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
slowness
Amy Swift
business expert. arbiter of style. smarty pants.
Small business expert Amy Swift has helped launch thousands of businesses and ideas. She founded Smarty to give entrepreneurs authentic space to partner and grow. [www.smartypeople.com]
We’re moving so fast as a culture. Although there are infinite benefits to all of this growth and evolution, I also think it’s forcing our natural rhythms to buckle. What would once have been a normal workday of a meeting or two, work on a proposal, the real work (whatever that may be), and then home by 5:30 has turned into hundreds of emails, Facebook updates, Tweets, texting, blogging, vlogging … and the idea that with more exposure comes more success.
I’ve chosen a lesser version, despite the advice of many small business experts. Even as a small business authority myself, I sometimes find it challenging to tell entrepreneurs that if they take more time to garden, walk, read the paper, dig into a novel, bake bread, or take a bath, it’s actually good for business. With only 16 non-sleeping hours in a day, something has to give if you’re going to get outside and plant the basil!
What’s so strangely ironic right now is that although we’re busier than ever, 90% of what we do isn’t really our core work. The times we live in require a ton of work “around” the work. I sometimes get “ambition fatigue” from all of this jostling to the top. Sometimes I pine to be a scientist who’s dedicated only to research, analysis, and articulation (as if that weren’t enough!). Modern entrepreneurs have not only their craft to hone and execute, but are also expected to be a mammoth marketing department of one.
I’ve found that I’m most content when listening to the water fountain in my yard, chatting with my husband as he takes an outdoor shower, watching my naked toddler tumble across the lawn, and making faces with my other baby as the sun sets behind the palm trees. I really relish those timeless moments. In them, I find not only meaning, but the context through which the rest of my life is meaningful.
– Amy Swift
Explore More Meaning
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soul-full musician. self seeker.
Ifé Sanchez Mora is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. Her latest album, "Fire Inside of Me," has received praise from NY Daily News, Billboard, and American Songwriter. [ifesanchezmora.com]
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author. stem cell biologist. bridger.
Bestselling author Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, is a pioneer in stem cell biology and a leader in the new biology that reveals how the mind controls genes. [www.brucelipton.com]
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interactive marketer. pr strategist. awareness harnesser.
Interactive marketing and online PR strategist Jennifer Sall works with companies of all sizes to leverage the immediacy of the Web to build brand awareness and revenue. [www.unionxunion.com]
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branding guru. joy receiver. authenticity connector.
Andrei Najjar is an award-winning pop culture brand strategist who has curated large-scale initiatives and global campaigns for over 30 top-tier brands. He is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Vice-Chairman for the largest chapter of Meals on Wheels in the US. [www.ateliercollective.com]
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designer. artisan. spirit elevator.
Calleen Cordero brings the Old World art of handmade artisan footwear and accessories back to the United States, elevating the spirit one sole at a time. [www.calleencordero.com]
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peace groupie. mediator. life surfer.
One of the world's best known mediators, William Ury co-founded the Harvard Negotiation Project and has co-authored global bestsellers about negotiation and peacemaking. [www.williamury.com]
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musical meditator. age defier. god befriender.
Letty Chihoro is the author of an autobiography. She's passionate about self-improvement in all areas of her life. [www.lettychihoro.com]
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geneticist. life studier. reevaluator.
Andrew Hessel is an Autodesk Distinguished Researcher and Singularity University faculty member working to develop and deliver accessible design tools for molecular and living systems. [www.autodeskresearch.com]
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