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.
Christina Aime
I didn’t find my purpose in a single moment—it evolved over time through both my personal and professional experiences. I started in the medical field, working closely with patients, and that taught me the importance of care, precision, and human connection. But I always had a deep love for beauty, something that started when I was younger and grew stronger over time.I didn’t find my purpose in a single moment—it evolved over time through both my personal and professional experiences. I started in the medical field, working closely with patients, and that taught me the importance of care, precision, and human connection. But I always had a deep love for beauty, something that started when I was younger and grew stronger over time. Read More>>
Ashley Young
After having my second child, I wanted to lose the baby weight and decided to work with a registered dietitian. Through our work together, she helped me identify areas where I could cut out empty calories, the first of which was my alcohol intake. Her concern wasn’t about my drinking habits, but simply about the empty calories alcohol added to my diet. Read More>>
Liang yu Huang
I’m highly committed to growing my art practice and keeping the ball rowing. I tend to make decisions based on what will support my career in the long run, things like money, studio space, access to facilities, and time. Read More>>
Mark Pattison
After going through a rough patch 10 years ago, I decided to become the 1st NFL Player to climb the Seven Summits. After I had climbed 4 of the mountains, I started to gain attention from my NFL playing days. Rather than soak up the attention, I decided to redirect the media focus to my daughter Emilia who was suffering from Epilepsy. Read More>>
OLIVIA PORTER
I struggled with finding my purpose for a long time. There was a point where I was making multiple six figures while working ten hours a week, and I still felt empty. That was a hard realization. I started to question whether chasing more money or pushing harder would just make that feeling worse. Read More>>
Roxanne Liang
I think my sense of purpose came from a contrast I experienced very personally. I’ve been living in a big city for years, where everything moves fast and relationships can feel intense and, at times, overwhelming. It’s easy to get caught up in that rhythm without realizing how much noise it creates internally. Read More>>
Lyndee Waldbauer
I didn’t find my purpose in one perfect moment. I found it in the middle of starting over, trusting ideas that didn’t make sense to everyone else, and paying attention to what made me feel most alive. I lost my mom in the end of 2026 and this brand, this bus, became my grief story. It helped heal me and my true self emerged. Read More>>
Jocelyn Cooper
I don’t think I “found” my purpose in one big moment—I grew into it over time. I spent 20 years behind the chair as a hairstylist, which taught me how much trust clients place in you when it comes to how they look and feel. Read More>>
Neeraja Kairam
This is an article I posted on Substack and on my website, www.thelotusrevolution.com. It describes my journey. When we think about purpose, we often think in terms of our self-identified roles in society. We make those roles our identity. Yet I believe our identity does not equate directly with our purpose. What are we really asking ourselves when we ask that question? Do I matter? Read More>>
Nikki Baker
I think my purpose found me long before I had the words for it. Looking back, I’ve always been someone who wanted to help. As a young child, I was constantly asking my mom, “What can I do? How can I help?” I loved being useful, supporting my siblings, and finding ways to make life easier for the people around me. Read More>>
Alex Han
As a teenager, I struggled very much with where my life seemed to be going. I was brought up in a very academically-oriented household, and I was made painfully aware that I did not have the grades nor the aptitude to ‘succeed’ in the manner defined by my parents. To be perfectly transparent, they were right in a way. Read More>>
Gail Hadani
I never had to find my purpose—my purpose found me. My creative life has always been full, evolving, and in motion. I am what I create, and I’m constantly seeking new ways to express that. It’s a lifelong pursuit of passion, joy, and discovery. Read More>>
Kayvon Philip Reid
I found my purpose by paying close attention to everything happening in my life—especially the moments that challenged me. There were times where things didn’t go the way I expected, but instead of letting those experiences define me negatively, I chose to learn from them and find meaning in them. During that process, I began to intentionally build my relationship with God. Read More>>
Taylor Byrer
I was born with biliary atresia, and my parents were told early on that I would likely need a liver transplant before my first birthday. At three months old, I had a Kasai Procedure and against all odds, it carried me all the way to age 32 before I finally needed a transplant. Read More>>
Malick Diawara
Well, what gives me purpose is something I think about often, because it evolves with the lessons I learn each day. However, one theme remains constant: impact. I believe my purpose is to create meaningful impact—being someone who contributes, influences, and helps move society forward in multiple ways. Read More>>
