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.
Aaliyah Man
Since before I can remember, I had always wanted to be an artist. I grew up drawing and painting a lot, but when I was in elementary school, my uncle had given me his camcorder. It was the first time in my life that I was able to take pictures and videos, and I distinctly remember a time where an adult that I looked up to told me that I took really good pictures. That was the moment I decided that I wanted to get into photography. Read more>>
Kony Brooks
I come from a family of sports and music lovers. My older brother was my original role model. He was a DJ and Producer as well as a city ranked basketball player. In the first grade I had a poetry project and decided to write a rap verse for it. I showed my brother in hopes that he’d love it and he actually couldn’t stand it (lol). From there, I took the next few years to actually learn the art in order to make him like it. During that time I began to love music. Read more>>
Leah Love
I believe that finding our purpose is the most important task we have while here on earth. I’ve always found my purpose in the things I am a magnet to. For me, it has always lied in the things I have felted compelled by in a physical or spiritual way. I have always been an athlete and for me that was a life changing experience because I learned the true meaning of commitment and discipline. I was able to carry those skill sets into different areas of my life overtime. I’ve learned that finding your purpose doesn’t necessarily mean you wake up one day and just know who you are and what you want from life! Read more>>
Valerie J. Lyons
My purpose emerged through a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth—a journey that continues to unfold every day. From a young age, people would tell me I was special, unique, kind, and gifted. They acknowledged me for being a good listener with a good heart. Yet, I struggled to believe it. I was often my harshest critic, focusing on what I thought were flaws—too skinny, too dark, a lazy eye. When my parents separated at the age of seven, I carried deep feelings of abandonment and shame, but lacked the language to name or process my emotions, leaving me burdened with shame and guilt. Read more>>
Tryfe
When it comes to our purpose, I see it as something that is constantly pulling at us. We all choose to listen, and even choose to embrace it at our own pace. And that pace is dictated by our individual life experiences. From my time with other who feel they’ve found their purpose; when you look at your collective life, you usually see the pattern has been there from the beginning. Read more>>
Jaquita Rideaux
Finding my purpose wasn’t an instant revelation—it was a journey shaped by moments of doubt, discovery, and growth. It began during a time when I felt lost, unsure of what direction to take in life. I tried different paths, from pursuing traditional career goals to exploring hobbies and side hustles, but nothing seemed to ignite that deep sense of fulfillment I was searching for. Read more>>
Richard Berry
My journey has taught me that purpose isn’t something waiting to be discovered—it’s born from our wounds, our healing, and our deep desire to help others walk through their own darkness. As a teenager, I was drawn to the mystical, immersing myself in shaman training, vision quests, and meditation. These early spiritual experiences planted seeds that would later bloom in unexpected ways. Read more>>
Sutichai (chai) Savathasuk
Honestly, I still feel like one of those wanderers searching for meaning. I bounce between moments of deep engagement and spells of dissociation, like a browser with 37 tabs open—except none of them are loading. Finishing my degree in Engineering at California State University, Northridge, and landing a job in my field felt like completing the last set of instructions to become a “functioning” adult. But after crossing that finish line, I was left staring into the void, wondering, “Now what?” It felt like I’d been running on a pre-programmed code, only to realize the program had ended, and there was no manual for what came next. Read more>>
Colin Stewart
I’m a Christian, though not a Trump-supporting evangelical Christian. I tend to be characterized as a progressive Christian, which lately seems to be something of a rare breed. That’s where I find my purpose. As a Christian, I believe that, among other things, my purpose is to love my neighbor as myself, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Those beliefs have led me to the work I’m currently doing. Read more>>
Emily Simonian
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever subscribed to the idea of having just one purpose. My background in mental health really shifted my thinking away from rigid absolutes. I believe that we have different purposes for different seasons of our lives. For a long time, my whole world revolved around music. I studied it in college, poured my heart into it, and really thought that would be my path forever. But then life took me in another direction, and for a while, I found purpose in other areas, like working in the mental health field. It was meaningful in a completely different way. Read more>>
