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.
Claire Glass
I found my purpose slowly and over time. I always knew what my passions were: creativity, music, and art in general. It’s easy to confuse purpose with passion though, and for many years I didn’t understand the difference. I was left feeling like I had all these tools, but no toolbox. Purpose is where your passions have a place in the world; it creates belonging for your skills and proclivities. Read more>>
Michael Ashley
My purpose as a Certified Pedorthist is rooted in my family history. After both of my maternal grandparents succumbed to diabetic complications, when the opportunity to assist others in that position arose, I went for it. I get a sense of fulfillment each time I assist one of my diabetic patients with proper footwear & orthotics. The knowledge that I have potentially helped them save a toe, their foot & even their life is very satisfying. Read more>>
Brendan Kramp
I painted and drew as a kid and always enjoyed it. It was something that came natural to me and my parents could put me at a table with crayons and pencils and let me go for hours. It was after high school and formal education came into play that I was “talked out” of art as a focus, even though I had been able to delve into it in high school. Read more>>
Maleeka Hollaway
I believe I am finding my purpose each day that I receive the gift of life. I aim to inspire others to live, do, and be better than they imagined. I remember trying to figure out what my life was all about. I knew I woke up and did things every day, but it took years to finally feel alive, like an active participant in my life. I had a few life experiences I needed to grow through to get me to where I am today. Read more>>
Claudia Estrella
I was born and raised in Mexico. Got my Bachelor’s degree on accounting and run a few business. Living there life was easy to live. I got married and moved to USA with my husband. New to the language and to the systems around this country I found myself an educated young person, struggling and overwhelmed with the everyday things. To rent an apartment, call costumer service and it took me some time,but with some work I manage to figure it out. Read more>>
Kathy Murphy
Reading this question has made me think about purpose – what my purpose is, what our purpose, as a couple and business-owners, has become. Read more>>
Doris Garrett M.C.L.C.
When I was eight months pregnant with my second child, I was preparing divorce papers. The experience was intense, filled with mixed emotions, but it also propelled me toward my calling. Today, as a certified Professional Master Life Coach specializing in relationship and separation anxiety, I am committed to helping others navigate the emotionally charged terrains of their lives. Read more>>
Tiffany Hines
Finding my purpose was pretty challenging for years. I knew the gifts and talents I had came from a pain I experienced and that was from my mom going through some mental health challenges. My siblings and I became dependent upon each other for love and comfortability because losing your mom mentally is not something we could have thought about. Read more>>
Valerie Hoffman
I have loved photography since I was a small child. I could always be found with a camera in my hand! I also love being out in nature, and come alive when I am out capturing the beauty of God’s creation. I love being able to share those special moments with others. Read more>>
Carl Reid
I was lucky. I fell in love with film-making when I was around four years old. I was at a party my parents were attending. It was a grown up gathering, and there wasn’t too much for me to do. So, I wandered into the basement, where “Return of the Jedi” was playing on TV. My eyes grew large as I watched Luke Skywalker launch an attack on Jabba’s sail barge. I’d never seen anything like it. Read more>>
Emely Acevedo Arias
Since I was a kid, I have always been drawn to animation and drawing. Every time I would go home from school, I would turn on the TV and be amazed by the shows on Cartoon Network or Disney Channel. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I would see these characters having adventures and feeling so real, and I just knew I wanted to do that. Read more>>
Jes Reger Davis
Wedged between city streets and green hillsides, I grew up in my backyard surrounded by summer breezes whispering in the trees, the smells of honeysuckle and sodden earth after a storm, and distant birdsong on a rainy day. I’ve always felt connected to nature and Appalachia. Somewhere in those hills, I discovered my love for nature and painting, and I knew that I needed to share that with others. Read more>>
Matt Belknap
I’m not sure if I have found *my* purpose, or if I even believe in an over-arching “life’s purpose,” but I do think it’s important to have *a* purpose, and I’ve found a few of them in my life. They tend to appear when I’m pursuing something else and reach a dead end. Read more>>
Andy Ginseng
Oddly enough, I think I found my purpose by repeatedly avoiding it and having it catch up to me anyway. I’ve always felt, at my core, a need to build something new out of the parts of who I am. In this case, that becomes songs and albums. I think what drew me to make music initially was the fact that it gave me a way to take all of the pieces of me, that I feel like don’t normally fit well, and piece them back together in a way that better illustrates the thoughts and feelings I really have. Read more>>
