
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]

Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

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]

Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
push fear

I had three children in four years and got myself into a load of credit card debt that ended up being about $64,000. It was shocking and horrible and almost tore my marriage apart. But I’m sure everything happens for a reason. Because of the debt, I started trying to find creative ways to make money. I didn’t want my husband to know about the debt and I wanted my family to stay together – they’re what’s most meaningful to me.
I started writing for a couple of websites and exploring other ways of making money, ending up as a virtual assistant for a man doing a website about saving marriages, which was ironic. I got more and more clients and, this year, went from being a virtual assistant to designing websites. My debt is almost completely gone. My husband quit the job he hated and is now doing what he loves. Our little family is happier than it’s ever been. As soon as the debt is completely paid off, we’ll begin to travel.
My parents always told me I could do whatever I wanted to. I’ve never really pinpointed what was going on in my head that caused me to get as far into debt as I did, but the fact that I’d paid off almost half of it before my husband found out was very empowering and exciting, because I realized that I really could do whatever I wanted to. Of course, my husband and I are very supportive of our children doing what ever it is that makes them happy, too.
I don’t know what the future will bring. I’m kind of scared to plan, because I feel like the plans God has for me are so much bigger than the plans I have for myself. Five years ago, I never would have imagined that I’d be where I am now, and I love what I’m doing now.
In my experience, the number one reason people don’t lead meaningful lives is because of fear. When I feel afraid, I usually call a good friend and she talks me through it. I also tend to force myself to do what I’m afraid of, because I have a theory that if I’m afraid of something, it’s probably what I should be doing.
– Amanda Krill
Comments