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.
Nathan Phillips
The struggle of finding purpose is something that I think everyone goes through. Should go through at least. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had this inner feeling that I could be more. Like everyone does when they’re a kid, I had dreams of doing this, being that, and, I was just really a day dreamer. As I look back and reflect on things though, the one thing that was always a common theme is that I was a leader. Read more>>
Kaia Pepple
Well it’s kind of a funny story. Christmas of 2022 I wanted to make my mom a homemade gift and thought she loves earrings. She had mentioned this artist of the name k2.clay (Katie Rose) she had seen online and loved her pottery. Read more>>
James Womack Jr
I grew up in the church and gave my life to Jesus Christ at a young age but I didn’t realize my purpose until my adult age. I had suffered depression and contemplated suicide. I almost gave up on life until I heard God’s voice speaking to me saying that I have purpose. I found my purpose in the midst of dark times in my life when I feel like giving up. Read more>>
Mauricio Benega
I found my purpose early days when I knew it that drawing was my passion and a natural gift. When I was a kid, I was getting my illustrations to be display at school posters and everyone wanted me to draw stuff all the time. Read more>>
Kehinde Winful
I wouldn’t say I went searching for my purpose, it feels more like it came to find me and when it arrived I just knew. From as long as I can remember I have been writing, writing stories, writing in my journal, writing poems. . writing anything. I think God puts the desires in our heart and its up to us to really lean in and go or it. Read more>>
Nikki La Croce
The moment I understood my purpose, I was sitting in my therapist’s office after about a year of weekly sessions. When I first decided to prioritize my mental health, it was because I was miserable working in the corporate world. Having graduated at the peak of the recession in 2008, there weren’t a lot of options for full time work, let alone full time work that paid well and offered health benefits. Read more>>
James thomas
I find my purpose in life that is a deeply personal and introspective journey that involves self reflection, exploration, and a willingness to embrace change. While there is no one size fits all approach I have adapted a few things to help me in that quest. Read more>>
Michelle Sider
My purpose as an artist is multi-faceted and has changed as I have matured. However, as I see it today, I found my purpose during a deep conversation with my son. At the time he was struggling with how he fit in with his peers, I gave him some advice that applied to both of us. Read more>>
Isabel Brinck
Discovering purpose in my work has been a transformative journey, necessitating both time and profound introspection. This journey has been instrumental in fostering a deep sense of connection and perseverance. Read more>>
Shelley Fehrenbacher
If you’ve personaly found your purpose in life, then you know that there isnt any obstacle that can stop you from pursuing it. It’s a heartfelt passion that allows circumstances to fall into place for your purpose to come to fruition. Read more>>
Fred Tisdale
For me, I found my purpose by chasing every dream or feeling that came to mind. I was one who thought I wanted to work the same job til I retired and not bounce from job to job because it seemed like a bad thing. Read more>>
Lynn Spencer
I can’t really say that “I found my purpose”, but rather that “my purpose found me”. Being a child born into and growing up in the horse racing industry, I was surrounded by horses and cats 24/7. As well as other animals, such as goats, birds, chickens and occasionally dogs. But mostly horses and cats, as they get along famously well. Read more>>
Arianna Lemus
I would have to say that finding my purpose took time. I am okay with accepting that time can be on our side and be a benefit. Today, I feel that my purpose is everything that I’m doing with my production company, MíraLA who is also producing the film festival for women of color filmmakers that I created in 2023 the Mírala Film Festival. Read more>>
Adrienne Smith
I believe purpose is the driving force and reason behind everything that you do. It’s what brings you the greatest fulfillment. I found my purpose through serving in ministry and helping others. Whether it’s through the music I create, the songs that I sing, the books that I write or the events that I host. Read more>>
Kweku-TeAngelo Cargile Jr.