Rituparna Mukherjee
One of the biggest influences in my life has been my mother – she has shaped and molded so many of the ways in which I confront failure, and in-turn, build resilience. I remember countless conversations revolving around the idea purpose. What is it? How does one find it? What is it at the intersection of? How does playing music relate to my purpose? Read more>>
Yolla Awad
My journey into the world of wine began as a simple idea during a wine tasting, which led me to expand my education and pursue certifications in both wine and cheese. With 20 years of experience in the restaurant business and a passion for pairing wine with cheese, I knew I was ready to create something special of my own. As time went on, I became more knowledgeable and even more passionate and my love for wine is what drew me to this field and brought me to open up my business in 2024. Thus, Perfect Pairing was born! Read more>>
William Loopesko
I do feel lucky that I get to I’ve made it to a point in my life where I truly get to live my dream every day; but getting here was far from linear. I grew up in Colorado and fell in love with the mountains, canyons, and blue skies that make our state world famous. Like most millenials I went into college with no idea what I wanted to study, and settled into studying geology because it would allow me to go hiking and camping for credit. It was only after I started studying that I realized that I actually also loved it as an intellectual discipline, I love the way that it helps explain the natural world and the landscapes that I love playing in. Read more>>
Julia Nepini
I believe that the definition of success is identifying the unique skills you possess, embracing them, and sharing them with as many people as possible. Identifying my purpose has been my life’s mission. From a young age, I found myself in a caretaking position and developed an identity as a nurturer. It became clear early on that I would land in a helping profession, chose to major in sociology with a concentration in social work my first year of college and have never looked back. Purpose and meaning for me has always come from relationships and is enhanced through curiosity, mutual understanding, vulnerability, and being fully seen and accepted. Read more>>
Alison Levine
I am a pediatrician because being part of a child’s journey toward lifelong health is extremely important. I pursued this path to be on a team with families toward a healthier future for their children, from birth to young adulthood. As a pediatrician I’ve had the opportunity to build wonderful relationships with patients and their families. Before opening Fig Tree Pediatrics, I was part of a busy traditional pediatrics practice where there were many barriers to excellent, holistic care. Read more>>
Ian Hietala
I found my purpose through my own journey and struggle. As an unathletic white kid in a sport filled with predominately African American, and athletic players, I was always overlooked because of my appearance and skillset. As a got older, I trained on my own and was able to make myself athletic and skilled enough to compete pro basketball players, something I didn’t think was possible. Now I’m determined to help un-athletic, underlooked players, reach their genetic potential, and become as skilled as possible in basketball! Read more>>
Burleigh Drummond
The fact is my purpose changes daily, or I should say some of my purposes change daily, some are constant. I would say my purposes arose out of necessity, supporting a family, raising children, promoting your passion, etc. There are constants, such as the unending endeavor to pursue and develop my art as a musician and of course the caring of the wellbeing of my family. Then you deal with the work you do to be able to take care of the constants. By necessity I learned how to promote and act as a talent agency to be able not only to be financially rewarded for performance but also able to have a venue for my art to thrive. Read more>>
Sasha Khoshabeh
Finding my purpose has been a profound journey shaped by both my experiences as a soccer player and the challenges I faced along the way. My passion for the sport drove me to dedicate countless hours to training and competition. However, when I suffered an injury, it forced me to reevaluate my path. Read more>>
Anna Hackman
It took years to find my purpose, but there were glimmers of it early on in my career as a lawyer. My firm gave me a few pro bono cases for seniors or people who needed help. I found immense joy in helping them, as they truly needed my assistance, unlike my clients, who were often builders or developers with different needs. Read more>>
Meghan Mccolley
