Unknown Mentors
The people I may never meet, whose journeys continue to teach me.
Some of my greatest teachers may never know my name.
My Mount Rushmore · Four mentors
Some of the people who have shaped me most are people I have yet to meet—or will never have the opportunity to. Through their words, work, and courage, they have helped me imagine my own version of impossible. This is a place to express that gratitude, name what I am learning, and show how I am putting it into practice.
These are personal tributes; they do not imply endorsement of Campaign 137 by the mentors or their organizations.
01 · My personal Mount Rushmore
Martin Luther King Jr.
The courage to dream. The discipline to serve.
Martin Luther King Jr. joined moral courage with a vision larger than himself. His dream called America toward racial equality and justice. His commitment to nonviolence showed that how we pursue change matters as much as what we hope to achieve.
I learn from his words, his work, and the questions his legacy continues to ask of us. His journey challenges me to turn my own version of impossible into patient, shared work: listening, organizing, serving, and continuing when progress is difficult.
For Campaign 137, that means moving from “my way” to “our way.” My vision grows stronger when it makes room for other people’s dignity, experiences, and voices. Honoring his journey means making those values visible in the choices I make today.
Explore his words and their history at Stanford’s King Institute (opens a new tab)
02 · My personal Mount Rushmore
Ben Greenfield
Biohacker · Kion co-founder
The discipline to build energy for a life of service.
Ben Greenfield’s work in biohacking and his role in building Kion challenge me to treat health as a daily practice of curiosity. I want to notice what strengthens my energy, focus, and recovery, then make thoughtful choices with that evidence.
What stays with me is the purpose behind the practice: to keep showing up for my son, my work, and the people I hope to serve. Thank you, Ben, for helping me see human potential as something we can study, practice, and share.
03 · My personal Mount Rushmore
Vishen Lakhiani
Growing ourselves. Growing together.
Vishen Lakhiani’s work in personal growth and learning asks me to look beyond the life I have inherited and consider the life I can choose to create. I want to carry that question into Campaign 137: how can our own development help us build a community where others can grow, too?
Thank you, Vishen, for bringing learning, purpose, and connection into the same conversation. My commitment is to turn that inspiration into thoughtful action, one day at a time.
Explore Vishen’s work on his official website (opens a new tab)
04 · My personal Mount Rushmore
Steven Kotler
Giving the impossible a daily practice.
Steven Kotler’s work on flow and human performance gives me a practical question to carry into ambitious goals: what can I practice today? I want my version of impossible to rest on focus, steady learning, and the willingness to return to the work after setbacks.
Thank you, Steven, for exploring how people pursue demanding challenges. For Campaign 137, I want to connect a large vision with small, repeatable actions—and respect the recovery that helps me keep showing up.
Explore Steven’s work on his official website (opens a new tab)
Appreciation into action
What I carry forward.
Courage to imagine
Martin Luther King Jr.’s example challenges me to name what I believe is possible, then do the patient work that gives a dream substance.
Dignity in the process
The way I listen, disagree, and make decisions should reflect respect for every person. Justice and nonviolence belong in the daily choices, as well as the larger vision.
A dream we shape together
Moving from my way to our way means inviting others to help shape the work. I want to listen to their experiences and build a shared purpose that leaves room for their differences.
A personal commitment
I will honor the people who shaped me by turning appreciation into actions that open possibilities for others.
Ryan Kimichick · TO ONE AS ONE