How You Earn Your Living Can Become The Way You Give Back

That our world is in trouble is not news.

This morning, I flipped through the two daily newspapers that appear on my doorstep before dawn.

Protests in Iran as anger over the election rises (and is met with violence).

New details about the British MPs spending scandal.

Another corporate pension-versus-executive-bonus story.

A team of researchers is traversing the Arctic to get a sobering look at how global warming is changing the landscape.

But wait. There is also the story about a man in Florida who has developed a portable water-filtration system that is powered by a small wind turbine and foldout solar panels. Such a machine would be a real boon for refugee camps, remote medical clinics, and anywhere that safe drinking water is in short supply. "It's clean water in a box," Ecosphere Technologies founder Dennis McGuire says simply. [http://www.ecospheretech.com/ ]

He doesn't know it yet, but Dennis is part of an emerging movement of people who are reinventing their work to help save the world. It's a movement based on a powerful new idea: that doing good can mean more than volunteering and philanthropy. How we earn our living can actually become the way we give back.

I call these men and women New Radicals (for more, please see archived articles [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julia-moulden/]).

Over the last few years, I've talked and worked with scores of men and women who are reinventing what they do for a living. And have discovered that there is a fantastic variety of ways to become a New Radical - think of it as a continuum between "mildly" and "wildly" radical. New Radicals are appearing in each field, every sector, and around the world. While the possibilities are endless, the roles that New Radicals choose fall into three categories: Activists, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators.

Activists are those who actively serve the less fortunate. They're people like Rocco Rossi, who left a lucrative business career to become CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. [http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.4016527/k.D7F5/Foundation_supports_healthy_foods_in_Ontario_schools.htm] Or Kye Marshall who gave up a comfortable seat playing cello for a symphony orchestra to become a music psychotherapist for women at risk. [http://www.kyemarshall.com/]

Entrepreneurs start new ventures where doing good is the central mission. Patty Johnson of the North South Project is a good example. Patty's company works with indigenous peoples in countries around the world, helping them fuse ancient craft traditions with northern sensibilities to create hybrid design products -- winning awards and attracting customers around the world as a result. [http://northsouthproject.com/ ] And Wendy Kopp, who founded Teach for America. [http://www.teachforamerica.org/ ] And Matt and Jessica Flannery, founders of kiva.org. [http://www.kiva.org/ ]

Innovators are those who stay inside their field or organization and drive change from within. For instance, Ed Sutt, an engineer with Stanley Bostitch, reinvented the nail. His HurriQuake nail helps wooden structures better withstand the forces of hurricanes and earthquakes. Watch Ed's YouTube video. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5x9GOq1FHM] And Jamie Kennedy, a chef who's a pioneer in the local, seasonal cuisine movement. [http://www.jamiekennedy.ca/]

While Activists and Entrepreneurs are the ones who get most of the headlines, I really believe that Innovators are the ones to watch. And here's why.

It's no secret that millions of midlife baby boomers are itching to reinvent their work, searching for more meaning and a way to make a difference. And the group I call Next New Radicals - young men and women at the beginning of their careers - want to do good works from the get go.

Many will choose to work for organizations such as Doctors without Borders or Greenpeace. Others will become organic farmers or solar energy salespeople. But we can't all get jobs like this - and not everyone wants to leave their current job. Plus, the world needs a full range of skills - bus drivers and ballerinas, IT specialists and CEOs.

Which is why the world's largest organizations are beginning to understand that they need to develop New Radical Innovator programs - ways that people can change the organization that employs them (whether by introducing an environmental program, or changing the products and services they offer). Innovation is a win for the employee. A win for the organization (they recruit and retain people they need). And, best of all, a win for people and places in peril.

The question I hear most often is, "How can I become a New Radical?". While New Radicals have different motivations, take different journeys, and reach different destinations, they ask themselves a similar series of questions. This summer, I'll be writing about those questions, how others have answered them, and how these queries might help you think through how to become a New Radical. I'll also be referencing sources that will help you explore opportunities.

Over to you. Do you think that we can leverage the skills we've acquired in our careers and put them to work on the world's greatest challenges? What have you been doing? Whose story inspired you? Or which stories (this morning's papers also report that the UN says that one billion people are going hungry around the world each day)? What resources have you heard about, or found helpful as you've reinvented your work? Please share your thoughts by commenting below. Or, as always, feel free to email me directly at [e-mail].

