrome or The Need to Impress is that they are willing to spend lots of money just to feel they are keeping pace with the trends. If they can pull a little into the lead, even for a few moments, by having a shiny new toy or a slick new th’ang, they’re happy to do so. What I have found among those who no longer have the need to impress is the desire to experience life – in all it’s small and large ways – fully.
Can you imagine being among a group of friends who do not spend their time showing off their new shoes and accepting the “oohs” and “aahs” that are the social requirement? How about being with people who don’t spend their time together sharing bland compliments and insulting those who may not be around? Can you believe she wore those pants? He makes good money, why doesn’t he get a decent haircut!
If you want to be really impressive, focus on being positive towards everyone. It’s fricken hard; I’ve been working on this one a lot. The reason it’s so hard is that it is in our nature to one-up the next guy and when we see the opportunity we often take it. And it is from this that our Need to Impress is born. But you have the opportunity each time you see the situation setting up for a Impress-Fest to guide the conversation to a better place.
Instead of participating in the Mine is Bigger Than Yours game, share your ideas, your learning, your experiences with personal growth. Instead of talking about STUFF, talk about what you’re thinking, feeling, learning. Talk about your dreams. Talk about what you want to accomplish. Talk about your challenges and how you’re dealing with them. And encourage those around you to share their dreams and aspirations.
If your friends are stuck on STUFF, it may be time to find some new friends. No, you don’t have to dump the old ones, but if you want to head off in a new direction, it’s always nice to have a like-minded pal along for the journey. Call up someone you’ve met who you may have thought of as interesting but simply not a good fit for your group and see what they’re up to. Broaden your friendship circles. Broaden your horizons.
The next time you feel the need to use STUFF to make a statement about YOU, ask yourself this: What is it I’m trying to say about me? Is it yet one more attempt to impress? If so, think about this: You’re a pretty special person all on your own. You’re living a unique life. And you have important information to share about how to be happy. Maybe it’s time to let your friends focus on YOU instead of the STUFF.
November 20, 2009 at 7:36 am
Our track right now is less stuff. Due to baby #2 taking the office as his bedroom we’ve had to find new places for all that stuff. I look at it and wish it would all go away. Some of it is necessary of course but some of it I’m sure is not. Every day I try to get rid of one more thing I’ve forgotten we have or that we hardly use. I’ve given a lot of stuff away or repurposed it- like the giant serving bowl that was gathering dust, it now holds all the kids’ mittens by the front door.
November 20, 2009 at 8:04 am
We are on the road of less stuff. I doubt I can impress with a car that is 15 years old. I can’t remember the last time I received ohhhs and ahhhs for something I’ve purchased. I also try to avoid that gossip back talk. I’m actually really glad I don’t have friends that judge like that. Our idea of impressing friends comes down to planning a great meal, cooking it up and enjoying the company of our friends.
regards,
Jason
November 20, 2009 at 8:35 am
It’s amazing to me to see how positivity takes longer to catch on than negativity! What I have learned is that negativity is usually due to either jealousy or people being just plain unhappy with their lives. People find it easier to jump on the negativity bus!!
Being negative, for some reason, makes people feel better (for a short time) about their own lives. This is easier than trying to make the changes needed to feel better about one’s self.
Sometimes you just cannot guide a negative conversation to something positive. When that happens, I walk away from the conversation. I don’t want or need that kind of negative vibe in my life! Most of us have enough to deal without adding this kind of caca to the mix.
Does it mean we might have to re-evaluate our friends…..absolutely!
With age comes wisdom! I totally believe this – as I get older I realize what is important and what is not. Stuff is not!!!!!
November 20, 2009 at 8:43 am
But if I invited you over for dinner, would you be happy if I served Macaroni and Cheese? I hope so
“…Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,…”, hey the Bible does come in handy sometimes. Looks are fine, but what is underneath the hood is what is important.
