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.
Ariel Nathanson
My work and business, Finances for Feminists, is about addressing our personal finances through a feminist lens. This perspective allows us to acknowledge the social and societal barriers that prevent access to wealth, resources, and stability. Think about the impact on our lives and financial well-being of the gendered pink tax, investment gap, wage gap, and more. Read more>>
Liz Fetchin
After my son was born (he’s now 9), I knew I wanted to continue working, but needed more flexibility than my 9-5 position as a marketing director could offer me. I came up with two business ideas on the last day of my maternity leave, walking my infant son around our neighborhood: A PR consulting business (which turned into Elm Ink, a business that I’m still successfully running); Read more>>
Kamry Steger
I love this question. There are many individuals that are fortunate enough to have specific gifts and talents from the day they’re born, but for others like myself, it’s within our darkest season when our purpose is birthed. Finding strength in my darkest hour pushed a passion out of me that I never knew I had within me. Read more>>
Christopher Thomas
My purpose emerged from my pain. It was born out of the desire to turn my suffering into something meaningful, to break the cycle of abuse, and to be a voice for those who couldn’t speak up. Poetry became my tool for healing, for empowerment, and for making a difference in the world. Read more>>
Breeze Arce
Finding your purpose is an interesting concept, in a world full of action I feel your purpose finds you…In my life, I never truly felt a place I could belong like I always had to tighten up in some way assimilating to the larger vibration. At the same time, I found pleasure in my own expression allowing myself to be free in every form. Read more>>
Leemour Pelli
I found out at a very young age that my purpose and passion in life was art. I was deeply enamored with art, and knew that I wanted to create and live the life of an artist, but it was not an easy path. My first artistic inclinations manifested themselves through writing. I was always writing, mostly poetry, and reading. Read more>>
Sophia Wyrick
Throughout my life, I’ve always been one to want to help others. It’s deep within my nature and who I am to my core. As I transitioned from high school to college, I knew I wanted a career that would help others while providing meaningful memories and moments in someone’s life. I always said I wanted to have a job that gave a sense of purpose to someone, while giving them a voice when they felt like they didn’t have one. It’s ironic that I’m now doing exactly that. Read more>>
Joseph Termini
Hi! My name is Joseph Termini, I’m a 17-year-old Videographer/Photographer & Philanthropist, (Owner of Termini Media). I was born and raised in Kansas City. Let’s jump back to the beginning of my story. When I was a little toddler, I used to tell my mom, “Put me behind the TV so I can be on TV Mommy!” At the time, I thought that putting myself behind the TV would show me through the TV, lol. After that, my mom already knew I had a special passion for being in the spotlight/media. So that’s where it all started. Read more>>
Gina Tucci
I always wanted to be involved with sports. I saw it as a way to connect with my dad who was an avid sports fan. I grew up witnessing the rise of ESPN and Linda Cohn. I imagined playing a multitude of sports and maybe one day being a sports broadcaster like Linda, a smart, strong female well versed in all things sports. I played many sports but found my way to soccer in 7th grade when my dad changed jobs and we moved to a new town. Prior to that, I’d never touched a soccer ball. Read more>>
Kymberly Harris
I love this question, because more and more I feel clear that a sense of purpose is both ever evolving and also, may I say, the meaning of life. There are certain aspects of life that contain a built in purpose: family, school, jobs, religion. But inside of any social structure, as we evolve, we have the opportunity to discover purpose in a more meaningful and personal way. Read more>>
Langston Faulk
Finding my purpose was a journey. It was shaped by various influences. Growing up in a community rich in cultural diversity and spirit, I was inspired by the stories of those who overcame adversity. Growing up, I faced challenges that many in my community also confronted, and these struggles became a driving force in shaping my aspirations. Read more>>
Kori Whisenant
I have always loved helping people. That’s one thing that has never changed. However, law was not my first choice in career. I went to college to become a psychologist. I loved the study of the mind and how we interact with one another. Read more>>
Whitney White
As a young, stay at home mom in a new city, I really discovered I needed a way to find a purpose outside of being a mom. I have loved sharing my cleaning tips, schedules and tricks for many years, so I turned that passion into a business. Starting a cleaning business gave me the freedom of my own schedule, being able to bring my kids along with me, and doing something that I love! Read more>>
Jen Hill
I like helping people. I thought I could do this by easing their stress and anxiety when it comes to moving. I moved across the country six years ago and experienced that anxiety and stressed myself while preparing my home to sell. This relatability helps me connect with my clients. Along with assurance and patience. I’ve always had an eye for design, and when it comes to staging, it comes naturally for me. Again, I just want to help people. Read more>>
Jordan Young
I feel my career in ceramics was by total chance, originally I was attending Orange Coast College to receive an Associates Degree as well as finish the EMT course they offered as my plan was to become a firefighter. With any degree an elective is required and I ended up taking ceramics, from the very first day inside the studio I found my passion. Read more>>
Shona Dion
As a young child, I was enamored with fashion and makeup. I remember playing in all of mother’s makeup and experimenting with the colors. While I was in high school, I participated in a beauty pageant, won, and received a modeling scholarship. These earlier experiences fueled my lifelong passion and purpose for the beauty industry. Read more>>
Kaia Hofmeister
My journey to finding my purpose was a blend of curiosity and unexpected discoveries. In college, I was on track for a career in journalism, guided by my Mass Communications studies. However, everything changed when I took a few classes in video production and media branding. These courses opened my eyes to the power of visual storytelling and the dynamic world of digital media. Read more>>
Jalen Jaleel
