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
philanthropy.
Blake Mycoskie
philanthropist. businessman. shoe giver.
Blake Mycoskie is the founder and Chief Shoe-Giver of TOMS Shoes. He started the company in 2006 as a means to give shoes to children in need. [www.toms.com]
One of the big things that makes life meaningful for me is showing people that business and philanthropy don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I grew up thinking I had to choose between being a hard-core capitalist and being of service. My assumption was that I’d spend my 20s through my 50s, or even my 60s, making money and then, when I was older, I could finally experience philanthropy and giving back. What I’ve learned and what I like to share with people is that it’s not either/or. We don’t have to do one or the other. We can actually do both at the same time. And we can also do both when we’re young.
I try to encourage people to start giving back early. By giving back when we’re young, in the midst of building a life, a business, and a family, it’s all much more meaningful. I see more an more young people doing this. They’re excited about giving in a way that’s different from when I was growing up. Then, the charity I saw was my parents writing a check to United Way or the church. Now, people are much more actively involved, and that’s what’s creating and powering the current social movements. It’s important that young people realize that even if they can’t give money, their voice is very powerful. Using social media to raise awareness for a cause you care about can be as valuable as writing a check.
The way I’m able to continue going out and inspiring people and dealing with problems in compassionate ways is by keeping my battery recharged. I try to take off about 90 days a year, in small increments, to do things that have nothing to do with my business or giving back. People looking at my life from the outside may think I’m fueled only because I do work I love, but the truth is that I take at least a quarter of each year off to make sure I keep my battery recharged, get grounded, and take care of myself mentally and spiritually.
I believe we each have a mission in life, and it’s only when we recognize this mission and dedicate ourselves to pursuing it that we can live our most fulfilled life. Whether we have multiple missions or a series of missions, identifying what we love is key.
– Blake Mycoskie
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near-death survivor. critic silencer. natural spirit.
Anita Moorjani is the bestselling author of Dying to be Me, the moving, true story of her near-death experience at the end stage of cancer. [www.anitamoorjani.com]
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Songwriter. Painter. Dreamer.
Songwriter, novelist, and painter Pol Serge Kakon was born in Mogador (now Essaouira). He founded The Drunken Boat, in Paris, which became a mecca for poetry and song. [www.polsergekakon.com]
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experience creator. dream believer. ex-hamster wheeler.
After a long, twisted trip through the corporate jungle, Marlo Scott transformed her passion for cupcakes and adventure into Sweet Revenge, an artisanal cupcake, beer, and wine bar in New York City's West Village. [www.sweetrevengenyc.com]
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awakened director. inner-net listener. real food chooser.
Tom Shadyac is one of Hollywood's most prolific comedy directors. His latest project, the documentary I AM, takes a serious look at what's wrong with our world and examines what we can do about it. [www.iamthedoc.com]
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writer. single mom. awakened soul.
Dawn Garcia is a writer, screenwriter, editor, single mom, believer of dreams, beauty, truth, and hope. Since the moment she could put pen to paper she knew she had found her purpose. [www.atodmagazine.com]
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curator. young artist fueler. calling listener.
Art is Kipton Cronkite's life. Every day he does his best to live with no regrets, to treat others with respect and surround himself with positive people who inspire others. [www.kipton.com]
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non-profit philanthropist. delight seeker. curious cat.
Judi Goldfader is a philanthropy consultant, non-profit strategist, and development advisor with 30 years of professional commitment to social change and social justice. [www.goldfader.com]
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dream awakeners. unifiers. evolvers.
Satya Narayani and Jon Love work with the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium of the Pachamama Alliance. They devote their lives to serving the greatest good by unifying home, community, their region, and the world. [www.pachamama.org]
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