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
resilience
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
incredible woman. hard work welcomer. long shot pursuer.
Bestselling author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and has published pieces on entrepreneurs in conflict and post-conflict regions. [www.gaylelemmon.com]
I grew up with incredible women who were really strong and resilient in the face of many obstacles. At first, I thought maybe these women were an exception, but I kept meeting more and more extraordinary people. Their examples proved to me that we can do anything. They inspired me to tell the stories of people from all around the world, people who do very difficult work when no one’s paying attention to them.
I’m fascinated by the power of the human spirit. I share stories that embody the power of resilience, the power of determination, and the ability we each have to make a difference. I find homegrown role models who choose to ignore all the obstacles around them. Instead, they push through and above, inspiring us to push forward, too.
No matter who we are or what our circumstances are, we all go through challenging times. What makes the difference is what we do with those challenges. Do we face them or look away? Often, adversity fosters resilience. It’s when we have no other choice that we realize we’re capable of so much more. Resilience pushes us forward even when things feel nearly impossible.
Achievement requires hard work. If it weren’t hard, everybody would be doing it. We may want to pursue our passion 100 percent of the time, but in the real world the rent still needs to be paid. We may have to explore our interests while meeting other responsibilities. Sometimes, we get caught up in the fantasy of pursuing our passion. We shy away from the reality of hard work and when we’re not immediately swept away, we give up.
Struggle is not unique. We all wrestle with the same questions: What am I supposed to do? How do I get there? What if the competition is more talented? The only answer is to acknowledge the challenges and push past the fear of failure. When we want to do something important, the fact that it’s a long shot is irrelevant. You only need one person to say yes. So do the work and ignore everyone who tells you no. Someone is going to find a way to do it. That person should be you.
– Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Explore More Meaning
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educator. author. discoverer.
Author and producer Shajen Joy Aziz is a founding member of the Southern California Association of Transformational Leaders. [www.discoverthegift.com]
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author. speaker. nagual.
As a Nagual (shaman), Don Miguel Ruiz Jr helps others discover optimal physical and spiritual health, so that they may achieve their own personal freedom. [www.miguelruiz.com]
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fear whisperer. life coach. individuality embracer.
Kate Swoboda, a.k.a. Kate Courageous, is a life coach, speaker, and writer who helps clients lead unconventional and revolutionary lives by practicing courage. She created the Courageous Play and Create Stillness retreats. [www.yourcourageouslife.com]
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platoon commander. flower essencer. unraveler.
After returning home from being an Infantry Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps in Iraq, Stan Deland and Geoffrey Greenspahn launched the flower essence company Siddatech. [www.siddatech.com]
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self explorer. non-judger. surface scratcher.
Dr. Leslie Carr is a psychologist who is reluctant to give advice, preferring instead to help people figure out their best course of action no judgement allowed. [www.lesliecarr.com]
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clean. water. now.
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects. Learn more or donate. [www.charitywater.org]
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sustainability advocate. entrepreneur. fosterer.
Ingrid Vanderveldt is an entrepreneur, TV personality, and passionate advocate of working with women to foster a more sustainable future. She consults with Fortune 500 companies on their WOMEN + GREEN initiatives. [http://ingridvanderveldt.com]
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truth distinguisher. moment enjoyer. blessed dad.
Eric Handler is the co-founder of Positively Positive, an online multimedia platform known for its creative content designed to inspire readers to live fully and connected and to ignite the fire inside of them. [www.positivelypositive.com]
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