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
you, not me
Laura Probst
philanthropic advisor. consultant. impactor.
Laura Probst is a philanthropic advisor and the owner of Do Good. Make Money., a consulting firm that helps companies do just that.
I feel as though I was put on this earth to serve, to make a contribution that leaves this world better than I found it. Like most people, I love the feel-good stories on the news – from the guy who saves the kid in the burning building to the Oprahs and Gates of the world who contribute millions to great causes. I think we’d all like to be one of them. Who doesn’t want to do good?
For me, for so long, I was torn: I wanted to make an impact and serve others, but felt like I had to sacrifice my own goals and be some kind of martyr to do that. I didn’t see any road in the middle. I only saw two divergent paths and felt confused about which one to be on. I was focused on me – my needs, my ambitions, my wants. But in focusing on me, all I could really see was what I didn’t have, what I needed, or what I lacked. And everything I wanted all felt so far away and unattainable.
So I let it go. Instead, I embraced service. Serving you, not me. With every step, I set intentions to be of service. I focused all my energy on everyone in my life – from my best friend to my boss to the guy sitting at the bus stop. Now, every day, multiple times a day, I think about you, what you need, and then I find myself energized, inspired, and excited to help. And my service doesn’t have to be anything big – this is definitely not something I’ve mastered – but I do try … I give a smile, an article I’ve read, an introduction. I do whatever I can to be of service and in tune with what you need.
It’s amazing to see how much I now have and how much room I’ve created for even more good – good that I couldn’t even see when I was focused on me. I’m now happier, healthier, and wealthier than I’ve ever been. I truly know that when I’m here for others I get more than I could ever have imagined.
So when I start to think about me – I don’t have enough money, I’m in a bad mood, I don’t have enough time, I don’t feel good – that’s my trigger. I know then that it’s time to flip the switch and say, instead, “What do YOU need? How can I help YOU?”
I find meaning in service, and focusing on you helps me be my best.
- Laura Probst
Explore More Meaning
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color mixer. mother. naked explorer.
Kimberly Brooks is a contemporary American painter who exhibits internationally. Her studio is in Venice, California. www.kimberlybrooks.com
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philanthropist. businessman. shoe giver.
Blake Mycoskie is the founder and Chief Shoe-Giver of TOMS Shoes. He started the company in 2006 as a means to give shoes to children in need. www.toms.com
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singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. www.lizphair.com
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creativity facilitator. inspired dad. theater baby.
Kyle Hermans runs the West Coast division of Synecticsworld, a global innovation and creativity firm. He’s deeply committed to releasing and enriching the creativity of others. www.synecticsworld.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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producer. creator. storyteller.
Film producer Harold Linde creates stories for our culture about living in harmony with the planet. www.freetheslaves.net
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body-mind integration pioneer. relationship expert. mover and shaker.
Bestselling author Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D., A.D.T.R., has been a pioneer in the field of body-mind integration and body-centered relationship transformation for nearly forty years. www.hendricks.com
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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
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