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
perspective
Tyler Merrick
present daddy. balanced businessman. noise reducer.
Tyler Merrick grew up in a family pet food business based in Texas. He now lives in California with his wife and 3 daughters where he owns Project 7, a social enterprise brand of consumer products. [www.project7.com]
I don’t want my wife and children to look at me someday and say, “Dad, you were great at business, but we wish you would have invested as much in us.” I really try to live a balanced life. You can only work so many hours and build so much before you run out of any margin in your life to enjoy the simple things.
In my late 20’s I was really burning it at both ends. I was working for my family business, and business was thriving. I was a young father. I was in way over my head at work and at home. I hit a wall…physically, emotionally and spiritually. I headed into a downward spiral. None of the pressures of family and work had stopped, but I felt powerless. I finally let go and realized that life and work would go on with or without me, and there was a lot of freedom in that. It was a hard climb out of that hole, but it was meant to be. I had to be broken in order to be rebuilt. I am thankful to God for His faithfulness and my family during that very dark season.
We spend so much time chasing that proverbial carrot. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be a certain goal weight, a position at a company, even a trip that we wanted to take. Everything around us screams go for more, get more out of life, and it’s robbing us of the present. We need to learn to enjoy what we have. There are definitely seasons for building and planting, but we have to give the land a rest during other seasons, and time for reflection and planning for the next.
We vicariously live other people’s lives through social media, tv and pop culture. It stirs up unrest and a lack of contentment in our lives. We begin to compare our lives with someone else. Sometimes I’ll tell people to turn off all of that background noise for a season so that they can truly get their bearings. It’s in that detox that we can gain a better perspective of what we are, what we’re doing and if we’re sensing a calling we’re missing.
Turn off the noise around you and get comfortable in your own skin. There is only one of you and that’s pretty special.
– Tyler Merrick
Explore More Meaning
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philanthropic advisor. consultant. impactor.
Laura Probst is a philanthropic advisor and the owner of Do Good. Make Money., a consulting firm that helps companies do just that.
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doctor. author. sweeper.
Dr. Charles Sophy has dedicated his life to the physical and mental well-being of children and families from all walks of life. [www.drsophy.com]
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scribe. divine communicator. grateful being.
Spiritual teacher and intuitive Sara Wiseman is an author, radio show host, and online contributor. [www.sarawiseman.com]
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journalist. advocate. godfather of slow.
Journalist Carl Honoré has written for The Economist, The Observer, and National Post, but he is best known for his advocacy of the Slow Movement. [www.carlhonore.com]
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appreciative hairdresser. challenge survivor. silliness embracer.
Stephanie Carter has been a hairdresser for 23 years. She loves making others even more beautiful than they already are! [johnsbarbershoptx.com]
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health coach. happiness rediscoverer. budding jokester.
Catherine Chen, Ph.D. is a health coach who supports busy people to achieve with ease, have time for what they love, and have self-compassion. [catherinechenwellness.com]
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book coach. peace truster. journey enjoyer.
Randy Peyser helps people get book deals with publishers. She is CEO of Author One Stop, a national publishing consulting firm. She is the author of Crappy to Happy as featured in the movie Eat, Pray, Love. [www.AuthorOneStop.com]
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surfer. survivor. patience practicer.
After a life changing accident left him a quadriplegic, Jesse Billauer founded the non-profit foundation Life Rolls On. Jesse's passion is to inspire people to look at their lives in a more thoughtful and thankful way. [www.jessebillauer.com]
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