Finding & Living with Purpose

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.

Rehman Siddiq

It has been an a journey of self-discovery and progress to find my mission. Originally from Pakistan, I started MacroHype in New York City with the intention of building a profitable company. As my marketing firm expanded, I realized that my mission was to have a significant influence in addition to being successful in business. Read more>>

Taylor Gusman

You know that scene from Euphoria where “Maddie knew who she was from a very early age”… yeah that’s me. I always knew I was meant to do something important and meaningful in this world My grandmother always instilled in me that I am meant to be in the beauty space, to create something amazing. I always had a deep love for beauty! Read more>>

Sabrina Thomas

Finding my purpose is an ongoing journey that involves introspection, exploration, and a deep connection with my values and passions. Here’s how I approach it: Reflect on My Passions and Interests: I take time to think about what truly excites me and brings me joy. This could be hobbies, activities, or causes that I feel passionate about. I ask myself what I would do if money and time were no object. Read more>>

Michelle Couch-friedman

I have always known I wanted to be in a service profession. As a young girl, I began volunteering as a candy striper. I still remember how excited I was to receive my red and white uniform. I put it on immediately, stood in front of a full-length mirror, and stared at my professional image. I was amazed and proud that the local hospital had bestowed it on me. I was 11 years old. Read more>>

Marya Meyer

I believe that each of us are multi-purpose. I have a theory that certain issues and tasks have our names on them. We are surrounded by ideas, issues, problems, and possibilities, but we cannot tackle them all. To find my purpose at any given point in time, I just had to be calmly alert enough to identify which ones were truly for me.  Read more>>

Kevin Ford

This has been a question that I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about. I think like many people, when I started out, I began doing something that I had an aptitude for, that I was challenged by and felt fulfilled doing. After being out of school for some time it began to feel like I was making art out of habit or just because I had already invested so much time in doing it. At the same time, I had begun teaching and I had a certain natural aptitude for it, and of course teaching is a “noble” profession” and it can be quite rewarding when you make a real and measurable difference in a student’s life. Read more>>

David Franklin

As a singer/musician, I found my purpose in music through staying true to myself, and following my own path. Growing up, having been raised as a Christian, I was always taught the importance of having good impact, and giving positive messages through everything I do. In addition to this, creating a positive image for myself, being truthful, and overall just being taught to be a well rounded person also played a role in that. Having been raised on good morals, it only seemed right to me that I create music that embodies such things that I am as a person.  Read more>>

Austin Tuck

Finding my purpose has been a journey filled with passion, compassion, and a deep love for animals. It all started with a simple walk in the park with a German Shorthaired Pointer named Finn, where I noticed the joy and freedom he felt simply existing and exploring the world around him. That moment sparked something inside me—a realization that I wanted to dedicate my life to enhancing the lives of pets and their parents. Over the next several years, I learned how exactly I was going to do that. Read more>>

Shelby Nunn

One of human’s most common desires is to find purpose. The word “purpose” can be triggering to some, cliche to others or a huge question mark asking “who or where does it come from?” For me personally, I believe purpose doesn’t come from people or things; not your work, your finances, your family, your friends or even yourself. I fully believe my purpose is found in Jesus. The things of this world are fleeting & temporary.  Read more>>

Nhung Nguyen

I started working in the beauty industry since I was in high school. At that time, I was just working because my parents own a salon. I was pursuing my career in pharmacy but realized that that was not my calling. I was going for something my parents wanted. When I moved to LA, nails wasn’t just nails to me. It was art! I was drawn and was loving it. I always have the love for art, and to me these nails were my little canvas to create something beautiful. When I decided to open my salon suite, my parents wasn’t happy.  Read more>>

Stella Davies
\

I believe that each and everyone of us has a soul mission or purpose, and that no one’s is going to look the same as anyone else’s! I feel like I have been gently (and sometimes more intensely) guided towards my soul path all my life. For me it has been what I felt attracted to, what my heart feels uplifted by, and sometimes what I just feel I absolutely have to do! Read more>>

Ruzanna Takhman

I came to the United States as a refugee from Eastern Europe at the age of 7. From a young age, I was taught that my only purpose in life was to become a mother, a wife, and to financially support my family—nothing more. However, this never felt sufficient for me. I silently rebelled against these norms, all while continuing to play the role of the perfect daughter. As I entered my mid-30s, I began to realize that my path might look different from what I had always been conditioned to believe. Read more>>

