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
congruence
Simon Mainwaring
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]
Most of us spend most of our lives avoiding the hard questions about ourselves and looking for somebody else to blame, projecting an image of ourselves to others to either protect or ingratiate ourselves. But, at some point, being consistently inauthentic is more painful than being authentic.
To me, a meaningful life is being congruent with who I am. Congruence means really taking the time to examine who we are, then repurposing ourselves in a way that’s consistent with that and taking it to market, whatever that means for each of us, in a way that resonates with other people but also consistently feels authentic to us. There’s no right or wrong way to be congruent. What’s meaningful to you will be authentic to who you are – and that’s also true for any brand.
Over the past two years I’ve gone through a process of identifying, in simple terms, why I’m here. That has meant accepting myself as an individual who’s principled, who’s dedicated to family, and who finds meaning through contribution. Now there’s congruence between how I present myself in public – my brand – and who I personally, privately know myself to be.
Once you align yourself with your true purpose and your authentic nature, the universe capitulates and says, “Finally! You’re doing what you should be doing!” People and opportunities you’d never have imagined before start coming out of the woodwork, and it’s not because they’re suddenly interested. It’s because you’re suddenly telling them who you are and what you want and they can hear you for the first time.
We come into this world with a certain disposition and our life experiences affect us in certain ways, but at some point in your life you crack the combination lock on yourself and the door opens to who you truly are. Then opportunities flow in that are consistent with your self-definition and expectation, and with the contribution you can make. Life is so much more meaningful then because you’re contributing and you’re never questioning what you’re doing. You don’t question why you’re going to work. You don’t question the motivation behind your contribution. And at the same time, you’re presented with a seemingly never-ending stream of opportunities for ways to express yourself on your authentic terms.
Congruence – cracking the combination of your own locks – is incredibly powerful personally and professionally, and very worthwhile to focus on.
– Simon Mainwaring
lifebyme.com would like to congratulate Simon on the upcoming release of his first book “We First”, which discusses how social media connects us in ways that can build businesses and a better world. Check it out at www.wefirstbranding.com
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rapper. screenwriter. devotee.
Georgia Gwynne-Gruber was a rapper/singer in the rock band Weapons before arriving in Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. Her science fiction trilogy Darklight is presently in development.
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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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etsy seller education manager. artist support system. independent motivator.
Danielle Maveal, Etsy's Seller Education Manager, works to help artists, crafters, and makers make a creative living selling their work. Her focus is to encourage, motivate, and educate. [www.etsy.com]
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web advisor. experience shaper. digital telepath.
Chuck Longanecker founded Digital Telepathy, which builds products that make the web easier to use. He's advised web entrepreneurs and companies like Hard Rock, Mozilla, and MySpace. [www.dtelepathy.com]
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television writer. playwright. comedienne.
Gloria Calderón Kellett is an author, playwright, television comedy writer and producer, sketch comedy group member, stand-up comedian, and Alma award winner. [www.everythinggloria.com]
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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]
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stylist extraordinaire. growth seeker. light beamer.
Aly Scott is the founder of StyleChic, a global VIP shopping and styling company catering to all body types, lifestyles and budgets. She then launched JILRO, a clothing line breaking all sizes barriers. [www.stylechicla.com]
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musician. activist. artistic mentor.
John March is a musician, teacher, producer, writer, activist, Buddhist facilitator in training, and single dad. He mentors artists and develops modern rites of passage for fathers and sons. [www.zenguitarguy.com]
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