Stories & Lessons for Finding Your Purpose

Below you’ll find the stories and lessons of some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community and how they found their purpose.

Elysabeth Lamoureux

During Covid I think it became abundantly clear to me that I did not want to be a bedside forever. Then I needed something else in life that got me out of the hospital system and out of this community full-time. I truly enjoy my job for the most part, but there’s always those days and those systems and those people that push you in a way that’s unhealthy. So during Covid it was very hard to separate work in life because they kind of became one where everything had to do with Covid and being in the ICU everything there had to do with Covid. Read more>>

Char Norman

I am deeply ingrained in the environment, in fact I spend a great deal of time hiking and walking in nature. Keen observation of the natural world has led to a desire to educate others to its mysteries and work toward environmental protection. My skills as an artist and the absolute need to create is essentially the driving force behind my desire to educate and bring awareness to what is around us. Read more>>

Doe Zantamata

In August 1998, I was a semester away from graduating college and was supposed to be choosing and applying to graduate school. I was on a life path that I never had any interest in being on, let alone staying on. I was generally unhappy and pessimistic. A close friend had passed away unexpectedly in April. I woke up one morning with a severe headache that got worse over the course of the morning and spread to my spine. Not my back, but my spine. Every step felt like my spine was being tugged.  Read more>>

Juan Re Crivello

Four years ago I founded Masticadores.com, as a non-profit organization (NGO) with the aim of it being a debate and communication tool that would allow new or little-known writers to be known. My purpose arose when I was 10 years old and my Italian grandmother had a garage full of books. But there was a complete Reader Digest collection from the 1950s. That period disappeared until I discovered my editor spirit a little before I retired.  Read more>>

Ryan Ward Bethke

As long as I can remember, there was no better feeling than making someone happy as a direct result of my actions. I have always been an artist: ever since I could hold a crayon. When my classmates would circle around my desk to watch me draw during a rained out recess, I knew then at an early age that I had a unique gift. But it wasn’t until later in my life that I came to realize that I could actually make a career out of making people happy using my artistic talents. Read more>>

Kelly Dillon

I’ve always known my soul purpose. Since I was a young girl I always wanted to be a reporter. I always loved the idea of helping others by keeping them informed. Throughout middle school and high school I was editor in chief of the school newspaper so I began honing my skills at a very young age. I ended up going to college for broadcasting and becoming a news reporter in NYC. Listening to others and telling their stories, and helping spread knowledge and truth have always been passions of mine. Read more>>

Erin LaCkore

From a young age, my heart was set on helping others, a passion that stayed with me even as I faced my own health challenges, which progressed over the years. While battling my health issues, I dove into the world of social work and become a licensed therapist, determined to make a difference. Finally at age 29 after what felt like a lifetime of surgeries and bizarre diagnoses, I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. I was confused and overwhelmed, but at least I finally had an answer. Read more>>

Linda Middlesworth

I found my purpose by accident. I had to become very sick with severe heart disease, obesity, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure but especially by being diagnosed with cancer. In a way, it was fortunate that I had cancer as that was the wake up call to really do something so I could stay alive. I was just lucky to have met a new friend who told me about Dr. John McDougall who saved my life 36 years ago.  Read more>>

Nicki B.
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In July of 2019, my mom passed from a sudden illness. She didn’t have any life insurance or savings. My family was left with the decision to ask everyone we knew for money to help cover the cost of her funeral expenses. I was so embarrassed being that I was the one who had a “good” job and no money saved. A few days later, my family and I had collected enough money to cover all of her funeral expenses. But deep down, I was still feeling like a failure. Read more>>

Ashley Edwards

I found my purpose when I had to watch a gentleman lose his family home to foreclosure, a property that had been inherited from his grandfather. Hindsight is always 20/20, however I wish I had gotten to them sooner so that I could have helped them save their home. It was in that moment, where I realized I needed to dig out my gift and use it to bless others. Then I thought about my own children. I have two little girls who call me “Mommy”. Read more>>

Gabriel Bautista

It took one of the lowest point of my life for me to discover my purpose in life. It happened a couple months after graduating high school in 2016 & shortly after the passing my brother where I fell into a deep state of depression. My family household was unstable & there were a lot moving parts happening that were out of my control. Read more>>

Rachel Robinson

I decided at the age of 7 that I would be an attorney. I was in Jamaica visiting my uncle who is a prominent attorney there. He described an attorney as a person who “is a voice for those who don’t have one” and I knew instantly that I wanted to be just like him. Read more>>

