If I’ve learned anything in the last year, it’s this: your peers make you who you are.

Surrounding yourself with amazing people from all walks of life enlightens your path and encourages you along when times get tough.

Good news for all of us techie-folk: through the internet, connecting with people who blow your socks off is easier than ever.

In my years wading through The Interwebs, I’ve come across these incredible people who are blazing trails in all kinds of industries, from selling beer to mentoring entrepreneurs to motivating nerds.

2013 is an important year for all of us. It could be the start of something amazing. It could signal a turn in the rest of our lives.

What better way to level up this year than by hanging out with some of the coolest, most forward-thinking people around the world?

Check out these awesome people who are making huge waves in the world — the innovators to watch this coming year:

Joel Runyon — Doing the Impossible

Fitness. Travel. Overcoming fears. Six pack abs.

If anything is impossible, Joel’s on it. Through his blog and his community, Joel is leading the pack on all things scary and fun. He’s created a list of “impossible” activities, and he’s attacking each one by one. His blog is a must-read and his eBook on getting six pack abs will shatter your fitness preconceptions in a heartbeat.

Apparently, getting a six pack isn’t all about exercise? It’s all about water and food. Doh!

He may also have the coolest logo on the planet. Check Joel out if you’re up for some butt-kicking fun.

Visit here: ImpossibleHQ blog

Amber Rae — Cultivating Human Potential

CEO of The Bold Academy. Contributor for Fast Company. Inspiring Blogger.

Amber Rae has made huge jumps this year, moving across the country and hosting her first class of The Bold Academy, a sort of incubator for awesome ideas. Her blog, HeyAmberRae.com, is also ultra-visited. (Her hand-written Ambergrams are adorable. Seriously.)

I see huge things for Amber Rae in 2013. Could a call from Oprah be far off? (That’d be a fun episode of Super Soul Sunday, wouldn’t it?) Her insights in business and her ability to encourage human potential has so many people watching her closely. I am definitely one of them.

I’m excited to see what happens next with this one. Wishing her awesomeness in the new year.

Visit here: HeyAmberRae.com and The Bold Academy

Julien Smith — Making Impact Possible

He’s one of your absolute favorite authors, he’s got massive tattoos, and he’s standing right in front of you. Talk about intimidating.

That’s how I felt when I first met Julien — for all of two seconds. Awesome guy, awesome conversation, and awesome girlfriend.

If you want to quell your fears and get your butt in gear, read Julien’s stuff. If you want to live a better life and get a date, read Julien’s stuff. If you want to do anything of value, you should probably read Julien’s stuff. Just read his stuff, I tell you.

Julien’s writing (on his blog and in his books) is straight-forward, motivating, and extremely practical. Now that I’ve read his latest book and enjoyed his company over dinner, I’m waiting for his next move — more writing please?

Visit here: InOverYourHead.net and The Impact Equation

Ryan Allis — An Entrepreneur Making a Difference

When I met Ryan in Nicaragua, we spent little time together — a few hours organizing a meet-up for Nicaraguan techies and a day galavanting through Nicaragua’s prized islands. What I found, though, is that Ryan is a person driven by deep contribution.

An entrepreneur from a young age, Ryan isn’t only focused on helping himself — he’s dedicated to helping many others, as well. He’s involved in a host of social entrepreneurship projects, but I’m struck by his recent openness in creating free content for the world to learn from. Videos, slide decks, blog posts — it all seems fair game for Ryan these days.

Now, as the CEO of Connect, the upcoming year will bring Ryan lots of new ventures — and challenges. It sure ain’t easy to balance the business-school gig with a new project as big as Connect. If there’s anyone that can do it, though, it’s Ryan.

Did we mention there’s a book on the horizon?

Visit here: RyanAllis.com and Connect.com (For more on Ryan’s past projects, check out iContact.)

Steve Kamb — Helping Nerds Look Good Naked

From the first time I ever came across Steve’s blog, NerdFitness, I was hooked.

Mario Kart, Lord of the Rings, Batman, and much, much more. His blog is a humorous take at fitness, focused on “making nerds look good naked.” At least that’s how Steve described it when I met him in Portland a few months ago.

The only thing that’s cooler than Steve himself (and he’s pretty cool, IMHO) is his community. The group that has gathered in the Nerd Fitness community forum is awesome. They run challenges, encourage each other, and post their progress.

Watch out for Steve this upcoming year. He’s going big, I can just feel it.

