
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
reach out

Life after graduating from college was a tough transition for me. I was lucky to have a strong support system during that time. I found out who my core group of solid friends were.
Even though I don’t get to see a lot of those friends, because we don’t live close to each other, we keep in touch through phone calls and emails. I’ve discovered that they really are the world to me. One of my girlfriends even got me to finish writing one of my plays. There was a time when I didn’t want to keep writing because I was a mess emotionally. She got me through it. That core group is absolutely the most meaningful thing in my life right now.
If I’m down, it often has to do with sitting inside too long, so I force myself to get out of the house. Sometimes I stay cooped up at home and it becomes a downward spiral. At that point, the best thing I can do is get dressed and go outside. Walking helps a lot. Even doing little things around the house helps. Today I fixed a doorknob and that spurred me on for the rest of the day!
Sometimes when I’m having a hard time I’ll call my sister. She’s inspires me and has since I was younger. It’s important to reach out and know that there’s solidarity out there. Everyone goes through weird times, but for some reason people don’t seem to be that vocal about it. Knowing that others have gone through the same problems or felt the same way lets me know it’ll get better.
I’m in a place right now where I’m just discovering the kind of person I am, the kind of person I want to be, and the impact I want to make in the world. I heard a John Campbell quote yesterday, which I’ve not stopped thinking about since: “If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.”
If I see the roadmap of my life laid out in front of me, chances are that’s not what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s comforting to know not to be afraid of the unknown. If I take it one step at a time, great things will happen.
– Tessa Williams


Explore More Meaning
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heart doctor. resilient dad. lesson seeker.
Dr. Terry Gordon, a Cleveland Clinictrained cardiologist who's nationally recognized in matters of the heart, practiced within mainstream medicine for over two decades. In 2002, he was named the American Heart Association's National Physician of the Year. [www.drterrygordon.com]
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Feng Shui Expert. Writer. Alchemist of Possibility.
Ariel Joseph Towne is the author of Serene Makeover: Inner Edition (Feng shui your life from the inside out), which empowers us to address our "inner house" and make changes that can affect all levels of our lives. [www.thefengshuiguy.com/serene-makeover-inner-edition]
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