Glennis McCarthy
First of all I was 46-years-old when I found my purpose so trust the process! If we went back and gathered all of the projects, businesses, and ideas I’ve tried to force into the position of ‘my purpose,’ we could fill a stadium. Like, maybe a mini stadium for baby football games or something. My point is…there were a lot. Read More>>
Katie Kool-Wray
I feel like my life has been an ongoing journey to find and to live my purpose. Since very early on, I learned that I’m happiest when I am spending time with people that I love and am giving back, even in the smallest of ways, to make the world a better place for everyone. Read More>>
Tara Niedergall
Honestly, becoming a mom gave me purpose. I know that sounds cliche, however it is really true. I have never felt as fulfilled as I do as being a mom. My daughter is only 4.5 months old and I’m obsessed with being a mother. Read More>>
Lexthalover
I found my purpose through pain and uncertainty. In moments where I had no one else to rely on, I was forced to turn inward—learning how to pour into myself, reflect, and truly understand who I am. That process wasn’t easy, but it pushed me to do the work of self-discovery. Read More>>
Debbie Baxter
I spent a lot of my 20’s and 30’s searching for my purpose. However, I’ve always known that I’m an artist to the core. And, not only did I know that I am artist but I’ve always known that I have a unique ability to see people and help them see themselves to overcome challenges. Read More>>
Melissa Pavone
A big part of how I found my purpose traces back to my mom. She was strong in a quiet, steady way—the kind of strength you don’t always recognize until you’re older. She handled a lot, often without a roadmap, and like so many women of her generation, she didn’t always have a seat at the financial table. Read More>>
Weston Lawson
Growing up, I’ve always been interested in the arts, whether it’s musicals, plays, movies. It’s really the one aspect of life where people can come together, unite, and fall into a suspension of disbelief for a few hours. I would say it’s the closest thing to magic you can experience—creating an entire piece that can evoke all the emotions of the human mind. Read More>>
Temi Alebiosu
Here’s a refined, magazine-ready version of your response—clean, powerful, and still very much in your voice: — What’s so interesting is that, from a young age, I always felt in my heart that I would one day speak about my experience as an eldest daughter—I just didn’t know in what capacity. Read More>>
Roberta Marroquin
Purpose didn’t arrive as a single revelation. It came the way light enters a room — gradually, then all at once. I grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, in a family where beauty and culture were taken seriously. Read More>>
Jeff Baker
I’ve always had a high level of empathy—honestly, more than I’ve ever had for myself. I can’t remember the last time I cried over something in my own life, but I will absolutely feel things deeply when it comes to other people. Seeing someone struggle, in pain, or stuck… that hits me. And I’ve seen a lot of that over the years. Read More>>
The Hidden Lovr
This is probably a wild way to say how I found my purpose but the truth is I lost everything including myself for me to find me and discover my true purpose accepting my calling. nI first lost my ex husband of 22 years. I lost my entire world, my identity. Read More>>
Galal Ramadan
To understand how I found my purpose, I have to look at the intersection of my past struggles and my technical evolution. My purpose wasn’t a sudden discovery, but rather a slow ‘unveiling’ that occurred when my survival instincts met my creative curiosity. My purpose emerged through these three distinct phases: 1. Read More>>
Jeannette Eason-Mayfield
For more than twenty years, I worked as a Director of Finance, building a life grounded in structure, responsibility, and stability. But even in that space, God was quietly working on my heart. Working in education, I was surrounded by young people, I saw those who felt unseen, who needed encouragement, guidance, and someone to believe in them. Read More>>
Dawn Petrill
My family played a central role in helping me grow into my purpose. My parents nurtured my creativity and encouraged me to keep developing my skills. Later, my own family supported me in continuing to create and find my voice. I also credit my faith in God—believing I was given both the talent and the drive to become the best version of myself. Read More>>
Delilah Dominguez
I don’t think I found my purpose all at once—it revealed itself slowly, in fragments. In the quiet moments, in what I was naturally drawn to, in what I kept returning to even when things felt uncertain. For me, it lived in creating beauty, in working with my hands, in bringing softness and meaning into spaces. Read More>>
Kayebree Craw
I always knew I wanted to be an artist or to be in a creative position. All growing up I would gift drawings to teachers, friends, and family. Finding out what their favorite things were so that I could use it as my art. It always made me so happy to spend so much time perfecting each piece in hopes of it making them excited! Read More>>
Shaniece Thomas
I found my purpose through searching for it. In that process, I realized my purpose is simply to be a light in the world by allowing my gifts and personality to shine. It doesn’t matter how I express it; what matters is that I show up as my authentic self. In doing so, I am always walking in my purpose. Everyday. Read More>>
