--- title: "Lunchtime Links: Ready for International Volunteer Day?" id: "14642" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-ready-for-international-volunteer-day" published_at: "2012-11-30T17:00:01+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:21:19+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/30/lunchtime-links-ready-for-international-volunteer-day/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/30/lunchtime-links-ready-for-international-volunteer-day.md" excerpt: "A look at just how committed Amazon founder was at the beginning. Also: How are you celebrating International Volunteer Day?" taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Celebration" - "Leadership" - "online events" - "volunteers" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: Ready for International Volunteer Day? How does one man move mountains? Apparently, by being everywhere at once. The founder of one company (you may have heard of it) recently clued the public into how his nearly $50 billion venture got its footing. That and more in today’s Lunchtime Links: **Amazon man:**Ever wonder how Amazon got its start? The household name was once a fleeting thought, with very little money. *The Next Web* talks about [a snippet from an interview with founder Jeff Bezos (opens in a new tab)](http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/11/29/in-the-early-days-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-attended-60-investor-meetings-to-raise-1m-from-22-people/) where he reveals it took 60 meetings to raise the first $1 million needed to start the company. It’s a little lesson in perseverance and faith that took Bezos from idea to reality. “That was the most fragile moment for Amazon,” Bezos says in the interview. “Since 1997, our immediate destiny has been in our own hands.” Have you turned a risky idea into reality? > I believe the future of business is in thought leadership and intellectual property, so I want to hire people for how they think, not just to do a job. **All in good faith:**Volunteers are a crucial part of any association. Thinking of a way to thank them for their help? You’ll get your chance on International Volunteer Day, December 5. [Energize Blog gives a great roundup (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.energizeinc.com/blog/celebrate-international-volunteer-day-way-works-you) of how some organizations are celebrating—with everything from a carnival packed with refreshments and entertainment for the volunteers, to the launch of a web page designed to help organizations throw their own events. How are you honoring your volunteers? You can register your event on the official [IVD Stories page (opens in a new tab)](http://www.volunteeractioncounts.org/en/ivd-2012/your-stories-about-ivd-2012.html?start=20) . **Stalker savvy:**So there’s one guy out there who doesn’t frown on stalking, at least in a professional sense. CEO Eric V. Holtzclaw, founder of user-experience strategy and consulting firm User Insight, talks about why he never posts job openings—and encourages full-on stalking from potential candidates, [in a candid blog post on Inc. (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/eric-v-holtzclaw/hiring-recruiting-why-i-never-post-job-openings.html) He uses his social media channels to discuss where he’ll be speaking or attending to let job seekers hunt him down and engage him so they’ll be top of mind once he *does* hire. “I believe the future of business is in thought leadership and intellectual property, so I want to hire people for how they think, not just to do a job,” Holtzclaw explains. Potential hires, take note: Holtzclaw warns the stalking goes both ways. What are you reading over lunch? Let us know in the comments. (Photodisc/Thinkstock) [Chloe Thompson](https://associationsnow.com/author/chloe-thompson/) Chloe Thompson is a contributing writer to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/chloe-thompson/) Tags: [#Celebration](https://associationsnow.com/tag/celebration/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#online events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-events/) [#volunteers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/volunteers/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [TemplateMembers onlyOnline Event Cheat Sheet for HostFebruary 1, 2022](https://associationsnow.com/2022/02/01/online-event-cheat-sheet-for-host/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F11%2F30%2Flunchtime-links-ready-for-international-volunteer-day%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !