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
determined
Erin Norton
focused fashionista. go-getter. miracle creator.
Erin Norton is a director at JBrand Jeans, a leading Los Angeles based fashion brand. She is a friend enthusiast, appreciates a good glass of wine, and is slowly learning to love squats. [www.jbrandjeans.com]
As an overweight child, teen, and then adult, to say I struggled with my body image just sounds so…cliché. It doesn’t make it any less true. I was that girl. You know the one. The one who is everyone’s best friend. The one who is funny. So nice. Smart. “Oh, the pretty face and beautiful smile.” Yep, that was me. No one knew I was completely miserable. I hated everything about myself.
After college I found myself in New York City working in the fashion industry, not entirely the best world for a young woman with body issues. Determination and focus landed me there, and it was that determination that made me successful. However, no matter how amazing and talented people told me I was at my job, I still hated the person I saw in the mirror.
Seven years later I moved to LA, what I deemed a land of the beautiful and the perfect. I worked for an amazing brand, and, to others, my world seemed perfect. Then everything changed. I was let go from my perfect job and found myself lost. I couldn’t believe that the one thing that validated me had just been taken away from me. My self worth plummeted.
I had two choices. I could let everything I disliked about myself control my destiny, or I could search inside for that determination that had taken me to New York and reclaim control of my life. I decided to focus on the one thing I hated most and that I could control: my weight. I did what I saw so many do in Los Angeles and hired a trainer. That decision and that relationship changed my life.
He forced me to not only look at what I physically didn’t like about myself but also what mentally took me to this dark place. I began to work harder on myself than I had on any other project before, and, with every pound that I lost, I gained a pound of confidence. A miracle happened for me. I became someone who likes what she sees in the mirror.
In life we are given the opportunity to make changes. Choose different paths. I learned that you need to trust in yourself and use that determination that guides you to make the right choices, no matter how challenging the situation. Now I walk a little lighter (literally). I hold my head a little higher. All it took was a little belief and a lot of hard work.
– Erin Norton
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promotional product developer. veteran entrepreneur. be gooder.
Kris Wittenberg, founder of Be Good to People, is a veteran entrepreneur whose company, SayNoMore! Promotions, is the go-to resource for promotional products. [www.begoodtopeople.com]
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kin collaborator. judgement dropper. purity seeker.
Kern Konwiser is a writer, director, and producer who, along with his brother, has collaborated with the industry's most influential artists to create award-winning features in different media. [www.konwiserbros.com]
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holistic healer. connected wife. star trek scholar.
Celeste Yarnall, PhD, shares musings on a myriad of topics at her Celestial Musings Blog. She is an author, actress, and speaker. She created the Art of Wellness Collection with her husband, Nazim Artist. [www.MoxxArt.com]
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neurotransmitter. sound innovator. yummy hummer.
Sound visionary and author Alex Theory draws upon extensive training in psychology, integrative medicine, and psychoacoustic music production to innovate new styles of music and media. [www.unifyearth.com]
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photographer. connecter. meditator.
Barbara Gluck is an award-winning photographer. She co-founded The Light Institute of Galisteo, which puts people in touch with their Divine Higher Self and multidimensional levels of consciousness. [www.BarbaraGluck.com]
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emoter. now chaser. crisis averter.
BJ Panda Bear is the natural blonde bombshell with the heart of gold entertaining through DJing, hosting events, and producing visual and audio works that shines light on the ups and downs of futurity. [www.BJPandaBear.com]
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grateful daughter. dancing inspirer. gentle pusher.
Chisa Yamaguchi is a performer and the Education Director of Diavolo Dance Theater, an internationally renowned modern acrobatic dance company. She's also a yoga instructor for IRIS, the new Cirque du Soleil show. [www.diavolo.org]
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entertainment ceo. human spirit student. gift giver.
Demian Lichenstein is a filmmaker, author, and the CEO of Equilibrium Entertainment. His pursuits in the world of entertainment are matched only by his passion for learning about the human spirit. [www.discoverthegift.com]
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