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.
Kieara Pittman
This is such a layered question! I often think about my purpose, and I’d like to say that it found me. I know that sounds cliche but, I really never thought that I would be a licensed therapist helping women, who look like me, find themselves and love who they are. Read more>>
Tamara Dopwell
I think I have always had a desire to help others. My faith in God led me to my purpose. Read more>>
Stephanie Whitlow-Wood
Finding one’s purpose in life is a journey in itself Read more>>
Michelle Madrid
I found my purpose through excavating what felt broken inside of me. Looking at the wounds within and becoming curious about the wisdom within those wounds. I believe that purpose is born from pain. Your calling is born from the challenges in your life. We have a choice: to transform our pain into our purpose or to bury our purpose as we run from the pain. I made a conscious decision to take the pain and challenges of my adoptee experience and mold them into a life that is purpose-driven and intentionally lived out. Read more>>
Eric Ryles
Finding my purpose in photography was a personal journey that took time and self-reflection. I had to trust my instincts and follow what had felt authentic to me in photography, Photography is a form of self-expression and my purpose had evolved over time. I had wanted to tell a story through every picture that I had taken through my lens. A message that was meaningful to me. Read more>>
Britney Johnson
The death of my father hit me really hard. But it wasn’t until a year after he passed that I viewed life so differently. There were so many people in attendance at his funeral and as they lined up to give me hugs and comfort me with such kind words. Something I vividly remember most is that they all said the same thing about him: He was such a genuine, kind man and that they were really going to miss him. Read more>>
Sy’Quon Shaw
My journey towards finding my purpose has been a profoundly introspective and evolving process. Self-reflection played a significant role as I took the time to delve into my inner world, exploring my values, interests, and passions. This period of self-examination allowed me to gain a profound sense of clarity about what truly mattered to me. Read more>>
Virginia Hinkle
I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to become the president of a nonprofit supporting staff in public education. My journey started at a very young age, observing my mother’s servant heart and generosity, as well as my father’s work ethic and extravagant giving. I knew I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector from a very young age, inspired by the examples set by my parents. Read more>>
N. Jane Quackenbush
By trials and many setbacks. Ha! But seriously, I believe that we have more than one purpose that we find at different times our lives. During struggles my purpose seemed so out of reach that I tried to not want what I was born to become but that always led to failure. And truthfully, my purpose varied at different stages. For instance when I was in high school and college my purpose was to graduate and clearly still in the developmental stage. Read more>>
Lindsay Amoroso
Finding my purpose was not easy. Years ago I felt I had no purpose and continued to live in a prison within my mindset. In my childhood I faced trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, resentment and more. Looking back, I know I was not in the proper mindset, spirituality setting and strength within my own mental health. I struggled in school with ADHD and trying to fit in, I was defiantly a people pleaser. Read more>>
Alex Beattie
Like a lot of business owners, my story starts with something very personal — my own divorce. When the shit hit the fan in my own marriage and I realized that separation and divorce were inevitable, I found myself in a whirlwind of uncertainty. I knew that I needed to approach this life-altering event in a way that would provide me with clarity and ownership of the process. So I got to work by focusing on what was in my control. Read more>>
Taneisha Gordon
I honestly stumbled upon my purpose. I have gifts that I have identified, but what makes me light up and keeps me going is the impact I have on people by simply sharing my energy through music and movement. Read more>>
Kat Minks
I Many times when kids play with their barbies and dress them up, beg their mom to buy them fashion magazines when they are 8 or 9, or take a very overt interest in something that seems out of realm for the age the child is at, many people around that kid shrug it off as a hobby. Not many people one really thinks if their kid plays school teacher that they will be a teacher when they grow up. Or that if they pick up a hair brush and sing into it constantly that they will be a famous singer someday. Read more>>
Shauntamika Friley Green
I find my purpose in God. I feel like when I listen and follow what is that he has designed me to be and do while on this earth, it is the most forfillment I have ever experienced thus far in life. When I don’t listen to him or operate in my ways and my own purpose.. it never goes right.. it’s all ways messed up. I’ve learned that his way is the better way, I’m not saying it’s easy at times but it better. Read more>>
Ali Levine
I found my purpose from my own heavy journey in postpartum depression and complete darkness. I remember the night I told my husband, “ I feel like I’m mourning the death of me”. I never thought I’d experience darkness the way I did entering into motherhood. Postpartum depression really took ahold of me. I truly had no idea who I was or how I was going to get through. Complete identity loss. Read more>>
Sydney Karmes-Wainer
I definitely am lucky that I found my purpose at a younger age. I’ve always loved food. I went to summer cooking school as a kid, and food made me so happy. I loved baking banana bread, making chicken schnitzel, roasted potatoes, etc. It was a way for me to express my creativity, and still is. Read more>>
Dante Juhkel
I am discovering what my genuine life’s purpose is every day. Although music and entertainment have always been my compass, I don’t feel that my skills in those fields completely sum up who I am. I think that my life’s work is to spread happiness through the different channels that are available to me. Read more>>
Courtney Pape
I don’t think anyone ever finds their purpose, so much as they witness and acknowledge it. I was always intensely and passionately drawn to plays and movies. I loved watching them over and over and over again growing up. I couldn’t get enough. I was also creating and putting up skits with friends. What I was obsessed with was pretty clear. Read more>>
