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.

Heather Bryan

For me, discovering my purpose has been a lifetime journey of getting to know myself more deeply, to where I can say for certain. This is who I am, and who I want to present this version to the world. Naturally, I am an artistic person who is passionate about various types of artistic endeavors. Read more>>

Julia Stromberg

I grew up in the small town of Simrishamn in southern Sweden. My love for music really kicked off thanks to the local musical theater community there called “Scen Österlen.” From 2013 to 2019, I got to be a part of different musicals during my summer breaks. It was amazing – I got to play roles in everything from cool gems like American Idiot to the quirky Shrek The Musical.  Read more>>

Rachel Ursini

I went looking. And kept looking… for most of my twenties. Today, at 32, I might refer to myself as “multi-passionate” but it took many years to get comfortable with that and to understand that no singular practice will ever make me fully happy. I want to be endlessly inspired to try every single thing that peaks my interest and to live every day, creatively. Read more>>

Andrea Ashton

I’m a filmmaker because I love that although film and television seem to be about entertainment, on a much deeper level they serve to enlighten, educate, and actually shift perspectives for an unsuspecting audience. How powerful is that?! Ever since I was a little girl I was a storyteller. It was a way for me both to escape the uncomfortable realities of living in a volatile home and to try to understand and explain what was happening around me. Read more>>

My purpose emerged through a journey of faith and resilience. Despite facing adversity in my childhood, I refused to succumb to victimhood or resentment. Instead, I chose to focus on the positive influences around me, even if they weren’t family. Read more>>

Michelle Caplan

When I was a little girl I always dreamed I’d become a Veterinarian. Circumstances in life took me down a different path. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized what I really felt drawn to was helping people. Patients have described me as warm, welcoming and knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing my knowledge with them.  Read more>>

Alexis Phillips

In the last couple of years I have discovered what it truly means to be successful. To sum it up the education system, family, friends and society led me to think that success went something like this: Read more>>

Richard Wilmore

I was always a creative kid. I lived most of my childhood in an imaginary world where I played the adult role. I would spend hours by myself creating a curriculum for a classroom I made up in my head and had regular hours I kept as the grocery store owner in the abandoned building behind our house. For far too long I used my bed as a news desk and was a 13-year-old news reporter, solo anchoring the 10 pm news.  Read more>>

Eric Camela-Howard

I firmly believe in the truth behind the saying: “You don’t find your dream. Your dream finds you.” This concept has proven itself in my own life countless times. From a young age, I have been captivated by an unyielding curiosity to explore the world around me. Perhaps this curiosity stemmed from my early years in rural Kansas, where I had plenty of time to dream of what else was out there. Read more>>

Wendy Spann

My husband and I are empty-nesters, I had quit my job to move closer to our son, then my mom passed away. I was 52 years old at the time. I knew I needed a hobby, and I had always wanted to learn to sew, so I decided to get a machine and try. I’m not going to say it was easy learning a new skill at 52, but I was determined and I wasn’t giving up.  Read more>>

Terri Armenta

Finding one’s purpose is often a journey rather than a singular moment of realization. My path to becoming an adjunct professor teaching online courses in forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, and criminology, as well as directing a forensic science training program, has been a winding road of exploration, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Read more>>

Cindy Hock-Lauwers

Discovering my purpose was a personal journey intertwined with the threads of my own experiences. The inception of the “Shimmer for the Cure” jewelry initiative stems from a profound desire to transform challenges into opportunities for positive change. Having witnessed the impact of breast cancer and diabetes on my own life, I felt compelled to channel my energy into something meaningful. Read more>>

Payton Hurley

I feet that this interview had very universally inspired timing, because living boldly is exactly the thing I have been focusing my energy into recently. My artistic journey began when I lived in Los Angeles back in 2017. I was really pursuing music but art seemed to be the energy I was receiving more of as I stepped into a new part of myself.  Read more>>

Fernando PERDOMO

My Name is Fernando Perdomo. I am a professional record producer, multi instrumentalist, and singer songwriter. I am 43 years old and am originally from Miami Florida. I moved to Los Angeles in 2012 after starting my career with appearances on 3 platinum selling records and some heavy touring experience.  Read more>>

Gianluca Lattuada

I found my purpose driven by a desire to make sense of things, offering my personal vision of what I feel and see every day around me—in other words, of the contemporary society in which we live. I believe that even during the darkest times, art has the power to help us transcend the brutal and senseless reality that surrounds us and has the ability to relieve us of our alienation.  Read more>>