From a young age, I’ve always been a creative, whether it was art, photography, fashion, or music. I love trying new things. That is so important when it comes to finding purpose. Through that, I’ve realized lots of fun skills I have. What’s neat about finding your skills is you get to see how they affect others, and there lies purpose. I love how art and fashion have a way of moving others and making them feel good. Today, I use that to help others! Read more>>
Irma Herrera
Recently, I came across an oral history conducted by the American Bar Association as part of the Women Trailblazers in the Law Project. I was included in that project. There, I told about an experience that, in retrospect, made me realize how foundational it was in shaping who I am. My purpose is to speak up against injustice. As a civil rights lawyer, my career was spent fighting with and on behalf of people who had been wronged. Read more>>
Savita Sastry
The pursuit of unveiling purpose has taken place within an ongoing journey rooted in love, compassion, and creative expression. At its core, purpose feels like an alignment with something greater than myself—a way to tap into the mediums that awaken not only my own spirit but also the hearts of others. Love and compassion has been a practice I have always leaned upon to guide this long-winded and worthwhile quest of finding purpose. Cultivating feelings of love, kindness, and compassion towards oneself and others as a foundation reminds me that when I believe in myself and follow my intuition, I can create space for others to experience joy, healing, and connection. In many ways, pursuing this purpose has become a form of service, and when executed authentically, this service enriches my life as much as it can uplift others. Read more>>
Rachael Shea Interiors
I had a non-traditional route to the field of interior design. I received my Master’s in Counseling and was feeling unfulfilled in the career. I took a leap of faith and pursued interior design and never looked back. One way I found my purpose in my career was recognizing what brought me joy and what I was doing in my free time. I remember listening to a podcast where they said to pay attention to what you do in your free time and what you were obsessed and always thinking about. Well, I would spend hours and hours after my job scrolling Pinterest and Instagram marveling at design. It became my creative outlet and I quickly realized I was meant to pursue design. With my people skills from counseling and my natural creativity, interior design has been the most dream career I could imagine. Read more>>
Takira Victorin
At the risk of sounding cliché, Therapy isn’t just my profession; it’s a core part of who I am. From a young age, I’ve been deeply drawn to listening to others, understanding unique experiences, and helping people navigate their relationships. I’m a first born daughter and a Capricorn. So if you subscribe to family dynamics/roles first daughters play and astrology, that should explain it all. Whether offering a compassionate ear or providing thoughtful guidance, I’ve always felt a strong calling to support others in their personal growth and healing. Over time, I realized that this calling wasn’t just something I did—it was who I was meant to be. Read more>>
Nashlea Brogan
My journey began with losing my hearing as a young adult, I was fit with hearing aids at age 18 years old. The experience of slowly going deaf and adapting to life with hearing aids—and later cochlear implants—was life-changing. It wasn’t just the physical loss of sound; it was the emotional toll, the challenges of staying connected to those around me, the loss of spontaneity and the uncertainty about the future. Read more>>
Etienne Warnery
Maybe it will sound a little cliché, but I have been drawn to photography for a long time, just like many other passionate hobbyists. I painted a lot when I was a kid, but I realized that I liked the idea of creating an image in an instant with photography. Also, I figured out that I love using it as a way to document the life around me, share it with the people I love, and create albums for them. Read more>>
Danielle Rackowski
Finding my purpose was not an easy journey. I have Complex Trauma or Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). I grew up in a household where I endured toxic narcissistic abuse along with emotional and verbal abuse. That type of abuse continued into my early twenties in the form of toxic abusive relationships. I was very lost in my early twenties. I did not know who I was as a person. My identity was fragmented. My inner reality was wrestling with sadness and yearning for liberation. Read more>>
Erika Lininger Derrick Clark
Since I was young I always had the feeling I would one day start up multiple business’ for the things I’m most passionate about. My plan a few years ago was to first start up an all natural healthy dog food & treats business then followed by my art but it ended up the other way around. I was going thru a rough time in my life and was sitting in my apartment one night and looked over at a cow skull I had brought back from my great grandmas farm and decided to just free hand paint it to clear my head. I didn’t think it would take long then I would just go to bed but what happened when I started painting is the reason I strived to pursue my dreams and passions without pushing them off any longer. Read more>>
