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. TED-talker. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, founder of lifebyme.com, is the single mom of an amazing 16-year-old, Leah, and wicked step-mom of 22-year-old, Sarah. They all live in LA. You can find them boxing, cooking, collaging, hosting brunches, laughing their head off or bickering over who’s washing and who’s drying the dishes.
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
sincere fun
Cindi Leive
Editor-in-Chief. Power Woman. Proponent of Fun.
Cynthia Leive is the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine. She was named the "Most Powerful U.S. Fashion Magazine Editor" by Forbes. www.glamour.com
What’s most meaningful to me is work and family. First and foremost, eclipsing everything else, is being able to keep my home life with my husband and kids at the center of my life. And I have a work life that keeps me challenged and fulfills me on many levels. That’s a luxury, I realize.
It’s been very helpful to pare things down to what’s most meaningful and adhere to them almost as if they were a religion. I only have two priorities in my life and they’re the only things I pay attention to. I don’t throw dinner parties or keep house plants alive or do a lot of other things. I definitely don’t do it all, or even close.
Instead of the juggling metaphor for handling life, I think about whether my life is balanced overall. There are going to be some weeks when I feel like I’m completely neglecting my family, and other weeks when I feel like I’m completely neglecting my job. The important thing to keep my eye on is the overall picture. Nobody’s able to get it right in every 24-hour day, but if it all adds up okay, then I’m okay. And if I feel like I’m not balancing things well overall, I ask myself, “Who am I failing?” Am I actually failing my children? Or my boss? Or am I only failing an idealized version of myself, an ideal that no living, breathing human could ever achieve?
Over the years, I’ve come to believe more and more in the power of sincerity – speaking my mind, really being who I am, being open to my own emotions, resisting impulses to be glib and sarcastic. Instead, I focus on speaking from the heart, because, in my experience, when I do that I really start getting things done. Sincerity is a real shortcut to success. My mantra has become “When in doubt, be sincere.”
The things that really move you and interest you, that come from the heart, are the things you’re going to be most successful at. Meaningful work is figuring out what you’re there for beyond the paycheck. What’s meaningful for me is working in journalism, a field I love, and working on behalf of women. I don’t do it because it’s a social obligation, but because I’m interested.
It’s really important to have fun, but you also have to do something you sincerely believe in, something you aren’t just kidding about.
- Cindi Leive
Explore More Meaning
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triathlete. limit breaker. authenticity chaser.
As an adventure racer, triathlete, ultrarunner, and mountaineer, Terri Schneider has raced and adventured in over 70 countries. She is the author of Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique, and Inspiration. www.terrischneider.com
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director. supporter. kindness power plug.
Bill Cumming is Director of The Boothby Institute. He supports individuals, children, and teachers in schools; prisoners; and YMCA and corporate staff in discovering the power of loving-kindness. www.theboothbyinstitute.org
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promotional writer. personal supergirl. secret weapon.
Alexandra Franzen is a promotional writer and pro-active pimp who wrangles communications for pro-bloggers and helps entrepreneurs expand their empires--without the hassle of cloning. www.alexandrafranzen.com
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people connector. summer camper. born traveller.
Dan Lack created Meeting of the Big Minds, a summer camp for adults, bringing together 15 of the country’s biggest dreamers and doers at a time to connect and collaborate at four-day retreats. www.mbmclassic.com
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professional life shifter. intuitive advisor. authenticity aligner.
Creator of the Life-Shift series, Bridget Pilloud works with people all over the world to help them enact positive change in their personal and professional lives. www.bridgetpilloud.com
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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
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poet. photographer. lover.
Lynda Filler is a poet, author, photographer, and would-be public speaker who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She has two published poetry books and is currently working on two memoir/biographies. www.thelovefix.com
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Filmmaker. Musician. Creative Explorer.
Peter Hastings has worked professionally in film, television, theatre, and music for the past 35 years. Peter supports www.onekidoneworld.org
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