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The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing

Posted November 11th, 2010 in Human Capacity | View Comments gap

There is a revolution in “cool,” and more than any other shift in the cultural zeitgeist, has the potential to change the world.

Historically, cool has been fundamentally about not caring about things. Anyone who went to high school passionate about academics, music, or just about anything other than sports knows how true this is. And this mythology, propagated by media and perpetuated by young people everywhere, created an incredibly powerful dampening force on passion, commitment and engagement.

To care about things was to be an outsider; abnormal and strange. Of course, the dirty secret is that almost everyone, if you get them alone and away from the pressure of their cliques and society at large, is passionate about something.

But there is a change afoot. All of a sudden, giving a shit is cool. Being passionate is cool. Getting involved is cool. Being creative is cool. Building real things is cool.

The evidence of this is all around us. More and more, celebrities are using their cultural cache to create empires of involvement. Oprah is the spiritual forbearer, and people like Jay-Z, with his $400m + empire of labels, companies, and charity work and Ashton Kutcher, who is quietly funding the next generation of the consumer web, are prototypes. But it’s not limited to a few people…It is quietly becoming the new normal.

What’s more, there is a new class of people who get involved first and then get cool because of it. Far more than celebrities getting involved and carrying cool with them, this is the evidence of the seismic shift. charity:water’s Scott Harrison, Invisible Children’s Bobby Bailey and Jason Russel, FEED’s Lauren Bush are just some of the examples.

Just today, TechCrunch covered a new Gap campaign which features actors, models, and…the founders of Foursquare? While there is much “celebrity” within our insulated technology world, as much as we’d like to think different, consumer web entrepreneurs aren’t usually elevated as celebrity barrons of cool in the general cultural consciousness. Put differently, Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai being in a gap ad is a B.F.D.

Some of this cultural shift is, I think, the natural reaction of a generation against the enormity of the problems being left behind for it. But there are some key individuals and organizations curating this shift, as well. None stick out as clearly as the Summit Series. The organization began a few years ago as a gathering of a couple dozen cool young influencers – a cross section of entrepreneurs, creatives, and social change agents. Since then, their events have grown in size and influence.

At your average Summit Series, you’ll see a famous actor talking with a nonprofit founder about their cause, while a tech entrepreneur listens thinking about how their products could help. They are now the must attend events for the under-40 set, and blister and pop with the passion of a generation where “changing the world” and “cool” are totally synonymous.

It’s hard to overstate how important this is. Our world is facing crises of epochal proportions. We need everyone discovering their passion and creating value. This is not a choice: that has to be cool, or else I just don’t know how we dig out.

Luckily, the trend lines point towards a powerful shift. I hope for all our sake it continues.


New Gap Ad featuring the Foursquare founders alongside actors and models.

  • http://blog.assetmap.com Nathaniel Whittemore

    Side note: Anyone else actually legitimately dig the threads gap put them in? I hope they got to keep them after the shoot.

  • http://twitter.com/nlw/status/2793423077638145 Nathaniel Whittemore

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/socialentrprnr/status/2793888532135936 Nathaniel Whittemore

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/slboval/status/2794042593124353 Samantha Beinhacker

    RT @nlw: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/nataliewh/status/2794438560583680 Nat

    RT @socialentrprnr: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/dalezak/status/2795011896778752 Dale Zak

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/ecoblips/status/2795237969760256 danielle lanyard

    hear hear!! RT @dalezak: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/ChngChrty Change Charity

    Interesting post. I tend to agree with you, but I also think this goes against a common stereotype of the millennial generation–that we are self-centered, hopelessly interested in being “ironic,” not particularly driven, nor interested in anything else but praise. (This stereotype is most eloquently summed up in latest episode of 30 rock, when Jack brings in a younger employee to mentor. I can’t find the clip, but if you have 20 minutes, the whole episode is pretty good. The part I’m referring to is about half-way through.)

    The only way I can merge these two phenomena in my mind is to think that younger people are doing shit, as you say, because it is a BFD, it is cool, and for not for much reason beyond that. I think this would explain the rise of “slaktivism” and easy, feel-good actions like embedded giving. We want to do shit, but we don’t want it to be that hard. We want to be cool and work for social change, but not if it gets in the way of our kickball game later or our $60,000+ salary down the road that we all had been promised by our upbringing.