Julia Moulden's new book is We Are the New Radicals: A Manifesto for Reinventing Yourself and Saving the World. [http://www.wearethenewradicals.com/news] Her next speaking [http://www.speakers.ca/moulden_julia.aspx] tour begins in September. She also writes speeches [http://www.juliamoulden.com] for New Radical leaders around the world.o

Comments

[givendennis]

I am an alum of a program called StartingBloc, which trains and connects social innovators and entrepreneurs. It was astounding how many investment bankers (rather, ex) were participating, using the program as a transition to a career in Microfinance and social venture work. Profit and change is the word of the game. Some of us see it in complete clarity, others don't--the things you have written are most convincing for people who still debate the potential for social enterprise. Keep spreading the word!

[KirstenBarker]

If you are interested in hearing some great clips from an interview with Jessica Flannery, check out this link to the Prendismo website - http://www.prendismo.com/viewclip.cfm?id=501&clipId=11732

Jessica shares some wonderful stories about growing the idea of Kiva from a concept to a reality and that she learned more in the first two weeks of running the company than in the year she spent planning it. She also shares stories about working with entrepreneurs in developing countries and the trade-offs of being a not-for-profit.

Very candid and insightful comments...hope they are helpful!

[Julia Moulden - Huffpost Blogger]

Isn't it exciting to see how quickly the world is changing? Entrepreneurship means so much more today. Great video, thanks.

[MOregon]

Great article. It brings "the other" into focus in how we spend our time, and shows the adventure and richness of lives focused on giving. The person who invented the simple solar cooker so third world refugee women would not be in peril while they looked for wood to cook is another good example.

Keep inspiring us!

[Julia Moulden - Huffpost Blogger]

Love this example -- thank you! I'm sure others would be interested in learning more about this solar cooker -- if you know the URL for the company making them, please share it with us.

All good things on this first day of summer,
Julia

[Gnrshrtd]

This is one of the most insightful articles in this section for months. Something practical. What I like is you suggest looking for opportunities that are approachable for nearly anyone - if they're looking for it.

My work is in healthcare (helpful in itself), and I volunteer on a public/private collaboration in which professionals in the area provide dental care to low-income disabled individuals. It uses the local dental school's facilities when they are not in use by students, and a place where local providers know they can go to put in a few hours of pro bono service.

I'm sure there are many opportunities all over the country like this - if not in healthcare, in animal shelter or food banks, CASA, or service activities of peoples' communities of faith. My experience is that I get much more out of the service than I put into it.

[Julia Moulden - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, there have always been helping professions, and health care is a great example. And I love the idea of the P3 you cite -- this idea is within reach of every community across this great continent and around the world. Keep on sharing ideas!

Happy solstice,
Julia

[cinemaven]

I'm a partner in a web design business and we create free sites for non-profits. We started doing the sites because we saw a few local boards paying thousands of dollars to have a site designed by a family member. We started offering simple 5 page sites for free to legitimate non-profits so they could use that money for something else.

We began by designing for local agencies but have also created sites for small non-profit groups in the developing world. We do about a dozen free sites a year and it's grown our business in such an unexpected way. We've had customers contact us for sites from around the world because they saw our logo on a non-profit site.

Everyone in business should learn what a win-win it is to give... you never lose by giving

[Julia Moulden - Huffpost Blogger]

Fantastic! As a creative person (make my living by writing speeches and copy), I've often felt frustrated to discover that clients have previously spent huge fees on large agencies when they could have worked with a smaller supplier. My advice (oh, boy, am I going to get mail about this!) is to hire a big firm to help you make big decisions (USP, brand, new logo), and smaller folks to help you execute. May more work come your way!

Thanks for writing, and wishing you a wonderful summer,
Julia

[leftwrite]

USP, brand marketing and logo development don't require large agencies to be done well. Most self-employed ad people have large agency experience (and often freelance for agencies on projects such as this).

As a self-employed copywriter who paid her dues working for large agencies, I can tell you there are gifted 'smaller folks' (self-employed ad people) out there who can deliver the goods without the high price tag. Many are talented, thoughtful and dedicated professionals who will take a personal interest in promoting socially conscious products and services.

Agencies also do a certain amount of pro-bono work, but many have a habit of throwing smaller clients to freshmen creatives when no one is looking. By checking references, you can probably locate a solid senior creative team who will do an excellent job for far less cost.