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.
Kyla Peterson
Discovering my purpose has been a journey that continues to unfold through out the years. It has been shaped by my deep connection to surfing and the ocean, as well as an overall love to Mother Nature. Initially, I followed the conventional path, pursuing careers that promised financial stability, like working as a dental assistant. However, the pandemic became the moment when I sensed a lack of motivation in my work. It was during this time of uncertainty that I had the opportunity to assist a friend with her surf lessons. Read more>>
Alison Hernon
After working in the industry for a long time, I decided to venture on my own and start my own Styling and Magazine (PhotoBook Magazine) business. PhotoBook, I targeted interests that I had such as sustainability, body positive, inclusion, travel, fashion and art. I didn’t have the know how or the resources to run a full magazine, but I knew my perserverance, determination and work ethic would be a winning formula. Read more>>
Mercia Silva Eichmann
“Education does not transform the world. Education transforms people. People transform the world”. (Paulo Freire) Nice to meet you, my name is Mércia Silva Eichmann. My story does not begin with myself, as many of us Brazilians, who seek other waters to navigate, carry with us the weight of a deep education unwritten by our families, friends, loved ones, and those who pass through our lives. I could not begin my journey without first acknowledging those who came before me. Read more>>
Dr. Robyn Ringberg
Finding my purpose was a journey that wove together my passions, experiences, and the desire to make a meaningful impact. It all started with personal training. I loved helping people achieve their fitness goals, but I soon realized I wanted to go deeper, to aid in their recovery and enhance their mobility beyond what I could as a trainer. This led me to pursue physical therapy, driven by a desire to help people move better and enjoy an active lifestyle. Read more>>
Rosie Palarchio
Starting from a young age, I knew I had a niche for being in a career that had to do with design. In 7th grade I loved to sew, and draw clothing, I for sure thought I would grow up to be a fashion designer. When I was in high school I would offer my services to my peers and do their hair and makeup for events. Whether it was school dances or Halloween parties, I thrived being able to create unique looks for others. Read more>>
Heidi Low
Relaxing on my back patio one lazy hot July afternoon my text alert pinged, “This is it! You won’t be hearing from me for several months.” Because it was from Ed, it carried a context. We’d encouraged each other’s fantasies around the notion of leaving our careers in politics to follow some crazy dream. He didn’t end up going anywhere, but his text sent my imagination to another world. Read more>>
Chelsea Burnett
When I was two years old, I would hear thunder and run excitedly to the nearest door or window and watch the storm roll in. Storms didn’t scare me, which is abnormal for that age. Loud thunder and high winds typically frightens children, and that’s expected. But not for me! Read more>>
Shineth Cunanan Gonzales
My purpose is rooted in the inspiration and education of the next generation. As a teacher, I hold a pivotal role in molding the future through the dissemination of knowledge, the cultivation of critical thinking, and the encouragement of creativity. I assist students in honing their social skills, building self-confidence, and fostering a sense of responsibility. The achievements and growth of my students are a source of pride for me, rendering teaching a rewarding profession. Read more>>
Derek Nielsen
It all began long ago when I started traveling the world. I fell in love with learning about other cultures, new landscapes, and the wildlife within these new places. However, the more destinations I traveled to, the more I realized the planet was in trouble. Even 20 years ago, I was starting to see deforestation and melting glaciers at a level I knew was not sustainable. Read more>>
Edward Anassah
In the face of personal adversity and profound loss, my journey to finding purpose in my career path and starting the Humble Beginning Stories blog has been deeply rooted in the lessons and sacrifices of my parents, particularly my dear mother, and the indomitable spirit of my sister. Read more>>
Rackesh & Brithany Neath
We found our purpose simply by trusting in God. All our lives we have been cooking but never took it seriously. Cooking was always a passion for us, but it was not a career choice until the pandemic of 2020. We both were working and Brithany lost her job. We didn’t know why but trusted God to provide and make a way. Read more>>
Samantha Greiff
Finding my way back to purpose and to its capacity to be the energizing, motivating, and satisfying motor of my life is an ongoing process!! I like to think of life as a labyrinth, a really complex and intricate puzzle. We all have circumstances or paradoxes that make our puzzles seem impossible. Read more>>
Tyler Wooten
Embarking on the quest to find your purpose can be a rollercoaster of emotions – frustrating, yet undeniably exhilarating. It’s a journey that doesn’t necessarily have a final destination; instead, it’s a continual process of self-discovery and growth. Read more>>