    Now, I could be wrong about this conclusion (I hope I am and please let me know if you think so), but even if I am right, it could also not matter. If it’s cool to do shit, rather than to not do shit, shit will get done, and that’s cool. I think would be a good and acceptable bi-product of the millennial generation, even if we are doing it only for praise. I’m concerned though that there is a “cool bubble” that will eventually burst and we’ll be left with a movement with no labor when everyone decides that working for change isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

    I would like to see things being done because it’s the right thing to do, not because it’s cool. It might be cool to do them, but that isn’t why they are getting done. I’m of the opinion that actually is the case right now, but I have a nagging voice in the back of my mind that says this is just a fad–like the hippies–that will pass and not produce a whole lot to write down in the history books.

  • http://twitter.com/drexelscg/status/2796245080875008 DSCG

    RT: @socialentrprnr: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/jwfellows/status/2798967884615680 Jeremiah Fellows

    RT @dalezak: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/citivox/status/2800401120235520 CitiVox

    RT @dalezak: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/gnke/status/2804699426193408 Gunther

    RT @dalezak: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/levity/status/2805241774870528 lawrence wang

    "Everyone discovering their passion and creating value… has to be cool, or else I just don’t know how we dig out." http://bit.ly/9aBXnl

  • http://blog.assetmap.com Nathaniel Whittemore

    Hey Jeff

    Thanks for joining the conversation. So I think it’s important to break apart your thoughts into a couple sections:

    1. The supposed self-centeredness of millennials

    2. Doing things because they’re cool

    3. Fly by night doing shit-ism

    My thoughts, one by one:

    1. Millennial self-centeredness. I believe this is a silly, stupid myth, perpetrated by the media, and by annoyed bosses in mega-corporations who don’t understand the differences in how we work. There is for sure a generational divide in expectations of work. Millennials want engaged bosses, a lot of conversation, affirmation, etc. When you give them these things, they thrive. When you don’t, they don’t. That is a whole lot different than being lazy. When it comes to the apathy characterization, the growing rates of volunteerism, study abroad, and social entrepreneurship pretty well nip that in the bud for me.

    2. Doing things because they’re cool. I think there is a valid concern that if the only reason real good work is done is because it’s “cool,” it will lead to work that is sexier rather than more impactful. There is some evidence of this, but I also think it just takes us being smart and continuing to set the bar higher – even for cool activism.

    3. Fly By Night Do Shitism. This relates directly to the above. At the end you worry about the possibility that this is a fad. That is definitely a valid concern when it comes to social change efforts. I am pretty optimistic that we can institutionalize and amplify these behaviors in a more permanent way, but it’s worth keeping track of.

    But keep in mind that my point with this post is not only about social change. It’s about the general normalness of following your passion and doing real, meaningful valueable things. Social change has certainly been one of the major beneficiaries, but it’s not the only one.

    The important thing about this is that, I think most people get addictive to building a life around the things that they find most meaningful. The reason I can’t imagine being anything other than an entrepreneur is that I got a taste of what it mean to bring an idea into the world and watch it grow. It doesn’t matter now whether the world stops giving a shit about that – I’m hooked.

    Thanks for your thoughts!

  • http://twitter.com/assetmap/status/2807270555521025 Assetmap

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 feat @dens @naveen @charitywater

  • http://twitter.com/alexmsimon/status/2807873331527681 Alex Simon

    COOL COOL RT @socialentrprnr The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/delitzer/status/2811644572860416 Dan Elitzer

    Great post. This rings true. RT @nlw: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/fcnewyork/status/2820383480741888 Foundation Center-NY

    RT @ecoblips: hear hear!! RT @dalezak: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via…

  • http://twitter.com/nlw/status/2906762810236928 Nathaniel Whittemore

    The New Cool, featuring @charitywater, Summit Series, and your neighborhood entrepreneur http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/webbyclare/status/2914769036120064 Clare Irwin

    Reading: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @socialentrprnr)

  • http://twitter.com/chngchrty/status/2917545258524672 Change Charity

    Interesting piece from @nlw: http://ow.ly/38xAz But are we just doing sh*t because it's cool? http://ow.ly/38xBm

  • http://twitter.com/chngchrty/status/2917545258524672 Change Charity

    Interesting piece from @nlw: http://ow.ly/38xAz But are we just doing sh*t because it's cool? http://ow.ly/38xBm

  • http://twitter.com/charity_change/status/2946060443983872 Abbe Pick

    RT @nlw: The New Cool, featuring @charitywater, Summit Series, and your neighborhood entrepreneur http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://www.christinacacioppo.com Christina Cacioppo

    My favorite line in your reply is “I believe [millennial self-centeredness] is a silly, stupid myth, perpetrated by the media, and by annoyed bosses in mega-corporations who don’t understand the differences in how we work.” Amen.