Darlene Marshall
I’m a deeply purpose driven person and there are a few clear moments in my life where it’s felt like the universe was guiding me to whom I was meant to be. The first was in my early 20s. I’d grown up playing basketball and volleyball. I’m 6’1″, so I was pushed into all the tall people sports. In college I played rugby and loved it. I’d always been prone to injuries, but I had a few big ones while playing rugby. By 23 I struggled to walk barefoot more than a few steps and couldn’t carrying anything in my left arm. At the time I was sewing professionally and my hands would often go numb. Read more>>
Patrick Osteen
I think my sense of purpose has changed a lot throughout my life. Fortunately, my purpose seems to be finding more outward outlets in the last several years. Specifically, how a professional theater company I have helped create can improve its surrounding community. Most of my early career was spent making theater for larger organizations in larger communities with an abundance of theater investment. I find so much more satisfaction and purpose creating theater and teaching in underserved communities. Read more>>
Prajakta Patil
I’ve always had a passion for food since I was a kid, but I never took it seriously. Growing up in the ’90s, cooking as a career wasn’t seen as a viable option, so I followed a more conventional path and earned two degrees in engineering. I even moved to the US hoping to build a career in tech, despite barely enjoying it. Read more>>
Sasha Leslie
I keep my creativity alive by looking at my everyday life and background. When I first started out, I remember I was excited to just make art; however, I was unaware of the process that followed. I think some of the best advice I’ve received was keep a sketchbook not just for drawing, but for writing down ideas and keeping thumbnails as well. While I didn’t think much of it at first, I found that having a space to organize my thoughts both visually and verbally helped me set my work up in the way I really wanted to. Read more>>
Jasmine Noghrey
Finding my purpose has been a journey shaped by curiosity, compassion, and the desire to make a meaningful difference. I always knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field but wasn’t exactly sure which path to take. I started exploring different roles and eventually became a behavioral therapist. It was during this time that I realized I had a natural ability to connect with my clients and help them make real progress in their lives. Seeing the impact I was able to make was incredibly rewarding, and it inspired me to explore how I could help a wider range of people across different stages of life. Read more>>
David Workman
I grew up in a small coal town nestled in the hills of southern West Virginia, where the scent of hard work and the echoes of faith shaped the rhythm of our lives. My grandfather was a preacher—a man of deep conviction, known and respected by all. His sermons weren’t just words but seeds of wisdom planted in the hearts of those who listened. My parents, both teachers, were also pillars in the community. My dad, a PE teacher and coach, had a knack for inspiring confidence, often telling me, “You come from good stock.” That phrase echoed in my mind through every challenge I faced. My mom, a dedicated teacher, was no less influential, teaching me the value of discipline and kindness. Read more>>
Ginny Gutman
I’ve always been really interested and curious in individual’s stories and how they got to where they are in life. I also am naturally empathetic and am a deeply feeling person. I feel lucky that I found psychology as a study and I even took a college class, Psychology 101, in high school. I’m very drawn to learning about human behavior in general and how we all relate to each other. How we relate to ourselves and each other has always struck me as one of the most important parts of life. It has been a good fit for what gives me purpose- listening to people’s stories, bearing witness to that story, and being a part of making their life a bit better. Being a psychotherapist has allowed me the privilege of helping people in such a meaningful and important way. I get to be a small part in improving their life journey and it is very fulfilling. Read more>>
Daniel Hashempour
I found my purpose through the unexpected journey of coaching. It all began with my love for powerlifting and the drive to compete, a dream I pursued with ambition and dedication. However, after facing burnout following a major competition, I lost touch with the excitement I once felt for the sport. It was in aiding two of my friends in preparing for their first powerlifting competition, that a new perspective about myself was revealed. Read more>>
