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
Alison Levine
high climber. responsible risker. philanthropist.
Alison Levine is a mountaineer, explorer, teacher, and founder of the Climb High Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of African women by training them to be local guides and porters. [www.alisonlevine.com]
On any given day, on any mountain, I am, at best, average compared to those around me. Yet, on May 24th of 2010, I stood on top of Mt. Everest, completing the Adventure Grand Slam: climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents and skiing to the North and South Poles.
Here’s what I realized: Reaching the top of a mountain doesn’t change my life, nor does it have any impact on the world around me. I stand on the summit for what, 30 minutes or so? What’s important is the journey. What did I learn along the way? How am I going to take what I learned on that mountain and use it to have an impact on my community and on the world around me? So I’ve stood on top of the world. Now do something with my new tools – tools like digging down deep and asking myself for MORE, when I’m certain I don’t have any more to give – to make that world brighter. We all have more to give – it’s about tapping into our reserves.
Standing at the top of Mt. Everest isn’t “all that.” It just isn’t. Mt. Everest is a pile of rock and ice, that’s all. And getting to the top of it doesn’t mean you’re good at anything other than pushing yourself and maybe withstanding pain and discomfort for extended periods of time. It doesn’t mean you’re a great climber or athlete, because plenty of better, stronger, more skilled climbers turn back from the top every season due to factors outside their control – weather, gear malfunctions, altitude sickness, frostbite. The window of climbable weather is short when it comes to planning an assault on the summit. All your work during two months on that mountain (not to mention the months or years of preparation you put in before even getting to the mountain) is going to pay off or blow up on ONE FINAL DAY – your summit day. It’s not fair. Well, tell it to the Mountain Gods.
In 2002 I made my first Everest attempt and didn’t get to the summit. But I probably learned more from that experience than I did when I topped out in 2010. Embracing failure is part of what keeps us alive in the mountains. We learn when to push and when to pull the plug. If we make good decisions, we can always have another shot at the top. Your best might have been good enough that day, but tomorrow you get to be better.
– Alison Levine
Explore More Meaning
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shadow reader. broken heart hugger. whole self lover.
Amanda Enclade is an unschooler, DIY educator, progressive parent, far-out thinker, non-conformist, foodie, lover, inventor, aromatherapist magic mixer, and healer of everyday things. [www.auntvis.com]
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creativity facilitator. inspired dad. theater baby.
Kyle Hermans runs the West Coast division of Synecticsworld, a global innovation and creativity firm. He's deeply committed to releasing and enriching the creativity of others. [www.synecticsworld.com]
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multicultural leader. laureate poet. inspirational transformer.
Lucia De García is the founder, president, and CEO of Élan International of Newport Beach. She founded the Multicultural Institute for Leadership and has been recognized for her achievements in international business and multicultural advancement. [www.luciadegarcia.com]
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storyteller. question asker. catalyst.
Antonio Neves is an award-winning broadcast journalist and the founder of THINQACTION, where he coaches young professionals to transform potential into performance. [www.thinqaction.com]
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unbinder. love giver. greek goddess.
Inspiring teacher and published author Agapi Stassinpoulos conducts seminars worldwide for men and women, empowering them to recognize their individual gifts and create the lives they want. [www.unbindingtheheart.com]
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environmental healer. practical visionary.
Andy Lipkis is the founder and president of TreePeople. [www.treepeople.org]
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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]
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filmmaker. former prison psychologist. transformationalist.
Dr. Dave Smiley, a former prison psychologist, had an awakening at age 52. Retiring early, he went on to create the first transformational film about spirituality, the mind, and weight loss. [http://TheInnerWeigh.com]
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