    Also – great observation about the difference between “cool” twenty years ago and today. Really enjoyed the post.

  • http://twitter.com/ChngChrty Change Charity

    Nathaniel,

    I appreciate your detailed response. Thank you for continuing the conversation.

    I agree with you on point 1, completely. (Well, I don’t know if it is perpetuated by the media. Probably just our parents.) I think that we just have a different way of doing things, and honestly, probably a lot healthier way of doing things. We want to get shit done, we want feedback and praise for the good things we get done, and constructive criticism on what we don’t. 9-5 and corporate culture doesn’t concern us as much as getting things done in an effective way.

    I also agree with you completely on points 2 and 3, I just wonder how we continue to “set the bar higher” and institutionalize our efforts. This is a real big opportunity here and I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t want us to slip on our efforts, because, like you said in the original post, there are a lot of things going on right now we need to take care of. And more broadly (not to beleaguer all your points), I agree with you that it is a much better thing for the normal to be for people to do meaningful things. I’m glad to live in a time where its hip to be engaged, not hip to turn on, tune in and drop out. I just don’t want us to get complacent in our own awesomeness. I guess this institutionalization and constant push is just something we need to keep working on. Gives me hope that I’ll always have a job to do.

    Thanks again.

  • http://twitter.com/tyleremerson/status/2997888649011201 tyleremerson

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://blog.assetmap.com Nathaniel Whittemore

    Thanks Christina! And thank for funding the new cool!

  • http://blog.assetmap.com Nathaniel Whittemore

    Again you’ve identified a great — and complicated question — how *do* we set the bar high for quality?

    I wrote about this on my old blog on Change.org in a piece called “Do Donors Care About Impact? Not Really.” http://socialentrepreneurship.change.org/blog/view/do_donors_care_about_impact_not_really

    The thesis was basically that when donors give to a nonprofit, they’re placing a ton of faith in that group. They *want* to trust the founders and staff to do good by them. When you’re an organization like charity:water or Invisible Children that has a ton of cool cache, the reality is that it’s not likely to be an external influence to be great that makes you great – it’s gotta be an internal spark. The game, then, is giving nonprofit leaders the tools and perspective to be constantly holding their own feet to the fire and high achieving – that’s no small task.

    When it comes to entrepreneurship more broadly, I think the biggest thing that we need is a more diverse funding array for different types of companies. Some people need to be able to build great, super cool “lifestyle businesses” that never plan to make more than a million or two per year. We also need to get funding outside of the pure consumer internet. The race to be the next photosharing startup probably undermaximizes potential.

    That said, there is definitely good news on that front, as more and more people are getting involved in angel investing. All in all, I’m actually pretty optimistic.

  • http://igniter.com/ Igniter

    really comes down to the simple idea… people are drawn to purpose and meaning (Dan Pink’s book Drive points to the research). And making progress is when we feel best (getting shit done) – see http://workplacepsychology.net/2010/01/17/what-really-motivates-employees/.

    This is the essence of humanity showing up again. Institutionalizing is not what’s needed. Institutions established on the mechanistic mindset of humans as resources. We’re finding new ways of organizing instead using the tools of connecting.

    This isn’t a blip. This is the change in civilization that’s playing out.

  • http://twitter.com/ChngChrty Change Charity

    Again, no disagreements on my side. I wrote a similar post to yours for Philanthropy Action (http://www.philanthropyaction.com/nc/are_efforts_to_help_donors_give_better_misdirected/), and the editor there, Tim Ogden, made the point in response to it that we don’t have to get all donors to “continually hold nonprofits’ feet to the fire,” only a critical mass. But I think the prevalence of cool caches makes it more and more difficult to find those funders. So, it has to come from inside.

    And the idea of setting up capital markets for different types of ventures (nonprofit, for-profit, L3C, co-ops, etc) is very exciting to me. I wish I was alive and educated during the tech bubble so I could have come up with a brilliant company, sold it, and made millions to give away to all those exciting ventures popping up now. I guess working for people doing some of that is a good middle ground for me, for now.

    Thanks again for indulging me on this. Lots to think about.

