Finding & Living with Purpose

Over the years we’ve had the good fortunate of speaking with thousands of successful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives. Some are happy, some are not. The happy ones almost always had a strong sense of purpose and so we are very focused on trying to help our community members and audience find their purpose. This series is our attempt to create more dialogue around finding your purpose.

Nicole Fenner

How I Discovered My Purpose: A Journey into Literacy Advocacy In the vast tapestry of life, finding one’s purpose can be an intricate and personal odyssey. For me, it unfolded in the profound realm of literacy. Picture a world where navigating everyday tasks becomes challenging without the ability to read road signs or envision a child hesitating to read aloud in class due to reading insecurity. Amidst many community issues, my passion concerns one profound purpose—literacy. Read more>>

Jessica Alejandro

I think this is an interesting question. Most people search for their purpose outside of themselves instead of allowing themselves to go inward. All of the answers that we seek are within us. If you let you allow yourself to follow the breadcrumbs that are laid out before you by God, the universe, spirit, whatever your belief is, then you will see your purpose has been within you all along. I always knew I was going to help people in some way. Like most inner city kids with a dream of success, I wanted to be a doctor initially. Read more>>

Olya Dubatova

I started painting as a child, like many others. At eight, I discovered a local art school for kids and was captivated. The teacher, a passionate landscape painter dedicated to teaching, made all the difference. He was present, attentive, and introduced us to oil painting, Greek mythology, and art history, with a special focus on Russian realist painters. Growing up in a small town in southern Russia (then part of the Soviet Union), finding such a mentor felt like incredible luck.  Read more>>

Daphne Mathis Mczcree

I found my purpose through fishing which brings fulfillment and adventure. I was dating this guy and one day I asked him, “what do you like to watch on tv”, he replied, “fishing and boats”. Fast forward, we watched a fishing channel on YouTube and I became intrigued. I found myself watching a lot of fishing videos and decided to go fishing one day by myself. So I purchased a pole from Walmart and the rest is history. I became so obsessed with the sport, I started fishing every day after work. Read more>>

Kate Samples

After I had my first child and I was let go from a job in the corporate world I was really left to sit with myself and my thoughts and decide how to move forward. either go back to a typical 9-5 and have my kid(s) in daycare OR follow a passion and idea that had been in my brain for years. i reached out to a local boutique and started working 2 days a week and i was able to get regular clients who wanted to come shop with me.  Read more>>

Kajal Zaveri

To find one’s purpose and stay on that path with conviction, is often a unique and evolving process. and deeply personal. For me it has emerged organically, over time, through a combination of life and personal experiences, my passion, and the desire to follow my heart, and now my commitment to sharing my art aesthetics and related skills with others. It’s been a journey where the destination has been determined by the interconnectedness of personal fulfillment, creativity, and meaningful contributions to the community. Read more>>

As someone with a strong relationship with the Lord, I know that my true worth and purpose comes from Him. This is what guides each step that I take and every decision that I make. Beyond this firm faith foundation, I try to be very self aware of what inspires me, motivates me, energizes me, and makes life feel magical. I truly feel that we are created with a purpose, on purpose; the Lord puts things on your heart, gives you certain skills and passions, for a reason. Read more>>

Delynn Cavens

I believe I was about four or five, when one day, I sat with my cousins and watched pro wrestling on tv. I remember how cool the pyro was during their entrances, how creative and colorful the outfits were, and how amazing the action was. From then on, I’ve had quite the obsession with the sport. Eventually I found myself watching every week. It got to the point where, I would hassle my grandparents into getting me replica championship belts and action figures. Read more>>

Adrian Cantu

My journey to finding my purpose as a physical therapist wasn’t linear, but rather a series of twists and turns fueled by a deep-seated passion for the medical field and a desire to help people. From a young age, I was drawn to the world of medicine, initially captivated by the idea of caring for animals. Animals hold a special place in many hearts, and the prospect of alleviating their suffering was something I resonated with. However, the reality of veterinary medicine, particularly the euthanasia aspect, clashed with my values and sensitivities. While I admired the dedication and skill required, I knew that path wouldn’t align with my convictions. Read more>>

Brittany Wood

I found my purpose through a lot of trial and error. I made so many mistakes and had to start all over again a few times, as most of us do. Despite that, I continued to get up and focus on finding my peace. That dream for peace is what I held onto during the most vicious and chaotic moments of my life. I have been entangled in trauma and abuse for a long portion of my life and to find purpose and make sense of it all, has been a huge mountain for me to climb. But still I climb that mountain searching for a life full of love and peace. Read more>>

HILLARY NAVARRETTE

How I found my purpose was when I was a little girl in kindergarten. I always wanted to start my own skin care line so I started mixing different ingredients and just always was super fascinated by it. When I got older I went to beauty school and that’s how I started my career and purpose in life. Read more>>

Timothy Champion

I found my purpose through trial and error and through hardships. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was through these challenges that I discovered what truly mattered to me. Each setback and failure became an opportunity for growth and self-reflection. Read more>>

