This Kickstarter is Going to End Workplace Apathy

IMG_5470-e1380561152889So I'm really excited about this.

I know Kevin O'Connell from some awesome chance encounters from my time at Rutgers and I've followed the growth of his project, The Niche Movement for a while now. I love how he is constantly working to help people find their niche and give them the gift of immense happiness and fulfillment in their lives.

The path to satisfaction in work has changed dramatically in recent years and there needs to be a new handbook for this generation of job seekers. Kevin is hoping to do just that with his latest effort with The Niche Movement.

Kevin is crowdfunding the development of a new book based on the ideals put forth by The Niche Movement in hopes of reaching an even wider audience with his inspiring message. I know personally that Kevin is extremely passionate about this and will help out so many more people with this book getting out into the world.

Having all of us feeling more fulfilled, driven by our innate passions, purpose, and beliefs will change everything for the better. Help support make this vision a reality.

Check out the full, formal press release below and make sure to check out The Niche Movement and support Kevin's Kickstarter today. Every little bit helps.

July 14, 2014 - Kevin O’Connell, founder of The Niche Movement, today announced the launch of a new crowdfunding campaign focused on his new book, The Niche Movement: New Rules for Finding a Career You Love. The book aims to debunk common ideologies surrounding the job search, entry level employment and employment unhappiness by offering true, inspirational stories along with research and advice from experts and influencers from around the world who chose not to take the conventional approach to career exploration.

The last eight years working with college students and young professionals proved to O’Connell that most academia and student affairs practices are not teaching students to take risks in their twenties. With his entrepreneurial, educational, and marketing backgrounds, he’s taking his passion to a whole new level with The Niche Movement: New Career Rules for Finding a Career You Love.

The book will amplify a message that needs to be told: a job worth loving exists, you just have to find it. “It’s 2014,” O’Connell said. “This generation need to be told this.” The book, which will include stories of others who have found their niche, will serve as a platform to empower young adults to take risks that will lead them to finding their niche. It will teach the new rules for finding a career path worth loving.

“I eat, sleep and breathe college student’s lives,” he says. “I’ve been in the trenches where I have seem them thrive and a year later frustrated in their “post-graduate life.” I’ve seen the bad advice not work.”

According to Kevin, significant opportunities for change are constantly being overlooked.

With his new book, he hopes to open the eyes of college students, recent grads and other young professionals and help them harness the professional and personal experiences they’ve had, the experiences they’re living, the experiences they’re going to have and continue to ask themselves: why am I doing this? How can I get back to what motivates me?

The Niche Movement: New Rules for Finding a Career Path You Love can help change the way we view employment. It will rewrite the way we approach career development for good.

The job searching process is a very lonely one; one that instills a sense of frustration, stress and even self-doubt. O’Connell’s stories will provide a support system, a personal guide and our society should want that for young adults. “I’m not a job board. I’m not a recruiter,” O’Connell said. “I’m trying to help connect the dots for young professionals and find their way.”

A successful campaign shedding light on this unconventional career advice would create a platform to scale the larger project: end unemployment happiness for young professionals and twenty-somethings. Starting Fall 2014, The Niche Movement will be hosting monthly, inexpensive career events for people who want the information in addition, to the workshop and keynotes, and online programs they already offer.  

Kevin’s dream is to create a pipeline between really great companies with really great jobs with really great students because, “right now, they are both missing each other.” He hopes his stories will go well beyond the idealistic commencement speeches and give real world solutions for this generation to find the work they love.

Kevin O’Connell is a student affairs professional who has done everything from service learning to student leadership to social media strategy. He is a driven, enthusiastic up and coming entrepreneur whose passion for young leaders drove him to create a movement. Kevin is a true believer in authenticity who values honesty, trust and execution. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Courtney O’Connell, and their black lab, Luke. For more information on Kevin and The Niche Movement, visit thenichemovement.com.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 07/11/14

Geek-and-proudHey there!

Thanks for coming by! Here is what I'm geeking out about this busy week:

If you follow my blog, you know I'm excited for this movie. I've posted about it multiple times (here and here, at least). It has (as of the posting of this) a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and the 3D is apparently amazing as well. I'm going to go see it tomorrow some time and I'll be sure to share my thoughts with you all. You should see it too so you can share in the awesomeness that will be this movie!

A friend of mine up here in Maine (hooray for making friends!) invited me out to go see the original Body Snatchers movie out on a big screen at a park in town. I haven't seen this movie in a long time and it's a great sci-fi classic that has been remade multiple times. I think this will be a fun way to watch the movie, out with other sci-fi fans, outside on a beautiful night. I'm really looking forward to it!

  • Trivia

Something else I've gotten into since I got up to Maine with some of my coworkers is going to a local trivia night again. I went a ton when I was back in Delaware a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I am determined to win a night while I'm here just as I eventually did in Delaware, even if it takes me a year!

***So, a quick aside here. I'm working my full-time job now and I am going to keep hustling to keep a regular flow of content to you all. I always enjoy getting likes, comments, and feedback so any support you can give to keep me inspired as I'm figuring out a new life routine is very much appreciated. Every single one of you who comes to this site is special to me so I would love to hear from you.

All the best and thanks for stopping by,

- Dustin

Epic Rap Battle: Nerd VS Geek

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tvy_Pbe5NA] This awesome song by Rhett & Link that came out several months ago has been stuck in my head lately and I can't stop listening. I had to share it with you all since I'm sure most of you will find it as fun as I have. It's very clever and catchy!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Prequel Shorts

dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apesIf you're as excited as I am for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes as I am, you'll want to check out these short films that tell some short vignette stories that lead up to the feature film. I feel like the movie is going to have a bit more of an impact knowing how the outbreak of the simian virus affected humanity. Let me know what you think if you watch them

'Snowpiercer' Expands US Release This Weekend

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5PwfEMBM0] Thinking about making a trip out to see Snowpiercer this weekend. It has gotten a lot of good buzz and it is expanding its release to a lot more theaters across the country. Anyone see it already or plan on seeing it?

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 07/04/14

Geek-and-proudSalutations, good people!

Here's what I'm geeking out about this week. (Happy Independence Day!)

I've given love for this show many times in the past and this time is one of much joy, being able to say definitively that Community is coming back for season 6 on Yahoo. I was hoping to see it on Hulu since I want their digital network to have a killer show like House of Cards or Orange is the New Black but I'm still happy that it ended up somewhere. I'm mostly looking forward to some closure since just having this would be good to wrap things up (and then a short movie just to complete the prophecy). I'm sure I'll share my thoughts when the show comes back. If you haven't watched the show yet, all of the series is streaming via Hulu Plus. Long live Community!

  • Green Lantern

I am continually exploring more of the world of comic books and my latest foray is into some of the recent Green Lantern comics, namely all the stories surrounding the Blackest Night story arc. I really do feel like Green Lantern (any and all of them) is my favorite DC character, right alongside Spider-Man from Marvel. I've only just started getting into some of the comics I've bought recently (Sinestro Corps War, Rage of the Red Lanterns, Agent Orange) but be sure I will be mining them for some relevant moral nuggets to share with you all.

  • Maine

So, as of today, I have been back up in my home state of Maine for a week now. I came here for my new job at a school up here and I've just started to get settled in fully. I've started to meet all the people I'll be working with, decorate my new office (which I'm excited to have, since it is my first one), and explore the surrounding area. I'm eager to get into my routine and start working on some projects since I'm still sort of the newbie after my first week who doesn't know how to do anything. I'll definitely be sharing thoughts about things as the process goes along.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the holiday weekend!