
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]

Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

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]

Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
understand

I try to remain very open to hearing the guidance I feel called to receive. That’s what guides me in all the work I do. It’s important to me to be of service in the largest way possible.
When I was a child, I thought I’d grow up to be a missionary. I went through a number of experiences that were very unique for me in terms of feeling spiritually led. As I grew up, went off to college, and started taking on more active leadership roles – first at school, then at national and international levels – I started realizing the power of one person with a clear voice, a clear vision, and a committed heart to impact the world. As I grew older, I felt more like I could do things – like launching a business – to create change and community, to channel resources and have a wider impact.
In the middle of all the things that go on in my life, how do I get back to centering myself? I take a deep breath and say to myself, Just allow. Just trust. You have nothing to prove. You have nothing to justify. There’s nothing you can say that’s wrong. You just are. So just be. Then I authentically respond to whatever’s being asked of me, and whatever comes out of me in response is exactly what was supposed to. I do that process multiple times throughout the day. That’s how I stay centered. And everything flows smoothly, all the time.
Something else I do is that whenever I start feeling fearful or concerned or stressed or pressured or like I have to prove something, I recognize that it’s my ego wanting to say something. I’m very clear about acknowledging it when my ego gets in the way. The simple act of recognizing that’s it’s my ego helps. In conversations with people, I’ll say, “My ego needs me to say …” This helps me stay in a place where I continue to recognize the difference between my ego and my divine self. It helps me recognize divine guidance.
I continue to learn every day, and working on global initiatives is so exciting. I feel like a missionary, but in a different sense. Over the past year, I’ve really gotten it that the more I hand over to divine guidance, the more things unfold exactly as they’re supposed to.
– Ingrid Vanderveldt
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