Jonathan Stevens

The interesting thing is, my purpose was always there, right in front of me: music. I was extremely young in finding my passion, perhaps too young to realize that it even was “my purpose.” I can always remember the incredible feelings and images music would put in my mind. It captured my imagination like no other and quickly became a passion. Read more>>

Kirsten Hellmer

I feel like I stumbled onto this whole career/life path I’ve created, if I’m being honest. I was a corporate data analyst who was just completely bored with life. I checked out a local makerspace (i3Detroit), because they had classes to learn their CNC machine. Read more>>

Cailla Quinn

What is purpose? Do we only have one of those in our lives? Im not so sure. My career has been a long winding road::: Ive been a gardener, project manager, nonprofit assistant director, herbalist, bartender, server, curator, archivist, studio manager, caterer and the list goes on. And Im not lying to you when I admit at a certain point in my life I felt so unbelievably frustrated with all of this. Read more>>

Adrienne LaVey

The best advice I ever followed was to make the content that I wanted to see. Very few people were talking about modern goth music, gothic literature, and no one was doing reviews of absinthe on YouTube in the format I was doing them, so I decided to make the contentment I was passionate about and like-minded individuals would find their way. Read more>>

Augustina(Ao) Liu

My journey in design was catalyzed by my early experiences volunteering at the No.1 Social Welfare House in my hometown, Changsha, China, where I assisted seniors with degraded abilities in their vision, hearing, and mobility to adapt to modern technologies. This volunteering experience sowed the seeds of finding a great solution to empower these people with degraded abilities to enjoy their lives. Read more>>

Missy Adiego

As a wife, mother, and business owner, I have a deep appreciation for interior design and a strong desire to help people maximize the potential of their homes. Through my journey, I’ve discovered that true happiness lies in pursuing your passions, embracing challenges, and facing your fears. By combining all these elements, we can experience personal growth and fulfillment. Read more>>

Mikayla Major

I knew I loved to encourage, be a helper, give hope, write and sing. So, as I was doing some serious self reflection/prayer over my life and where God has chose me to be. I ran across this quote by David Viscott and It went something like, “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it.  Read more>>

Christie Stratos

As a writer, when I first started engaging with fellow writers on social media, I noticed a pattern. There was a lot of confusion and upset around trying to find a good quality editor who didn’t cost an exorbitant amount.  Read more>>

Porscha Pitts

I used to think that my purpose was limited to one single thing until I realized that my purpose is many things. God created me to be a wife, mom, sister, friend, small business owner, and so much more! Life has been so beautiful and God continues to open doors and reveal His purposes for my life. Read more>>

Kim Owens

I found my purpose through two very unexpected challenges: autoimmune disease and blindness. In 2009, I got sick and I never recovered. After visiting multiple specialists, I was diagnosed with three autoimmune diseases. At the time I was a neuromuscular therapist with a thriving practice, but due to illness, fatigue, and pain, I had to close my studio. Read more>>

Sandy Veilleux

To serve and be of service. My why has always been solid – to serve and be of service. How and where feels so much more natural with food as medium. Read more>>

Steven Knoworries

Hey there, I’m just a regular kid from Kansas so finding my purpose wasn’t a grand quest or anything, it sort of just happened. The realization of my innate gift for storytelling emerged during the quiet moments before sleep. I saw it as a way to not just help myself, but to become a sort of connector—using my vision to assist others in creating their own dreams and visions. Read more>>

Angelica Elange (Artist name: ELANGE )

My journey toward discovering my purpose has been guided by a profound love for music, a passion that has sustained me through both triumphs and challenges. From an early age, I immersed myself in singing and pursued music education for five years, receiving formal training in piano and vocal techniques. Read more>>

Kelly Slattery Founder of Barely Canadian

My husband and I fostered 4 teenagers and adopted 2 AMAZING teenagers from foster care, so it was easy to identify my purpose. Barely Canadian creates super soft clothing that supports Foster Youth and we’re grateful to do so. Read more>>

Nedra McPherson

I discovered my purpose during the pandemic of 2020. I was stuck in the house unable to do anything, working from home, and could not go outside. Like most people, I thought this would not last long but as the days turned to weeks then months, I began to feel like my life was crumbling. All my life, I struggled with mental illness which heightened during the pandemic and I had to seek therapy.  Read more>>