James Troe

A few years ago, I stood at a whiteboard before twelve business owners at a peer council meeting. I was unpacking the hedgehog concept from the Jim Collins book Good to Great. If you aren’t familiar with this book, Collins studied several companies that had sustained exceptional profitability over a long period, discovering what they all had in common. One of things the great companies shared was a simple formula that Collins dubbed a hedgehog because it’s both simple and effective, like the hedgehog’s strategy of curling into a ball to wart off attack. Read more>>

Mary Cameron Rogers

Finding your purpose is something very personal and can be quite vulnerable. I think we all grow up wanting to do better and to do more, but at the end of the day, it’s about what really makes you happy and fulfills your heart, what you can look back on and be absolutely proud of. Your life will really help your purpose come to surface In different ways if you keep aiming towards your goals. I understand there is a lot of fear going after what makes you feel the most alive, But getting through that makes you realize how special your purpose is.  Read more>>

Brandon Lovelace

The way I found my purpose was Influenced by my up-bringing and the environment I was raised in. Not seeing success in the rough area of gang-infested South Fulton, Atlanta drove me to not be like my peers and the influences around me. My father was a rolling stone and my mother did the best she could, but experiencing the luxury of having nice clothes and shoes was unfortunately out of the question. I vowed to one day to create not only a brand, but provide hope and style to those who aren’t as fortunate as the majority of the population.  Read more>>

Deniz Karnona

I found my purpose through a journey of exploring my passions and experiences. Working in advertising and brand marketing showed me the importance of creativity, but it wasn’t until I co-founded my first business that I realized my true passion was supporting small businesses. That led to creating Dreamers Market, where I could build a community and help others thrive. It took time, but by following what truly fulfilled me, I found my purpose in uplifting others and connecting people. Read more>>

Clara (ciara) Throckmorton

My purpose was discovered in 2011. The year I studied at Columbia University in New York, New York. I applied as a guest student to further my education as an aspiring journalist. The world had come to a halt and families were recovering from the devastation of the Twin Towers attacks. I had just gotten accepted as a summer student to attend the distinctive Columbia University. I was jolted with fear, excitement, and confusion. I contemplated, should I stay home and be with my family and reconsider my decision, or should l proceed and enter into a new world of opportunity?  Read more>>

Patty Palace

Working on things that I love like Real Estate Investments and Teaching Ballet. Read more>>

Maryann Petri

I found my purpose from being exposed to a very unjust court system and not only wanted to share my experiences but warn others that if this could happen to me it could happen to them. Read more>>

Ute Bivona

I have drawn and painted my whole life long. Painting has always been my way to create a better, colorful world when things went wrong. But I was scared to be an artist so I first chose financial security and studied Communicational Design and started as a Designer and Illustrator for textbook publishers and layouter for state authorities. But to be sincere – it ruined my creativity because it didn’t give room for artistic freedom. Read more>>

Christian Vázquez

At first, my focus in life was my family. They were everything to me. Then me and my ex broke up, and it has been a battle to see my kids since then. I fell apart emotionally, and I spent some time in a very dark space. My music was gone. But then my brother, Kultra, told me “It’s time to rap again.” I said, “I don’t know what to talk about.” He said, “You know pain now, so give it a try.” Read more>>

Jenya Tucker

My name is Jenya Tucker and I am originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. I started my career in hospitality right after university. I worked at world wide hotel chain Four Seasons. Then I moved to US, and continued my career at Four Seasons Washington DC as a sales manager. I loved the atmosphere, the ethics and people around me, but after achieving my annual goal by 125%, it was time to think about senior position. But I realized that that’s not what I would like to do and that doesn’t bring me joy. Read more>> 

Donald Bialkowski

i found my purpose through a journey marked by struggle, healing, and a deep desire to create meaningful change. growing up in a working-class family in green bay, wisconsin, i faced challenges that shaped who i am today. with my father often absent and a legacy of intergenerational loss and depression, i turned to substances as a way to cope during my early adolescence. Read more>>

Katerina Drok

This is a very interesting story. And the funniest thing is that now I’m helping to find my Destiny to other people who are confused or lost the Path. As soon as I started asking myself these questions, people, knowledge, books began to come into my life… Read more>>