Ovais Malik
Unlike many people, becoming a voice actor has been a lifelong passion of mine. I was heavily influenced by the cartoons I grew up watching like The Disney Afternoon, which included TaleSpin, DuckTales, Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, etc. to other shows like The Transformers, Gargoyles, He-Man, X-Men and so many more as well as video games that I’d play as I got older and people that came into my life at different points in time. Read more>>
M.A. Kastle
When I was young I enjoyed reading and the books that influenced me led to me writing. I wanted to create stories the same way those writers had. As I grew up my love for writing remained, however, family and jobs kept it a hobby, something I did when I had time, rather than turning it into a profession. Despite a successful career, I wasn’t satisfied. Read more>>
Stephanie Cadogan
I struggled to find my purpose when I reunited with my mother after 27 years, just as she was nearing the end of her life. The one thing that brought us together was my work with a music artist. Read more>>
Henry Mitchell
“Purpose” can be defined as the reason for something’s existence. For example, the purpose of a screwdriver is to tighten and loosen screws, which is straightforward for inanimate objects. However, defining an individual’s purpose can be more complex. Sometimes, it’s apparent, like how Michael Phelps appears to exist to swim fast. But assuming someone else’s purpose won’t help you discover your own. Read more>>
Wendy Hickey
Working in the billboard industry for 25 years, when I first got started I was always fascinated with the designers ability to create effective and memorable ads for our clients business and brands. I spent a tremendous amount of time working through campaigns with our design teams, which then led me to serve on the board of directors for a local arts council. Read more>>
Joshua Gabert
It took me many years to pinpoint my purpose. I always found myself being envious of my friends and their success at being artists, and business owners that are being paid to be creative. Not only was I beginning to be jealous of their success, but I began to adopt their sense of purpose to be mine. I allowed myself to believe that I needed to be as successful as they were, but this only caused me to become depressed. Read more>>
Alex Piscopo
Curly Cue Design Studio is rooted in overcoming adversity and encouraging others to fully embrace their uniqueness. The name Curly Cue stems from my natural curly and wild hair. I was made fun of from a young age as all the girls around me had stick-straight locks that looked SO different from mine. I was told “Something’s wrong with you” and “Why don’t you look like us” too many times to count. Read more>>
Emily Schulz
Life was never really “normal” for me. At 18 months old, I had a Near Death Experience that caused some developmental issues. This impacted my ability to navigate the traditional school system. However, I was determined to conform and overcome this perceived learning disability; inadvertently, I sacrificed my childhood in my relentless pursuit of normalcy. Read more>>
Sam Lobell
Life is funny. Sometimes we don’t know why things happen and can often get upset if they don’t seem to go our way, but sometimes, (and it might take a while to be able to reflect and realize), if we roll with it and stay optimistic and focused the purpose or reason will reveal itself. I started my career working for a commodities trading firm in Manhattan at a young age. It helped put me through school and thought me some real life skills (the real school). Read more>>
Jen Morris
I embarked on my first pregnancy bright-eyed and horribly naive. I thought I was as prepared as I could be. I read some books. Took the childbirth classes. Did the CPR certification. Practiced diapering. Read more>>
Alex Menache
The Poet David Whyte often talks about the experience of shyness and awe as the doorway to finding opportunities and deepening our desires. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been highly aware of the environments, conversations and people that brought up that feeling— a specific flavor of inspiration that we can either experience passively or actively. To experience inspiration actively is to find a way into the source (i.e. picking up a book, inviting someone out to coffee, applying for a job, taking a trip, etc.) Read more>>
Tatianna Richardson
My mother passed away in 2015. I’d found out I was pregnant and in the middle of a PhD program. I was profoundly unhappy. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was high risk, on bed rest, trying to write my dissertation. I couldn’t. Each time I tried, I would get stuck. Yet, I would drift off to read romance. I pivoted, writing my first romance in 2019. It was not great, but I knew I’d found my calling because I was happy. Read more>>
Motoko Yasue
It took a lifetime to realize my purpose and pursue my dream as a fine artist. I realized the passion and deep appreciation of the arts has been deep inside me since I was a kid. After many years and leaving the corporate world, I wanted to actively pursue the arts and life as an artist. Read more>>