Ren Robertz
My purpose came screaming into my ear after I asked for it: I teach people how to build businesses that last, businesses that create freedom (financial freedom, time freedom, and peace of mind), and businesses and people who do good in our world for generations. That soul-searching summer I was going through a painful breakup in both my business and personal life. I was 25, had a successful Los Angeles petting zoo, and yearned for more time with my own kids. However, I’d built myself a trap: my business needed me to work 7 days a week to afford my paycheck. Read more>>
Jacqueline Toscano
It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Growing up all I wanted to be was a scientist. I loved animals so much and wanted to study them. I went to college for evolutionary biology and graduated with a bachelors. However, shortly after I was diagnosed with a disability and could no longer pursue a career in science. I was really devastated so I turned to art as a form of therapy. I slowly began to fall in love with making jewelry and decided to turn it into a small business. From then on I knew that I wanted to focus all of my energy into art and I haven’t looked back. Read more>>
Janessa, Isabella, Ashley Vicenty, Ramirez, Casillas
At Girls on the Go, we found our purpose through a shared passion for connection and community. As recent post-grads, we felt the need to channel our energy into something meaningful, especially since building long-term friendships in San Diego can be challenging—even for those of us who call it home. Being best friends ourselves, it felt natural and exciting to host events together, creating a space where genuine friendships could flourish. Read more>>
Cat Meyer
I didn’t always know where my path would lead and to be honest I still don’t know what lies ahead for me. But I’ve always felt this deep pull toward connection, healing, and transformation—both for myself and for others. My journey hasn’t been a straight line; it’s been a winding expansive road of self-discovery, filled with challenges that ultimately shaped who I am and what I offer to the world today. Read more>>
Leila Addams
I don’t think I ever searched for my purpose really- it found me. From a really young age, music was the center of my life. I was always singing and dancing in front of others, simply because I loved doing it. I’ve seen videos of myself as a toddler, standing on dining room tables and singing my heart in front of family. When others used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would reference my favorite singer at the time- and I was only a few years old. Read more>>
Miyuki Matsunaga
The “soul purpose” often relates to things we were deeply interested in or wanted to achieve in the past, particularly in childhood, but couldn’t pursue, fulfill, or overcome. It may also stem from difficult or painful experiences. For example, if someone grew up without feeling love, then “love” becomes their soul’s purpose. If they wanted to learn but weren’t given the opportunity, then “learning” becomes their soul’s purpose. Read more>>
Lisette Solares
Two years ago, I restarted my reading habit because I felt overwhelmed by all the work I had. I needed a space to relax and focus my mind on something other than my job. I wanted to read The Psychoanalyst by John Katzenbach, and I finished it in two months. That experience motivated me to join the @30libros reading club. In this club, I started reading one book per month, and soon after, I began increasing the number of books I read each month. This motivated me to create my Instagram account, @lizsolares, to share literary content and inspire others to read. Read more>>
Tami Bryan
Purpose is a word that carries so much weight. For me, it wasn’t a single moment or event that defined it—it was a journey of faith, love, loss, and rediscovery. Growing up as the oldest of four in a military family, responsibility was ingrained in me from a young age. My birth father’s military career meant frequent moves and constant adjustments. As the oldest, it was my job to care for my siblings and help maintain some sense of stability during the ever-changing circumstances. Read more>>
Lora Chow
My purpose is to compose beautiful music that inspires positive changes and promotes harmony in the world. Mindfulness practice and self-reflection have played a crucial role in finding my purpose. Practices like meditation and journaling have been helpful in connecting me with my inner self and clarifying what truly matters to me. I often find myself pondering questions such as: What has brought me the greatest sense of fulfillment? What legacy do I wish to leave behind? What are the most important things I do not want to lose? What are my dreams? What obstacles are holding me back from pursuing them? Read more>>
Jane Goto
