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.

Naweza Ngalula

When I was I child, I always knew that I wasn’t called to do the same jobs as everyone. I was passionated about content creation, singing, basketball,…

I grew up in a Christian family so my foundation since I’m a kid was that everything you need to know about you can be found in your relationship with God.

When I was a teenager, I really started to think about all these dreams I had of being a powerful businesswoman, content creator, professional basketball player seriously but the thing is, on the way, I forgot that my foundation was God and it started to be really complicated for me and I gave up on all these things. Read more>>

Krysta Bryars

I have always enjoyed movement. Initially, I loved to run and my interest in movement came from how I can get faster, stronger, better. But with time, even, in high school, I knew I wanted to do something health related because of my interest in athletics. Through observation hours in the Burn and Trauma Unit at University of Iowa, I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist. My goals for individuals have evolved through the years, but my purpose has remained the same. My purpose has been to introduce movement and mobility to change health outcomes. I’ve taught people how to walk after strokes, amputations, brain injuries, cancer, tumor removal, joint replacements, everything. This really reinforced the power of movement and purpose. Read more>>

Sarah Rockower

I’ve often joked that English is not my first language, even though it’s the only one I know. Words and numbers have always felt foreign to me, and don’t align with the way my mind works. Art is where things make sense. The exploration of color, line, shape and form brings me a specific type of charged joy.

I made art throughout childhood. I didn’t always think I was good at it, but loved how creating made me feel: calm, centered, and connected to something larger than myself. I loved getting in the creative zone. It felt like magic to me- a spiritual experience. Read more>>

Ashley Whitesell

I always knew I wanted to do something creative with my life. For the longest time I wanted to be a photojournalist but as I got older that dream slipped away. I tried other paths but they never felt right and thankfully didn’t work out. When I found myself at a really low point in life, unable to work and overwhelmed with health issues, I spent my time digging myself out of this darkness that was consuming my life. I did everything I could to overcome so many challenges and found a way to rebuild my life. For me, this meant spending time meditating, journaling, going to counseling, and taking better care of myself. Read more>>

Dom Sankofa.

Unfortunately, I found it through heartbreak. I was going through a breakup, and everyone around me suggested I tap into the passions I had before meeting the person. I’ve been an artist since I was five years old, so I slowly but surely started painting and rug tufting again. It wasn’t until this time around when I actually made things that reflected my interests (i.e., Afrocentricity, chilhood imagery, etc). Read more>>

Rochi Medina

I often think that I didn’t go out searching for my purpose; instead, it was always within me, and one day, everything just made sense. For many years, I did meticulous work where my main goal was the pursuit of well-being. At the time, I believed that well-being was solely about eating healthily and exercising. For me, that was the formula. Read more>>

Sam Proof

I’ve been an online content creator since the mid-90s, long before YouTube even existed. Back in 2005, I discovered a livestreaming platform called Operator11 and immediately became obsessed with live production. From there, I started making YouTube videos, diving into the world of online content creation. Read more>>

Jeff Walker

In 2018 I lost my younger sister unexpectedly and then in 2019 I lost my mother to stage 4 liver cancer. Finances were tight to the point I lost everything in the storage unit I had that had stored my mother and sisters belongings including photos that I would not be able to retrieve. Photography has become my passion for the very reason that I want to be able to impact lives and create memories through my lens. Read more>>

Mia Fusco-robinson

I found my purpose through a combination of my academic background and diverse professional experiences, all of which led me to work with children in a variety of settings. After college, I worked in a before-and-after school care program, where I really enjoyed engaging kids in educational games and activities. This hands-on experience sparked my passion for supporting children’s growth and development, which led me to a role as a technology assistant teaching computer skills to elementary students. That job required a lot of patience and creativity, which made me realize how important it is to find innovative ways to engage kids. Read more>>

Jennifer Fink

I found my purpose through a deeply personal journey of balancing the responsibilities of being a family caregiver with the demands of running a business. It was in those challenging moments—navigating the emotional, physical, and logistical complexities of caregiving—that I realized how vital it is to support others in similar situations. My firsthand experiences ignited a passion to empower working family caregivers and inspired me to create the “Fading Memories” podcast. Through this platform, I’ve been able to reach and support countless caregivers, sharing insights, education, and encouragement. Read more>>

Varnessa Mechelle Beavers

I wouldn’t say I found my purpose; rather, my purpose found me. I say this because I have so many passions and interests—things I’ve loved doing for so long—that I’ve had the opportunity to perfect those skills, shaping me into the person I am today.

