Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly, but so often folks live life without thinking about their purpose. We believe that thinking about your purpose and trying to identify what it might be is one of the most impactful things you can do to level up your life, career, and general level of happiness and fulfillment. Having a sense of what your why is will help you become a better decision maker which inevitably will improve your life. Below, you’ll find some interesting discussions, stories and perspectives around find your purpose.
Candace Renae
I moved to Atlanta, Georgia in January 2020 and started a online clothing business 404 Couture Boutique. I have been in business now going on 4 years. I worked within the industry reality TV stars from Love & Hip Hop such as Sierra Gates, Rasheeda Frost and Bambi Benson the list goes on. I was inspired to start a clothing boutique once I joined Sierra Gates Money Monsters University helping Female entrepreneurs starting in their own business. As far as what accomplishments I’m the most proud of it would be all of them. The fact I been able to run multiple businesses of my own is a true blessing and I’m humble and grateful for it all. Read more>>
Laurence Freitas
Finding my purpose took years to refine. At a young age, I was very interested in the natural world. I found it interesting how plants, animals, and our fellow humans could have so much resilience despite, at times, a harsh world. At the same time, there was a world around us that was nutritive, supportive, and awe-inspiring. When I was five years old, my parents quit their jobs, sold their small small-town home, and used the money to buy a few dairy cows. Read more>>
Adila Baolati
I am very grateful to my parents for this. When I was very young, my mother noticed that I would diligently engage in one activity every day, and that was drawing. She said I was quite mischievous as a child, but when I was drawing, I would be very quiet and immersed in it for a long time. I could draw several pictures in a day, regardless of their quality, and I would treasure them by hanging them on the wall. Therefore, my parents decided to enroll me in art classes. Read more>>
Ahmad DuBose-Dawson
I believe one’s purpose is predetermined before we enter this physical realm. Contrary to the common Ideal that we as people are supposed to do multiple things in order to have a fulfilling life, I subscribe to the thought that each individual has 1 specific assignment that comes buried or wrapped up in passion and the journey to discovering what that is and then committing to the passion once its discovered is what allows for a life of alignment. I personally come from a family of thorough bloodlines on both sides. Read more>>
Jacob Harding
When I was twelve years old, I got an “iPod Touch 4th Gen” which was the first iPod with a camera. I made a very terrible Batman parody video with my childhood best friend called “Fatman”. That began a trend where every time I had friends over, we were making some sort of short sketch and then uploading them to YouTube. Read more>>
Aradhika Raturi
Music has always been the center of my life. It has been the constant that kept me grounded when life became chaotic. As a child, music was the way I existed, my refuge, my play, my expression, and my worship. It was only after being separated from my music for over a year, after going through my first existential crisis, after trying to cultivate new passions and losing sight of who and what I was, I realized that music was my purpose. Read more>>
Rayne Parvis
How did I find purpose? At the age of 32, I found myself still living in my parents’ converted garage, embarking on a quest for purpose in my career, love life, and existence, devoid of employment, a significant relationship, or spiritual guidance. For more than a decade, I had dedicated myself to the entertainment industry, first as an actress and later as a stand-up comedian. It demanded all of my time, effort, and finances, yielding little in return aside from applause and an exquisitely crafted and fun sitcom that all major networks ultimately passed on. Read more>>
Kayli Marie
Growing up, music has always been a part of my life in some way. Whether it was singing with my dad in a semi-truck across the country or playing the flute during my high school years, it’s always been something to which I’ve been drawn. My passion for music production and singing began with YouTube covers I would make in high school. I would find instrumental tracks on YouTube and create these massive vocal productions with a hundred tracks of vocal layering. The fact that I could sit there for hours, eager to do more, ignited my passion. It became something I only longed to do during school hours. Read more>>
Fan Wu
I think everyone has different goals at different stages. As a non-native of the United States, my primary objective was to strategize how to address my identity. To achieve this, I would begin by setting a overarching goal and then break it down into smaller, achievable objectives. This approach not only allows for stability in progress but also brings us closer to our ultimate aspiration. Consequently, at each stage, I would diligently accomplish a specific milestone within a designated timeframe. Read more>>