Sykora Zabel-Karr
I discovered my passion for holistic wellness through a combination of personal experiences and professional opportunities that ultimately shaped my path. Growing up, I was always an active individual, engaging in multiple sports and enjoying the outdoors. This prompted me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. Read more>>
Amy Robbins
When I was 5 years old I asked my dad what I needed to do in college to run my own business. I didn’t exactly know what that would look like but I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Even at a young age I knew I wanted to solve problems and help people but it wasn’t until 2015 that this would become a reality. Read more>>
Jeffrey Tarver
Finding my purpose was a journey of soul searching and external experiences. While I’ve worked in various fields, none provided the sense of fulfillment that I yearned for. It was in the intersections of sports, mentorship, and community upliftment that I felt a deep resonance. The creation and success of LIFE League stands testament to this. Read more>>
Amy Kleist
I found my purpose by doing my work of healing. I realized that as I was healing I was attracting others who wanted to heal from their trauma too. Now, my mission is to radiation love, inspire and empower others to join me on the healing mission. I am honored to hold space for others as they navigate their healing too. Read more>>
Romira Young
When I was younger, I was always the friend planning the trips, and inviting friends to try something new, come to annual events my family, and I, no matter how close are far it was to home. When Melanin Globe came along, it never felt like work, it was like creating one of the same experiences, but this time, with people I did not know. Read more>>
Ignacio Orellana
I haven’t found it yet but i am still pushing forward to find it. Read more>>
Marielle Helland
Finding our purpose in life wasn’t easy. We knew we were meant for more the the traditional 9-5 gird life, getting married, having kids the whole nine yards. That is how we stood out in our friend group because we just had this feeling in the pit of our gut that we were not meant for the traditional path. We also have a very similar path and the main reason we got as close as we did. Read more>>
Kathryn LeRoy
The poet, Mary Oliver, ends her poem “The Summer Day” with this question: Read more>>
YadahCarol McQuiller
I didn’t find my purpose, it found me,…when I searched for a reason for living, the tools it took to stay focus and why I am here…it appeared. God gave me my purpose , his son Jesus Christ gave me the instructions and the Holy Spirit gave me the direction to serve and be served. To do the will and obtain a beautiful life for me and my seeds.. Read more>>
Mary Starnes
I was a meth addict for 30 years and I have been in and out of jail and prison. I had an abusive childhood and I was always told that I was ugly, worthless and would never amount to anything. I was in a Faith based dorm in prison and worked through the past. Now I know that I want to help other people who are going down that road! Read more>>
Barbara Turknett Edwards
The Mission That I’m On At This Season Of My Life,Started With A Trip To Dallas Texas As The Keynote Speaker For A Celebration Of Life Brunch. I’m A Dallas Native,But I Had Been Living In South Florida For Fourteen Year. My Two Week Visit Home Turned Into Ten Years 2023. Read more>>
Ebony S. Bailey
During a challenging period in my life, I discovered my purpose. Like many others, I felt down and determined to rise above it. Writing became my outlet – expressing my emotions, desires, hopes, and thoughts that I could not voice aloud. It served as a cathartic release for me during those difficult times. Read more>>
Trish P. Miller MBA, MPH
.I can’t say that I found my purpose, but rather it found me. When I was a teenager I had an experience in the water that showed me just how important knowing how to swim was. My career in public health laid the ground work for my desire to to positively affect communities by educating them on ways to stay healthy and I chose to use this knowledge to make a difference in something that was personal to me. Read more>>
Tyler Peck
I think ones purpose is an ever-changing landscape. At least mine is. I had to learn this the hard way, though. Read more>>
Angelique Beasley
I found out my purpose When I got saved in the lord Jesus Christ I found and starting walking in my purpose when I started walking With God my purpose became clear because God began to break me mold me fill me and then use me according to his plan and everyday there wasn’t a day that he didn’t lead and guide and order my footsteps I had to be obedient and be willing to be used for raying fasting and renounce my sins and sins of my ancestors that they did knowingly and unknowingly because a lot of our purposes and destiny’s have been hidden due to Generational Curses and evil alters so walking in my purpose is not something that’s on you it has to be in you and it was in me to want yo make a change for my generation and generations to come after me ! Read more>>
Brittany Anderson