  • http://twitter.com/gborgford Guy Borgford

    Makes you feel warm, fuzzy and hopeful…let’s hope this truly is a shift in human cultural evolution

  • http://twitter.com/a_buchanan/status/3087335117815808 Audrey Buchanan

    RT @nlw: The New Cool, featuring @charitywater, Summit Series, and your neighborhood entrepreneur http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/bryanfuhr/status/3090724371304448 Bryan Fuhr

    RT @socialentrprnr: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/montero/status/3098358872801281 Martin Montero

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/profgilbert/status/3098921207332864 Brett Anitra Gilbert

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship ~ via @Montero

  • http://twitter.com/pammcallister/status/3098997543669760 Pam McAllister

    Reading: RT @Montero The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/bretta75/status/3099034000560128 Notorious B.A.G.

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship ~ via @Montero

  • http://twitter.com/billfromsc/status/3100995806560257 Bill Free

    RT @PamMcAllister RT @Montero The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #SocEnt #Sustain

  • http://twitter.com/galerindonesia/status/3100993118019584 galleryofindonesia

    RT @Montero: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/dannyhom/status/3101893236621314 Danny Hom

    RT @Montero: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/eandcoenergy/status/3102595610578944 E+Co

    RT @montero: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/d5dQWN #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/jeannedasaro/status/3110600636891137 Jeanne Dasaro

    RT @Montero: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/matthewer/status/3111288515338241 Matthew Rosenberg

    RT @nlw: The New Cool, featuring @charitywater, Summit Series, and your neighborhood entrepreneur http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/talolaimy/status/3127473927626753 Tariq Al-Olaimy

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/cuFT1S

  • http://twitter.com/chngchrty/status/3135355968557056 Change Charity

    Really cool conversation going on in comments at Assetmap http://ow.ly/38TT9 Join us! Thanks @nlw for indulging me

  • http://twitter.com/patrissimo/status/3140043069726721 patrissimo

    RT @tyleremerson The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/erinfogg/status/3158012202065920 Erin Fogg

    Love this! RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/vin_fizzle/status/3223772588941312 Vin Fizzle

    RT @Montero: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://j.mp/bdQOHH #Startup #SocEnt #entrepreneurship

  • http://twitter.com/sue_anne/status/3262628835102720 Sue Anne Reed

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing | Assetmap http://otf.me/6ql by @nlw

  • http://twitter.com/austinbis/status/3284168297422848 Austin Bis

    Cool article on how "cool" is changing w/ a nice Summit Series mention: http://ht.ly/398M1

  • http://twitter.com/socialbttrfly/status/3313715503964161 Alexandra Bornkessel

    Love this–> The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real *Stuff* Is The Next Big Thing from @nlw: http://bit.ly/afvfkp. #impact

  • http://twitter.com/sshiroma/status/3447034816237569 Susan Shiroma

    RT @socialentrprnr: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/dcallejon/status/3468890168365056 dcallejon

    Good discussion + awesome @gap ad/video RT@assetmap: The Revolution in Cool:Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/playtogive/status/3595241680539648 Playtogive

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/nlw/status/4263470430167040 Nathaniel Whittemore

    "The Revolution in Cool" http://otf.me/6ql now most read @assetmap post ever, ahead of Thiel's $100k dropout grant http://bit.ly/brNBKS

  • http://twitter.com/lauratomasko/status/4264867594768384 Laura Tomasko

    Oh yes! cc @TecovasFound & @akhilak RT @nlw "The Revolution in Cool" http://otf.me/6ql now most read @assetmap post

  • http://twitter.com/pepsicanada/status/4265059308015616 PEPSI Canada

    RT @nlw: "The Revolution in Cool" http://otf.me/6ql http://bit.ly/brNBKS (DA)

  • http://twitter.com/give2getjobs/status/4347198686892032 Give to Get Jobs

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/tactphil/status/4594589658779649 S. Stannard-Stockton

    Being "cool" means to "not care", but not anymore? The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/laurakferguson/status/4596958303879170 Laura Ferguson

    RT @tactphil: being "cool" means to "not care", but not anymore? "revol. in cool: why doing real shit is next big thing" http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/mrimpink/status/4597311871123456 Matthew R Impink

    @jkwade RT @tactphil: Being "cool" now means having a cause: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is BFD http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/nlw/status/4598415488983040 Nathaniel Whittemore

    rt @tactphil Being "cool" means to "not care", but not anymore? The Revolution in Cool: Y Doing Real Sh*t=Next Big Thing http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/conches/status/4599440388136960 steve wright

