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
people
Sarah Kathleen Peck
urban storyteller. coat angel. friend at any hour.
Writer, designer and storyteller, Sarah Kathleen Peck, is the brain behind the blog "it starts with" and founded the online Landscape Urbanism journal at the nexus of cities, landscape and design. [www.itstartswith.com]
The older I get, the more I’m reminded that people come first. People make the world work. Our intricate and layered connections with each other matter as much as, if not more than, the things we do and build in our lives. I love the saying, “do great work, and love: that is the meaning of life.” I try to live by that. When a friend calls me in the middle of the night, I answer. People’s hearts matter.
When I was nine, I first visited San Francisco and was horrified by all the homeless people that I saw. The next week, on the news, we saw that there would be record-setting freezing days in the city, and that there would, in all likelihood, be a lot of deaths in the homeless community. I couldn’t sit around and do nothing, but my parents worried that if I gave them money, they would use it on drugs. I made my mom take me to the Goodwill and the Salvation Army, and we bought every winter coat in the stores. We drove up to San Francisco, and I gave every person I could find a coat.
Today, I live in San Francisco, and I still see all of these homeless people. I watch people walk by them and ignore them. I can’t do that. I make up stories in my head about each person. I wonder what they were like at a younger age. How they got here.
Compassion for the human race is an essential quality. It gets me in trouble sometimes, because the larger your heart, the greater your capacity for hurt. But to me, people are most important.
I think we worry too much about accomplishments, goals, and chasing fame. When I feel out of balance, swimming and exploring the outdoors are the most important things for regaining that balance and sense of wonder. When I’m out swimming in the open ocean, and I lift my head up and see the city as a pin-prick on the horizon line, I remember the scale of the world that we’re operating in. How little I am compared to it all. It’s okay if I make mistakes. It’s okay if I keep trying. As long as I stop and tell people that I appreciate them, and I love them, then I’ve done a good job with my day.
– Sarah Kathleen Peck
Explore More Meaning
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author. consultant. no-reason lover.
Marci Shimoff is the best-selling author of six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She's one of the nation's leading experts on happiness, success, and the Law of Attraction. [www.happyfornoreason.com]
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author. artist. awakener.
Mark Griffin is the founder of the Hard Light Center of Awakening, Fire Mountain Retreat, and the Third Millennium Awakening. He's also a prolific author and artist. [www.markgriffin.info]
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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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mindful entrepreneur. present appreciator. business transformer.
Kenneth champions life-sustaining entrepreneurism. As The Clarity Guy he brings focus and simplicity to the grand notion that businesses big and small can and must transform the world. [www.veraclaritas.com]
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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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million dollar dreamer. x factor finder. passion pursuer.
Thomas F. La Vecchia, MBA, is the author of “The X Factor Selling System: The Sales Expert’s Guide to Selling” teaching others easy steps which can be used in the business world or in everyday life.
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designer. mother. wanderluster.
Amanda Krill is a wife, mom, web designer, and traveler. Her goals in life are to make sure her kids are well-rounded and to see the world (with her family along for the ride). [http://amandakrill.com]
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nut butter aficionado. ceo. green visionary.
Justin Gold, Founder and CEO of Justin's Nut Butter, says he can't live without his maple almond butter, snow covered mountains, or moments that make his heart race. [www.justinsnutbutter.com]
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