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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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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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]
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creator. truth seeker. jourrneyer.
Joan Barnes was the principal owner of YOGASTUDIO. She also founded and was CEO of Gymboree. She continues to be involved in creative recreation for all age groups.
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waste combater. difference maker. minute exerciser.
Albe Zakes wanted to work for TerraCycle (a pioneer in innovative upcycling and recycling systems) so badly he took an unpaid internship. He's now TerraCycle's VP of Media Relations. [www.terracycle.com]
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acknowledger. modern meditator. tree hugger.
Jonni Gray is a doctor of transpersonal psychology, a modern meditation spiritual teacher, and a past-life regression trainer. She connects deeply through her programs and private sessions. [www.drjonnigray.com]
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strategist. buddhist. light bearer.
Marc Sachnoff is a television producer, entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and a practicing Buddhist. He brings the Buddha to business, combining timeless wisdom and modern technology. [www.enlightenedent.com]
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herd escaper. spiritual messenger. pantyhose resister.
Christine Kloser is a spiritual guide, award-winning author, and transformational book coach whose spot-on guidance transforms the lives of visionary entrepreneurs and authors around the world. [www.ChristineKloser.com]
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entertainer. driver's seat dj. life by me'er.
Andrew DiPalma is a storyteller. As a television and film actor and the owner of an Internet marketing and PR firm, he strives to choose scripts and clients that inspire him so he may inspire others. [andrew dipalma]
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