    RT @tactphil: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing by @socialentrprnr http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/amrucker/status/4599850616225792 Amanda Rucker

    Good read: Being "cool" means to "not care", but not anymore? Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://ow.ly/3aDa0 (via @tactphil)

  • http://twitter.com/j0nathanjenkins/status/4605031026262016 Jonathan Jenkins

    RT @tactphil: Being "cool" means to "not care", but not anymore? Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t isNext Big Thing http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/cased/status/4606753853411328 Alice Casey

    Thanks for link! @j0nathanjenkins RT @tactphil: Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t isNext Big Thing http://ow.ly/3aDa0

  • http://twitter.com/mtrafford/status/4609182082793472 Maureen Trafford

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/snouri/status/4664180426678272 Sam Nouri

    I wish I was doing more: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing: http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @assetmap)

  • http://twitter.com/michaeltrainer/status/4693450381336576 michaeltrainer

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/tibetsprague/status/4693485521207296 Tibet Sprague

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/iheartxo/status/4700201562411008 Neelou Malekpour

    RT @snouri: I wish I was doing more: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing: http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @assetmap)

  • Yes

    Hear hear! Spot on! ….

  • http://twitter.com/gideonro/status/4924756037992448 Gideon Rosenblatt

    Is '"caring about things" the new cool and the next big marketing trend? http://bit.ly/cuFT1S

  • http://twitter.com/wereldburgerstv/status/5032268892471297 Wereldburgers.TV

    Boeiende discussie over idealisme als 'het nieuwe cool': http://bit.ly/aWxatN (Engels)

  • Nettra Pan

    Really love this post, you make great points and I love the spirit it was written in.

    I don’t mean to detract from your point but I think you could also argue that “daring to care” as Chris put it on twitter when referring to your article, and being brave enough to pursue something you think is meaningful (which is no small feat… forget *achieving it* simply deciding to pursue such a thing is monumental) does have some parallels with historical versions of “cool.” In the past, in high school, “not caring” or not revealing your passions was considered cool, as you say, but… today, I would argue that there is a similar “rebel” feeling which exists among those who pursue what they love. Those who dare to venture off the beaten path and pursue their passion are declaring that they don’t care about what is traditionally expected from them at this age. They disregard the “conventional” job offers and multiple corporate ladders stacked in front of them and insist that they don’t care about the title, the paycheck, the lifestyle those opportunities bring them. They don’t care — they want to make their own. By caring about one thing, they are NOT caring about some other things… and that is (still) very cool!

  • http://twitter.com/sandbox_network/status/7018042248658944 Sandbox

    Daily Inspiration: The Revolution in "Cool". Why Doing Something Meaningful Is The Next Big Thing. Written by @nlw. http://bit.ly/ftPjLO

  • http://twitter.com/chrissandbox/status/7029576446251008 Christian Busch

    Why doing sth meaningful is the next big thing; dare to care;-) http://bit.ly/giBmMm

  • http://twitter.com/olibarrett/status/7031021933428736 Oli Barrett

    RT @ChrisSandbox: Why doing sth meaningful is the next big thing; dare to care;-) http://bit.ly/giBmMm

  • http://twitter.com/rainerscheerer/status/7031715952328705 Rainer Scheerer

    RT @ChrisSandbox: Why doing sth meaningful is the next big thing; dare to care;-) http://bit.ly/giBmMm

  • http://twitter.com/opensocietyuk/status/7031821220978688 Tom Annie Maxim

    RT @ChrisSandbox: Why doing sth meaningful is the next big thing; dare to care;-) http://bit.ly/giBmMm

  • http://twitter.com/teenadvocatedan/status/8636431618539520 Dan Jubelirer

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/gwrthryfel/status/8680131681849344 Nikki

    "Historically, cool has been fundamentally abt not caring" Uh, forget about the 60's & 70's? http://bit.ly/crGoT6 #p2

  • http://twitter.com/gwrthryfel/status/8681732584775680 Nikki

    Rich/celebs giving $ to causes is nothing special-just responsibility to society. & duh, anything they do is cool. http://bit.ly/crGoT6 #p2

  • http://twitter.com/gwrthryfel/status/8681938193747969 Nikki

    Rich/celebs giving $ to causes is nothing special-just responsibility to society. & duh, ANYTHING they do is cool. http://bit.ly/crGoT6 #p2

  • Mark Angelini

    Can we see composting one’s own feces and urine, chopping wood, fixing things, building compost heaps, husbanding chickens and goats, reading by candle and performing long hours of physical labor as cool? Maybe that will dampen the psychological trauma associated with the abrupt and widespread lowering of living standards everyone in the fossil fueled nations are about to experience…?