My purpose found me. It found me at a very early age. My purpose has always been to be a griot. A storyteller. As a child, my mother gave me a book full of black children’s stories and sometimes read them to me. I still have the book to this day. Read more>>
Abigail Parker
As a freshman in high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. At that age you start to think about college and a career and what you’ll make of yourself one day. Growing up in a small town with about 1,200 people, I thought it would be cool to be a businesswoman. I could picture myself wearing a fancy suit with a skirt and heels and carrying a black briefcase into work every day. Read more>>
Rachel Rose
For me my purpose has always been to create. I’ve always been an expressive person and creating has always helped me express myself. With photography I found that I not only get to express creatively and show my artistic side, but I also get to express who I am and my personality. I’m lucky enough to have clients who understand my personality and my zany side as well as appreciate my photography. Read more>>
Keegan Rodgers
Making chocolate chip cookies may seem like a simple thing, and on the surface it is. It’s only a cookie after all. What drew me to baking and pastries was my connection to chocolate chip cookies and my Granny. As a kid, my sister, my Granny and I would make what seemed like thousands of cookies at Christmas to give to family and friends. Read more>>
Megan Zwerlein
This is an interesting topic that reminds me of a quote by Soren Kierkegaard “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” I never set out to consciously find my purpose, but looking back I can see now that I was destined to find it through the pain and suffering that began very early on in my childhood, As far back as I can actually remember, I was struggling to reach an answer to the incessant and unanswerable “why’s”. Read more>>
Shameka Jackson
For me, it came through seeking God in prayer and His word. I believe that when you posture yourself before God and truly seek after Him, He will reveal Himself and provide answers to the things we are seeking Him for. Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Read more>>
Sharla Hallett
From the time I was a little girl, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I went to college and was one of the very few people I knew that did not change my major. I graduated with my teaching degree and eagerly entered the teaching world. I loved it, and I enjoyed a twenty – three year career as an elementary school educator. Read more>>
MarDe Brooks
I believe that we all are born with a special purpose in life. Unfortunately, not everyone finds it or sometimes they know what it is and are afraid to take the chances necessary to fulfill it. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to perform in front of people. I strted my first band round the age of 17. After a couple years of rehearsing in a bedroom we performed around the southeast for about 12 years. Read more>>
Kyle Trent
My brother and I found purpose in helping others build their lives into nothing but creating beautiful master pieces. It’s always been a dream of mine to help people and what a better way to do it than to add beautiful art work all over the coast. One avenue to doing that was found within the space coast mural festival. So many way for artists to thrive throughout the event. Read more>>
Patrice Jackson
An Excerpt from my book “Disrupting Burnout: The Professional Woman’s Lifeline to Finding Purpose” : As dean of students at a university, part of my job was to respond to and manage student crises. However, no professional development workshop, graduate course, or textbook could have prepared me for the tragedy we faced on that April day in 2015. Read more>>
Nikki Smith
I’ve always had a passion for helping people. For a long time I was stuck in a 9 to 5 in corporate America. While the pay and benefits were nice I never really felt like I was truly making a difference. During covid like a lot of people I spent time reevaluating my life. I knew I wasn’t feeling fulfilled and wanted to be doing more. Read more>>
Wil Fletcher
I unexpectedly stumbled upon my purpose, much like many others. Initially, I had a vision of my future as a pediatrician, only to realize that it might not be the path for me. I ventured through various industries including banking, warehouse, call center, and security, before unexpectedly enrolling in a CNA class for the paid training it offered. Read more>>
Rick Wayne
A group of neighborhood friends gathered in my parent’s unfinished basement to recreate a scene from The Matrix on my father’s camcorder. The images of Neo on the VHS player sparked not just a scene-by-scene replication but a revelation—a glimpse into the infinite possibilities in the world of movies. Little did I know that this discovery would become the cornerstone of a decades-long odyssey, marked by chance, perseverance and whole lot of crazy. Read more>>
Gina Panozzo
I found my purpose in life through deep reflection and academic preparation. I realized at a young age I wanted to help others but in a significant way that would leave long-lasting results. When others were hurt or suffering, I internally felt their pain. When helping others, I have learned it is the most selfless and rewarding act. Becoming a nurse and advancing my education has allowed me to help individuals and organizations across the nation. Read more>>
Andi Hembroff
I am most in my element when I’m in the woods. I love walking through the trees, soaking in all the sounds, smells, and life of the forest. Being in the woods has always fed my soul and quieted that part of me that can be so noisy at times. Life moves so fast and so much can happen, but being in the woods just quiets all that chatter and stops the clock. I am always excited to cross paths with fungi friends. Read more>>
Rikki Brockett
Growing up like most women do, there were a lot of judgements. Am I skinny enough? Do I fit in? Am I being too loud? The list is endless. I found myself being more quiet to suit others, taking unnecessary risks to fit in, dimming myself so as to not be too bright or overly noticeable. As I grew older and became integrated with different perspectives, I realized we all have some form of fear (even the most beautiful and confident of people). Read more>>
Jordan Rivera
Morning Coffee Chat – i found my purpose to start a morning show in 2018 this became my purpose it became my reason to bring news to the community . when i was diagnosed with epilepsy i didn’t want to stop what i was doing. Read more>>
Alfredo Ramirez
Finding purpose comes from the dedication to helping others and witnessing the direct impact of these efforts. There’s a profound realization in seeing the success of others, which in turn helps lift more people. This creates a multiplier effect, where each success story breeds more success, benefiting entire communities. Read more>>
