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
deep
Sophie Chiche
mom. idea activista. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking game-changers deep questions, wallpapering her stairway, dancing with her staff, reading The Little Prince, and ... oh, you know living a life of meaning. [www.lifebyme.com]
Since I launched lifebyme.com almost a year ago, I’ve often been asked why I’ve devoted my life to having meaningful conversations. The answer is so very simple:
I like having them.
I really don’t care for the alternative. I want the real deal – the whole thing, the down and dirty, unedited truth. I want the widescreen version, not the formatted-to-fit-your-TV alternative.
David Allen once spoke about people’s different tolerances for dirty dishes. Some people wash a glass only when they run out of clean ones, some jump on your glass the second you’re done, some even before you’re done. We have different tolerances for the space around us. I like this idea. It’s the same with conversations. We have different tolerances.
Some people talk all evening about the weather and upcoming vacations, while others tell you about being broke or raped even before the appetizer’s served. It makes me think of an evening I spent a few weeks ago with Keith Ferrazzi over dinner in San Francisco. Before our meal, he wanted to start things off on a particular note and out of the 40 or so people there, he turned his attention to me and asked, “What past experience most formed who you are today?” I know why he picked me. He knew I would go there. And I did.
I was aware all evening of people managing their level of comfort around me. Some avoided me like the plague. Some sought me out deliberately. Some tiptoed and came closer an inch at a time until they mustered the courage to come and talk to me … as if talking about what matters is the scariest thing ever.
What scares me is NOT doing it. What scares me is coming to the end of my day – or my life – without having done all I could to go as deep as I could. I’m not sure there’s anything that excites me more than exploring the depths.
In any conversation, I ask myself: How close to what really and truly matters can this conversation go? How transformational can it be? For me? For them? I’ve found common threads that run through every conversation: We all want to love and be loved. We want to be seen. We want to feel like we make a difference. And we all have fears and dreams.
I want to know what those are.
Where you and I commit to digging deep into our own truth … that’s where I feel fully engaged. As Rumi said, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
– Sophie Chiche
Explore More Meaning
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curious writer. time-traveler. knowledge cultivator.
Author-historian Vicki León delights in writing about the hidden side of history in The Joy of Sexus and other books that have won rave reviews from Publishers Weekly to People. [www.vickileon.com]
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home finder. businessman. completer.
Nick Segal is the president of Partners Trust Real Estate Brokerage & Acquisitions. [www.thepartnerstrust.com]
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grounded artist. soulful voice. nana's girl.
Entertainment Tonight called singer/songwriter Alisha Zalkin "uplifting and inspiring." Her debut EP, March to a Different Beat, features soulful, piano-driven narratives combining her big-voiced inspirations and her multicultural family musical history. [www.alishazmusic.com]
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pop star. mentor embracer. dream pursuer.
After surviving in L.A. doing everything from being a celebrity personal assistant to dancing on a box for tips, recording artist Ben Roman is also the Special Events Manager of the world-famous Magic Castle. [www.benromanonline.com]
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author. professor. emotional liberator.
Dr. Judith Orloff, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and best-selling author, passionately asserts that we have the power to transform negative emotions and achieve inner peace. [www.drjudithorloff.com]
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word wizard. stage illuminator. self truster.
By fusing acting, writing, comedy, and poetry, Steve Connell has become a transformative and sought-after speaker, performing privately for such luminaries as President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Norman Lear. [www.stevenconnell.com]
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enrichment coach. workshop leader. feng shuier.
Anna Cherry is an Enrichment Coach with a background in marketing communications, public relations, and technical writing. She's also a workshop leader and a qualified feng shui practitioner. [www.the9enrichments.com]
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big picturer. former linebacker. current give-backer.
Ryan Nece's community influence has lasted long after he finished his career as an National Football League player. He created The Ryan Nece Foundation, which provides physical, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need. [www.ryannece.com]
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