George Saunders is a New York Times bestselling American writer of short stories, essays, novellas and children’s books. In 2000, The New Yorker named him one of the “Best Writers Under 40.” He writes regularly for The New Yorker and Harper’s, as well as Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine.
My Definition Of Success | For me, real success would mean becoming more clear and loving in all things – more generous and less anxious. I also want these qualities to show up in my writing – to make my stories more big-hearted and spacious.
I Am Driven By | I think it’s just a very natural feeling that life is beautiful and very interesting. I wake up in the morning feeling that way and eager to get to work, and sort of pay tribute to that feeling of love for life.
A Key Talent | One thing you can learn by working on writing is to be in touch with your own reactions to your work, and trust those reactions. This lesson can move out into your life as well. You can learn to watch your own mind as you move through the world, and trust your reaction, and adjust your actions accordingly. The only thing that stops progress is our (very natural) tendency to deny or suppress our reactions to things. As long as we listen to those feelings, things are always workable.
Principles I Live By | Try to really believe, with all your heart, that other people are as real and valid as you are. They want the same things, love the same things, fear the same things, even if they seem not to. You might not always be right about them, but it’s a good place to start.
How I Use My Mind | I believe strongly in meditation – in our ability to observe our own minds and thus learn who and what we really are. I also believe in trying to suspend judgment as long as possible. I love this quite, from the movie “Philadelphia Story”: “The time to make up your mind about people is never.”
Performing At My Peak | Well, I think it’s important to understand that you won’t always perform at your peak. If you are doing something worthwhile, you will encounter all sorts of peaks and valleys. So I think the trick is to keep your sense of humor so you can ride through the bad times. I guess this amounts to a kind of slow patience: you are interested in the task and are willing to take it just as it is – if it turns out to be harder than you thought, well, good – that means it is even more worthy than you first thought (i.e., it is a worthy opponent).
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | I’d like to write a really beautiful book. I mean a REALLY beautiful book.
The Meaning Of Life | To grow in love. That’s it. We exist in a state in which we have access to infinite love and luminosity but our habits and obstructions keep us feeling only a tiny portion of it. So I believe this life is a mad dash to open ourselves up to that light within us.
I Am Inspire d By | I am inspired by the writers Chekhov, Tobias Wolff, Tolstoy, Toni Morrison, Nikolai Gogol. Also by Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and by my wife and children.
The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | I’d like to be known as a kind person who felt a lot of love for life, and conveyed this in the way I lived and related to other people.
Jamie Anderson is an American professional snowboarder. She won the gold medal in the inaugural Women’s Slopestyle Event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. She has won gold medals in slopestyle at the Winter X Games in consecutive years in 2007/8 and 2012/3. My Definition Of Success | It has changed over the years […]
Richard St John is a Success Analyst , Speaker , Author and marathon runner. He achieved success as a member of scientific staff at Nortel Networks R&D labs. He’s won design awards, did breakthrough consumer/user research, and masterminded creative production for many of Nortel’s largest product launches. He started The St. John Group, an innovative […]
In 2009 Ntsoaki Phali decided to become the change she wanted to see — and so began Beyond Ability Talent Solutions, a self-sustaining recruitment agency for the physically disabled. As a former human resources co-ordinator, Phali struggled to meet her employment equity target when recruiting employees with disabilities. She knew it wasn’t for want of […]
Taryn Lock is the Executive Director of Read to Rise, the NGO she co-founded with her husband Athol Williams. Having now interviewed them both on The Legacy Project I formally declare this couple as one of South Africa’s most special jewels. What hearts and passion they have for a better South Africa. In 2013, Taryn […]
Severine Autesserre is an Associate Professor of Political Science, specializing in international relations and African studies, at Barnard College, Columbia University (USA). Severine traces civil war and endemic violence to its roots, and its resolution, in local and interpersonal conflicts. Severine Autesserre is Driven By | I am driven by a visceral hatred of violence […]
Vicky Colbert is the Founder and Director of Fundación Escuela Nueva, and co-creator of the Escuela Nueva pedagogical model, known for its effectiveness in improving the quality and relevance of basic education in underprivileged schools across Colombia and beyond. She is the 2013 WISE Prize for Education Laureate. Vicky Colbert of Success | For me […]
Vusi is a professional speaker and businessman. He is not only rated as Africa’s No 1 public speaker, but also of the worlds greatest. Vusi is known as ‘The Rockstar of Public Speaking and has spoken in 4 of the 7 continents and to over 350 000 people each year. He was described by Nelson […]
Sterling Hawkins is out to break the status quo to create what’s actually possible for humanity in our time. He has spent his career igniting new views and inspiring people to act on them. He went on to be involved with the launch, growth or investment in over 50 companies. Today, Sterling reviews over 1,000 […]
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