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
congruence
Simon Mainwaring
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
Most of us spend most of our lives avoiding the hard questions about ourselves and looking for somebody else to blame, projecting an image of ourselves to others to either protect or ingratiate ourselves. But, at some point, being consistently inauthentic is more painful than being authentic.
To me, a meaningful life is being congruent with who I am. Congruence means really taking the time to examine who we are, then repurposing ourselves in a way that’s consistent with that and taking it to market, whatever that means for each of us, in a way that resonates with other people but also consistently feels authentic to us. There’s no right or wrong way to be congruent. What’s meaningful to you will be authentic to who you are – and that’s also true for any brand.
Over the past two years I’ve gone through a process of identifying, in simple terms, why I’m here. That has meant accepting myself as an individual who’s principled, who’s dedicated to family, and who finds meaning through contribution. Now there’s congruence between how I present myself in public – my brand – and who I personally, privately know myself to be.
Once you align yourself with your true purpose and your authentic nature, the universe capitulates and says, “Finally! You’re doing what you should be doing!” People and opportunities you’d never have imagined before start coming out of the woodwork, and it’s not because they’re suddenly interested. It’s because you’re suddenly telling them who you are and what you want and they can hear you for the first time.
We come into this world with a certain disposition and our life experiences affect us in certain ways, but at some point in your life you crack the combination lock on yourself and the door opens to who you truly are. Then opportunities flow in that are consistent with your self-definition and expectation, and with the contribution you can make. Life is so much more meaningful then because you’re contributing and you’re never questioning what you’re doing. You don’t question why you’re going to work. You don’t question the motivation behind your contribution. And at the same time, you’re presented with a seemingly never-ending stream of opportunities for ways to express yourself on your authentic terms.
Congruence – cracking the combination of your own locks – is incredibly powerful personally and professionally, and very worthwhile to focus on.
- Simon Mainwaring
lifebyme.com would like to congratulate Simon on the upcoming release of his first book “We First”, which discusses how social media connects us in ways that can build businesses and a better world. Check it out at www.wefirstbranding.com
Explore More Meaning
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phd candidate. lecturer. flyer.
PhD candidate and lecturer Magdalena Gilewicz is currently training to be a certified transformative coach. She’s also conquering her fear of heights by becoming a helicopter pilot. www.maggiegilewicz.com
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therapist. conscious chef. wave balancer.
Chef and Culinary Coach Caspar Poyck’s business, Consciously Culinary, is well-known throughout the central and southern California coastal regions. www.consciouslyculinary.com
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movement specialist. passion cultivator. soultree planter.
Karin McDermott is the founder and owner of Soultree Motion, Inc., a movement and lifestyle company. She teaches movement as a method for unearthing the passionate human soul. www.KarinMcDermott.com
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writer. explorer. risk-taker.
Eric Hiss navigates the world in search of unexpected, entertaining, off-the-beaten-path stories. He’s written about everything from spas to pop bands. Eric also co-founded wandermelon.com. www.wandermelon.com
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educator. director of funding + outreach. life changer.
Laurie Grossman co-founded Mindful Schools, a public/private partnership program (one of the largest in the country), sponsored by Park Day School in Oakland, California. www.mindfulschools.org
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kombucha brewer. purity purveyor. devoted son.
GT Dave began bottling Kombucha after his mother successfully drank it during her battle with breast cancer. He’s committed to bringing us the purest and most potent Kombucha available. www.GTSkombucha.com
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jewelry artist. yogini. goddess.
Author, teacher, jewelry artist, and Yogini Laura Amazzone teaches goddess classes and workshops and is adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. www.lauraamazzone.com
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author. business provocateur. right-brainer.
Daniel H. Pink is the best-selling author of four provocative books about the changing world of work. His books have been translated into 32 languages. www.danpink.com
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