  • http://twitter.com/nettra/status/9635065331982336 Nettra Pan

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Things is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://facebook.com/thelovemovementumd Thelovemovementumd

    The Love Movement at the University of Maryland (facebook.com/thelovemovementumd) is part of this growing awakening by Millenials that Good is Cool. Shout out to all our brothers and sisters in the struggle worldwide to do something about 2010!

  • http://twitter.com/a_buchanan/status/10057011060277248 Audrey Buchanan

    @Craigheintzman gospel from @nlw "famous actor talking with a nonprofit founder..while a tech entrepreneur listens" http://bit.ly/bS1byh

  • http://twitter.com/isss111/status/10083295115087872 Inês Silva

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/hannah_weitzman/status/10085660471857152 Hannah Weitzman

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/tedgonder/status/12548110660141056 Ted Gonder

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/sebpaquet/status/13262421342822401 Seb Paquet

    "All of a sudden, giving a shit is cool. Being passionate is cool. Getting involved is cool." http://bit.ly/crGoT6 @tyleremerson @assetmap

  • http://twitter.com/thesuperfluid/status/13279686440263680 nathan solomon

    RT @sebpaquet: "All of a sudden, giving a shit is cool. Being passionate is cool. Getting involved is cool." http://bit.ly/crGoT6 @tyle …

  • http://twitter.com/tokyomango/status/16988844809265152 Lisa Katayama

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/erikastalder/status/17074141655990272 erika stalder

    RT @tokyomango: RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/isss111/status/17582364188221440 Inês Silva

    RT @ChrisSandbox: Why doing sth meaningful is the next big thing; dare to care;-) http://bit.ly/giBmMm

  • http://twitter.com/billg/status/17611518828875776 Bill Geiser

    The Revolution in Cool – discovering your passion & creating value http://bit.ly/bS1byh

  • Anonymous

    I totally agree when I was in school I acted like nothing matter to get the cool status. I do hope there is a shift as something needs to be done. Fantastic post…

  • Anonymous

    I totally agree when I was in school I acted like nothing mattered so I could get the cool status. I do hope there is a shift as something needs to be done. Fantastic post…

  • Anonymous

    I totally agree when I was in school I acted like nothing matter to get the cool status. I do hope there is a shift as something needs to be done. Fantastic post…

  • http://twitter.com/mattwarholic/status/19477575713685504 matt warholic

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @assetmap)

  • http://twitter.com/hunegnaw/status/19478206981611520 david hunegnaw

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 (via @assetmap @mattwarholic)

  • http://twitter.com/lewishowes/status/19480480822861824 Lewis Howes

    The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 via @hunegnaw

  • http://twitter.com/wernerdupreez/status/19483692376264705 Werner du Preez

    RT @LewisHowes The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/alexshalman/status/19486283764080640 Alex Shalman

    RT @LewisHowes: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 via @hunegnaw

  • http://twitter.com/paulaphilbrook/status/19489676930850816 Paula Philbrook

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6

  • http://twitter.com/ceoofnvn/status/19557441175818240 TD Lowe

    RT @LewisHowes: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is the Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 via @hunegnaw

  • http://twitter.com/joshbouk/status/19916053064712192 joshbouk

    RT @assetmap: The Revolution in Cool: Why Doing Real Sh*t is Next Big Thing http://bit.ly/crGoT6 YES! This is what we need to be about! #roc

  • http://twitter.com/questtelecom/status/22112590024941568 Quest Telecom

    There´s a revolution in cool and it has the potential to change the world http://bit.ly/cuFT1S (via @assetmap) http://youtu.be/XnbMtIpz0Zg

  • http://twitter.com/SmithMillCreek Jim

    I think I noticed this happening in the punk culture with a friend (their word). They described themselves and friends as “dorks” and “geeks”, paralleling but not quite the same as the revenge of the nerds– it was cool to care deeply about the pleasure of doing something technical. From there, I think it’s grown to include other people. That may also be because there are critical, objective reasons why younger people need to band together: ecological and economic crisis; and increasingly, a democracy crisis in industrial countries– all the more reason to walk like an Egyptian.

    However, and I think this is a good thing; there’s also a trend towards caring intelligently.

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