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
death
KC Baker
public speaking coach. charisma illuminator. well-spoken woman.
KC Baker founded The School for the Well-spoken Woman. She's a public speaking coach, keynote co-creator, and charisma illuminator devoted to unleashing voice, truth, and the raw power within. [www.kcbaker.com]
What I contemplate the most in my life right now is my death. For the past five or six years, death has been an inquiry for me. What is death? Is there a part of me that lives on after death? I’m simultaneously fascinated and terrified.
Increasingly, over the past few years, my relationship with death has become more meaningful, as has the reality of the preciousness of the time I have here.
Dying is such a huge clarifier. It’s given me the freedom within myself to really go after what I want, to express myself more fully in my life, and to not be as swayed by fears of rejection or failure. When I’m present to the reality of my death, of having a limited amount of time in my body – a limited amount of time to create and to be with the people I love – I feel greater courage to say what I need to say and to go after what I want.
There’s freedom in this inquiry about death, and there’s also sadness. I just got engaged to the most amazing man I’ve ever met and I have moments of realizing that I don’t know how much time I’ll have with him. At some point, one of us will pass away. This opens me to loving him better and more fully.
You know those moments in planes when the ride is jolty and there’s a bit of fear? I’m hoping the plane is going to get me where I want to go, but my whole body feels the fear. In those moments, I completely surrender. I’m not flying the plane, so there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s an amazing practice to turn it all over. In that moment of knowing that death could come at any moment, I ask myself What is most important in my life to do now? Some of the biggest clarifying, course-correction changes I’ve ever made have come from those moments when the plane takes off.
I feel like death is such a friend. Creating a rich relationship with death, preparing for death, is my key to leading a meaningful life. What I’ve seen in myself and others is that the moment we make a real commitment to serve life and people, we override so much of the fear and self doubt that could hold us back. Recognizing that, making that commitment – whatever it looks like – is the moment life becomes infused with meaning and magic.
– KC Baker
Explore More Meaning
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listener. describer. activist.
Author Kirsten Olson is Chief Listening Officer at Old Sow Consulting. She's a founding board member of IDEA, a national not-for-profit that forwards democratic practices in education. [www.kirstenolson.org]
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entrepreneur. kiteboarder. philosopher.
David Hassell is a serial entrepreneur presently engaged in launching 15Five, a software company focusing on increasing the relevance and velocity of communication within organizations. [http://about.me/dhassell]
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woman champion. tribe gatherer. voice manifester.
Jodi Womack is the creator of No More Nylons, a company bringing women in business together to have vibrant and meaningful connections, turning "best possible scenarios" into everyday success. [www.nomorenylons.com]
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wanderer. goofball. inflexible yogi.
Jack Bower is a nurse, salesman, veteran, father, yogi, and searcher. If he finds what he's looking for, he'll let you know. [www.facebook.com/jack.e.bower]
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director. producer. intersector.
Linda Goldstein Knowlton is a director/producer whose works have garnered praise from audiences around the world. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter and husband. [www.somewherebetweenmovie.com]
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bloggers. meditators. partners.
Ed and Deb Shapiro are weekly bloggers on Oprah.com/spirit, HuffingtonPost.com/living and Care2.com, and are the authors of BE THE CHANGE: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. [www.edanddebshapiro.com]
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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]
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seahawk leader. sporty spirit. fun seeker.
Pete Carroll is the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and inspired Winforever, a system of success for those who compete to maximize their potential in sports, entertainment, philanthropy, business, and life. [www.winforever.com]
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