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
deep
Sophie Chiche
mom. idea activista. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking game-changers deep questions, wallpapering her stairway, dancing with her staff, reading The Little Prince, and ... oh, you know living a life of meaning. [www.lifebyme.com]
Since I launched lifebyme.com almost a year ago, I’ve often been asked why I’ve devoted my life to having meaningful conversations. The answer is so very simple:
I like having them.
I really don’t care for the alternative. I want the real deal – the whole thing, the down and dirty, unedited truth. I want the widescreen version, not the formatted-to-fit-your-TV alternative.
David Allen once spoke about people’s different tolerances for dirty dishes. Some people wash a glass only when they run out of clean ones, some jump on your glass the second you’re done, some even before you’re done. We have different tolerances for the space around us. I like this idea. It’s the same with conversations. We have different tolerances.
Some people talk all evening about the weather and upcoming vacations, while others tell you about being broke or raped even before the appetizer’s served. It makes me think of an evening I spent a few weeks ago with Keith Ferrazzi over dinner in San Francisco. Before our meal, he wanted to start things off on a particular note and out of the 40 or so people there, he turned his attention to me and asked, “What past experience most formed who you are today?” I know why he picked me. He knew I would go there. And I did.
I was aware all evening of people managing their level of comfort around me. Some avoided me like the plague. Some sought me out deliberately. Some tiptoed and came closer an inch at a time until they mustered the courage to come and talk to me … as if talking about what matters is the scariest thing ever.
What scares me is NOT doing it. What scares me is coming to the end of my day – or my life – without having done all I could to go as deep as I could. I’m not sure there’s anything that excites me more than exploring the depths.
In any conversation, I ask myself: How close to what really and truly matters can this conversation go? How transformational can it be? For me? For them? I’ve found common threads that run through every conversation: We all want to love and be loved. We want to be seen. We want to feel like we make a difference. And we all have fears and dreams.
I want to know what those are.
Where you and I commit to digging deep into our own truth … that’s where I feel fully engaged. As Rumi said, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
– Sophie Chiche
Explore More Meaning
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poet. photographer. lover.
Lynda Filler is a poet, author, photographer, and would-be public speaker who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She has two published poetry books and is currently working on two memoir/biographies. [www.thelovefix.com]
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vice president. dynamic speaker. ticker tracker.
As HeartMath's Executive Vice President, Strategic Development, Howard Martin has been instrumental in developing the business. He's delivered HeartMath's practical, dynamic programs to thousands of participants worldwide. [www.heartmath.org]
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coach. belly follower. superhero.
Jenny Shih is a coach and consultant for right-brained, creative entrepreneurs. She helps "big idea" people implement their world-changing visions. [www.jennyshih.com]
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dream cartographer. promise keeper. sayer and doer.
Madelin Adena Smith is a novelist, creative shapeshifter, and strategic visionary. She specializes in helping ambitious young women build road maps around their wildest dreams. [www.madelinadenasmith.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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author. living master. attractionist.
Bob Proctor is widely regarded as one of the living masters and teachers of The Law of Attraction. He's worked in the area of mind potential for over 40 years. [www.bobproctor.com]
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technology reductionist. jungle adventurer. nutrition connoisseur.
A catalyst for nourishment epiphanies, Tamara is a holistic nutrition coach and the inspiration behind the Tailwind Jungle Lodge & Yoga Retreat Center. She's passionate about guiding others on unique journeys of body and mind. [www.junglegirlhealth.com]
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chairman. advocate. progressive changer.
Rick Jacobs is an investor, business executive, and chair of the Courage Campaign, an organizing network that empowers activists to push for progressive change and equality in California and across the country. [www.couragecampaign.org]
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