
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
change

I’ve spent the last twelve years as an entrepreneur, moving from one thing to the next but always with my hands in a business of my own (if not two). I had the drive and focus that people say you need to be successful in that game. And it was all-consuming – especially once I was into it full-time. As such, I’ve spent the vast majority of the last decade focused on the growth and change of businesses (my own and others). Business was, for the most part, the most meaningful, most fulfilling aspect of my life.
Somewhere in the last six months, though, that all began to change. Not because of anything I consciously said or did (it’s certainly not something I was seeking), but seemingly all on their own, my priorities had shifted, big-time. Business has suddenly taken a back seat to friendships, to a burgeoning social life, to solo travels, to late-night, in-depth discussions about Shakespeare. It’s a little wild, and a lot unexpected.
I don’t know that I was missing anything before this change. I certainly never felt like I was. But now that these changes are well in progress, I’m not sure how I ever lived any other way. And that is, I suppose, and always has been, my story: one of change. It’s a story of accepting the things that happen. Embracing that life never stays the same. Finding the joy in the chaos and the comfort of the unknown.
Mine is not a Pollyanna worldview. There are bad things, terrible things that happen to all of us. Rarely a day goes by when I’m not scared for at least a moment. But the anger, the sadness, the fear, can all co-exist with the good, the shiny, the awesome. We just have to be willing to see – and celebrate – the good along with the bad.
– Dani Nelson
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