Visit here: NerdFitness website and community

Bernardo Mendez — Your Great Life

Ah, my wonderful Twitter friend! There’s no other way to describe him because, well, we did meet on Twitter — but he is one of the warmest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

In person, I have shared only one meal with Bernardo, which was eye-opening and fun. On the web, though, we’ve shared countless learning resources and some wonderful time chatting on Skype.

Through his new project, Meaningful Influence, Bernardo is opening up his project portfolio — and his heart — to a much bigger audience. Through his videos, Bern leads us through amazing interviews and wonderful insights. He’s opened my eyes to the space where the supernatural and the spiritual come together.

Sound funky yet totally awesome? Definitely is.

I’m excited for each and every person that encounters him. His videos are awesome, and his heart is even better.

Visit here: YourGreatLife.tv and Meaningful Influence

Ricardo Teran — Unleashing Entrepreneurs’ Potential

You’ve never met anyone so smart that is so kind, guaranteed.

As Co-founder and Entrepreneur In Residence at Agora Partnerships, Ricky has taught so many people about social entrepreneurship (including myself). He speaks at countless prestigious conferences, is an incredible team leader, and dreams of entrepreneurship in his few hours asleep.

The concept behind The Perpetual Vacation was born from learning how people like Ricky live their lives. (Granted, he might protest, saying he’s too busy for his own good — but it’s definitely an ecstatic and invigorating kind of busy, if you ask me.)

This upcoming year, there is so much Ricky will contribute — I can feel it. I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Visit here: AgoraPartnerships.org and on LinkedIn

Jon Giganti — Accelerating Your Work

From his guest contributions to TinyBuddha, I could tell Jon’s approach is refreshing and fun.

I first came across Jon through his writing, and we’ve become friends ever since.

Jon’s eye is on productivity and leaving a worthwhile legacy. His website is still in the process of getting up and running, but stay tuned for an episode with yours truly coming soon!

This upcoming year, I’m most excited to see Jon’s work as part of his Catalyst Project. It’s quite an ambitious project, with incredible potential, and I’m sure Jon will shine.

Visit here: The Catalyst Project

Nathan Barry — Commiting to Design

I first came across Nathan’s work through a news aggregator on my iPhone. One interesting post after another, I ventured further and further down into Nathan’s blog’s archives. What I found there has changed many aspects of my life.

It’s very rare that a single blog can change much in your life — except when it’s Nathan Barry’s blog. And I’m not even really a designer!

His educational eBook posts have changed my pricing schemes. His iPhone app, Commit, has helped me change my habits. His design tips have influenced many of my recent rejects.

If I could create a Nathan Barry wishlist for 2013, I’d ask for more life-changing apps and more of his awesome “insider’s look” posts. I’m eager to see what he’s got in store for us.

Visit here: NathanBarry.com and ThinkLegend

Jean Powell — Selling Awesome Beer

You know you’re lucky when you approach a nice-looking person at a conference, and they end up being someone you felt you were meant to meet. Meeting someone at a conference is a kind of assurance that their interests are aligned with yours, but that’s quite an understatement when it comes to Jean Powell.

Selling beer sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Jean’s got it down pat. Her work at Taphandles has recently gotten incredible attention. A few months ago, Taphandles was chosen as Inc Magazine’s 5000, listed #92 in the listing of the world’s best manufacturing companies.

She’s fun. She’s motivating. She’s getting it done in style.

I’m eager to see what Jean will come up with in 2013. From what I can tell, it’ll be something awesome that brings together extreme fun with incredible personal development — with a twist!

Visit here: Taphandles

Bonus round! Sacha Greif — Design Curation

Here’s a design blogger than has taught me much more about other topics, not just design. When it comes down to it, I devour everything Sacha publishes (blog posts, newsletters, random emails, and more) because…

I absolutely love his writing style.

He’s an amazing designer with a great skill at communicating his insights. I’m not sure if writing is his favorite activity (a designer is a designer is a designer, right?), but I foresee many more educational resources coming from Sacha in the coming year.

Visit here: SachaGreif.com

What will you do in 2013?

Hats off to these amazing examples of the perpetual vacation. They are living their own version of an awesome life. It seems to be working.

If you start working hard today, could you be well on your way to your very own perpetual vacation by December 2013?

Leave a comment below with your plans for 2013 — you never know who’s reading that could help you out.

I’ll post my plans now! Read the comments below.