Daniel Corey
I can’t say that I have found my ultimate purpose in life and that it’s just a matter of following the visible path before me. However, I have discovered things in my journey that have contributed to my sense of purpose. Read more>>
Wazhanin Steve
I have always loved music since I can remember! I even started creating music myself as a teenager. As I got older trying to find myself and place in this world I found myself addicted to xanax. Music is what saved me during this period in my life. This is when I fell fully in love with audio engineering and the recording process. Read more>>
Ms. Jennifer Pink
Purpose is the thing that is embedded into who we are. It’s always who we are—even when we aren’t trying to be anything or anyone else. Read more>>
Abisola & Seyi Shof
Finding our purpose has not been a static decision, but instead we’ve found it to be more of a journey to solving each piece of the puzzle. You don’t necessarily need to know what the full puzzle looks like, but with each piece you put together, it all starts to make sense in the long run. For us, every single experience that God has blessed us with, though it may seem unrelated to what we are doing now, has been vital to either building the necessary skills, perspective, connections, or exposure we needed. Read more>>
Rick Andosca
I learned the Meisner Technique from a man named Robert X. Modica, starting in 1969. Bob had studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York in the 1950`s, and then taught there with Meisner in the early 60`s before going out on his own. Working with Bob changed my life. He was the first person that I ever knew that TRULY knew what he was talking about- in any walk of life, acting or otherwise. Read more>>
Nick Bradley
I don’t like think I found my purpose, I like to believe my purpose found me. I say that because when I taught myself how to play the piano, I did so for therapeutic reasons. It was merely a hobby I could enjoy to take my mind off whatever was weighing heavy on me at the time. As I got better in my craft, I thought about taking the music route, but I didn’t know how that would work out for me, nor what that would look like for me. Read more>>
Derin Lindsey
Honestly I started graphic design in college at Alabama A&M, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease that I realized my purpose was creating space for black men health. Read more>>
Jamila Muhammad
I find my purpose every day by being an example to my daughters. I want them to follow their dreams, never be afraid to try new things, and to see hard work pays off. I started my career later in life, and I’ve accomplished most of what I have by not being afraid of hard work and having the confidence to take a risk because I know “Nothing beats a failure but a try”. My grandmother used to say that and its very true. Read more>>
Christine Shelton
I moved to Texas from Pennsylvania and started my career at HLP aka The Light Company . Today it is known as Reliant Energy/CenterPoint Energy. I retired from the Company after 26 years in the Executive office. My passion has always been skin care, beauty and recognizing the beauty in others. Therefore, I decided to return to school to obtain my Texas Aesthetician’s License. Read more>>
Arash Motian
I used to think music was my purpose and it would bother me when things didn’t go as planned, but I now realize that my purpose is to exist and help others. Music is a form of expression, a way of self healing, a way to channel rage and emotion. I also believe that if you have a gift, it was never meant to be kept all to yourself. The best gifts are ones that keep on giving, and that is what music is for me. Read more>>
Whitney Allen
For me, finding my purpose had everything to do with first getting very clear on who I am and was created to be. I spent a lot of time in prayer as well as reflecting on the things I’m naturally good at as well as passionate about. To be honest, I spent much time seeking God about what it is He has called me to do in this life and how I was meant to make an impact. I know now more than ever that my purpose is to help women break free from fear so that they can BOLDLY build and launch the things God has called them to create. Read more>>
Tamera LaShawn
I have been singing for more than half of my life. As I say that, I can also say that the journey has not been easy and I have not always known that singing is what I have undeniably wanted to do. As a child, I started off singing in church and have even dabbled in a little bit of screen time where I could use my voice. Read more>>
Noelle Pinchot
My purpose was something that felt like a curse to me early in my life. From an early age I remember feeling other’s emotions. I could tell when two people in my family weren’t getting along. Or if my sister, friends, or parents felt sad about something. I felt it. Throughout my teenage years I developed tons of anxiety and depression because of everything I felt and my desire to keep the peace and make everyone feel ok. Read more>>
Andra Hall
I began my journey into the beauty industry, after having originally started in the modeling industry. I loved modeling, but began to find myself drawn to the makeup and all the amazing products and techniques used for different types of projects. I have always been a creative, drawing portraits, painting, and sculpting, etc, and I saw makeup as no different a medium. Read more>>
Brittany Grey-Yadav
I found my purpose by taking a leap of faith to explore the world and travel solo. By pushing myself out of my comfort zone I was exposed to the beauty of other people and cultures as well as the ways I can make a difference in the lives of others even through the smallest acts. Read more>>
Farjana Khalil
It’s so crazy, I’m going through so much in life right now little bit about me I’m 27 years old an aries, I have been on my own for two years since 25 I moved out alone from Atlanta to Baltimore to Brooklyn NYC. Atlanta Ga is my hometown, and I moved out because I was in a toxic household and it was rough and tough for me. I come from a south asian culture and background with traditional values and religious values and the understanding has always been tough in my household with modern american lifestyles. Read more>>
Michael Collins
Wow…I could share so much about this, but, life is rarely a straight road. I didn’t find my passion, my purpose till my late thirties and it involved a lot of failures. Trying things and realizing it wasn’t for me and mostly, it involved detaching myself from this idea that being successful meant making a lot of money or having status. Read more>>
