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
joy + hope
Marc Desplaines
furniture artist. truth teller. big picturer.
Marc Desplaines founded his furniture company, Antoine Proulx, because he was frustrated with not being able to find what he wanted on the market. His furniture is some of the most sought after in the industry. [www.antoineproulx.com]
Learning to find the joy in life is what it’s all about – friends and family, building relationships, and having fun while doing it.
I’m always looking for more meaning in my life. I think meaning is within. Even creativity in the design process starts from within. My advice to anyone looking for meaning is to find out how to be true to yourself. If you’re honest with yourself, everything else falls into place.
I know instinctively when I’m being true to myself. If I try to protect other people’s feelings or my own insecurities, I’m guarded and so I leave open ends or don’t finish saying what I need to say. But then the truth never gets out. If I say something difficult in a way that’s truthful and honest, and I say it with love, it’s not as likely to be misunderstood or hurtful.
I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. If I treat or speak to someone honestly, but it hurts their feelings, at least I can then say, “Well, what was it I said that hurt your feelings and how did it hurt your feelings?” We can say the truth and start the conversation, but if we don’t treat people the way we want to be treated, then maybe we never hear the truth.
If someone is honest with me and it hurts my feelings, at least I know where they’re coming from. I understand why they feel the way they do and why they said what they did. That at least gives me more information.
We don’t start relationships, jobs, or anything seeing the whole picture. It’s a huge problem when people don’t see where they fit into the big picture, whatever the big picture is – home, work, society. When we walk around with blinders on, we don’t know the impacts of our behaviors or what we say. To be effective, it helps to know who you are and how you exist in the big picture. Otherwise, what are you doing?
There’s always hope. If hope is gone, everything is gone. We can hope for clarity. We can hope for good friends and good business. We can hope for the best things for our families or our country. Hope is what keeps me going. When there’s hope, there’s connection.
– Marc Desplaines
Explore More Meaning
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Artist. Designer. Knitting Machine.
Joanne Abellera is the designer of KKIBO a collection of one-of-a-kind handmade knitwear creations. [www.kkibo.net]
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writer. explorer. risk-taker.
Eric Hiss navigates the world in search of unexpected, entertaining, off-the-beaten-path stories. He's written about everything from spas to pop bands. Eric also co-founded wandermelon.com. [www.wandermelon.com]
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writer. teacher. service connoisseur.
Brooke Burton writes and teaches as a way of celebrating her love of the food and hospitality industry. She sees glamour in the whir of a busy dining room. [www.foodwoolf.com]
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hypnotherapist. dad. difference maker.
Colin Chapman is a clinical hypnotherapist. He owns The Joy of Hypnosis, in Richmond, Virginia, where he helps empower clients worldwide change their lives. [www.joyofhypnosis.com]
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designer. conscious brand manager. wild redhead.
Drai is a priestess, song keeper, mother, wife, and artist. As founder of Wild Redhead Design, she loves to partner with folks who are making a difference. [www.myspace.com/wildredheaddesign/blog]
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reinvention catalyst. white canvas embracer. believer.
Nancy Sherr is the creator of A Zestful Life, coaching brave hearted women through Big. Life. Change. She is an inspiring reinvention catalyst, supports graceful navigation of life transitions, exuberant living, fully expressed. [www.nancysherr.com]
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amused mom. choice expert. systematic investigator.
Sheena Iyengar is a world-renowned expert on choice. Her insights are invaluable to businesses, and to every individual trying to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. [www.sheenaiyengar.com]
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bestselling author. childhood reconnector. messy laugher.
Michael Neill is an internationally renowned transformative coach and creative sparkplug to CEOs, celebrities, and royalty. His books have been translated into thirteen languages around the world. [www.insideoutrevolution.com]
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