
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
art is life

Art always enhances whatever we’re doing. It brings enjoyment into our lives. It’s amazing and therapeutic. It’s good for us.
In my life, art changed everything. It’s become my life. No matter what I do, I incorporate art in some way or another. It’s part of everything I do and my passion for it is all-encompassing. Art allows me to strive for goals and to better myself and my career.
I used to be in the clothing business, but my heart wasn’t in it. It was all about turning out the next product and making money – how much can I make this for and how much can I sell it for. At the end of the day, I was finished. I didn’t want more of that. It’s different now with art.
Since I was a kid, I’ve always drawn and painted, but I didn’t take it seriously until much later. And then creating and art became addictive. I’m in my studio 24/7 – when I’m not physically there, my head is still there.
I’d love to have a conversation with Gerhard Richter, one of the most respected living artists in today’s world. I admire his ability to conquer the art world the way he has. From the very beginning, when I first started to paint, every single one of my paintings has had something in it that’s been influenced by him.
Actually, it could be that I’m ready to back off a little from this much of a focus on art. There are other things I love to do, too, like playing golf and going to the beach. Even with everything that’s fun and enjoyable and wonderful about making art, there are times when adding other things to the mix, like being more social, brings even more enjoyment. The funny thing is, when I meet people and spend time with them, there’s always an art connection of some kind or another. That’s okay. That’s life.
– Daniel Maltzman
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