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
the journey
Dennis N. T. Perkins
insightful author. curious explorer. obstacle conqueror.
Dennis N.T. Perkins is the author of Into the Storm and Leading at The Edge. He is CEO of The Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and teams thrive under conditions of adversity, uncertainty, and change. [http://www.syncreticsgroup.com]
My father, a career naval officer, instilled a set of values around public service. He was a patriot in the best sense of the word. My mother instilled a love of education, language, and shared her personal motto, Excelsior.
This foundation brought me to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where I heard John F. Kennedy’s words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” I decided to volunteer for the Marine Corps which led me to Vietnam.
The experience of being in combat was a crucible for me. First, I organized medical teams to help local villagers combat serious health threats. Later, I would be responsible for the lives of young men, and for writing condolence letters to their families.
I returned from Vietnam to enter a new world of academe. I was called stupid for having volunteered for the Marines. Kennedy was gone, his words distant and faint.
It was some twenty years after Vietnam, while teaching leadership at Yale, that I asked myself a fundamental question: What is my unique voice? How can I use my experience to help others learn about leadership and teamwork?
As I pondered these questions, the answer seemed obvious. I realized that I could take the things I’d learned in the crucible of combat and share them with those facing other life challenges. Meanwhile, I could apply the conceptual skills developed in the academic world to shape my message. My goal: to integrate two very different worlds and use this hybrid approach to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
My search for meaning goes on, and I’m now faced with the stark reality that I can’t do this work forever. I understand, of course, the sentiment behind Woody Allen’s comment: “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying.”
I wish him the best of luck, but I don’t want to take any chances. Immortality aside, I know that the best chance of sustaining my work lies with colleagues and friends who have a more distant horizon. I’m fortunate to have such people in my life, and I’m confident that they will continue to help others who find themselves at The Edge.
– Dennis N. T. Perkins
Explore More Meaning
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herd escaper. spiritual messenger. pantyhose resister.
Christine Kloser is a spiritual guide, award-winning author, and transformational book coach whose spot-on guidance transforms the lives of visionary entrepreneurs and authors around the world. [www.ChristineKloser.com]
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strategist. buddhist. light bearer.
Marc Sachnoff is a television producer, entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and a practicing Buddhist. He brings the Buddha to business, combining timeless wisdom and modern technology. [www.enlightenedent.com]
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Author. Speaker. Empowerer.
Best-selling author Mary Morrissey has been a consultant for over 30 years. Her transformational talks and seminars have made her one of the world's leading teachers in the human potential movement. [www.marymorrissey.com]
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lifelong giver. quality thinker. balanced believer.
Michael Browne coaches, mentors, leads intercultural and people-development seminars, and blogs for the Huffington Post. He writes on culture, history and business under the nom de plum "O'Brien Browne." [www.omomnetwork.com]
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interactive marketer. pr strategist. awareness harnesser.
Interactive marketing and online PR strategist Jennifer Sall works with companies of all sizes to leverage the immediacy of the Web to build brand awareness and revenue. [www.unionxunion.com]
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omnibuilder. nomad. inspirationalist.
Bassam Tarazi is the Director of Operations of Omnibuild and a co-founder of Nomading Film Festival. He has recently launched Colipera, which focuses on collective inspiration and personal accountability. [www.colipera.com]
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master creationist. wayshower. feeling feeler.
Boni Lonnsburry is the author of the book, The Map: To Our Responsive Universe, Where Dreams Really Do Come True, a step-by-step guide to creating a life you love. [www.livealifeyoulove.com]
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awareness seeker. conscious music maker. helpful exaggerator.
Singer, songwriter, and producer Eric Lumiere is a Lover of Life and all things, and lives for the upliftment of consciousness everywhere. He is also graduate of Teen Insight. 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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