
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
truth

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in making a measurable, positive difference in the world in my lifetime.
I want to know what makes people happy and peaceful … starting with me, of course. I’m very obsessed. And passionate. And single-mindedly curious. In my quest, with my thirst, hunger, and passion for figuring it out for myself, I’ve naturally always also wanted to give away what I learn.
I worked on myself first, to the point where I have a body I love, a relationship I love, a house I love, kids I love, relationships with my parents that I love, a career I love, and a money situation I love. I spent a good ten years studying with everyone I could and really working out all that stuff in all those areas of life.
I hold myself responsible as a leader, happy to be walking my own path and maintaining my own integrity. If my energy or vibe – whatever you want to call it – is off, it brings the whole ship down. That means it’s not acceptable for me to be a jerk. To myself, or anyone else.
I have a rule that if I’m unhappy for more than 15 minutes, I have to communicate with one of my higher-ups. I have to confess. I immediately write an email to one of my bosses (three very powerful women). I tell them, “Heads-up!” and write out my promise that I’ll deal with it. Then I get up and put on my manifesting tapes or I mediate or I start communicating.
If there’s something unresolved that’s caused me to be unhappy or upset, I know I need to communicate about it and resolve it. That might mean admitting that something is out of integrity and I need to put honor back in place.
It could also be that I’m not in a good mood because I’m afraid. The answer then is to admit it, face it, and probably get a pep talk from someone. Or just recognize that I’m going to be afraid until I get through it. Then I’ll be happy and proud. And move on to the next fear.
My mission is to teach the world how to tell the truth. That’s what I think makes people happy and peaceful.
– Laurie Gerber
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