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
collaborate
Michael Norton
Michael Norton is the co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending and an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School. [www.amazon.com/HappyMoney]
Academics are an odd lot. We mainly spend our time holed up in our offices, furiously typing away at papers that – if we’re being honest – a couple of people read. If we’re lucky
Why do I keep at it? One of the most meaningful aspects of my life is the spirit of collaboration. For every minute I spend alone in my office, I’ve spent at least one minute brainstorming with another smart, interesting, creative person – in that same office, on the phone, over a meal, over drinks, anywhere really. I used to think the best part of being an academic was the freedom to work on whatever I wanted. I now realize that the real gift is being able to work with whomever I want.
There is no better feeling than sharing in the fruits of a successful collaboration with someone you respect and admire. For over ten years, I’ve worked with my colleague and friend Liz Dunn, on projects ranging from the idea that spending money on other people makes you happy to the idea that maybe Hobbes was right in thinking that life is nasty, brutish and short. When we finished our book, it felt like a decade of deeply meaningful work, and an incredible collaboration, had come to fruition. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but I highly recommend it. (Liz and her husband had their first child right after we finished writing, so they got to start on a whole different kind of collaboration!)
If you’re feeling a lack of meaning and purpose in your life, have a look at the people around you. Even if they are perfectly nice folks, are they pushing you to create and to grow? Needing the spirit of collaboration is true regardless of your job. When I’m feeling uninspired, I always reach out to collaborators – both old and new – who reenergize my brain, who make me want to stay up at night hashing out some new research idea.
And of course, the benefits of collaboration extend far beyond professional life. If there’s anything that research on happiness shows, it’s the value of friends and family. Social support and social interaction are absolutely essential for all of us (including me) to be happy. Infusing the spirit of collaboration into all of my relationships – at work and home – infuses my life with meaning.
– Michael Norton
Explore More Meaning
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educator. lifestyles expert. friendly elevator rider.
Dr. Judith Wright has been featured on 20/20, Good Morning America and the Today Show. She is a bestselling author, speaker, coach and consultant. [www.judithwright.com]
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learning expert. author. mental athlete.
Jim Kwik is the founder of Kwik Learning. He's taught memory improvement, speed-reading, and accelerated learning skills for almost two decades, to learners from more than 60 nations. [www.kwiklearning.com]
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writer. design spotter. brand strategist.
An expat living in Barcelona, Chauncey Zalkin is a writer, brand strategist, and the founder of What Women Make, a female design showcase and blog. [whatwomenmake.com]
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conscious filmmaker. change advocate. action inspirer.
Jon Fitzgerald is a filmmaker, film festival director, and author. Through CineCause, he connects socially relevant films to related causes. [www.cinecause.com]
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new energy guide. rebel with a cause. now pioneer.
Chief Dreamer at dailygreatness, Lyndelle Palmer-Clarke ignites passions for staying true to yourself and following your dreams. She strives to find the extraordinary in the ordinary on a daily basis. [www.dailygreatness.co]
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international consultant. bestselling author. mr. fabulous.
Bestselling author Stan Slap is President of the international consulting company slap, specializing in achieving maximum commitment in business cultures and making the business case for humanity. [www.slapcompany.com]
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author. theatre kid. laughing backpacker.
Poet, actress, and activist Judy Prescott lives in Los Angeles, where she works in film and television. She's the author of a just-released collection of poetry and art. [www.judyprescott.com]
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life embracer. sex redefiner. body connector.
Mark has taught yoga for over 20 years all over the world. His most recent book is The Promise of Love, Sex, and Intimacy. [www.thepromise.com]
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