November 20, 2009 at 9:08 am
I agree with Jason – time spent with friends over a good dinner, a fun board game, a good movie, or even just their company, is much better than having them over to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the latest gadget or piece of furniture that we may have purchased. I don’t try to impress others, I don’t see the point… when I was younger (in my teens), I absolutely HAD to have clothes that were brand name… now, if it isn’t on sale, it doesn’t get purchased!
Shania Twain said it best: “That don’t impress me much!”… lol
November 20, 2009 at 9:38 am
I kinda wish I could say we spend to impress…that would explain some of this junk! People give us a lot, and life happens I guess. We’re preparing for baby #1 and after 2 years of trying and a few unsuccessful pregnancies the baby already has a full library and a few toys. (I may be to blame for some of that!) I think we will definitely take a minimalist approach to preparing though as family members are already excitedly shopping for us.
As far as us, none of the clothes and stuff impress us…I think we EAT all of our money or pay people to do stuff we’re too busy/lazy to do… that will have to stop soon too!
November 20, 2009 at 9:44 am
Wow! Another wonderful post Gail…loved it:)
I too remember thinking completely different and totally re-evaluated my whole life after reading Vicki & Joe’s book…and what a wonderful book it is!
We are reminded of what the important things are in life…family, friends, food and just hanging out and being ourselves with others. I love how Vicki and Joe discussed ways that you can become debt free and then if you arent happy in your job you can save enough money to not have to work again and cover off your basic monthly expenses by simple investments over a small amount of time and move onto your passion and do that with your life…your life’s work. It truly is a great life and it really is the simple joys and people that make it that way. My hubby and I have not shown off or gotten the latest and greatest of anything lately bc we are working towards a goal…but I truly do not feel like I am missing out on anything:)
November 20, 2009 at 9:57 am
I am happy to say that when I spend money now, it is all for me. This may come in the form of a cool sports car!
I’ve worked way to hard to spend it on “other peoples’ expectations of me”
November 20, 2009 at 10:03 am
Amen to the no more stuff pledge. I have very little problem with no stuff, but my wife’s family is such a big believer in ‘little nicknacks’ ‘barely useable appliances – ie a food warmer’ that it’s hard to decline these gifts without causing a major family rift, and my wife will accept them and then it’s up to me to find room for them in our 1200 sq.ft. house. Nor is she totally up to the idea of donating or selling them at a garage sale, though realistically thats’ what is going to happen next summer. It’s really hard to get some people to believe that stuff does not equal love.
November 20, 2009 at 10:37 am
In an effort to reduce the consumerism of Christmas, the adulst in both my family and my husband’s have been drawing names and shopping for just the one person. This greatly reduced the amount of unecessary and unwanted stuff coming into our lives. This year, in a lovely meeting of the minds, my husband’s family has decided to pool the money we all would have spent on the gift exchange and buy a cow/chicken/etc for a family in a developing country. We’ve all come to the conclusion none of us needs more stuff. If there was actually something we needed during the year, we bought it. Exhanging unecessary items just because the calendar indicates a gift is required seems pointess.
At first I was happy to have less shopping to do, and felt the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing we’d be helping a family in need. Now I also realize that I’m relieved we won’t be coming back from the trip to the inlaws with a car load of stuff we don’t really want in the house. I had never realized the stress Christmas was causing me. I always put it down to the planning, shopping and extra travelling. Turns out I also didn’t want the after Christmas problem of dealing with all the new stuff we’d received that I didn’t really want in our lives.
My kids want to get gifts for my husband and I, so although we don’t need any “things” I feel the need to provide some suggestions or we may wind up with knicknacks. The kids will be giving my husband a cooking class offered at the local grocery store’s kitchen studio. I’m asking for a library membership card (our nearest library is in the next town so as non-residents we have to pay $30/yr). I would have bought the 2010 card in January anyway, but now the kids will be happy they’ve given me something I’ll use, and I’m happy I don’t have something new to dust.
My idea of the perfect Christmas is one where there are no new physical things in the house on the 26th, but lots of plans for events and experiences to enjoy in the coming year.
