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
hunhu
Moleen Madziva
shona tribe member. rooted achiever. happiness chooser.
Moleen Madziva was raised in Zimbabwe, in the village community of Macheke. Having witnessed her community sink further into poverty, she founded the Macheke Sustainability Project. She is studying for a PhD in Sustainability Education. [www.machekeproject.org]
I’m 37 years old. I was born in Zimbabwe and am studying for my PhD in the United States. I have a strong connection to my home, because all of the challenges we’ve been facing back in Zimbabwe.
What’s meaningful to me is at the level of spirituality. From a personal perspective, I want to know that I’m okay, that I have a right to be on this planet, and that I’m participating at my highest level of potential.
My spirituality has become the seeking of what’s sacred and meaningful, like engaging in my life’s purpose, which includes trying to help my village in Zimbabwe. I’m keen to understand how the world ticks, why people do the things they do, why a group of people doing so well can leave another group to really struggle. I’ve been called to a life of service and feel happiest when I’m helping, when I’m being kind to myself and others.
I was raised in a culture that has persevered through phases of slavery, colonization, and imperialism, yet still retains aspects of traditional Bantu culture. In my Shona tribe dialect, we have a concept called Hunhu (South African leader Nelson Mandela’s sector of the same tradition calls it Ubuntu). Hunhu is a keenness to be so kind that anyone who comes your way walks away feeling blessed or enriched by the experience of having been near you. It’s also feeling humility in the face of challenges, knowing we can get through them as long as we continue to work as a community.
I don’t know anyone in my village of Macheke who wants to get a PhD, and yet here I am, focused and committed to participating at a level of becoming a global scholar, gaining the respect of others so I can make the positive difference I’d like to make.
Happiness is a choice. A way to choose happiness is to get outside of one’s own personal concerns, to reach out, even if it’s only in the form of smiling more often. You can choose happiness by going out into the community and figuring out what’s broken and what can be fixed. To fill up your cup of meaningfulness, participate in some way – in any way.
The more you give, the easier it is to receive the gifts of happiness and feeling more settled and at peace, because you’ve gotten to a point where you’re willing to give, even when you’re feeling empty.
So, if you feel bored or unhappy, go help someone.
– Moleen Madziva
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venture capitalist. kiteboarder. dream achiever.
Bill Tai rides the waves of the stock market as a successful venture capitalist and the waves of the ocean as a sponsored kiteboarder. [www.about.me/BillTai]
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musician. dad. digital renaissance man.
Mike Meeker is a father, musician, yogi, surfer, and digital renaissance man. His mission is to inspire his audience as he finds creative ways to affect the quality of the day. [www.mikemeeker.com]
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kid energizer. intake educator. action taker.
Stacey Antine, M.S., R.D. is the founder of HealthBarn USA, a leader in hands-on healthy-lifestyle education. She is also the author of Appetite for Life: The Thumbs-Up, No-Yucks Guide to Getting Your Kid to Be a Great Eater. [www.healthbarnusa.com]
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martial artist. manifestor. stuff relinquisher.
Anthony Capobianco is the founder of Zen Tea Traders where he shares his passion for tea with others through his company. [www.zenteatraders.com]
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pr consultant. screenwriter. destiny designer.
Cecelia Fresh is a communicator, founder of herself, and budding screenwriter. She's been fortunate to work for several great companies as a PR consultant. [http://about.me/Fr3shc0M]
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Producer. Entrepreneur. Idea Generator.
Donray Von is the CEO of Ready Set Go!, a producer of original content for film, television and online.
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music therapist. speaker. drum healer.
Christine Stevens is an internationally acclaimed author, music therapist, and speaker. She founded UpBeat Drum Circles, offering personal growth seminars and programs for corporate teambuilding and diversity training. [www.ubdrumcircles.com]
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painter. philanthropist. wonder enthusiast.
Chaz Guest creates inspiring paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Over the past 20 years his work has been acquired by a growing number of private and public collectors, including U.S. President Barack Obama. [www.chazguest.com]
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