I went through the Rites of Passage in 2010 as a high school senior through the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated: Seven Jewels Foundation Beautillion. This process taught me about myself, my ancestors, and my community. Read more>>
Taj McGill
Finding your purpose is a journey! Once I graduated from The Art Institute and worked in various capacities within the Fashion Industry, I was on a mission to uncover what made me feel alive, helped others, and pleased God. I birthed South Florida Fashion Academy, the exact type of school that I needed as a teenager. Read more>>
Dr. Olivia Wedel
I found my purpose in my work through my own experience with postpartum depression and various things that helped me on my journey with healing. I felt like if I survived what I went through that it would be part of my story to continue helping others. Read more>>
Dena Roché
It’s been a journey through the wrong jobs and the wrong path to find my purpose. I was never the 9-to-5 corporate type, though I tried to jimmy myself into that role. I’ve always had an independent streak, a love for travel and the ability to write, which led to a career as a travel journalist. Read more>>
Henry Tieu
I used to be a cardiac ICU nurse. Working in the intensive care unit, I saw that life exists in moments – moments that might not last for as long as we would like for it to be. So when I quit my job and follow my heart to pursue art, I wanted to make sure I get to live an intentional life with the time I have left. Read more>>
Craig and Merschon Hutson
We’re Craig and Merschon. Yes, we’re Americans, but we’ve lived in Ireland for over 13 years and were granted citizenship in 2018. Merschon has always been diligent about recycling and conservation and so she was delighted when she found Jennie and Minimal Waste Grocery in the Red Stables Market a number of years ago. Read more>>
Alex MacAulay
Finding one’s purpose is a never-ending quest, but it’s also one of the most rewarding endeavors we can undertake. I began the journey towards my own purpose by looking inward. I was coming off of a failed relationship, the world was returning to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic, and it was time to reflect. Read more>>
Danielle Hendon
I started college as music major, opera actually. I’ve always known I wanted a job that allowed me to do what I love. I sang through high school and that’s what I loved doing the most so I thought it would make the best major/career. Read more>>
Xander Woods
Always staying true to myself was a big help. Knowing my talents and skills and pursuing them at a professional level, countless hours of practice and observing the most successful artists of our time. I was able to unlock my purpose through this and getting out of my comfort zone. Read more>>
Tamika Hall
I feel like my purpose hit me like a tractor-trailer because it was born out of pain! Matters of the heart have always been an area of weakness and pain for me because I did not know how to be alone. And so my purpose found me after a devastating breakup, where I finally surrendered to the Lord and asked him to help me. Read more>>
Nate Thompson
Purpose is a very difficult to acquire, finely tuned machine. The minute you think you have it, you may find that you don’t. The minute you think you don’t, you may find that you have it. You also have to put in effort on your end to fulfill and maintain that purpose. It doesn’t stay naturally, forever. Read more>>
Angela Amirault
I found my purpose through grief. When I was 19 years old my father died suddenly of a heart attack. Prior to his death, I would not have believed that losing him was survivable. I finished my degree, unaware that it can take at least two years to fully grieve big losses. I didn’t give myself compassion or the grace I deserved and believed that after a few months I should have felt better. Spoiler, I did not feel better. Read more>>
Wendy Taylor
On February 24th, 2003, I was headed to a meeting on a beautiful winter day, without a care in the world. Then my secretary called. I couldn’t understand a word. I told her, “Slow down, take a breath, it can’t be that bad.” When she spoke again, her voice was clear as she said, “Your house is on fire.” And I thought, “That’s okay. I can fix that.” Read more>>
Storm Nguyen
I believe my purpose as a young creative and individual stems from my upbringing and childhood. I was born and raised by Immigrant Parents from Vietnam in a culturally diverse neighborhood located in the City of Seattle. Read more>>
Eric Williams
As I grew up I’d always be approached by people for varies reasons, or so I thought. At first it was a bit overwhelming because I never thought what people saw in me, I always thought “why me”. I always knew I was a person of service but one of my teachers in grade school told me I was a light to brighten peoples day. Read more>>
Destiney Danielle
Trial and error! I was the little girl who had her whole life mapped out by puberty and I was dedicated to fulfilling my mission. As I sit here tickling 30, living a completely different life than the one I had planned, I recognize the err in my ways and the beauty in living a life surrendered to the process of purpose. Read more>>
Michelle Donovan
I learned from a young age that you have to find purpose & the silver lining in every situation. I’m not saying that’s always easy but to keep your sanity & mental health in check it’s necessary. My purpose within my photography business came initially when my children were little. Read more>>
Karen Thaco
Since I was little I have always been an animal lover and the planet. I always tried to rescue animals from the streets, take care of them, and try to make other people respect them…I didn’t know exactly how to link this to my work as a graphic designer, on the contrary I felt continually disturbed by how the commercial industry affects the environment/animals in many ways… Read more>>
Seun Dare
Music has been ingrained in me since childhood. My brother’s own musical journey sparked my curiosity, leading me into the enchanting world of melodies and rhythms. From that moment, I knew my destiny was intertwined with music, and the rest, as they say, is history. Read more>>
Alee’a Harris
If you’re like me, you apply to things like contests or grants and never win — ever. Well, that’s exactly how I felt when I applied to win a grant through Shutterstock’s The Create Fund. The program helps, “historically excluded artists with financial and professional support to help close access gaps, fill content gaps, and further diversity and inclusion within our content library and our contributor network.” Read more>>
Jeremy Wellman
I believe most people think is you are searching for your one, singular purpose. I thought that for most of my life. That my career in the military and the subsequently working for the government in Afghanistan was my purpose. Protecting people was that purpose. I was good at my job but after sustaining injuries overseas I was unable to return to my purpose. Read more>>
