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
challenge
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
For me to have a fulfilling life it must be filled with challenges. I’m not appeased by merely “working” as a cog in a company. Even a well-intentioned company that doesn’t present me with an uphill battle would leave me wanting. Call me masochistic, but I don’t want my career to be handed to me on a silver platter.
This desire to push boundaries, push forward, and push on comes with some caveats. I keep my head up and my eyes focused forward. I’ve learned that it’s important to bite small and chew well. I pick my battles.
I know what I’m fighting for and why. My battle has been around the honest and accurate flow of information which I believe is needed for a healthy democracy. Knowing the battle I’ve chosen keeps me motivated. I can find a higher meaning in it. A truism in life is that movements, events, and more come and go. “This too shall pass.” Even my own endeavors will eventually come to a halt. But within my chosen field I can leave lasting impressions. I can open new doors and mark new boundaries that others can thrive within.
Also, it’s important to stay connected and grounded. When I challenge myself, I meet collaborators, competitors, and even enemies. This is perfectly natural. I indulge in these relationships, but realize that moderation is a virtue and none of these characters should overtake me or my vision.
If a challenging life leads to a meaningful one, then I can’t be afraid of failure. Too often we think of failure as a black mark. It isn’t. If nobody else has tried what I try, then failing simply means that others will be able to stand on my shoulders. If, while undertaking a challenge, I don’t succeed, but can send up a flare as I go down, I’ll feel as though I’ve made an impact. An informative failure is a kind of success.
Be bold and people will respect you for it. As Gandhi said, “We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.” Meet the challenge.
- David Cohn
Explore More Meaning
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pilot. search dog handler. grandmother.
A retired PE instructor, grandmother of four, and passionate flyer, Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation to address a gap in our nation’s disaster response network. www.searchdogfoundation.org
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big picturer. former linebacker. current give-backer.
Ryan Nece’s community influence has lasted long after he finished his career as an National Football League player. He created The Ryan Nece Foundation, which provides physical, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need. www.ryannece.com
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high climber. responsible risker. philanthropist.
Alison Levine is a mountaineer, explorer, teacher, and founder of the Climb High Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of African women by training them to be local guides and porters. www.alisonlevine.com
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Narrative Therapist. Question Asker. Listener.
Larry Zucker is a narrative therapist who believes in people's abilities to create – and find support for – many different and wonderful ways of showing up in relationships and community. www.larchmontassociates.com
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business and success coach. designer. expansionist.
Anney Smith is fueled by creativity, invention, and intuition. She’s an executive and entrepreneur coach, designer, wife, and mom who blends left- and right-brained tools to ignite major transformations. www.thesmithconnection.com
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storyteller. question asker. catalyst.
Antonio Neves is an award-winning broadcast journalist and the founder of THINQACTION, where he coaches young professionals to transform potential into performance. www.thinqaction.com
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entrepreneur. nail fashionista. people lover.
In 2006, entrepreneur Samira Asemanfar founded Bellacures, the first high-end, branded nail salon in Los Angeles. Since then, Bellacures has developed a devoted clientele and received countless accolades. www.bellacures.com
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actor. mixed media artist. traveling eye.
Actor and artist Cutter Cutshaw mixes the profane with the elegant. His mixed media approach combines original photography with digital and organic brushwork, transforming chaos into sensual portrayals. www.cutterartandphoto.com
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