Victoria Bayagich

Discovering one’s purpose isn’t about a mere search; it’s a realization that it has always been there, inherently within us. The societal notion that we must actively seek it can undermine the intrinsic worth of our pure existence. We’re inherently valuable just by being. Society emphasizes the need to serve for validation, but true value comes from our interconnectedness, community, and relationships. Read more>>

Vanessa Autrey

Purpose is one of those hard-to-define words; its meaning entirely relative. I spent the majority of my life – well through my early 30’s – enduring hardship. Buried beneath that hardship, though, was purpose. I thought to myself: “If you can’t make sense of it, may as well make good of it.” In other words, I used my hardship to fuel my purpose. I spent so much time feeling un-well, that I was determined to learn how to live well. Read more>>

Felicia Jackson

In 2002, my life took an unexpected turn that would become the catalyst for the creation of CPRWrap and, more significantly, the discovery of my purpose. It was a day etched in fear and desperation when my two-year-old son, Markel, faced a near-fatal choking incident during a family drive in our hometown of Chattanooga, TN. Read more>>

Jamilia Thomas

There was a time in my life where I felt like life was drowning me and there was no way of escape. It was as if I was gasping for air; gasping to breathe and gasping for God all at the same time. Have you ever felt that you were destined for more than your current reality? You feel a tug but you’re not quite sure what it is. Although I was feeling all these emotions and all of this pain, I could not quit. There was purpose in my pain. Romans 8:28 states, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Read more>>

Sindy Warren

I feel like my purpose found me, and this happened through my being open, curious, and committed to personal growth. I began my career as a Stanford Law School lawyer in the mid-90s. After working in employment law for about a decade, I followed my heart (and a dear friend’s advice) and started my own consulting business. My interests and curiosity brought me to yoga, where I became passionate about the practice and eventually became a teacher. It was really through teaching yoga that I found coaching.  Read more>>

Tisha Taylor

One evening, returning from my 9 to 5 job, I felt overwhelming misery and sadness. Recognizing a void in my life, I spoke aloud, asking the universe for a sign to guide me back to art. Soon after, I stumbled upon a Craigslist ad selling brushes for two dollars. Upon reaching out, I discovered they were offering an entire storage locker of art supplies. It became clear – this was my purpose, a sign that I was meant to be an artist. Read more>>

Emilie Mascarell

About a year and a half ago, I took a leap from the corporate world to start Emilie Consulting, and that’s when my career found its real purpose. Helping companies in the beauty industry, especially those just starting out, became my passion. Seeing the struggles of newcomers without a network or experience fueled my desire to make a positive impact. Emilie Consulting is my way of not just guiding founders through the industry maze but also rooting for their success. My purpose expanded to shaping a values-driven beauty industry, giving importance to quality, consumer experience, and sustainability. Read more>>

Alexia Yancey’Duncan

“Lexilu Handbags were created when I tried to find a crossbody bag and fanny pack that fit me while going on vacation to Vegas in 2021. I had the same problem when I was going to Jamaica; after that I had enough. I was determined when I came back home, I was going to fix the problem. Part of being an entrepreneur is finding a need and meeting it. I know I am not the only plus size woman that had this problem. I started designing the bag and it was not until I was in church and saw my dad playing the guitar; (and he is a pretty big guy) I noticed the guitar strap wrap around him and that is when it hit me; that the straps would be custom guitar straps.” Read more>>

Hana Eichin

Going back to when I was a kid there were two things I swore I would never do. A) open a store and B) get into theatre. How in the world did I get to where I am now, working as a Scenic Designer and owning an art supply retail store? A) My elementary school had a really awesome project to help us understand how commerce, stores, and money works. We were assigned the task of coming up with a product, making the product and then selling the product at a “craft fair” of sorts at school. Read more>>

Johari Mitchell

This is a beautiful question, and pondering it has led me to the most simple explanation I have found yet to describe my purpose. My purpose is to teach, create and teach to create. I think like many of us, I kind of stumbled into an understanding of who I was and how I was meant to best contribute in the world, through the things I explored as a child and where I found my fit. When I was young, I didn’t have a strong understanding that you could be the science and math person and at the same time strong in English and language arts. Read more>>

Najja Price

My very first movie I remember being overly excited for was Spider-Man. I was 7 years old in the far right upstairs room of the house I lived in, in upper Marlboro Maryland. That was the first night I didn’t sleep. What kept me up is my imagination. I could only daydream about what villain Spider-Man had to fight and the adrenaline of flying through the sky, fighting bad guys, a superhero is everything to a kid. I’m sure to this day my parents have no clue I remember that so vividly.  Read more>>

Josie & Polly Dinsdale

Although we have been in the design field full time since 2019, we did not find our true purpose until we branched off to start our own business in 2022. Our design career began with a local company in Missouri during college and shifted to be full time upon graduation. This company had grown very rapidly over a short period of time. We were so thankful to be busy, but it soon became overwhelming for just two people. Read more>>

Jackie Rodman

I found my purpose through trial and error truly. I thought I knew what I wanted a few times and it wasn’t till my late twenties that I realized I wanted to be an Esthetician and leave my college degree behind. I think trying different careers actually helped me choose the right one in the end. I always knew I wanted to help people in some way I just didn’t know what that would look like. Read more>>