November 20, 2009 at 11:13 am
We bought a Mercedes Benz yesterday. For Cash (no debt). It’s not to impress anyone, we’ve just always wanted this particular car. We are thrilled that we did it (it was an item on our life’s to-do-list), but we have NEVER spent this much money on something that won’t increase our net worth. This is the least responsible thing we’ve ever done (though we planned it for years). Part of me feels guilty to have such a luxury.
@Jenn: we stopped buying Christmas presents in our family years ago. “Santa” brings gifts for the kids, but other than that we focus on friends, family and giving to causes that are important to us. I don’t think anyone in our family has ever said that they miss giving or receiving presents (and I certainly don’t miss all the shopping!)
November 20, 2009 at 11:29 am
We have two home’s; one of which we live in and another one of which we have rented out in the past. We have just recently finished fixing it up and are in the process of furnishing it for our nanny to come live in. It made me sick the idea of purchasing new furnishings for the house and then I thought of people’s stuff. I sent out one email on facebook and one email at work. Between those two emails I have everything I need for the house donated… and this was all from people’s “stuff” that was collecting dust and they are happy to get rid of.
THANK YOU!
On another note last year I read a book called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz that really helped change my perspective on life.
(1) Be Impeccable With Your Word.
The broad scope of this concept is to avoid sin against yourself by what you think. Sinning against the self takes many forms: such as, putting yourself down, gossiping, or putting anybody else down because you don’t agree with what they think. Actions and words need to be consistent as part of being impeccable with yourself. The other side of the coin is the smoky mirror concept. Ruiz makes the point that our perceptions of others are merely reflections of ourselves. Therefore, to put another down or project negative words or energy towards another person, is to lash out at the other person because of our own insecurities.
(2) Don’t Take Anything Personally.
There is an awful lot of negative energy out there and some of it is directed at us by other people. If you take it personally and take on the poison of another’s words, it becomes a very negative agreement you have with yourself. What anybody thinks about you, or says about you, is really about them. Not taking it personally allows you to be in relationship with anyone and not get trapped in their stuff. This agreement can also pertain to things that we take personally that cause us to go into upset.
(3) Don’t Make Assumptions.
What we think we understand about what someone says, how someone looks at us, what someone means by what they do, etc, may often not reflect reality at all, and more often than not lead us to think badly of ourselves or of others, and reinforce not being impeccable with our word.
(4) Always Do Your Best.
Your “best” is a variable thing from moment to moment. “When you do your best, you don’t give the Judge the opportunity to find you guilty or to blame you.” You can always say, “I did my best.” There are no regrets. The other key to doing your best revolves about being in action. “Action is about living fully. Inaction is the way that we deny life. Inaction is sitting in front of the television every day for years because you are afraid to be alive and to take the risk of expressing what you are. Expressing what you are is taking action. You can have many great ideas in your head, but what makes the difference is the action. Without action upon an idea, there will be no manifestation, no results, and no reward.”
I highly encourourge everyone to check out thier local library and pick up a copy!
November 20, 2009 at 11:56 am
Great post Gail! I know a few of those “Need to Impress” people. Particularly two uncles on my dad’s side. I cannot stand it either, and it’s definitely not a jealous thing. It’s as if they have nothing else to talk about but their “stuff” and their income. You think I care?? I’m glad my family is not like that, although I see my brother becoming more like one of those “I’m Better Than You” kind. It’s annoying!
I prefer simple things, occassionally I’ll “splurge” on some new books or fabric (my latest hobby) but I won’t go on and on about it. Stuff is just stuff, other things like relationships with people make me happier.
November 20, 2009 at 12:28 pm
This is a wonderful post, Gail. “Your money or your life” had a profound effect on me too. It actually doesn’t have to take a lot of money to live a happy and full life.
“Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify!”
-Henry David Thoreau (“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” Walden)
November 20, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I’m learning to stop buying things in an attempt to impress others. I know I have done it in the past, and am ashamed to admit it but hey at least I AM admiting it, right?
I care that others respect and love me. I don’t care if they thing I am rich or poor.
November 20, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Amento all of the above…Thank You Gail!
