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
everything
H. Alan Scott
H. Alan Scott is a writer and comedian. Featured on Sirius XM Radio, here! TV, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Towleroad, xojane.com and Time Out New York's "Joke of the Week." Oprah said his name.
I was raised Mormon. This is just another way of saying, “Trust me, I have more siblings than you.” Whatever we did as a family had to also be well suited for large groups. Because of this, we often went to the movies.
One October night in 1997, my family set out on yet another movie night. It was my father’s turn to select a movie. Never good at these sorts of things, usually he chose films based on how he felt about the title. This weekend he selected a film that seemed like a musical, possibly a dance film, called “Boogie Nights.”
We took our row in the theater. I sat next to my mother. I had heard things about the film, that there might be nudity, but for Mormons my parents were fairly liberal, so I wasn’t concerned about a butt shot or possibly a boob (maybe two).
Things were fine through out the first half of the film. Sure, it’s totally not a musical (but there is dancing!). The sex is graphic, there’s drug use, but my family seems to be handling it just fine. They might be (bite my Mormon tongue) enjoying it.
Then Julianne Moore tells Mark Wahlberg exactly where (on her) he should, um, you know… finish. This is when I leaned over to my mother and whispered, “We should go.”
“No,” she said. “We paid for this, we’re getting our money’s worth. How much worse can it get?
We all know how much worse it got. (A full nine inches of worse, if you know what I mean).
But my mother likes to frame things in life lessons. As we were exiting the theater, she says to my me and my brothers, “Boys, look at it this way, having a large penis only leads to a life in pornography and drug use. You should be proud of your small penises.”
I am proud, but not for why you’re thinking. Only my Mormon family would actually sit through a film like “Boogie Nights” AND find meaning in it. I mean, it’s totally bonkers. Which is why I’m proud, because it taught me that even the most ridiculous (and don’t forget awkward) situations can be made into something to learn from, or find joy in, or possibly laugh at.
As a writer and comedian, there’s no greater lesson (or source material).
And I am proud of my small penis. Well, metaphorically small, in the context of the story I mean. I’m going to stop now.
– H. Alan Scott
Explore More Meaning
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loss educator. transition encourager. hope infuser.
Carole Brody Fleet is a popular motivational speaker, helping people touched by the pain and challenge of loss, regardless of age. She's been a regular guest on local, regional, national, and international media programs. [www.widowswearstilettos.com]
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forward payer. braceletier. path changer.
Charley Johnson is the president of the Pay it Forward Foundation and founder the PIF Experience, which collects stories from all over the world of people doing good by paying it forward. [www.pifexperience.org]
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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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Writer. Former Political Aide. Identifier.
Roger Wolfson is a television and film writer who's written for four different hit TV series. A former political aide, he was staff to Senators Lieberman, Kerry, Wellstone, and Kennedy. [www.rogerwolfson.com]
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archer. demon confronter. life re-arranger.
Ambi Sitham began her career as a lawyer and went onto become a coach, author, commentator and television personality. [www.ambisitham.com]
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truth digger. motivated shifter. calendar ignorer.
Andrew Skotzko is a curious entrepreneur who's passionate about creating peak experiences and elegant products. He also enjoys finding bits of truth hidden in plain sight ... and going for long bike rides. [www.noticings.com]
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adventurer. guide. life-lover.
Jen Whalen is an enthusiastic life-lover, guide, and the founder of True North Adventures a soul-centered business with an experiential approach to fully engaging in the adventure of life. [www.seektruenorth.com]
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change encourager. appreciative friend. fresh starter.
Ken Torrino is a web relations specialist for Elliman, brokers for New York City real estate. [www.elliman.com/new-york-city]
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