Megan Rose

The near-gravitational pull towards art and creativity has been with me my entire life. I can remember being in an art class at five years old, picking up watercolors for the first time, and feeling the sensation of pure joy. At sixteen, I took my first studio workshops in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  Read more>>

ReCooped PNW

Sustainability can feel unattainable for most people, especially when you live in a fast paced world. In our own personal lives, we have this trouble too. To help us live more sustainably, we wanted to create an easy and convenient solution that we can depend on. We have a friend who is a firewood producer and one day, we noticed that he was throwing away a sort of plastic material that wasn’t exactly pretty, but it was very sturdy.  Read more>>

Laurie Teixeira

Looking back, it feels like my purpose chose me, not the other way around. After high school, unsure of my path, a guidance counselor suggested college. To help pay for it, I took a job at a group home, following my brother’s lead. There, I met and befriended two amazing women. As graduation loomed, they mentioned we should all go to graduate school together for our MSW and I, lacking other plans, went for it. Read more>>

Sierra Vital

When I think of how I found my purpose in life I think of 5 categories , but before I name the categories I must acknowledge that it is because of Jesus that I have found my purpose, seeking him constantly for wisdom, trusting his plans and not mine. My first category of finding my purpose was by taking the spiritual gift test, and if you haven’t taken one I highly encourage it . Scripture says 100% of believers receive a spiritual gift, and I was determined on how I can please God, yet serve others .  Read more>>

Maria N. Listman

This is a loaded question for someone like me, and I’m glad I have a chance to chat about it. The short answer is, I’m still working on it! And there is a lot of beauty in that statement. I say this because my purpose has grown and developed over time. I’m in my 40’s, and I’m just starting to follow my heart’s desires professionally. But the blessing of getting older (and somewhat wiser) is I realize that I get to decide how I want to live. Read more>>

Kyle Glenn

I think my purpose has changed a couple of times throughout my life. I believe from the earliest of ages, I felt that being a performer was my purpose- I used to stand in front of the tv watching MTV and VH1, imitating Michael Jackson, Jim Carrey, Kurt Cobain, Fred Durst, Chris Farley and so many more musicians and actors. Read more>>

Allison Malenfant

This is a really interesting question that I don’t think we’ve ever been asked as business owners. I’d love to share a bit about this for us as individuals and together. For some context – my business partner, Connie DeMaio, and I own two equestrian apparel brands. We founded Redingote, an outerwear brand, in 2018. We later acquired a breeches company called FITS Riding in 2022. We are both horsewomen who are deeply involved in the industry through our businesses, but also outside our businesses as well. Read more>>

Leann Firestone

I decided to start my non profit (to benefit Neurodivergent individuals) in 2021 just one year after I discovered I was autistic. I was undiagnosed throughout my childhood and didn’t have an appropriate description of my brain until I was in my 30s. The trauma and distress that this caused, and the huge relief I felt after self diagnosis was enough to make me start a non profit! Read more>>

Mike Green

How did I find my purpose? I believe it found me. I knew from an early age what I wanted to devote my life to, but ultimately I think purpose is just an idea we attach ourselves to. I lose it often, just as one may lose their car keys. Is it meaningless to drive without purpose? I don’t think so. It’s healthy to observe and sponge up life and not let any downfalls define you. Read more>>

Nyi Mulan

I Love when I’m asked this question because it was not easy coming for me. I Found My purpose or passion as I like to say by diving back into my roots and allowing my inner child to come forth. The Moment I sat back and listened to the voice of younger Janiayh , Nyi Mulan was created. From a child , My mother would describe me as creative and artistic.  Read more>>

Junie Abito

My purpose has been intentional from the very beginning. In my earlier stages of my career as a therapist, it was difficult to find a mentor that looked like me or understood and respected my cultural roots. This motivated me to create an intentional space where women of color therapist could come to heal, grow and empower one another. Read more>>

Namrata Katira

Purpose, whenever we hear this word, we imagine that one day some big magical ‘AHA’ moment happens in our life, and we find our purpose and we spend the rest of our life blissfully living this purpose! I personally feel it’s never about finding the purpose; it’s about finding who we are, it’s about finding what lights up our souls, it’s about discovering & rediscovering our passions, our deepest, boldest desires that drive us to challenge ourselves, grow ourselves beyond our mind can comprehend. Read more>>

Adriane M Brown

I found my purpose by mistake. A number of open doors and unfortunate incidents got me to my purpose. From being an only child growing up in the Mississippi Delta experiencing poverty to making a name for myself in the Mortgage Industry and then losing it all, bouncing back and surviving Domestic Violence. All of these life challenges brought me to my purpose. Read more>>