November 20, 2009 at 1:11 pm
That book opened my eyes too, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and then read it again and again. That was more than 4 years ago and haven’t looked back since. I owe those authors huge thanks.
November 20, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Big Cajun Man – if you made the mac and cheese and I didn’t have to cook it I’d be grateful! The best and simplest meals I’ve ever made for company always seem to come with the best memories and vice versa in terms of invites. I can still remember the stacks of pancakes for lunch at a friend’s home and that was over 20 years ago!
November 20, 2009 at 1:36 pm
P.S. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened ox where there is hatred.
November 20, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I can honestly say that I never spent to impress outsiders. I did it for me. Wanted so much and wanted everything to be just perfect. If occasionally outsiders were eaten alive with envy that was just a bonus. Off course they saw just the outside not the stress and worry over money that was inside.
Today I have a hole in my winter boot plugged with a blob of silicone and we are the only house on the street that does not yet have a front lawn but I feel very, very rich. And happy. And we sleep well. We have changed our way of thinking and our attitude and have a whole new concept about what is important. Our couch is 15 years old with a spring that is sprung but we have money in the bank for us to go to the dentist twice a year. We have a budget, an emergency fund, a planned spending fund and a retirement fund . We just don’t buy it or do it unless we have the cash. We have no consumer debt or educational debt left. We have a mortgage and a car loan but both are on accelerated payments and both cost us well below what we could have “afforded” to buy. Gail said that the greatest joy of having no debt and money in the bank is that you can tell anyone to go to hell. This is real freedom, worth more than any expensive dress and impresses the hell out of our family and friends. It impresses me too.
November 20, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I used to work in a place where everyone dressed very stylishly. Then I went to business school where everyone dressed very stylishly.
Then I met my husband. He was living on a grad student’s salary with no debt. He dressed simply but I figured that one day I could change that. Then I fell in love with him, simple clothes and all, and realized what a rich life he had despite the relatively low salary. Then once I started realizing that I didn’t have to impress him with stuff, I also started freeing myself from the need to impress anyone else with stuff. I realized that not only did I not need to change him, but that he had changed me.
It has been a very liberating experience indeed! I used to love shopping, but also hate it because I would always covet more stuff than I could afford to buy. We hardly ever even hit the malls now; we just have no need. I love my husband for freeing me.
November 20, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I have to deal with this ALOT. It seems as though my generation (20 somethings) is really caught up with material possessions! And it drives me mad!
My best friend is the bad for this, granted he makes a good salary but its always about the new vehicle he is going to lease, the new reno they are doing, the new trip they are taking. I think over time he is getting better though because I don’t do this back and he recently has learned of my financial philosophy in life. My cousins are the worst for this though. For some reason they have felt the need to compete with one another (3 adult women) all their lives. One of them can afford all the goodies they purchase, the other two however are drowning themselves in debt to keep up. Since I see the huge amounts of stress and hostility it causes them I am very thankful that I do not have this relationship with my siblings. If they get a new car or go on a fancy trip I am happy for them because they both went to University for 7 years and are not going into debt doing it.
November 20, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’m with Big Cajun Man, if you cooked and it was tasty, I’d be impressed. I hate cooking. I’m also with Dana about Christmas, I still buy everyone something, but it’s soap. They all tease me but hey, everyone needs laundry detergent and sos pads. My brother rose to my defense when he got his first apartment and his box of sos pads from me. He said he needed the stuff but it wasn’t in his budget. I believe he also learned the word budget from me.
November 20, 2009 at 4:47 pm
We had stopped buying Christmas gifts for each other (adults anyways) for years now.. we just don’t need anything! This year my husband and I have decided also to get the kids in the family gift cards to their favourite stores since they are all getting older and really would love to choose their own items. Christmas (while a lovely holiday with family) has ALWAYS been stressful for me. When those lights go up so does my blood pressure! I’m so glad that we have simplified things this year and I’m looking forward to just spending time with my family and enjoying it! Thanks Gail for a wonderful post. I’m going to have to pick up that book “your money or your life” I keep hearing about it on all sorts of frugality sites. Have a great weekend everyone!
