Some people need to get a job. Other people need to get a life. If you’re like Martin Smith, you’d say it’s the same damn thing. You see, Martin actually believes there should be no difference between making a buck and making a difference. This week Martin officially joined the ranks of a Change Agent by launching JustMeans, an Internet job site and social network that makes Monster Board look like its got no soul.

JustMeans connects GenXers and GenYers who are committed to advancing social change through their jobs (pop-conscious GOOD Magazine calls this new mojo of our generation, "sensibility") with employers on the frontlines of corporate social responsibility.

But Martin is not Just another social entrepreneur and JustMeans is not Just another “me-too” socially-conscious, social network. (What’s the rule on how many times you can say social in a sentence?)

Martin’s ah-ha moment came when he realized that more and more of us don’t want jobs just to pay the rent... we want careers that let us pay back.

I first met Martin after reading New Kids on the Bloc! -- Fast Company's take on Martin and his posse of forward thinking upstarts who blazed StartingBloc's early trails. [StartingBloc is a forward-looking, NY-based organization that educates and places high-achieving students and young professionals who've got change on their minds with companies that know there is more than one bottom line.]

After a quick email exchange and call, Martin agreed to see me. A week later on a classic NY afternoon with rain coming down in buckets, I made my soggy way up to his office.

I will never forget sitting across the table from Martin that first get-together when he said to me with a smirk, "You know, my generation is skeptical -- very skeptical man -- about this social change thing." I thought, "What the hell am I hearing from this guy who is supposed to be drinking from the change-the-world Koolaid firehose?"

We chatted for while longer, bonded and then began to wrap things up. As I was headed out the door, Martin passed me a copy of David Borenstein's book "How to Change the World." I thought, "Ooo-kkkaayyy, this dude is a piece a work! He just contradicted himself again." Here you have a guy running a change-the-world organization, talking about his skepticism for real social/environmental change, and yet reading all the heady stuff.

I came realize this about Martin... He understands the fact that Gen Y is up against a collision of social and environmental issues that are standing squarely between them and the future they desire. These are the Enron kids, the climate change generation, the Darfur spectators. Damn right they're skeptical! But it is that skepticism that motivates them to want to make change on their own terms -- not on the terms sold to them in slick green ads, bumper stickers or mass mailers from charities.

When I got home, I checked the 990 forms (afterall, who can resist checking the salaries of non-profit executives?) to see how Martin was doing. I figured if the guy is lining his pockets, he's probably full of shit -- not that you can't make money and do good (to the contrary) but I needed a tie-breaker here! It was clear from that 990 moment forward and every time that I have seen Martin since, that he is taking one for the team of Gen Y.

Fast forward. As a member of the Changents community tasked with helping Change Agents, I am thinking, “Martin and his new start-up are pretty cool, but I already have one of those awesome give-something-back jobs and sleep pretty well at night because of it, thank you. What can I do to help this guy?”

But as I thought more about it, I realized that by helping Martin I would be helping my friends (and like-minded people I don’t know) spend their working hours doing something important too. So, the Action Pack here is sign-up for JustMeans! Duh. But, don’t stop there. Here are a couple of thoughts to help you back my pal, Martin.

1.) Post your resume and profile. Regardless of whether or not you are looking for a job, the more qualified, socially-conscious, amazing people that get behind Martin’s vision sends a message to companies that we (me and you) are looking for careers that make a difference. That is powerful stuff. And hey, you just might find a job that is even cooler and more meaningful than the one you have now.

2.) Email the link to JustMeans to your favorite ethical company. I have a few favs (see our blog’s Admiration Society) and figured I would send them the link to JustMeans. Piece of cake!

3.) Forward this story to your friends (especially those that need a job!). I am always looking for a good excuse to build my Ripple by forwarding content about a cool change agent to my friends who will appreciate the tip.

With that, I throw my hat in the ring with Martin and commit never to punch a clock again in my life!