
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
laugh

The thought of having breast cancer didn’t even cross my mind because I’d already gone through so much.
When I was twenty-two years old, I saw a doctor about some random stomach aches. A CAT scan revealed a mass outside of my colon. This started me down a long road of infection, continuous pain, exploratory surgeries, and a colostomy bag.
Ten years and nineteen surgeries later, I sat in my surgeon’s office to have one last repair to a hernia. While I was there, I casually said, “Oh by the way I have these lumps in my breast. Can you look at them?”
After the diagnosis of breast cancer, I had to laugh because I just couldn’t believe it. I’d dealt with depression after my first few colon/rectal surgeries, and I couldn’t let myself go there again. It’s such a horrible feeling to sit on the bed in your room with all the windows closed thinking, why me? Why me? Why me? It’s a very dark place, and it’s easier to go there than it is to find a bright side.
I needed to do something different. I knew if I didn’t joke about the cancer, it would win. It would take me down, and I wasn’t going to let it. Then a thought came to mind: how can my cancer help somebody else? I knew something good could come out of this.
My husband and I started making videos that make jokes about my cancer. Some days it’s not easy. Especially the third day after chemo when I feel like crap, everything hurts, my hair’s fallen out, and all I want to do is cry. So I cry, but then I think, this is good material to talk about.
With a good support system, we can get through anything. My kids and my husband mean everything to me. They are the reason I get up in the morning. Plus I receive emails all the time with comments like, “I watched your videos, then I grabbed my best friend, and we went for mammograms.” That makes my day! Whether I reach ten people or a hundred people, I don’t care, as long as I’m reaching somebody and they’re checking their ta-ta’s!
I’m bold now. On a daily basis I make fun of my cancer. I stay upbeat. Recently, I was late for a wedding. When I got to the table somebody asked, “Why were you late?”
I replied, “I was doing my hair.” We all laughed.
– Yulady Saluti


Explore More Meaning
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mom. TED-talker. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, founder of lifebyme.com, is the single mom of an amazing 16-year-old, Leah, and wicked step-mom of 22-year-old, Sarah. They all live in LA. You can find them boxing, cooking, collaging, hosting brunches, laughing their head off or bickering over who's washing and who's drying the dishes.
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magician. illusion engineer. wonder sharer.
Franz Harary is a magic designer and producer whose groundbreaking innovation in the field of live illusions is unmatched. His clients have included David Copperfield, Madonna, the Grammys, the Academy Awards, and the Super Bowl. [www.franzhararyproductions.com]
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