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
relationships
Todd Gailun
world citizen. conversation seeker. enthusiasm retainer.
Todd Gailun is an entrepreneur building neurotechnologies. He's curator of the seminal TEDx at the Rubin Museum on Spirituality and The Hero's Journey. He also explores the Zen, tango and yoga threads.
At this point in my life, after being a Yogi for years, immersing myself in lots of epic Hindu text, and studying those texts with Hindu monks, I’m trying to move from a selfish to a more selfless spiritual journey. I’m focused on facilitating conversations among seemingly disparate types of people – scientists, artists, Yogis, monks, educators, activists – because people in a lot of different professions are asking the same sorts of questions, but answering them in different ways. I want to facilitate a way to bring together disparate people asking the same questions in an environment where they feel open and safe, so they can be authentic, humble, and vulnerable about their journeys.
The conversations I get to have with people have been wonderful and paradigm-shaking for me. We’re all trying to find meaning in our lives, but we go about it in so many different ways. These conversations give me new appreciation for all the different ways we can try to unleash and unfurl our souls.
At many points in my life I’ve been nihilistic and really questioned whether there’s meaning in the world. To paraphrase one of my favorite poets, Rainer Maria Rilke, we’re all looking for answers. We all want stability and order. We all want things to make sense. We all want to eradicate unpredictability from our futures. But, Rilke says, more often than not, we’re not ready for answers. Even if answers were given to us, we couldn’t actually live them. So we’ve got to live the questions. When we do that, life really is about the journey.
Imagine being able to live your question and take action without needing certain things to happen. What’s your most pressing question right now? Go forward toward answering it, but without being beholden to success or failure in finding an answer.
I’ve done a lot of thinking and reflecting about failure. When I get depressed or unhappy, it usually comes from a fear that I’ve failed or that I may fail. It’s all well and good to recognize that it’s okay to fail, but the key is to retain enthusiasm for the journey.
I stoke my enthusiasm by seeking out people who also recognize that life is a journey and that there’s no linear path to living a full life. Life is all about relationships, so I do whatever I can to find the most meaningful relationships, ones in which I can be vulnerable, humble, and authentic.
– Todd Gailun
Explore More Meaning
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lupus awareness advocate. philanthropist. self improver.
Christina Tran is a proud spokesperson for the "Could I Have Lupus?" campaign and a passionate awareness advocate to organizations dedicated to researching, educating, and finding a cure for lupus. [http://about.me/christina.tran]
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singer. songwriter. sonic pioneer.
During nearly four decades as a singer-songwriter, Kenny Loggins has established himself as many things to many music lovers, with his enduring hit songs and genre-defining children's albums. [www.kennyloggins.com]
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devout writer. outdoor meditator. lover of life.
As an adopted person, Susan Chapman believes anyone can be her family. She explores and communicates this dynamic philosophy through her personal relationships and her work as a writer and Primordial Sound Meditation instructor. [www.themagicproject.com]
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positivity spreader. negativity combater. hoopla-hero.
Rob Hess is the Managing Director & Executive Producer of HooplaHa.com, a website dedicated to spreading smiles and positivity. HooplaHa is focused on only good news and developing inspirational, feel good, positive content. [www.hooplaha.com]
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musical storyteller. inspired singer. life sharer.
Risa Binder is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. Her debut album "Paper Heart" was released last February and has been spotlighted by Entertainment Tonight, Billboard, and the Wall Street Journal. [risabinder.com]
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social cross pollinator. tuxedo adventurer. mindsharer.
Doug Campbell, co-founder of Mindshare LA and Syyn Labs, is a community builder, experience engineer, and charitable adventurer who uses the power of technology to augment social interaction. [www.projectfresh.com]
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loss educator. transition encourager. hope infuser.
Carole Brody Fleet is a popular motivational speaker, helping people touched by the pain and challenge of loss, regardless of age. She's been a regular guest on local, regional, national, and international media programs. [www.widowswearstilettos.com]
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emoter. now chaser. crisis averter.
BJ Panda Bear is the natural blonde bombshell with the heart of gold entertaining through DJing, hosting events, and producing visual and audio works that shines light on the ups and downs of futurity. [www.BJPandaBear.com]
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