
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
freedom

Freedom means different things to different people. For me, it means more than just being able to travel wherever I want and do as I please.
I came to the United States from Venezuela and had a rough childhood. It wasn’t easy for my family to both get by and get ahead. To me, freedom means building a school in Venezuela to help underprivileged youth. It means being able to pay off my mom’s mortgage one day because she deserves that and so much more. Freedom even means being able to teach other people how to achieve their dreams through day trading, which is what I know best.
Even when I was younger, I was an avid businessman. I looked up to serial entrepreneurs like Donald Trump and Michael Dell. As I got older, I realized that though I need money to survive, it isn’t the most important thing – freedom is.
I’ve been searching for freedom my entire life and I’ve achieved it. I’m very lucky to be practically semi-retired at the age of 27 and to be living my dream. But I also understand that it can be taken away from me as fast as I realize I’m living it. I stay connected to that thought, which helps me stay motivated and grounded.
In our society today, we’re often looking to other people for a definition of happiness, when we should be defining happiness for ourselves. Every one of us is unique in our own right, and we have to look inside to find what will make us happy. When we take time to listen to ourselves, we can truly be happy. It’s helpful to spend time alone. It allows us to answer those very difficult questions we never get to ask if we’re paying attention to the TV or the Internet.
It’s nice to be able to buy fancy things and the newest gadgets, but I remember back to a time when I needed the pointy Italian shoes, a fresh new watch, and more gel in my hair to make Fonzie jealous. Now I’m happy with a five-dollar t-shirt and a pair of jeans, because I’d much rather focus my energy on doing what I enjoy, like traveling.
Travel is a great teacher. As I travel the world, I always find new things to learn. When I keep an open mind, great things happen.
– Marcello Arrambide


Explore More Meaning
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muralist. creativity inspirer. permanent inker.
London native Shelley Cassidy's artwork has been displayed in numerous private homes, offices, upscale retail spaces, and Los Angeles International Airport. She teaches budding painters and knows there's an artist within each of us. [www.shelleycassidy.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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