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
freedom
Gina Rudan
genius finder. de-compartmentalizer. mind-heart mixer.
Gina Rudan is an author, thought leader, and the president of Genuine Insights Inc., a contemporary professional development and training practice with the mission of leveraging the genius within every individual and organization. [www.genuineinsights.com]
Meaning itself stimulates, drives, and excites me – finding meaning in people, places, communities, objects, energy, and people’s intentions. I’m one of those folks who walks through life constantly searching for and finding new information, new relationships, and interesting connections between passions and abilities, visions and ventures. I’m always trying to connect the dots in my own life and in the lives of others. It’s what motivates me every day.
For years, I felt like I was two people. I was one way in my professional life and another way in my personal life. I’ve discovered that lots of people are tired of living lives compartmentalized into two identities – heart and mind. My crusade is to help people realize that meaning, true happiness, and substantial success lie in the intersection of heart and mind. Instead of dividing myself up into tidy little Tupperware bins, living a conditioned, dichotomized life where heart and mind never meet, I’ve found great fulfillment and pleasure in colliding my heart and my mind.
I consider this convergence our innate practical genius. Everyone possesses a wonderful space of integration and convergence, though it looks different in each of our lives.
My number one way of staying on track is surrounding myself with people living out their heart-mind paradox, people who accept their contradictions and work toward meaning through heart and mind simultaneously. It’s the best way to hold myself accountable and not fall into routine compartmentalization.
With every client, during our first session, I have them identify six simple ingredients that contribute to who they are. The first three are related to the heart: creative abilities, passions, and values. Those are our soft assets. The other three are our hard assets: skills, strengths, and expertise. At the intersection between the soft and hard assets – the heart and the mind – is our genius potential. Sometimes I call it the other G-spot, because it’s hard to find, but when you do you’re so happy you did.
If I ever have anything tattooed on my body it will be the word freedom. It’s my mantra. I seek freedom every day, and every day I seek greater freedom. I surround myself with folks who allow relationships to flourish in non-binding ways. I like things to be practical and tactical, because that’s when we see an impact, so I incorporate freedom in everything I do and in every relationship I have: Do I have freedom here? Is this relationship binding? Am I free to be me?
– Gina Rudan
Explore More Meaning
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writer. change-agent. actress with a vision.
Barbara Bassill empowers women to live a life of joy, harmony and authenticity. She's a business woman and mother of three beautiful children. [www.barbarabassill.wordpress.com/coaching]
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avid meditator. awareness expander. soulmate.
Brian Hilliard has developed, managed, and invested in commercial real estate, telecommunications, publishing, and entertainment. Currently, his primary focus is on humanitarian projects and assisting non-profits with fundraising and hands-on participation.
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writer. teacher. service connoisseur.
Brooke Burton writes and teaches as a way of celebrating her love of the food and hospitality industry. She sees glamour in the whir of a busy dining room. [www.foodwoolf.com]
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master storyteller. mythology scholar. mosaicist.
Michael Meade is a master storyteller, a scholar of mythology, and an author. He founded the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, a network of artists, teachers, and activists fostering community. [www.mosaicvoices.org]
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Radio Personality. Coach. Conversation Starter.
Elese is a coach, speaker, lecturer, and radio talk show personality who hosts a weekly show called "A New Way to Handle Absolutely Everything." [www.elesecoit.com]
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musical multi-tasker. quest seeker. early starter.
Todd Murray uses both sides of his brain. He's a professional singer/songwriter and a businessman. He's a documentarian, real-estate owner/manager, co-owner of gvbradio.com, dog lover ... and he cans pickles. [www.ToddMurray.com]
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author speaker. free body. energy woman.
Tarnie Fulloon is an author, international speaker, workshop leader, and the creator of BodyFreedom. She specializes in awakening body intelligence and the feminine energy system in women. [bodyfreedom.com]
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silent protesters. photographers. NOH8ers.
Celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley founded the NOH8 Campaign, a photographic silent protest in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California. [www.noh8campaign.com]
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