I often ask myself “what is my purpose?” and the answer is to entertain. I found my purpose at a young age when I realized how funny I was. I realized anyone can be entertaining to the people around them in a school setting, but how can I entertain more than just the people around me? I wanted to entertain as many people as possible in anyway a 14 year old girl in the middle of Oklahoma could (it wasn’t like I could just drop out of high school and move to LA). That’s when I really got into the world of social media by starting my YouTube channel. My YouTube channel led me to create more on other platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. From there, it also opened me up to the world of modeling because being in front of the camera has always been my home and confidence has always been one of my best attributes. Read more>>
Jotce Chai
I used to find this question to be such a daunting one. The pressure of not living to one’s specific purpose and potential–it can feel crippling! I’ve definitely had many moments of uncertainty, but I often return to some sage advice a good friend once shared with me. We were chatting specifically about careers and she believed that treating a specific job to be one’s personal panacea was incredibly narrow-minded. When deciding on a career to pursue, she suggested to go broad rather than specific. When asking herself what she wanted out of a career (and life), she recognized a simple purpose: to help people. Read more>>
Myka Arakawa
my purpose is curate and catalyze the creative process in Hawaii. The creative process is something that has brought me endless joy, enlightenment, and passion. I truly believe creative work is the best way to deliver both educational and entertaining experiences. It just makes life better. My life experiences have “proved” that objective value to me. Read more>>
Tracey Barringer
I found my purpose in life by seeking the Lord’s will for me. I grew up going to church and wanting to live the life that God had designed for me. I definitely went off course more times than I like to admit, but because of God’s grace and mercy, He guided me back toward His path and kept me going. I try to honor Him in my decision making. I want to make Him proud by loving on customers. Some days that looks like praying with customers who are struggling. Some days, that means Hugging the 18 year old girl that works for me and just reminding her how worthy and lovely she is. Some days, it means giving more than I have to others less fortunate. Read more>>
Elena Kagiou
Growing up in Albania, I faced many challenges, but I always knew that I wanted more for myself. Moving to the U.S. was a leap of faith—leaving behind everything I knew for the chance to build a better life. Real estate became my path because it offered both the flexibility to care for my family and the opportunity to create something meaningful from scratch. Read more>>
Christina Quintero
I discovered my purpose through my son. His arrival has instilled in me a deeper motivation to work hard and strive for a fulfilling life. I am committed to ensuring that he is free from worries about the future, particularly when I am no longer here. He serves as a constant reminder for me to reconnect with my inner child and embrace the joy and wonder of life. Read more>>
Paula Gammon Wilson
According to everyone in my family, I was a bossy little kid. I am the youngest of four and I was born quite a few years after my older siblings. They very much doted on me until I was about three years old. Then I apparently became a total terror and all of the spoiling stopped! However, in some ways, those early years, where I “called the shots” and did what I wanted simply because I wanted to, informed how I made decisions later. Unless someone actively told me “No”, I would just go ahead and try things. If it worked, I would do the thing again and try to make it better, more efficient, easier, etc., each subsequent time until I was satisfied with it. That spirit of iterative experimentation is part of everything I do to this day. Read more>>
Jennifer Clair
I found my purpose through a series of synchronicities, through having a strong faith, and through trusting in the people who guided me along the way. My purpose was revealed through astrology, but I would not have seen it without being led to it. From a very young age, I have been devoted to my spirituality (aka seeking God and trying to understand why I am here), but instead of finding my purpose in a church or from my society, I allowed life itself to teach me. I was passionate about traveling and experiencing new things because I knew that the more I experienced, the better I would know myself. I believe that God works through people and everyday circumstances to guide us to our purpose – so we have to be paying attention. But I also believe that timing is everything. This is because you may not be ready to accept your purpose or understand why your purpose is what it is until you’ve experienced enough of life; until you’ve matured to a point where you can recognize and appreciate it. Read more>>