Maresha Johnson

I discovered my purpose at a very young age. No matter what I tried to do, I was always drawn back to helping others, to empathizing, counseling, and teaching. Even as a child, writing became my outlet, a way to process my feelings, though I didn’t share my work at the time. Growing up in a challenging environment filled with negativity and discouragement, I faced mental struggles without anyone to guide me through the trauma. These experiences shaped me and fueled my determination to be better, to rise above the circumstances I was in. Read more>>

Heather Martinez

On November 26, 2017 I was a mentally ill, alcoholic on the verge of divorce and I attempted to take my life. I had hit rock bottom and dug a hole so deep for myself and the only way I saw out was to end my life. I was tired of the highs and lows and I was full of shame and guilt. I swallowed 60, 600mg tablets of lithium after a night of heavy binge drinking, along with several other pills I collected from our medicine cabinet.  Read more>>

Jeff Katz

My daughter Julia has very severe developmental disabilities and we were told that she would never crawl. Twenty one years later she does not crawl because she has learned how to walk. Her walk can be quite unsteady almost “Frankensteiny” but after countless hours working with therapists and wearing a variety of braces on her legs she walks. While she will always be a “toddler” because her developmental age is eighteen month, she inspires me every day. Watching her provides me with my purpose every single day. I am called to speak for, and advocate on behalf of, people like Julia. Read more>>

Cori Van Wingerden

To be honest I never saw myself as becoming a family photographer. That wasn’t until I had a family of my own. Once my oldest was born, in 2020, I realized just how fleeting every moment was when having a child, and how capturing those moments, was the only way to truly freeze it in time, forever. But even having my greatest role, of being a mom, and a dream professional job, there was a small thing missing.  Read more>>

Xinyuan Xu

Growing up, I was always taught to follow the rules and conform to expectations. With my dad as an electrical engineer and my mom as an accountant, my path seemed set in a predictable mold. It wasn’t until 2019 that everything changed—I moved to Syracuse to study photography. This decision was anything but conventional for me, but it turned out to be a revelation. Read more>>

Reynna Romo

My purpose came to my attention in 2017 while I was experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder in Santa Monica. I held a strong sense of community by being generous with excess survival essentials (within my means) like food, water, and a safe place to rest. There are a lot of different plants on the coast.  Read more>>

Prentice Hicks

I found clay in high school art class. It allowed me to turn fantasy into reality in the shape and hue of native American water vessels. At least that what what my imagination told me they were. I realized I was on to something, summer jobs were work, parking lot attendant, trash can emptier, yard work, and I knew I didn’t want to work a regular living, why not make art or craft and connect it to people who appreciated such.  Read more>>

Claudia Pinzon

When I arrived to this country 10 years ago, I faced setbacks and circumstances that I had never experienced before. I am a lawyer by profession but a chef by passion. My name is Claudia Pinzon, born in Colombia, founder and CEO of LA CASA DE CLAUDIA EVENTOS LLC. Finding my purpose was difficult, but walking the path was a lot of learning for me as a woman, mother and wife.  Read more>>

Lexi Powell

I find as I move through life, my purpose continuously evolves. As I learn about the ways of the world, experience the wonders of nature, meet people from all walks of life, and take in the lessons life chooses to share with me, I become both closer to understanding my calling, and further from knowing the true depth of it. To share what I know… My purpose involves helping others see what is possible in the world. Read more>>

Janiyah Johnson

Finding my purpose has been a journey marked by trials, tribulations, and constant obstacles that the world seemed determined to throw in my path. There were moments when I felt completely shut out, especially by those closest to me, leaving me to navigate life’s challenges without the physical or mental support that many take for granted. Despite the pain and struggles, I have always managed to find a way to give back, to help others, and to find fulfillment in creating opportunities for those who, like me, have faced their own battles. Read more>>

Kiana Ware

As a child, I spent a lot of time at the hair salon because my grandmother was a cosmetologist. My sister and I spent many weekends in the shop sweeping, washing towels, and cleaning the back room. I found being at the hair salon a joy of mine and wanted to pursue the field. After watching my grandmother freestyle some clients hair and create masterpieces, I realized I might not have the creativity needed at the time to become a hair stylist. But nonetheless, it sparked my interest in the beauty world. Read more>>