I found my purpose through my son Xander. I always knew I wanted to be a mother someday but shortly after giving birth I felt a sense of purpose that I’ve never felt before. Being a mother is part of my identity now and I love that for me. I love being truthful and honest about all the hardships that come with motherhood. Read more>>
Keyairis Henry
How did I find my purpose? That is an amazing question that honestly only took one conversation when I was in high school. Coming from a background of being homeschooled. I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. We were always encouraged to be ourselves and love whatever we were doing at the time and God had our back. Read more>>
Cori Wamsley
I honestly struggled a long time with my purpose. Read more>>
Sarah Stone
Purpose and relevance are two questions we come face to face with many times in our lives. There is no one answer to what gives our lives, or my life, purpose. When I was in my 20’s, my purpose was achieving success in the film business. In my 30s and 40s, purpose was about raising two daughters. Read more>>
Bobbie Menneg
I am a 12-year Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, I was very fortunate to have a great medical team, insurance, job that was understanding and an excellent support team. After I completed my treatments, I volunteered at the infusion center and other large cancer organizations, I noticed many cancer patients were lacking some of the very resources that I had available to me. Read more>>
David The-Gr8
I look around me. I think the most important thing that a rapper or a creative should do is establish their why and make sure that can be used as a stable foundation. My why stems from wanting to put my family and friends in better positions and break as many cycles of poverty in my community. Read more>>
Courtenay DeHoff
Throughout my television career I often felt like something was missing. I loved working in the industry and sharing stories, but I had largely hid my cowgirl background in order to fit in. The girl in the cowboy hat just didn’t have a place on mainstream television. I dressed the part. I looked the part and I hid a big piece of who I was in order to achieve the dream I thought I wanted. Read more>>
Yolanda Easton
I wish I could say that I just woke up one morning and BAM….my purpose was written out for me and all I had to do was take it and run with it. However, it didn’t quite happen that way. Finding my purpose has been a journey that continues to evolve and show up in ways I would never expect. I’ve had many a days wondering exactly what my purpose was, why am I here? Read more>>
Cortina Jackson
It was 3 days before my 40th birthday, September 2013; my neck was almost broken. When this could not be accomplished, a gun came next! I am a former police officer almost killed by my police officer husband in domestic violence. After escaping, I found myself dealing with severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and ideations. Read more>>
Dr. Jonathan V. Llamas
My journey towards becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner largely began with my desire to alleviate the suffering of individuals grappling with mental health issues across the patient gamut. This passion was not born overnight, however, as it evolved through a combination of personal struggles, adversities, experiences, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Read more>>
Karli DePanfiliis
I’ve always had a creative eye and excelled in anything that involved art throughout grade school. After graduating college with my bachelors in public relations and minor in business administration, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do for a career. I had several jobs after college in web design, advertising, health care marketing, and retail. Read more>>
Charlene Hicks
From the age of seven I began receiving messages from the spirit world. Having the ability to receive this information led me to my calling. I decided to be of service as a counselor and later became a spiritualist minister. Many people come to me and ask what their purpose in life is. Read more>>
Rosondra Franklin
I found my purpose in the passion I have for glasses and hats. I have been wearing glasses since I was in second grade. In the 90’s there were really only wire frames that really did not pop with certain clothing that I would wear. As I got older and corrective lenses and shades became more of an accessory, I was able to create more styles to pair with my frames and over time I would add a fedora or a fitted hat to really give the look a POP! Read more>>
James Johnson
While it took me some time arriving at the place of knowing my purpose, I would later find that it was not so difficult. Ultimately, it comes down to my happiness. I’m in a place in my life where everything revolves around my happiness. I’ve spent my life chasing money, and doing what was “right” according to the world, to family, to society. Read more>>
Jenny Wu
In order to answer how I found my purpose, I need to answer what is purpose. In my opinion, purpose is the underlying reason or intention behind an action, decision, or existence of something. It represents the desired outcome, goal, or meaning that drives an individual, organization, or entity to engage in specific activities, pursue particular objectives, or fulfill a particular role. Read more>>
