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
reinvention
Darrell W. Gurney
coach. strategist. career changer.
Darrell W. Gurney has served as a career strategist to individuals for over 20 years, with a driving commitment to everyone's purposeful Back Forty. [www.thebackforty.com]
My personal quest – what motivates me to keep moving forward – is fuller and greater degrees of self-expression. Perhaps self-expression wasn’t encouraged enough while I was a kid and that put me onto this path. Even so, I have no complaints. We’re all born into this world having chosen (at some level) certain cultural and familial influences that mold us: our parents, our location, our culture, our income strata, etc. Rather than view our upbringing and life experiences as random, I see them as part of our grand “research project.” In other words, we chose our experiences so that we could accumulate enough data to form particular conclusions about the unique individuals that we are – who we came here to BE.
My own childhood self-esteem issues directed my life onto certain paths. Not unlike many people, I grew up with the message that I wasn’t good enough. So I went out into the world to try to prove my worthiness in order to fill that hole … and ended up pursuing personal development and spirituality. I’ve applied what I’ve learned to the field of career development, for both myself and others.
We all have the choice of viewing ourselves in our past and/or current challenges as either 1) the victim of something outside of ourselves, or 2) responsible and causal in the matter. A layoff or breakup, being born on the “wrong side of the tracks”… there’s no end to what we could fall victim to. However, only by taking personal responsibility do we have any possibility of powering up for experiential upleveling. Rather than starting our reason-stories with “Because…,” a fuller life story starts with “Be CAUSE.” When we can choose what we have (at some level) already chosen, when we can find a way to own it and what it gave/taught us, then the fulfillment of our personal divine destiny can begin. We become vested authorities and have a say about where life goes from here.
Whether regarding the directions of my work life, my evolving relationship with my son, my expansion as a messenger, or my capacity to give and receive love in my life – the possibility of ever-evolving reinvention of myself is what keeps my juices flowing.
What if the first half of our lives was R & D – research and development – so we could learn and grow to become the purposefully directed fulfillments of our promise in the second half? That certainly gives us something to live for.
– Darrell Gurney
Explore More Meaning
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champion of insights. strategist. scribbler.
Strategist and champion of insights, Julie Stuart combines the right questions with well-placed scribbles to envision what's possible for her clients and map out how to make what matters happen. [www.makingideasvisible.com]
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composer. muse listener. no-iPod-needer.
Guitarist/composer Tom Taylor and his wife, Stephanie, live north of Colorado Springs. His recordings feature the Kronos and Turtle Island String Quartets; mandolinist David Grisman. Tom teaches at Colorado College.
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relationship expert. author. partnership rep.
Heide Banks is a nationally recognized relationship expert, a bestselling author, and a TV personality. She's the official representative to the United Nations for The Center for Partnership Studies. [www.heidebanks.com]
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magician. illusion engineer. wonder sharer.
Franz Harary is a magic designer and producer whose groundbreaking innovation in the field of live illusions is unmatched. His clients have included David Copperfield, Madonna, the Grammys, the Academy Awards, and the Super Bowl. [www.franzhararyproductions.com]
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compassionate pianist. musical communicator. moment enjoyer.
Pianist Vanessa Perez, praised for her passionate performing style and keenly sensitive musicianship, is a product of the energized musical culture in Venezuela that produced international stars like conductor Gustavo Dudamel and pianist Gabriela Montero. [www.vanessaperez.com]
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practical philosopher. clarity catalyst. dad.
John Groberg is a husband, father, serial entrepreneur, writer, and executive coach. His writing and coaching focuses on assisting others to grow in their own clarity. [http://johngroberg.com]
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business expert. arbiter of style. smarty pants.
Small business expert Amy Swift has helped launch thousands of businesses and ideas. She founded Smarty to give entrepreneurs authentic space to partner and grow. [www.smartypeople.com]
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moment capturer. love admirer. friend of the bride + groom.
Parris Whittingham is a relationship photographer and creative producer. Based in NYC, he collaborates with a select couples and business clients to unleash their stories. [fromparriswithlove.com]
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