author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
be specific
Brian Center
Writer. Philanthropist. Community Transformer.
Brian Center has worked on the issues of violence prevention and strengthening families from many angles. He's the Executive Director of A Better LA. [www.abetterla.org]
I still remember feeling frustrated by vague dreams when I was younger. My parents told me, “You can be anything you want to be.” I wanted to be successful, happy, or just myself. But what the heck did that mean!?
Now I dream specific. For instance, I’ve always wanted to transform inner-city communities. When I close my eyes and dream, I see myself reading research, learning about gang violence, walking the streets of Los Angeles, raising money to fund programs. And when I do those things in real life, I live my dream. It’s the most energizing feeling in the world.
It’s fairly easy to be inspired for a few minutes by reading a great self-help book or hearing a moving speech. But it’s challenging to stay inspired when the pressures of life are upon us and we feel out of control or overwhelmed.
Dreaming specific shrinks life’s pressures and makes inspiration a daily occurrence. After all, dreaming specific is still dreaming – painting a beautiful picture in your mind that’s full of hope about the future. Dreaming is a great escape. It allows you to escape from the immediate past – over which you no longer have any control – and move into the future, over which you have much more control.
Tricks? I have two. First, I write specific goals on index cards and keep them with me at all times. When I lose focus, hope, or patience, I pull the cards out, close my eyes and picture myself accomplishing those goals. I engage in a brief, specific dream session, often about what I’m going to do over the next few hours.
Second, I recite my core values, the concepts I think should never be bent or broken – in the form of an elevator pitch to myself that reminds me of what’s most important in life. My elevator pitch is from the Bible: “To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.” This is my three-part litmus test for almost any decision or thought process: Am I thinking clearly? Prioritizing well? Using my time wisely? I find that the answers are always yes if I’m consistent with my core values.
I dream in detail, then hold on to that image and never let go.
– Brian Center
Explore More Meaning
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actress. singer. sexy environmentalist.
Actress, singer and environmentalist, Izabella Miko, founded The EkoMiko Foundation, a non-profit that takes an innovative and super sexy approach in educating about caring for our environment. [www.ekomiko.com]
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appreciative son. moment cogitator. lesson learner.
Jeff Semigran is a senior at UC Berkeley studying environmental and civil engineering. He is an alumnus of the Teen Insight Seminars and Leadership series. This piece is part of the Insight University and Life By Me week of giving back. www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university
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character enthusiast. rollerblader. applause inducer.
Hayley Holmes has turned her love for entertaining into a dream come true in Hollywood. She's a small-town girl who looks for new adventures every day and is enjoying the ride. [www.hayleyholmes.com]
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entrepreneur. balancer. dad.
Stuart Roseman is a software engineer turned serial entrepreneur. He co-founded Gamesville.com (bought by Lycos in 1999), Gamelogic (bought by Scientific Games in 2010), and SaneBox. [www.SaneBox.com]
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holistic health counselor. transformational speaker. natural life changer.
Holistic Health Counselor Alisa Vitti specializes in reproductive and hormonal health and helping women connect to and express their feminine energy. She founded the FLO Living Center. [www.floliving.com]
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consultant. author. team igniter.
Author and consultant Mark Samuel, assists individuals and organizations in achieving significant change measurably improving performance, teamwork, and communication. [www.impaqcorp.com]
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author. mama. pleasure pioneer.
Regena Thomashauer (Mama Gena) is a revolution: an icon, teacher, author, mother, and a pioneer in researching the nature of pleasure and dedicating her life to the discipline of pleasure. [www.mamagenas.com]
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event producer. interior designer. ambiance maker.
Shay Watson is the founder of Aesthetica Events, which designs and produces events all over the world. His acute aesthetic sense has also led him into the world of home design and décor. [www.aestheticaevents.com]
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