We’re halfway through the year. Yikes! I am not quite sure how it’s been six months since Christmas but here we are. It’s a good time to dust off goals and intentions from the New Year and reflect on the year so far. Or in gardener-speak, do a bit of weeding and pruning, and feed […]

The satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made a real difference? That’s hard to beat. Working at a not-for-profit (NFP) can be absolutely amazing, but it’s not always going to feel like laughing-while-eating-an-organic-salad. Sometimes, working at NFP can feel like being trapped on an island filled with dinosaurs.  While I’m not trying to dissuade you from working […]

Getting a job you love is one of the BEST feelings imaginable, but what about the unanswered applications, sad-face interviews and straight-out rejections strewn along the way? We feel your pain. Here are five perspective shifts to help you stand back up when you don’t get your dream job. My phone rang. Finally! I’d been waiting […]

Is your work turning you into a jerk? Is 9-to-5-ing stopping you from thriving? Does your current career fill you with fear?  It’s normal to fantasise about ending a job sometimes, but there are options to consider before you hand in your notice.  I consider myself somewhat of an expert in quitting jobs. Over the years […]

Working for a not for profit can be immensely rewarding and life-enhancing, but it’s important to be honest about the challenges too. That said, here are 10 surprising skills that’ll help you thrive at a not for profit.  It’s not all solar power and organic roses. In the real world, not for profits often lack important resources […]

It can be hard to get your vegan-leather-shod foot through the FSC-certified-timber door if you don’t have environmental training or experience. From tiny office jungles to staff coffee that doesn’t taste of tears, we’ve got 5 passion projects that will help green your current job  AND help your CV for that future dream green job. […]

Feeling uninspired on your job hunt? Don’t be! Your perfect job might be one you’ve never imagined. Check out this list of 10 weird and wonderful green dream jobs – #6 is my all-time favourite. #1 Green Funeral Director  Think Six Feet Under with more hemp and less drama…. Green funerals provide a more natural and […]

Guest post by Waveney Russ – The Ākina Foundation Starting something new is daunting. Whether you’ve thought about beginning your own charity, not-for-profit, NGO, community group or social enterprise, knowing where to find reliable resources to guide you on your first stages of the do-good journey can be confusing and disheartening. At The Ākina Foundation, […]

Guest blog: Anna Guenther, Co-Founder and Chief Bubble Blower at Pledgeme — I often get asked about how to get something started. Uncertain entrepreneurs, bored public servants, conviction filled activists all struggle with this. As stupid as it sounds, what I tell them all is that sometimes you just have to jump. You need to […]

For some, setting goals is a piece of (organic, vegan) cake. But what if you don’t know what you want? If you’re having problems identifying your goals, Liz has five tried-and-true techniques for you: Outwardly, 2013 looked like a solid year. I was working for an awesome social enterprise, I was in a relationship with […]

We’ve all heard of 5 Year Plans, but how many people actually have one? If you’re looking for inspiration to set long-term goals, we have just the thing. Create a 70 Year Plan with Simon Jarvis and work towards sustainable fulfilment.  5 Year Plan? Pah!  Experience has shown I’m more likely to book a trip […]

If you’ve ever road tripped around Oamaru in summer there’s a good chance you have noticed the sunflowers. Rosedale Farm in Weston is an Instagrammer’s delight, the sweeping yellow fields some of the most extensive in the country. It’s more than a pretty picture however. Since the first crop of sunflowers was planted on the family farm […]

“The great thing about reading is that it broadens your life” –  George R.R. Martin (Author, Game of Thrones). While Game of Thrones might have added some colour (and gore) to my life, there are a whole load more books which have broadened my not for profit career.   Here is a compilation I’ve put […]

Corporate lawyer,  turned explorer, writer, environmental change agent and much more… including, you know, just snorkeling across the Arctic to raise awareness about disappearing sea ice. Emily’s dream is that every New Zealander has healthy food on their table that is better for people, our waterways, soils and oceans. Through her role at the Sustainable […]

The precursor to considering a change of career is discontent. Sometimes we suffer years of it before we take action. We humans are complex creatures, but getting to the bottom of your ennui is the foundation to creating a better life. Sometimes people make massive changes to create a different work life only to realise […]

You’ve probably heard the saying “jack of all trades, master of none”, but do you know there’s an additional line? Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than master of one The addition of seven words turns an insult into encouragement. Fingers in lots of pies? Great! Pies are really delicious. Why stick to […]

Working in the corporate sector may seem like selling one’s very soul! However, a stint outside the non-profit sector could help you be more effective in the ‘do good’ sphere.

Don’t like the work you’re doing now? Unclear about your calling? Need a fresh perspective on your purpose?

You’re miserable at work, but you can’t let them down. You want to quit your job, but you’ve poured your heart & soul into it. You’d love to make more money, but leaving seems selfish.

A list of 7 people who, despite failing first, kept going and became super-successful in their chosen field. Hopefully it helps inspire you to get back out there…