November 20, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I read Your Money or Your Life and more recently, Why Swim with the Sharks. Both excellent. One thing I’m still wrapping my head around is the Life part. I’ve got to a point in my life where I have a nice balance between time and money (by being frugal, not by earning a great deal), and I’ve had to start developing my definition of a rich, rewarding life. In many ways, it’s easier to buy the rich, rewarding life we’re being sold than to try to figure out what it means for ourselves (I think).
I find that I’ve let many friends go, as once the frequent social outings masquerading as relationships stopped, I gradually discovered that I didn’t have much in common with several of them.
Still, I’m having fun developing some hobbies, volunteering just a little bit, and enjoying the quiet. No way is mall culture going to take this away from me.
November 20, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I read ‘Your Money or Your Life’ a couple of years ago, too, and I loved it. I loved the way that it laid it out so plainly. You don’t need as much as you think you do. And buying all of that is a trade-off, because it means you need to spend the time to work for it. I haven’t been as diligent about following the 9 steps as I could be, but I have gained great value from the book nonetheless.
I think that I am lucky to have a lot of friends in the same position as I am. We have small kids, and we want to spend time with them. So we make trade-offs. We buy stuff second hand, or just avoid buying stuff altogether. We visit the library and the playground a lot. Having that support network with the same goals is so, so valuable, and I’m really very glad to have it.
November 20, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Adriane’s comment reminds me of my own experience. I worked through university as a Specialist for a variety of Designers, which meant I had to maintain a very high end wardrobe and lifestyle, and often had to have the first of this bag or those shoes and had to be at opening night for this restaurant or exhibit, to stay “competitive” in the industry and stay “in the know.” This was a common practise in the industry and expected of most employees. After University, I left my old career to pursue something in my chosen field and everything changed. My colleagues, all highly educated and respectable, weren’t the most fashionable.
So, over the last five years in my new profession, it has truly been LIBERATING to let it all go. And it has been so easy! People often ask me why I left such an exciting job for something less glamorous and I tell people it was a lifestyle choice. And it really was; aside from earning more, the amount of time and energy I have saved myself is incredible, plus its totally eliminated a large amount of stress all because I am not shopping as much and trying to acquire things so often and since I’m buying less designer goods than before I am saving a lot more money too.
November 20, 2009 at 9:34 pm
My mother downsized and moved into an apartment last year. She clearly didn’t need anymore stuff since she gave her stuff to me….so instead of stuff, I began buying tickets to the theatre, plays, museums etc. for us to go to together. She loves it and thinks it’s great since we get to spend so little time together as it is with my very high pressured, lots of business travel job. I’m thinking of starting the same thing with my young nieces, since they really don’t need stuff with two sets of doting grandparents!
November 20, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Can you imagine being among a group of friends who do not spend their time showing off their new shoes and accepting the “oohs” and “aahs” that are the social requirement?
I sure can and I hang out with every chance I get! Funny though they are a group of guys.. my husbands friends originally and now “our” friends I love knowing I can go out to their place in my wood shirt & torn up jeans and no one cares. All there just to have a good time
November 21, 2009 at 12:11 am
A few years back I went for lunch with a schoolmate who’d been a good friend in elementary & junior high, but who had moved away when she went to university. Her entire conversation revolved around material things: money, position, and how impressed she was by a fellow schoolmate’s house that she’d just seen. It was one of the most uncomfortable, boring conversations I’d ever had. Where was the level- headed girl I’d once known?
Ironically, a few weeks later I ran across the schoolmate whose house she’d been so impressed with. What did we discuss? Family, our gardens, favorite plants and the best forms of mulch to use. Yes, she had done well, but she never mentioned any of her possessions, she was still the down to earth person I’d known since grade 5. We had a wonderful visit. I haven’t seen the first friend since then but I hope she has outgrown the need to impress and be impressed by Stuff.
