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
authentic
Dina Martinez
comedienne. connecting diva. good will hunter.
Dina Martinez, a transgendered, joke-telling renaissance woman, knows that if we are not given the life we want, it is up to us to create it. [www.dinamartinez.com]
As a child I got a lot of “church,” because I’m from Texas, and in Texas we’ve got a lot of “church.” One thing about going to church is seeing these kids being told on a daily basis that they’re not okay as they are, that there’s something inherently wrong with them. And there’s not! There’s nothing wrong, but when you’re getting it from the pulpit and from your family and other students, you begin to think that you’re wrong, even though God doesn’t think you’re wrong. It breaks my heart.
I’m transgendered. I was born as a man and I am in the in the process of becoming a woman. When I started the process I was concerned about my spiritual path. Was it something I really wanted to do? When I was a child I’d cry myself to sleep, praying, “God, why didn’t you just make me a girl?”
I was standing on the corner of Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles and I felt God say, “If you don’t do this, you’ll be miserable. If you don’t do this, people will never see your example. When you live your purpose, whether you know it or not, you touch lives.”
It was a defining moment for me when I said, “Okay. Let’s do it.”
When I started taking estrogen, everything started to make sense as far as who I was. There were things about being a guy that were weird and foreign to me and I didn’t understand why I hated it so much. When I started transitioning, I thought, Oh! I get it now!
Getting to a safe place where I can be vulnerable and connect with people is very meaningful to me. When we connect with each other we’re really connecting with God, because God is inside of you and God is inside of me. I truly believe that when we connect with each other and when we connect with God we can change the world for the better. I want to facilitate that.
I always try to concentrate on what’s good in my life. When I’m in a place of despair or anxiety I try to focus on the things I’m thankful for, turning inside and saying, Hey, there’s definitely good somewhere in here. Let’s find it.
– Dina Martinez
Explore More Meaning
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Singer. Musician. Soulful Songstress.
Stephanie Parodi is a gifted singer, songwriter, and musician who writes soulful music from the heart. She puts words to feelings that we can all relate to. [www.lifebeyondlimits.com]
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web advisor. experience shaper. digital telepath.
Chuck Longanecker founded Digital Telepathy, which builds products that make the web easier to use. He's advised web entrepreneurs and companies like Hard Rock, Mozilla, and MySpace. [www.dtelepathy.com]
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entrepreneur. nail fashionista. people lover.
In 2006, entrepreneur Samira Asemanfar founded Bellacures, the first high-end, branded nail salon in Los Angeles. Since then, Bellacures has developed a devoted clientele and received countless accolades. [www.bellacures.com]
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entertainment ceo. human spirit student. gift giver.
Demian Lichenstein is a filmmaker, author, and the CEO of Equilibrium Entertainment. His pursuits in the world of entertainment are matched only by his passion for learning about the human spirit. [www.discoverthegift.com]
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positivity purveyor. soul broadcaster. light-worker.
Marie Manning, known affectionately as "Twinkle" by many friends and colleagues, founded TV for Your Soul to bring positive messages of hope and community-stewardship, and empowerment to the world. [www.TVforYourSoul.com]
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Guitarist. Songwriter. Rhythm Rider.
Kamil Rustam is a French guitarist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and a prolific musician. [www.kamilrustam.com]
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musical meditator. age defier. god befriender.
Letty Chihoro is the author of an autobiography. She's passionate about self-improvement in all areas of her life. [www.lettychihoro.com]
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relationship guru. cupid assister. blessing counter.
Dave Elliott is a relationship expert and coach who founded Legendary Love For Life. He develops content and products, and blogs for a number of relationship websites. [www.legendaryloveforlife.com]
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