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
grateful
Stephanie Carter
appreciative hairdresser. challenge survivor. silliness embracer.
Stephanie Carter has been a hairdresser for 23 years. She loves making others even more beautiful than they already are! [johnsbarbershoptx.com]
Ok, I have to admit, I’ve really grappled with the meaning of life. After all, talking about the complexities of the true meaning of life isn’t exactly the conversation starter one uses in line buying groceries! But in 2004, when I found out that my lupus had progressed to my kidneys, and I would need chemotherapy immediately, my meaning of life, or lack thereof, began to take on a whole new meaning.
At that time, there were so many things I’d yet to do with my life. I was so very scared. And I was really angry that a lot of my days would be filled sitting in a room with many other people getting our drips. But what happened during this process was profound and life-changing.
Many of the others I sat with had it so much worse than me. My drip was tiny compared to theirs. Yet I saw positive attitudes from people in the most horrible circumstances. My anger soon began to dissipate. I started reading autobiographies of people, some famous, some not so famous, to learn what they’d done to better themselves while going through personal trials. I read the autobiographies of Rodney King, Nick Vujicic, and Erin Brocovich. Through their words, I learned fun coping skills. For example, Nick Vujicic wrote that every day he does one crazy thing. He is the incredible man with no arms and legs. He once hid himself in the luggage compartment of a plane!
After going through six months of chemo, my blood levels began to go back to normal. I realized that I didn’t really know what the meaning of my life was until I went through all of this. I would tell anyone and everyone that if they’re struggling with the meaning of life, they are not alone. They don’t necessarily need to go through something as serious as a disease in the kidneys to realize that some real boredom has set in.
Usually my one crazy thing for the day is taking my dog for a brief walk in my pajamas! In order to have a stronger sense of purpose we have to be able to have some silliness about us, laugh at ourselves occasionally, and realize that to live like something could take our life at anytime, isn’t a bad thing at all, it’s actually quite a gift.
– Stephanie Carter
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tv diva. parenting coach. re-energizer.
Susan Segal has mastered the art of reinventing herself. She appeared on numerous television shows as an actress and as a lifestyle and fashion reporter. She runs her own parenting classes and combines various methods of child education.
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fitness expert. health advocate. icon.
Using his unique wit, passion, and enthusiasm, Richard Simmons, the nation's most revered fitness expert, continues his crusade to encourage people to take control of their fitness destiny. [www.richardsimmons.com]
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author. depression overcomer. avid listener.
Evelyn Resh is a writer, sexuality counselor, and nurse-midwife. She does all she can to lead a life filled with laughter, pleasure, and generosity towards others. [www.evelynresh.com]
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awakened director. inner-net listener. real food chooser.
Tom Shadyac is one of Hollywood's most prolific comedy directors. His latest project, the documentary I AM, takes a serious look at what's wrong with our world and examines what we can do about it. [www.iamthedoc.com]
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Photographer. Artist. Soul Revealer.
Alexandra DeFurio is a photographer who specializes in portraits that reveal women's real beauty. [www.defuriophotography.com]
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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]
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radio show host. writer. unplugged mom.
As a radio show host, speaker, and writer, Laurette Lynn advocates independent home-education by encouraging parents to challenge the conventional assumptions of mainstream parenting and family living. [www.unpluggedmom.com]
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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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