Whether you’re trying to land a job, start a business, get in shape, figure out your personal finances, or get a date, there’s one piece of advice that I’ve found to be the most appropriate. It’s really simple and a little disappointing, but it just works. Do something! Get off your butt and take action. It will get you 80% of the way to accomplishing your goal. I’m not the only one who thinks this. Do Something, a New York City based non-profit, has adopted this two word phrase as their name. They’re focused on encouraging teenagers to take positive ideas and turn them into action. Instead of focusing on a specific cause, Do Something is all about getting teens to do something about the issues that matter to them—whatever they may be.

Umm… Do Something!

What impresses me most about Do Something is how they’re harnessing the power of the Internet to reach teens with their message. In fact, Do Something has created an online platform that gives teens the tools and resources that they need to take action. Everything that Do Something does is based on 5 guidelines:

1. Believe in teenagers. Teenagers can lead today. We don’t require adults.
2. Trust teenagers. We provide reliable, easy to access information and activation strategies, but teens decide for themselves what to do.
3. Celebrate teenagers. We think all measurable contributions from teens are valuable.
4. Respect teenagers. We understand that teenagers have diverse abilities and constraints.
5. Value teenagers. Our programs and products are free. We’re not after teens’ money; we want their passion, time and creativity.

The result of following these guidelines is a website that encourages teenagers to Act Now by using a search engine to find a project that they can join. Or students can start their own club or apply for a grant. Teens are completely empowered to take action on their own. How can you take action? You can check out jobs at Do Something. They’re a young non-profit, and they have what look to be two awesome jobs. You won’t find the word “experience” in either of the job descriptions, so as a new grad you should definitely consider their Clubs Associate and Digital Media Associate positions. The application instructions vary, so pay attention… and DO SOMETHING!

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• DoSomething.org
• Jobs at Do Something
• About Do Something
• Do Something Facts and Stats
• Do Something in the Press
• Do Something’s Programs
• Do Something’s Team
• Do Something’s Board

Want to get a job? Do something!

We've identified Do Something as having career opportunities in the following categories:

• all employers
• design
• interactive media
• New York
• non-profit
• online media
• program development
• social media
• social networking

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Jobs Near You

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3 responses to “Do Something”

1. Roxy says:

   September 5, 2009 at 4:25 pm

   Willy, I’m so glad you featured Do Something. I want to some day meet Nancy Lublin, who started Do Something after handing off her first org, Dress for Success.

   I like to follow Lublin’s column in Fast Company.

   Here is one of my favorite articles by her: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/132/do-something-no-vacancy.html

   Reply
2. Val T says:

   July 26, 2010 at 4:44 pm

   I like this post and what I’m intending to do, is to build my own website, mainly about reviews too, but about products, food, movies and etc that i come across.

   But of course I’m having some sort of problem trying to create a website in a similar style as yours which records dates and time that I post entries. But most website creators only allow me to build pages.

   Mind if I ask what site would you recommend to build websites (similar to blog style?)

   Thanks!

   Reply
   • Willy Franzen says:

     July 27, 2010 at 8:37 am

     Check out WordPress.com

     Reply