Samantha Cabrera

I have told this story only a handful of times, but it never ceases to amaze me how faithful my God is in my life. I knew ever since I was in the 8th grade that I desired to become a writer. A couple of years in writing, I knew I wanted to start a publishing company in the 9th grade and I wrote a very specific letter to my Nana about it. She sent me a picture of that letter and I had completely forgotten that I’d written it. Read more>>

Maryanne Moodie

So, I have always loved vintage textiles. As a child, i was the youngest of 6 and so we spent a lot of time in charity shops, scouring for second hand clothes and toys. It was like an aladdin’s cave and you never knew what treasures lay beneath the next layer. Even as a child, i adored the hand made, heavily embroidered or sequined fabrics and clothes that caught the eye and fired the imagination. As i grew, I began to notice and appreciate the marks that the past had left on them – some darning here, a replaced button there. Read more>>

Martina Rosenthal

I find purpose in examining my passions and aligning them with problem-solving. It’s crucial for me to dedicate time each day to pursue one thing for myself, another for my family, and a third for my career. When this trilogy is fulfilled, I experience a profound sense of purpose. Read more>>

Tajaneh Jones

In the summer of 2009, the world as I knew it changed forever. My only daughter, Journee Jai Hawkins, passed away due to SIDS on July 31st. Her departure left a void in my heart that seemed impossible to fill. In my deepest grief, I yearned for something tangible to hold onto – a piece of Journee that I could keep with me. This longing led me to create my first memorial item: a pillow. Read more>>

Brandon Brooks

I found my purpose when I was 16yrs old. I was hungry at while my parents were away at work I didn’t know what to do. Obviously I wanted Pizza Hut or Taco Bell but there was food at home so I had go with that. Make a long story short, I called my mother to ask how did she make her tuna casserole. She gave me all the ingredients and I wrote them down. And luckily all the ingredients we had in house. I cooked it and my hunger was satisfied. Read more>>

Jenna Galbo

I have always had a passion for working with children who have different needs compared to the “typical” child. I studied in New York and graduated with a masters degree in early childhood education, along with a concentration in special education. I began my career teaching children with varying exceptionalities in the South Bronx. I quickly realized that more than me teaching them, these children were teaching me. Read more>>

Emily Garcia

In my quest to discover my purpose, my journey has been marked by a series of challenging experiences. As a child, I faced trauma and abuse, and later, I unexpectedly went through a divorce that left me a single mom. The sudden loss of my beloved father added to the difficulties I encountered. Instead of succumbing to these challenges, I demonstrated resilience by actively seeking support and dedicating myself to enhancing my mental wellbeing. Through these situations, I not only weathered the storms but emerged stronger and more self-aware. Read more>>

Iga Soszynska

I believe that finding your purpose in life directly affects your mental health and longevity. There’s actual scientific proof for it too! To me the word PURPOSE was always directly connected to my job, and I never wanted to just “work”, without a bigger idea behind it. Read more>>

Amber Goetz

By really taking a look at the quality of my life and assessing my skills, interests, and passions. I was able to clearly see what I was good at and what I enjoyed and how those two intersected. Utlimately I was passionate about helping others succeed and using all of my web development and SEO knowledge to help entrepreneurs launch their goals. Read more>>

Carly Robyn Green

I never really had to “find” my purpose – music was in my bones since I was about two years old and I always knew music was my calling. At two years of age, I’d ask to sing “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star” at restaurants in South Philadelphia if there was a piano player and a microphone! My dad concocted silly little songs for me all the time, and my mom played The Monkees for me on repeat. I only wanted toy microphones as gifts for Hannukah or my birthday, I loved singing in any mobile theme park recording booth I could find, and I begged my parents for singing lessons.  Read more>>

Jenny Fuller

I feel we are all here for a purpose. I find my direction in life through the Holy Spirit. He is my guide. Some people will choose to listen to others to tell them what they are supposed to do in life. I have tried to do that too, but it never ever works and I always feel like it fails because I am not in alignment with God. Read more>>

ChanMi Jung Pyles

Discovering my purpose has been a dynamic and evolving journey, intricately woven into the tapestry of my life and artistic career. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, creativity was an integral part of my childhood, nurtured by experiences in my grandfather’s art studio and learning traditional Korean calligraphy. Despite not initially majoring in art, my love for creating persisted. Read more>>

Giorgio Walton

I believe my purpose found me rather than me actively seeking it. Following my professional football career, I ventured into mental and behavioral health, specifically working with children facing challenges in the CPS system. One pivotal moment was saving a child struggling with low self-esteem and multiple suicidal attempts. Recognizing my ability to positively influence mindset growth, I received a heartfelt thank-you from that child who, after leaving CPS, overcame negative thoughts.  Read more>>

Christina Dankert

I knew I wanted to be a teacher, specifically an elementary teacher. Picture books are a key component to teaching. They provide the opportunity to entertain, teach academic concepts as well as provide a foundation for a strong social emotional awareness with coping mechanisms. While still pursuing my undergrad and visiting the campus library, I knew I wanted to write a book.  Read more>>