Ki Settles

I found my purpose because of God. My love for cameras came from my childhood growing up in the church I would film the pastor’s sermons. I was always sitting with the pastor’s dad helping him set up and record whenever i could. God also placed a lot of talented people in my life. A lot of my close friends growing up were other athletes like myself or entertainers. Read more>>

Amanda Cagan

I grew up in a music business family. My Dad was a composer/conductor/arranger who worked with Melissa Manchester, Diahann Carroll, Bette Midler, and many others. He was also the conductor for the first national tour of “Dreamgirls” (with Jennifer Holliday), and he wrote the score for the 1978 movie, “The Cat and the Canary.” Read more>>

Whitney Gambrah

I find my purpose in Christ. My relationship with God has shaped who I am in every area of my life. I have a brand called Swanzy. Swanzy encourages people to live notably in their God given purpose. Also, I find purpose from my passions. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been passionate about fashion, justice reform, helping orphans, and education. Read more>>

Briöna Jolie

As a young adult, I worked tirelessly trying to find the right place, career, and partnership destined for me. I became quite obsessive with the idea of purpose in my early 2o’s. I believed that if I could find that one “purpose” I would have everything I needed, and that I would be who I am, therefore believed my problems would be solved. Read more>>

Marcelle Abel

As a daughter of a Marine who later in life became a Marine myself, physical fitness was something my family valued growing up. I was a runner in high school which later in life turned into many, many races from 5k’s to half marathons to marathons and more relay races than I can count. I knew the benefits that exercise provided physically but it wasn’t until years later where I really started to get interested in the mental and medical benefits as well. Read more>>

Scotte Mac

I always knew music and media would be what I would end up in. As far as I can remember it has always been a part of my life. I knew pretty early on that this is what I was destined to be a part of. No matter what ever else I tried to do I would always get pulled back to the music, at a point you have to know when to stop fighting against your calling. I stopped fighting against it and here I am! Read more>>

Maddie Messina

I’ve always loved animals and learning about the ways they navigate the world. I didn’t expect to turn that passion into a career but was lucky enough to stumble upon the Animal Behavior major in my undergraduate studies. From there, I threw myself into learning about animal cognition and developed skills to test our assumptions. Read more>>

Clara D. Lewis

As I stepped into my 40s, I began to recognize my beauty and what defines me as a Black woman. I wanted to embrace all of my features. Through this journey, I reflected on my younger self and wondered why it took me so long to appreciate myself in this way. Read more>>

Natasha Thompson

Finding purpose is a mystery within itself! In order to find something that means you have to be consistently looking. When we think of the word, find we automatically think of something being lost. But, what if I tell you, your purpose is not to be found but to be remembered. Read more>>

Jessica Garet

Purpose is a curious notion; it implies a quest to discover who we are and how to express it. When asked about finding my purpose, I realize it’s not about stumbling upon something; it’s about shedding and releasing, letting purpose unveil itself. The word “purpose” carries the energy of intention, and I find mine in the ever-shifting dance of my heart’s intentions, fueled by the impulse to create and release simultaneously.  Read more>>

Belbrevia Dimakasto Makinta

Whenever I do something like give my most loved clothing items to someone in need, buy them food, help them pass an exam, or talk to them about the difficulties they face in their lives, it helps me see and find my purpose. Seeing someone smile because I have done something for them touches my heart and makes me feel good, and I only feel that way when I am giving; that is how I discovered that my purpose in life is to give. Read more>>

Boyd Smith

My purpose was highlighted while enrolled in an undergraduate Art course. This experience became a pivotal point, revealing the liberating essence of art as a boundless form of expression and creativity—a philosophy I hadn’t fully grasped before. In the subsequent years, I’ve been fortunate to explore various opportunities that encourage self-discovery. I realized that my true purpose was something that never felt like work—art was always that outlet for me. Read more>>

Devin Thorpe

When I was 11 years old, the Teton Dam in Southern Idaho failed, flooding the nearby college town of Rexburg and leaving about 80 percent of the structures damaged or destroyed. People from communities around the Western US organized to visit Rexburg to help dig out. Read more>>

Leona Marrs, LAc.

When I finished getting my Bachelor’s degree, I, like many people, didn’t really know what I wanted to do next. So I decided to move to Japan, my mother’s homeland. I had never been there but in the past I had also moved to NYC and had never been there either and it was great so I went for it. Read more>>