Tiffany Morris
From a young age I have always been very passionate and empathetic towards helping others and wanting everyone to feel accepted in their own skin. I also found myself always steering towards more creative outlets in my life whether that be through art, music, activities, etc. So that combination of traits led me on a path to find my passion of hairdressing. Read More>>
Gabby Owens
Honestly, it took me a while. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to have everything figured out early on, which was overwhelming. But as I’ve gotten older, I’m 33 now, I’ve realized it doesn’t work like that. It takes time, growth, and giving yourself some grace. Read More>>
Tarsha Gale
My purpose, like most people’s, is deeply personal. It is rooted in my lived experience growing up as a Black girl in Detroit, navigating school alongside family stress, trauma, and community realities that shaped far more than report cards. I was raised by a single mother who was growing up herself while raising three daughters, each six years apart. Read More>>
Amy Jackson
As a child, I was incredibly shy. But theatre gave me a voice before I really knew how to use my own. Being on stage helped me understand expression, storytelling, and perspective in a way that felt safe and exciting. At the same time, I was lucky to grow up in an environment where creativity was encouraged. Read More>>
Monique Sherri
I didn’t find my purpose in a single moment—I uncovered it by choosing truth over comfort, again and again, until my life reflected who I really am. For years, I lived what looked like a successful life on paper—leading at a high level in tech, building, achieving, performing. But underneath it all was a quiet knowing I couldn’t ignore: I wasn’t fully expressed. Read More>>
Aunt Debb
I didn’t “find” my purpose in one moment—I’ve been revealing it through what I keep choosing to do. I create platforms for young talent. I highlight kids who are doing something positive. I ask meaningful questions that build confidence. I keep showing up for youth, creativity, and opportunity. That’s not random—that’s alignment. Read More>>
VELICIA GOURDIN
I think gratitude is at the heart of purpose. I am grateful that I am able to be a full time illustrator after many years juggling a full time corporate job and raising my family. About 17 years ago I was at a crossroads. I could continue to work at a job that I was pretty successful in, however I really wasn’t passionate about. Read More>>
CJ Brewer
I found my purpose through exploring the things that bring me the most joy! That’s how I ended up pursuing music so consistently. I always loved the feeling I’d get during and after a great performance, so much so that it would motivate me to prepare for future shows and events! Read More>>
Kristen Baker
Art has always been a constant in my life, but it wasn’t until I began sharing it with others that I truly found my purpose in it. What started as a personal passion grew into something much more meaningful as I saw the joy, comfort, and connection my work could bring to people. Read More>>
Yvonne Arvidsson
I have been creative in different ways all my life, but painting entered my life at a time when I needed something new. I became ill, and I could no longer train and use my body in the same way I had before. So I started creating, almost as a new hobby — something just for myself. I did not have a big plan. Read More>>
Esmine & Ernest Crosby
To be honest I don’t think we found our purpose, I think our purpose found us; When God found us. Some people say they found God, but I think God seeks out and chooses, and assigns purpose to each and every person. Through God, we found our purpose. Read More>>
Troy J James
I found my purpose by paying attention to tension. I was performing at a high level, but the work started to feel heavier than it should have been. What I realized is I wasn’t struggling with the work; I was carrying more than people could see, and I saw that same pattern in other leaders. Read More>>
Quincey Spagnoletti
I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I went through countless disposable film cameras, eagerly asking my mom to have the film developed so I could see what I had captured. Read More>>
Sabrina Bradley
I started playing piano at three and violin at four, so music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I competed nationally and internationally and spent hours every day practicing scales, technique, and preparing for competitions and auditions. It taught me discipline, but it was also intense. Read More>>
Yours Truly
After a few years of doing the local market circuit in Philly, we felt like the majority of opportunities for artists to sell their work fell short. After a while, we noticed there was a pattern: low attendance, little to no advertising, and limited preparation… Which in short, meant no profits for the vendors. Read More>>
Amy Torrez
I found my purpose by experiencing something beneficial in a very difficult situation. Just shortly after graduating college at the University of Texas at Austin, bmy father became ill. He had been living in south Texas and had been transferred to Houston, TX where they were able to diagnose him with Burkitt’s Lymphoma and subsequently received treatment their. Read More>>
