Jack Canfield 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]

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington 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]

Seth Godin

Seth Godin author. speaker. linchpin.

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

Krishna Kaur

Krishna Kaur 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]

Norman Lear

Norman Lear 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]

Leilani Münter

Leilani Münter 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]

Kevin Bales

Kevin Bales 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]

Sophie Chiche

Sophie Chiche 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]

Mastin Kipp

Mastin Kipp 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]

Liz Phair

Liz Phair singer. musician. crier.

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu 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]

Zainab Salbi

Zainab Salbi 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]

Sean Stephenson

Sean Stephenson 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]

Kia Miller

Kia Miller 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]

Simon Mainwaring

Simon Mainwaring 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]

Shannon Bindler

Shannon Bindler 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]

Mathieu Bitton

Mathieu Bitton 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]

Jorge Perez

Jorge Perez 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

innovate

Danielle LaPorte strategist. innovator. fire starter.

Inspirational speaker and business strategist Danielle LaPorte is the creator of WhiteHotTruth.com, which helps entrepreneurs rock their careers with integrity, audacity, and their truest strengths. [www.whitehottruth.com]

What’s most meaningful to me right now is my creative edge, which has everything to do with innovation. How do I get to my innovative, creative edge and how do I stay there? I do it by constantly asking myself if what I’m making is as true as it can be. “What I’m making” is anything from the book I’m writing or the article I’m creating to the conversation I’m having and the love I’m giving. Is it as true as I can make it? Is there useless filler? Am I coming from the past? Am I rounding up rather than staying true? Am I rounding off my edges to try to make things acceptable? Trying to make things acceptable can be deadly to creativity.

What also keeps me on my creative, innovative edge is my devotion to being of service. So I also constantly ask myself if what I’m doing is useful. Is it useful , or is this me just talking to hear myself talk? Am I giving only because it feels good to give or am I really being inclusive and connected and intentional about what I’m giving?

If I fall off my creative edge, away from my own creative sweet spot, it usually has do with fear. Everybody wants to love and be loved, including me. When I round up or layer things just to get love, that’s when things get unnecessarily complicated. To mitigate or dissolve that fear, I accept that I’m a work in progress and that fear is going to be present in any creation of art. Art is risky business. If I’m not afraid that everyone’s going to see me naked, then I’m not really creating at a meaningful place. I take my fear to the edge with me.

I also look back. I have a body of work and truth and love and consciousness to draw on now. I spoke my truth in a loving way. I affected someone with compassion. I wrote something brilliant. So I think I can do this now. I’ve done it before.

The Dalai Lama says, “The truth is that which works.” Truth feels elegant. It’s very simple. It’s not complicated. A truth may not feel good in this moment, but it’s going to sustain me and move me forward in a meaningful way.

If I can find a way to make what I make and do what I do be different and still full of integrity, then I’m all for it. No faking it to make it anymore.

– Danielle LaPorte

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Is there ANY sentence floating in your head that's censoring your ability to innovate?
Would being more innovative create a life you like better?

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Mary Jane Ryan Author. Speaker. Professional Thinker.
Mary Jane Ryan is one of the creators of the bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series. She specializes in coaching high-performance entrepreneurs and leadership teams around the world. [www.mj-ryan.com]
Kent Nerburn story weaver. mystery buff. bull follower.
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Mindy Crary has an MBA and works as a CFP practitioner and financial coach who helps her clients become a lot more educated (never inundated) about not only their money, but the whack job behind it. [www.creativemoney.biz]
Jorge Perez 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
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Teacher, natural products innovator, and founder of Clementine Art, Diana Mercer works in pursuit of a world where all children are artists even after they grow up. [www.clementineart.com]
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David Cohn participitory journalist. community funder. spotter.
David Cohn is the founder of Spot.Us, a nonprofit organization that fundraises for independent journalists. He's a frequent speaker on topics related to new media and beyond. [www.digidave.org]
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Edward Vilga is an internationally known yoga instructor and author who has had six books published (many of which involve yoga) and written and directed two feature films. [www.EdwardVilga.com]
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Author Lisa Arie is a master at navigating the unknown. She founded Vista Caballo's Innovation Ranch, an exclusive self-discovery center for visionary leaders, thinkers, and explorers. [www.vistacaballo.com]
James Lecesne narrative multitasker. life saver. creative activist.
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Dr. Jane A. Simington PhD. combines personal experience of healing from the traumatic loss of her son along with professional experience to help others find hope and happiness after a difficult life experience. [www.throughsoulseyes.com]
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Jamie Gaul comedian. writer. blond.
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Jeff and Jason Baietto brothers. entrepreneurs. healthy philanthropists.
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Thomas F. La Vecchia, MBA, is the author of “The X Factor Selling System: The Sales Expert’s Guide to Selling” teaching others easy steps which can be used in the business world or in everyday life.
Nicole Krugh loving sister. compassionate nurse. hopeful survivor.
Nicole Krugh is a devoted wife, mother, sister and nurse. She is the founder of a not for profit organization raising awareness on teenage depression and suicide. [www.taylordonnadio.com]
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Jennifer Peek is the founder of Find Your New Groove, mentoring women entrepreneurs to design and build businesses that reflect their purpose, passion, and priorities while embracing a sense of adventure. [http://findyournewgroove.com]
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Kenneth Vogt mindful entrepreneur. present appreciator. business transformer.
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Lara Schwartz hand extender. curiosity embracer. self discoverer.
Lara Schwartz is a conscious therapist in private practice and the co-founder of Tribe. She recently launched Speak Up!, a program designed to empower people to find their own unique voice. [www.laraschwartz.com]
Darrell W. Gurney coach. strategist. career changer.
Darrell W. Gurney has served as a career strategist to individuals for over 20 years, with a driving commitment to everyone's purposeful Back Forty. [www.thebackforty.com]
Ron McElroy surfer. heritage explorer. puanani.
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Entrepreneur Abigail Ivins founded Present Path, a company that coaches senior executives, high potential leaders, and teams to find internal stability, peace, and authenticity. [www.present-path.com]
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