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
contribution
Brenton Gieser
social change creator. ego battler. heart follower.
Brenton Gieser is an entrepreneur who forgot about success a while back and is now focusing on creating value. He's currently building the community organization Be Social Change. [www.brentongieser.com]
Today we face a force so undeniably strong it seems everyone on Earth has fallen victim to its unmerciful power: the ego. We each have one, and we often let it dictate our lives as if it were our true self. Ego tells us that status, money, and power are the energy source fueling Earth’s spin. Ego is the bottleneck restricting us from living a life of unlimited possibilities.
I fall victim to ego constantly. My ego has convinced me that creating a successful company is the only way to validate my worth. It has convinced me to make gargantuan life decisions with my head rather than my heart. It has even told me to donate to a non-profit for my own self-fulfillment.
While the force of ego is strong, it can be defeated. Our collective contributions to each other can work as an igniting force to create social change on a massive scale.
Real, authentic contribution is happening. I’ve been lucky enough and vigilant enough to witness selfless acts of contribution that have transformed my thinking and counteracted my ego. I’ve admired social entrepreneurs who’ve selflessly dedicated their lives to solving some of the worlds’ biggest problems. I’ve observed friends sitting silently in prayer in service of something greater than their own selves. I’ve been part of a community working to dismantle systemic flaws imposed by archaic institutions.
How do we continue to move from a world where self-worth is built around money, status, and power to a world where contribution to society is the measure of a human being? We do it through self-awareness and action.
From Socrates to Gandhi, from the Buddha to Jesus, the great contributors who came before us understood that self-awareness is the foundation for change. When we go beyond our egos and cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves, we come to understand more about others on a global level.
When we take action, we are catalysts for change. Give. Share. Teach. The more positive actions we take, the deeper our contributions are embedded within our own lives and the lives of the people we influence.
When I put contribution first, my actions help move the world forward. The world needs everyone to become contributors and to recognize that we’re connected and that our actions impact others. Through our collective contributions, we can make our world work for everyone.
– Brenton Gieser
Explore More Meaning
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zen organizer. author. inward seer.
Author, speaker, and zen organizer Regina Leeds brings order to home and work environments across the U.S. Her clientele runs the gamut from movie stars to business people and housewives. [www.reginaleeds.com]
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forward payer. braceletier. path changer.
Charley Johnson is the president of the Pay it Forward Foundation and founder the PIF Experience, which collects stories from all over the world of people doing good by paying it forward. [www.pifexperience.org]
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yoga expert. author. couch yogi.
Tara Stiles is reinventing yoga practice, proving you don't need to call yourself a "yoga person" to make it part of your life. She founded Strala Yoga and is Deepak Chopra's personal yoga instructor. [www.tarastiles.com]
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adventure-preneur. athlete. peaceful competitor.
Yogi Roth is an athlete, coach, sports analyst for ESPN and Fox, bestselling author, dreamer, speaker, actor, producer, and director. He founded Winforever, a brand built to inspire others to compete for life. [www.yogiroth.com]
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positivity amplifier. gift uncoverer. best self chooser.
Carol Miller, a Positivity Catalyst, Positive Focus Founder and Vision Keeper, empowers people to live life with passion and purpose through positive thought leadership and reframing skills. [www.allthingspositivity.com]
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entrepreneur. kiteboarder. philosopher.
David Hassell is a serial entrepreneur presently engaged in launching 15Five, a software company focusing on increasing the relevance and velocity of communication within organizations. [http://about.me/dhassell]
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doodler. filmmaker. globetrotter.
Gabi Ury, an eighth grader at the Alexander Dawson School, lives in Colorado. She's a world traveler with passports from three countries. She loves dogs and other animals.
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nut butter aficionado. ceo. green visionary.
Justin Gold, Founder and CEO of Justin's Nut Butter, says he can't live without his maple almond butter, snow covered mountains, or moments that make his heart race. [www.justinsnutbutter.com]
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