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. TED-talker. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, founder of lifebyme.com, is the single mom of an amazing 16-year-old, Leah, and wicked step-mom of 22-year-old, Sarah. They all live in LA. You can find them boxing, cooking, collaging, hosting brunches, laughing their head off or bickering over who’s washing and who’s drying the dishes.
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
realness
Joan Shulman
coach. empowered introvert. green thumb.
A coach with a passion for introverts, Joan Shulman supports heart-centered professionals who love what they do but struggle to self-promote. She believes everyone possesses the innate wisdom needed to create fulfillment. www.fullcirclelifecoach.com
As an introvert, I know the push-pull to be someone I’m not. In a world where extroversion is lauded, I’ve learned to follow my heart on a path that celebrates fewer, deeper relationships and honors the need for quiet and rest. Realness has come to matter the most to me.
My mother was a consummate extrovert. I cringed when she dragged me across the street to introduce me to another child who could be a “nice friend” for me – the message being that I couldn’t possibly do that on my own. Looking back, it isn’t clear whether she did it for me or to soothe her discomfort about my quiet way in the world.
Earlier in my career, I’d accept invitations to attend and speak at large networking events. I did it because I truly believed it was the only way to grow a business and because I didn’t want to offend or disappoint anyone. From the outside, I appeared to be at ease, but on the inside, discomfort lurked. While I knew I had to find a way to share my work with a larger audience, I also began to acknowledge my discomfort with the cultural assumption that in order to be successful I needed to be an extrovert.
A profound time of growth came with the realization that I no longer needed to apologize – for what I’m not, for what I need, or for who I am. Aiming to please is an easy way to avoid tending to ourselves. If we make choices only to serve others, is that really compassion, or are we circumventing what needs to be done to create our own meaningful life?
My work is about empowering others to step outside their comfort zones – to stretch in ways they never thought possible. The vision I hold for others is their own – not their mother’s, the conference coordinator’s, or their coach’s.
There’s irony in that the traits of an introvert are exactly what I use to attract others to my work: my love of people and exploring the human condition, my sense of humor that makes for frequent belly-laughs, and my uncanny way of sensing truth.
I honor realness in my daily life by connecting with nature through my animals and gardens, through meaningful relationships with remarkable people, and, when time allows, by having a good nap!
- Joan Shulman
Explore More Meaning
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psychotherapist. author. life balancer.
Abby Seixas is a psychotherapist, author, speaker, mother, calligrapher, gardener, life-long spiritual seeker, and work-in-progress. www.deepriverwithin.com
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author. nagual. wisdom sharer.
Combining new insights with old wisdom, don Miguel Ruiz has dedicated his life to sharing the ancient Toltec wisdom by translating it into practical concepts that promote transformation through truth and common sense. www.miguelruiz.com
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life coach. physician. light source.
Author and life coach Sarah Seidelmann, MD, is a Board-Certified physician who left her practice to live out her destiny. In her work, she loves to ask, “How good are you willing to let it get?” http://whatthewalrusknows.com
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lifestyle brander. celebrity director. transitionist.
Josh Reed was Public Relations and Celebrity Director at Calvin Klein for five years. He’s recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of starting his own lifestyle brand, launching this fall. www.gentsco.com
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award-winning journalist. mommy. limit-defying potentialist.
Catt Sadler is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. She founded and is president of the Hollywood chapter of Women Like Us, a foundation started by her mother to enhance the lives of women in need around the globe. www.womenlikeusfoundation.org/hollywood
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organizational consultant. internal change agent. conversation starter.
Brad Rassler is the founder and Chief Catalyst of A Sustainable Way, an organizational development consultancy. www.asustainableway.com
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cultural exchanger. storyteller. connector.
Elizabeth Zerk founded Upon Return, an organization dedicated to supporting the alumni of high school exchange programs and promoting cultural exchange. She’s also dedicated to the art of storytelling. http://uponreturn.org
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Guitarist. Songwriter. Rhythm Rider.
Kamil Rustam is a French guitarist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and a prolific musician. www.kamilrustam.com
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