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
joy
Gloria Kellett
television writer. playwright. comedienne.
Gloria Calderón Kellett is an author, playwright, television comedy writer and producer, sketch comedy group member, stand-up comedian, and Alma award winner. [www.everythinggloria.com]
The pursuit of joy is most meaningful to me because it encompasses everything. Balancing work or family doesn’t quite encompass enough, but the pursuit of joy means feeling connected to my loved ones, laughing, seeing the humor in life, walking around feeling good, and doing the best I can to be my best self.
I was a model as a kid, in Portland, and took my looks very seriously. Then, when I was 12, I broke my jaw, my two front teeth fell out, and I had to have braces. It was the first time I didn’t feel like the most attractive person in the room. That became character-defining for me because I realized that if I wanted people to look at me, I’d better say something interesting. And if I say something not only interesting, but funny, then people will really notice me.
Then, when I was 14, I moved from Oregon to San Diego. I walked into school and all the girls were gorgeous beach blondes. There I was with my braces and crooked face. But once I found myself by working with my brain and trying to be interesting and funny, I knew I could walk into any room and it didn’t matter what I looked like.
At the time of the accident I was devastated. But it turned out to be a blessing. I owe that defining moment my life.
Now I always try to find the blessing in the disappointment. When I have a difficult day, it’s often because I’m spending too much energy on something that’s not currently happening – anxiety about the future or stress from the past. One day, I tell myself, I’m going to learn something so important because of this.
Meditation and humor help me get back on track. If I sit quietly for a moment and breathe, focusing on being present in this moment and doing the best I can in this moment, it pulls me out of worry. I also do what the British call “taking the piss,” which means making fun of something. If I’m stressing about something silly, I’ll make fun of myself. The truth of the matter is that nobody except me cares about my zit. But if I show up in joy anyway, not only do they not care about the zit, they only see the joy.
Obviously, I don’t walk around joy-filled all the time, but that’s certainly my goal. It’s what I hope for. I aspire to being filled with joy.
– Gloria Kellett
Explore More Meaning
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consultant. facilitator. life enhancer.
For two decades, Leslie Harradine, a partner and Managing Director of Exhact GmbH, has traveled the globe to help individuals, teams, and business leaders enhance their personal and professional lives. [www.exhact.com]
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super blogger. personal freedom seeker. daily assessor.
James Altucher is a trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur. He has published numerous books, and every day people tune into The Altucher Confidential for his words on success, happiness, and everything in between. [www.jamesaltucher.com]
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copywriter. advocate. mountain defragmenter.
Michelle Durham is an advocate of children's causes as well as a copywriter, a mother, speaker and email and auto-responder writer. [www.michellecopywriting.com]
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brand innovator. author. thinktopian.
Founder and CEO of THINKTOPIA, Patrick Hanlon is acknowledged as one of the top brand innovation practitioners in the world. [www.thinktopia.com]
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blogger. survivor. moment grabber.
Josephine Bila, M.S.W. is a storyteller who uses her personal experience and training in psychology to transform lives. She creates one blog post every Wednesday on her site. [josephinebila.com]
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branding guru. joy receiver. authenticity connector.
Andrei Najjar is an award-winning pop culture brand strategist who has curated large-scale initiatives and global campaigns for over 30 top-tier brands. He is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Vice-Chairman for the largest chapter of Meals on Wheels in the US. [www.ateliercollective.com]
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bestselling author. speaker. intuition integrator.
Best-selling author Laura Day teaches people how to integrate intuition into their personal and corporate lives to achieve greater success and community. [www.howtoruletheworldfromyourcouch.com]
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authentic novelist. uncertainty embracer. dream includer.
Kyle Rutkin was put on this world to write romantic comedies and inspire people to chase their dreams. His second novel is due for release in the winter of 2012. [www.kylerutkin.com]
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