Carlos Fierro
I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and have time to dedicate to my my family and my interests. But I always doubted that I would be able to do it. But once my second child was born with a rare condition, I knew that I needed to find a way to make my entrepreneur dream a reality because I needed to give him more time to help him. I tried a few business ideas that were good for a while, but never grew to where I needed them to be. Read more>>
El Ryce
Starting off it took me a while to understand what my true calling was. I initially started with customizing sneakers, but that was so time-consuming and that interest started to fade. Then I pivoted and started focusing in the actual designing of clothes. This filled the void that I always tried to fill, of not knowing what my purpose was. Read more>>
Andrew Himmel
My wife Michele and I recently celebrated our 30th anniversary. Some years ago, she became involved in energy healing and other pursuits, which at first did not resonate with me. As a left-brain-oriented attorney, I found her newfound right-brain calling and colleagues challenging to relate to and understand. Read more>>
Perry Kurtz
I was always a funny kid. However, my father was kind of abusive. He smacked me around a lot. But one day he was yelling at my little brother who was four when I was 10. He was standing over him yelling at him because he had left the roller skates out. He had threatened, ” Do I have to take off my belt?” I jumped in between and looked at him and said yeah take off your belt it’s smaller than your hands. He left and walked out of the room. Read more>>
Cindy Starry
Being a bridge between cultures, from non Native American to Native American, as I am of both Irish and Native American heritage, from both parents. My love of being in nature flourished into creating design by how nature calms and connects me during extreme moments of adversity. Read more>>
Daja Phillips
My personal experiences witnessing domestic violence in my family had a profound impact on my life. This inspired me to find my purpose in helping others. This journey led me to volunteer at elementary schools, where I could make a difference in the lives of young children. During my college years, I continued to pursue my passion by actively engaging in various organizations. Read more>>
TAMOONA
I found my purpose through singing. Something that I never knew I could do but circumstances brought me to this unexpected journey. Read more>>
Neel Erickson
It would be easy for me to say something like “music has always called to me” or “I’ve always loved making, playing, and performing music”. Both are absolutely true, but I think the real answer to this question goes deeper than that. Read more>>
Garrett Policastro
If you ask almost everyone who ever opened a pizzeria they will tell you the same story,”I couldn’t find the pizza I grew up with so I set out to make it myself”, or some variation of that. You hear it all the time. And it’s as true with me as it is with them. Read more>>
Arielle Dettmer
After booking my dream job in 2022, I thought I solidified that my purpose was to be a dancer. When I was 16, all I dreamt about was dancing on the Marvelous Mrs.Maisel. I had a severe back injury that left me thinking I could never dance again, so the dream started to slowly disappear. Fast forward 3 years, and I got the email that I booked the biggest dance episode on the final season. I moved to NYC for a month, danced alongside some amazing dancers, and got to work with Marguerite Derricks and her amazing team. I thought I had found my purpose, but I came home still feeling lost. Read more>>
Flobo Boyce
I’m a firm believer that your passion chooses you. Sure, open yourself up to experiment. Of course, make sure you make ends meet. However, that thought that pops into your mind when you’re in the shower, or commuting to work, or at the end of your day shouldn’t be ignored. Don’t worry about what others think. Don’t worry about whether or not you’re going to be the “best” at it. Take a swing and go for it. Read more>>
NEAVV
I think in some ways I’ve always known that my purpose in life was to connect with others through music and storytelling, but narrowing in on my true calling took a lot longer, taking me on a journey I could never have anticipated back when I first begged to play the violin at the age of three. I was always a very creative kid, writing poetry, singing in choirs, and learning as many instruments as I could. Read more>>
Lan Wang
Beginning as a student majoring in Illustration in MICA, I used to only focus on visual narritives. As I delved deeper into the study of oil painting and illustration, I discovered that my work was more for personal enjoyment. Although my undergraduate works resonated with those around me and were understood, I did not want to stop there. Read more>>
Ginger “Gigi” Damon
Finding my purpose coincided with another topic: “ability to take risks” I equate my purpose with taking risks. When I was a young girl I was told ” you have experience, use it”. These wise words stayed with me thru all of my endeavors. They also became the stepping stones that paved the way for me to find my purpose. Naturally, I never feared failure I feared not doing. Read more>>
