Danny Seo was born to become the authority on modern, eco-friendly living… in fact, he was born on Earth Day!! His entire life has been focused on taking care of the planet. When he was 12, he founded the organization Earth 2000 with just a few friends and $23. When he was 18, he had transformed the grassroots organization into the country’s largest teenage activist charity, spearheading worldwide campaigns on behalf of the environment. His main goal? To encourage America to simply lead a better, greener lifestyle. Through best-selling books, television appearances (we love his Today Show segments!!), a decor line, lifestyle lectures, and an upcoming eponymous magazine– Danny Seo’s simple approach to sustainability is taking the country by storm. We took 5 Minutes with the inspiring expert & are officially HUGE fans:
MY LIGHTBULB MOMENT:
When I was 19 and decorating my first apartment in Washington, DC. I wanted it to look really nice, but I wanted to be kind to the planet. This was pre-Whole Foods, pre-Prius, Pre-anything eco. So I had to figure out how to repurpose, recycle, and upcycle while making things stylish. Who knew that would become my life’s work and business!
I CAN’T START MY DAY UNTIL:
I drink a large glass of filtered water with an Emergen-C packet. Every. Morning. Then a steaming hot cup of shade-grown organic coffee from Whole Foods.
SUCCESS IS:
When you realize your life is your work and your work is your life. And I mean that in the most positive way possible. I love what I do and half the time I forget all the exciting ventures and projects we’re doing are actually “work.” To me, it’s fun, exciting and always changing.
YOU’LL NEVER SEE ME WITHOUT:
My Ford C-Max Energii car. This car has changed my life. It’s an electric car that I charge up at home (so it’s like my own personal gas—or charging—station). I haven’t been to a gas station in 4 months. I take this thing to flea markets, antique stores, into NYC for my Today Show appearances, everywhere.
Also, my Filofax. Yes, I use a paper system to keep my schedule in order. I will never change.
MY DREAM COLLABORATION:
With Jenna Lyons at J. Crew. I have so much respect for that brand. If I could do something organic in the personal care or apparel space with them with their classic aesthetic, my God, we would have a home run.
THE ONLY PLACE BETTER THAN BUCKS COUNTY, PA (OUTSIDE PHILLY):
I would say Todos Santos, Mexico. There is a secret hotel on a private beach called Rancho Pescadero. Food, amazing. Rooms, super comfortable. Beach, private. It’s not fancy, but comfortable. It has everything you want from a 5-star resort, without the attitude or pressure to look made up all the time.
WHEN I FEEL UNINSPIRED:
I walk around a Goodwill store. It’s interesting to see what people cast away in other cities as unneeded or even trash. That inspires me to think about these things for my upcycling projects.
ADVICE I WISH I HAD 5 YEARS AGO:
If your gut instinct says walk away, WALK. AWAY. I made a bad decision to partner with a TV network even though I didn’t believe they could pull it off. But I convinced myself these people were smarter than I was. Turns out, my inner voice was right.
IN 5 YEARS FIND ME:
Still publishing my brand new magazine (coming out July 15th!) called Naturally, Danny Seo. I’m in it for the long run and beyond excited.
ABOVE ALL ELSE:
It’s not brain surgery unless it’s actually brain surgery. So, don’t sweat the small stuff and give whatever you want to give a try… a try!
To learn more about Danny Seo, click here.