I’ve always preferred to travel and to experience other cultures than to have the latest things. Which is my cars last me for 15 years and my tv is at least 20 years old. Yes, I like nice clothes but I could care less about designer labels. Stuff wears out, stuff is outdated the minute you buy it. Sharing time with family and friends is so much more satisfying. In the end it’s the experiences we’ve had/shared that remain in our memories, not the stuff we bought.
November 21, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I’ve also read “Your Money or Your Life” – and it was an eye opener and definitely had an impact on my lifestyle. I have reached a point in my life where I don’t need any more stuff. Our family also no longer buys for the adults, only for the little ones at Christmas time. An ex-boyfriend of mine always impressed me because he lived in a ‘typical’ bachelor pad with minimal furnishings and half a closet full of clothes. Having not a lot of stuff just makes life so easy. The simple chore of getting ready for work in the morning is so uncomplicated when you only have 10 shirts and 4 pairs of pants. I often times stand in front of the closet trying to figure out what to wear because it’s jammed full with way too much. So, I now regularly donate ‘old’ clothes to charity. I never been one for big ticket items – don’t need the fanciest, newest gadgets – if you wait long enough – the price drastically drops as the item is replaced by something newer and fancier and more pricey. I’d much rather drop a few bucks on a great vacation than acquire more stuff.
November 22, 2009 at 10:06 am
I don’t spend to impress.
I spend to get what gives me the most value for my dollar.
I bought a new pair of dress of shoes a few weeks ago…$279.00 cash different colour black now.
The the last pair I bought the same brand and line was in 1990.
I had them resoled and healed for $40.00
They get shoes trees to when not in use always.
I use blue colour uniform clothes around the house, and for all casual dress and to work.
They last forever.
I bought 4 brand new uniform shirts for $18.00 recently the guy didn’t have his job and had opened them and wore them for a week.
My suits are all redone and tailored to me($80 a pop max.) after I find them for $20-40 dollars at the very max if real expensive cloth in thrift stores, garage sales.
One suit my wife can’t believe all the comments about how nice it looks.
The big joke is the wives ask her how much did i pay for it?
She says he found it along the 401 at an exit.
That suit you can’t get for under $1400.00 if you know suits and their cloth.
November 22, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I have to admit I do spend to impress – to impress me! It feels great to take extra money left over one month and buy books, stationary supplies, or pay a magazine subscription. Every time I pick up one of these thing I feel impressed at myself for having picked myself up a few years ago from a financial “I have no idea where I’m going” to “I know what I want and where I am going”. Being on disability I don’t have a lot of money to work with, but I’m making it and saving a little in investments, a trip to disney, and on final resting place. A little goes a long way. A little over time really adds up (thats how I bought this computer last spring – my bank manager was as excited and impressed as I was). And the little things I am able to do or get debt free do impress me. I feel a warm pride, and smile when I use my new colorful stick it notes for example. It feels a little strange saying this publicly, but its the truth.
November 23, 2009 at 5:13 pm
What Jenn said resonated with me: I often feel a little tense when I receive a gift, as I live in a small place with little storage space (and am evidently hard to shop for). I am a big fan of passing things along, although I worry about eventually giving a gift back to the original giver.
One friend absolutely has to keep every gift she’s ever been given. She is is drowning in stuff, so I might switch to gifts of food or wine for her…
November 25, 2009 at 3:29 am
I’m downsizing from a 750 square foot to a 400 square foot condo in two years and I can’t be more excited about getting rid of my stuff! My current 750 square foot place is too big for me because I can barely fill the den and my storage space! I know the 400 square foot condo will force me to buy less junk, decline junk others give to me (sorry, Auntie, but my kitchen is too small for several Christmas Santa candy containers!) and possibly make life difficult if my boyfriend moves in or I end up having a baby but I really think it will be worthwhile and stop the small urge for consumption that I have.
January 18, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I’m always quoting Gail from the episode where she says, “nothing matters less than what car’s in your driveway.”
The first step in getting your finances under control is to stop spending to impress. Drive a fuel efficient car instead of one that turns heads – better for your wallet and the environment.