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
sharing
Shay Watson
event producer. interior designer. ambiance maker.
Shay Watson is the founder of Aesthetica Events, which designs and produces events all over the world. His acute aesthetic sense has also led him into the world of home design and décor. [www.aestheticaevents.com]
I feel like I’ve been well taken care of and I enjoy sharing and giving back to the community, whether through community outreach or charities or directly to people in need. I get so much fulfillment out of giving back and sharing, including when I’m with my friends and family.
The way my mother raised me, I learned to share, starting with sharing my toys when I was a young child. I also think sharing comes naturally to me, since I’ve always enjoyed it. Now, with the type of business I run, I’ve been able to give back more and help out a lot of different communities and groups. That’s rewarding. I have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
Obviously, there’s a point where I’ve got to take care of myself. We’ve all heard the analogy that in order to help others you have to help yourself as well. This past year I took a feng shui class – one of the first classes I’ve taken since college, probably. I did it for myself, and it got me to a point where, if I’m in a bad mood, or if I’m driving and someone cuts me off, I just let it go.
I try to be in the moment, though it’s not always easy, especially in our busy society and while running a business. But I do think that when we put negativity out there, negative stuff comes back – so if a negative thought goes through my head, I try to remind myself that good things come out of good thoughts.
One of my favorite things to do is randomly think of someone from my past – like a third grade teacher I liked, find their contact information, and send them a note saying, “Hey, do you remember me? You did this for me and it really changed my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.” I feel like there are a lot of people like that, who’ve made that kind of difference, so I try to reach out and share that thought with them. Sometimes they write back and say, “Wow, I can’t believe you thought of me. I figured I was such a small part of your life.” I try to make this kind of contact as often as possible, because it’s fun to see people’s reactions and it spreads good energy.
These are things that help me every day. In our crazy lifestyles, we have to remember to pull ourselves back in and have good thoughts. That’s always my goal. I want to live in the moment, present with people and connected.
– Shay Watson
Explore More Meaning
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authors. citizens. peacemakers.
Gerda Weissman Klein and Alysa Ullman co-founded Citizenship Counts to promote the importance of multigenerational citizen programs. Alysa is an author and the Executive Director of Citizenship Counts. Gerda is an author, Academy Award winner, Holocaust survivor, and human rights activist. [www.citizenshipcounts.org]
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author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
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experience creator. dream believer. ex-hamster wheeler.
After a long, twisted trip through the corporate jungle, Marlo Scott transformed her passion for cupcakes and adventure into Sweet Revenge, an artisanal cupcake, beer, and wine bar in New York City's West Village. [www.sweetrevengenyc.com]
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producer. political activist. brave new filmmaker.
Robert Greenwald is a producer, director, political activist, and the founder of Brave New Films, which uses moving images to educate and empower viewers to take action on issues that matter. [www.robertgreenwald.org]
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legacy architect. earth mama. celebrity stylist.
Maya Corinne teaches conscious creative visionaries how to magnify privilege. Her studio has raised millions, and crafts values-infused giving plans for clients collectively worth more than $14 billion. [www.moon-storm.com]
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coach. strategist. career changer.
Darrell W. Gurney has served as a career strategist to individuals for over 20 years, with a driving commitment to everyone's purposeful Back Forty. [www.thebackforty.com]
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innovative home schooler. lifelong learner. possibility seeker.
Pamela Beere Briggs is a filmmaker, writer, and the mother of a happy teen. Her passions include good food, engaging books, and re-thinking the wisdom of middle school. [www.TwointheMiddle.com]
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kindness warrior. food demystifier. vitality spreader.
Geneen Roth wrote pioneering books that were among the first to link compulsive eating and perpetual dieting with deeply personal and spiritual issues that go far beyond food, weight, and body image. [www.geneenroth.com]
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