Mia Thornton

It came to me about 17 years ago. I was a single mother in college studying engineering. My son was born and it changed my life for the better. He and his little sister are my purpose I can’t see it any other way! Read more>>

MRs. Honey Bee Velasquez

While on a journey to discover my happiness, my purpose was revealed; Live Life Authentically. In 2014, I was performing on the Zuiderdam for Holland America Cruise Line and discovered a book called ‘The Art of Happiness.” I began my pursuit for happiness after my completion of the book that same week. Read more>>

Bibi Quiles

I found my purpose when I recognized a need for greater diversity and inclusivity in the event industry. It became apparent that the industry often catered to a specific type of individual, and I saw an opportunity to change that narrative. My goal was to highlight the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms – whether it’s about embracing extravagance or simplicity, identifying with the LGBTQ+ community, expressing oneself through bold fashion choices, or opting for comfort over trends. Read more>>

Shawn McCann

I think from an early age, i always knew my purpose was to create. I didn’t know at the time what that meant, i just knew that i always wanted to be an artist of some sort and loved being creative with the world around me. Over the years, that purpose and drive has definitely been solidified with the many chalk and street art festivals i run and organize.  Read more>>

Hannah Elder

I’ve spent years and years worrying about and trying to decode my life’s purpose. I thought I was missing out on some huge quest when it seemed like everyone else had their figured out. I thought being an actor was my purpose, then it was volunteering internationally, then it was teaching yoga, then it was becoming a death doula. But all of those things are jobs, not something deeper that was motivating me.  Read more>>

Nikita Dalal

I have worked in physical therapy field for almost 20 years now where I have helped people overcome their fears and weaknesses. Met a lot of people whom I have helped to go back to their routine life, (prior to any incident), relearn how to drive after a surgery, take care of themselves, improve quality of life. Read more>>

Nichelle Temple

My journey into aesthetics took an unexpected turn after a tarot card reading. While finishing my associates in Minnesota, I sought guidance and shared my interests: a fascination with the body’s functions, connecting with people, and a vague interest in makeup. Read more>>

Jerry Tsagamilis

Being a passionate skateboarder since 12 years old, I wanted to create the first social media for skaters. The demand was clearly high as you could see skaters from all different levels posting on existing social media platforms. The first social media by and for skaters — SkateYou helps skaters share spots, tricks, win prizes, and build community. Read more>>

Heather LaCroix

I think I found my purpose about 25 years ago. I was working at a corporation in South Florida doing data entry work. The money was decent and the job was stable, but I felt very unfulfilled. I remember praying to find something creative that would make me happy and I would be able to earn a living. I have always been spiritual but not particularly religious so it was not anything formal, just in my head or out loud. Read more>>

Kim Muench

Finding my purpose developed through a series of events that began in 2008 when my eldest son fell into addiction to alcohol to quell his mental health issues. Together we walked through the major downs and ups of his going through medical detox on multiple occasions, intensive outpatient treatment, and then inpatient treatment and sober living.  Read more>>

Molly McGuire

I’m originally from Southern Ontario – I grew up in several small towns east of Toronto. My parents moved around a lot. They met at Art College, so there was always art and art supplies all over the house. I knew how to use a paintbrush before I know how to use cutlery. Growing up in these small towns, my salvation was a carnival that would set up behind my house in Trenton every year. Read more>>

Brittany M. Jones

As a child, I experienced a fair share of trauma. I grew up in a broken home, where the foundation was flawed from the beginning. The shattered pieces began to cut me even before I understood what a cut was. Both my mother and father were preoccupied with their own traumas and unhealthy coping mechanisms, leaving me feeling unloved and unaccepted. Read more>>

Devante Springer

Taking time to prioritize myself. Figuring out what was good for me from what wasn’t. Finally putting myself after putting myself last for so long. Read more>>

Jaime Quintana

This question really stood out to me because in “time “ growing as an individual, as a human being it ties into your career eventually and sometimes they both collide . The way our journey can shape us has everything to do with how we view life and sometimes it can dictate or shape our purpose in life. Read more>>

Mikua Mori

I have found a purpose in improving the lives of others. Read more>>

James Keyes

Walking across campus at Columbia University, I came across a student wearing a t-shirt that said: Education is Freedom. I was the CEO of 7-Eleven…there to teach a class on leadership. The t-shirt stopped me in my tracks. I realized at that moment, that education was the key to unlocking opportunity that took me from poverty to prosperity.  Read more>>