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
determined
Erin Norton
focused fashionista. go-getter. miracle creator.
Erin Norton is a director at JBrand Jeans, a leading Los Angeles based fashion brand. She is a friend enthusiast, appreciates a good glass of wine, and is slowly learning to love squats. [www.jbrandjeans.com]
As an overweight child, teen, and then adult, to say I struggled with my body image just sounds so…cliché. It doesn’t make it any less true. I was that girl. You know the one. The one who is everyone’s best friend. The one who is funny. So nice. Smart. “Oh, the pretty face and beautiful smile.” Yep, that was me. No one knew I was completely miserable. I hated everything about myself.
After college I found myself in New York City working in the fashion industry, not entirely the best world for a young woman with body issues. Determination and focus landed me there, and it was that determination that made me successful. However, no matter how amazing and talented people told me I was at my job, I still hated the person I saw in the mirror.
Seven years later I moved to LA, what I deemed a land of the beautiful and the perfect. I worked for an amazing brand, and, to others, my world seemed perfect. Then everything changed. I was let go from my perfect job and found myself lost. I couldn’t believe that the one thing that validated me had just been taken away from me. My self worth plummeted.
I had two choices. I could let everything I disliked about myself control my destiny, or I could search inside for that determination that had taken me to New York and reclaim control of my life. I decided to focus on the one thing I hated most and that I could control: my weight. I did what I saw so many do in Los Angeles and hired a trainer. That decision and that relationship changed my life.
He forced me to not only look at what I physically didn’t like about myself but also what mentally took me to this dark place. I began to work harder on myself than I had on any other project before, and, with every pound that I lost, I gained a pound of confidence. A miracle happened for me. I became someone who likes what she sees in the mirror.
In life we are given the opportunity to make changes. Choose different paths. I learned that you need to trust in yourself and use that determination that guides you to make the right choices, no matter how challenging the situation. Now I walk a little lighter (literally). I hold my head a little higher. All it took was a little belief and a lot of hard work.
– Erin Norton
Explore More Meaning
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application strategist. supply chain transformer. tedx-er.
Jennifer Sherman is a Senior Director of Applications Strategy at Oracle Corporation, where she works with public and private sector organizations to transform their supply chains and distribution networks. [www.ted.com/tedx]
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fundraiser. education advocate. school bus reinventor.
Jay Jaboneta is the Fire Starter and Chief Storyteller of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Inc. They build boats for children in the Philippines who would otherwise swim to school. [www.jayjaboneta.com]
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moment savorer. recoverer. brave heart.
Once an overachieving executive, Noch Noch's life was turned upside down by depression. Recovering, she writes about living with depression and self-awareness, and is also developing Bearapy, a creative therapy project. [www.nochnoch.com]
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doctor. author. sweeper.
Dr. Charles Sophy has dedicated his life to the physical and mental well-being of children and families from all walks of life. [www.drsophy.com]
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runner. country crosser. first stepper.
Katie Visco created Pave Your Lane, a campaign to enliven our world through connection to ourselves and each other. The second-youngest person and the 13th woman to run across America, Katie is now running her message across all 50 states. [www.paveyourlane.com]
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musician. activist. artistic mentor.
John March is a musician, teacher, producer, writer, activist, Buddhist facilitator in training, and single dad. He mentors artists and develops modern rites of passage for fathers and sons. [www.zenguitarguy.com]
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consciousness shifter. choice embracer. happy dancer.
As an intuitive guide, transformative healer, author, and creator of Soul Integration Therapy, Kate Bares-Johnson has developed a very real and powerful approach to life as a choice. [www.thecenterforwellbeing.com]
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question asker. superhero maker. broccoli activist.
Understanding what a busy lifestyle can do to both your emotional and physical state, Mark Leruste is passionate about creating radical shifts in people’s lives by empowering them to drop toxic habits, adopt healthy mindsets, and achieve breakthroughs. [www.lifeinshape.co.uk/about]
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