Kermit E Rosado
As difficult as it seems putting your goals, desires together is a scary journey. It is easy to work for others, 6am-8pm construction worker for over 20 years felt normal. Making others dream a reality was what I did for many years. One day I woke up and realize that I was not happy with myself. I was pleases but not happy. Read more>>
Argus Dorian
Humans have this unshakable inner need to find meaning in everything they hear, do, see and say. It is this ancient spiritual calling the very thing that drives us to evolution, after all. My story is no different. Read more>>
Brian Norris
To be honest, it’s a mix of ego and responsibility. The ego part is that acting was the only thing that gave me validation as a kid. I didn’t feel like I fit in, I wasn’t the “exceptional one” in my family, and I didn’t feel good at anything. Not until I found acting, where people stopped and listened to me. They paid attention. I could express myself without judgement. It didn’t hurt that they clapped at the end. I felt good at something. Read more>>
Dom Campbell
I discovered my purpose through my love for filmmaking and storytelling. It all began during a summer trip when I was 13 years old. During that trip, I had the opportunity to create my very first film. Little did I know that this experience would ignite a passion within me that would shape the course of my life. Read more>>
Christina Hamlett
I knew from a very early age that I was a natural born storyteller. Whether it was writing plays for my puppets and marionettes (and supplying all of the voices!) or keeping idea books for future novels and short stories, I always derived satisfaction from hooking listeners and readers from the very first line, throwing in lots of twists and turns and keeping them guessing until the very end. Read more>>
Julie Deffense
A chance encounter at a charity ball in Portugal steered the course of my life when I met Jacques, who would eventually become my husband and greatest supporter. The allure of an overseas adventure had lured me to Portugal, yet I found myself grappling with loneliness and uncertainties. It was in these moments of uncertainty that serendipity found me, guiding me to a whirlwind romance that marked the start of a fairy tale. Read more>>
Kenya Johnson
Finding my purpose unfolded through a journey of self-reflection, embracing change, and a commitment to live life on my terms. It wasn’t about chasing external validations but about aligning with an inner calling to inspire and empower others to live a life filled with joy, fulfillment, and purpose. Read more>>
Julie Sands
Ever since I was a little girl in middle school, I had a heart for people. I loved helping people. Maybe it was because my home life was in turmoil that I found it gratifying to help others get through their pain. I found my purpose in people and it’s been where I’ve thrived the most in life. When I wrote my book, “War Dad by Julie Sands,” I knew I was going to inspire millions around the world to rise above their situation and succeed in life. Read more>>
Rachel Handren
Based on my conversations with many other business owners, it seems very common that a business is created out of a perceived necessity to help serve the community more effectively in a specific area or create unique opportunities for the people living in it. My journey was so similar to countless others; I discovered my talents in working with youth and creating visual art pieces and learned that what I can curate is unique enough compared to other local dance studios that I should give it a shot! Read more>>
Anasa Greaves
I always knew I wanted to be a designer, but I truly found my purpose midway through clinicals during my last year of college. I remember it as clear as day – I went into the supply closet during one of my clinicals, and I completely broke down crying because I just didn’t want to do nursing. I had loved designing and putting clothing together for as long as I could remember, yet I was too afraid to pursue my dream. Read more>>
Majorie Dorismond
Honestly, I found my purpose at the age of thirty years old. While in college for my last year. One day, I just wrote a Poem to my Diseased Mother. After that it was a wrap. I started writing Poems almost everyday. I then knew writing was one of my passions. Read more>>
Tara Montana known as NorfPhillyOprah
I always knew God had a vision over my life because I talk and ask so many questions I really never knew it would be this tho Interviewing black entrepreneurs, hosting events, being in rooms I’m not technically not qualified for. I know so many black entrepreneurs but “Mic’d Up With Monty “ didn’t take off fully until I moved to Philly 3 years ago and saw so many people that look like me, my age that are actually running businesses and doing an amazing job during the pandemic! Read more>>
Tannera, Adrienne George, Harris
Book’d was started by two sorority sisters as we were embarking on our post-collegiate journeys. While it was certainly a passion project to bring excitement and pizazz to a space that was lacking, it was also fueled by necessity due to underemployment and discontentment at being undervalued at our respective jobs. Read more>>