My purpose began revealing itself to me as a child. I spent countless hours watching cooking shows like Julia Child, Simply Ming, Barefoot Contessa, Jacques Pépin, and many more. I learned about different cuisines and the techniques of cooking, which sparked my desire to experiment with dishes beyond what my father was preparing at home. Read more>>

Botir Nasridinov

My own experiences shaped my purpose as an international student, where I faced challenges enrolling in suitable language programs and navigating complex visa regulations. These obstacles not only hindered my academic progress but also affected my well-being. Read more>>

Andrea Rosado

Growing up, I was always mesmerized by storytelling through film, TV Shows, books, church, my family and even my own life. As a kid, my mom used to say I would create my own stories while I played even before I learned how to read. Inspired by films that moved me growing up (such as Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, The Shack and The Pasion of The Christ), I decided to embrace my storytelling skills through visual arts, post production, writing and team management. There has always been a drive within me to share stories, specially those that reflect beauty, love and truth. Those stories have helped me discover the core of who I am today and the light within me. Read more>>

Sophia Liu

of these interests and my desire to make a positive environmental impact.
After taking AP Environmental Science in my junior year of high school, I became more aware of the issue of landfill waste. I was shocked to learn that 75% percent of donated clothes go to waste before being sold and end up in landfills. I knew I wanted to do something about it.
When I was shopping for dog toys for my corgi with my best friend Olivia, I opened up to her about how quickly my dog, Prince, goes through toys. She added how hard it can be for shelters to spend donation money on toys when there are lots of animals and other necessities. Read more>>

Annmarie Santos

I was choosing my minor for my two-week adventure at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. There were two options I was between: Creative Writing and Acting. Now, I loved writing stories, but the thought of having other people read what I would write scared that 14-year-old girl enough to try acting. I was never opposed to acting since I did a couple of plays as a kid, but it would be the first time in years that I would be acting on the stage. Read more>>

Kailee Mathews

From a young age I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to get to experience all the things I experienced with my parents, but as a parent this time around. When I found out I was pregnant I begged my husband to let me stay home with our son, Maddux. Unfortunately, both him and I are teachers so that wasn’t in the cards for us. Thankfully, he took a chance on me and let me work part time to still spend most of my time with our son. When my maternity leave was about over, I realized I wanted to create a small business to give our family extra money so we could do things with Maddux! As an avid earring lover with very sensitive ears, I decided I wanted to make earrings.  Read more>>

Amelia South

When I knew I was getting divorced from my first husband, I needed to find a way to not have to live with him anymore. I discovered that being a farm apprentice was a thing–I could live and work on a farm for a whole season and develop some work skills and work history. This was ideal for me because I’d been in the FFA in high school and I had been a stay at home mom for over 4 years, so I had a large gap in my work history. I took the steps of finding a farm and finally got accepted at one. Read more>>

Bret/zachary Cowan/mendoza

Bret- I vividly remember being in the third grade, sitting on the gymnasium floor, watching the fifth-grade band perform. It was magical to me—watching the conductor’s baton drop before being hit with a wall of sound. It was precisely at that point that I decided I wanted to be a musician. When I got a bit older, I discovered that I could make music that sounded however I wanted, and that really solidified my life path. Read more>>

Mad Mike

MAD Mike from Dual Diagnosis found his purpose through his experience with personal afflictions. He transformed his struggles into a mission to help others facing similar challenges. MAD Mike’s story inspires and educates others about the importance of recovery and community support. He navigates his emotions through his music, which expresses his journey of resilience, self-reflection, and perseverance of overcoming his personal battles while finding hope. Read more>>

Rayaan And Sachi Altaf And Dodamani

Growing up, Sachi and I had moments when we felt the power of science and saw how it could change the world. However, we also saw that for many people, topics like environmental science felt distant or even intimidating. We both wanted to bridge that gap and make these ideas feel closer and more inspiring to everyone. Read more>>

Vahagn Stepanyan

Finding my purpose has been a journey of exploration and passion. Music has always been at the core of who I am. From a young age, I knew I wanted to create something meaningful that could connect with people emotionally. Over time, I realized it wasn’t just about making music-it was about storytelling, whether through a symphony, a song, or even technology. Read more>>

Anthony Bennetts

Great first question, I always want to help people either by physical, mental, or spiritual. Photography hits on the mental, physical, and emotional level. My physical job hits on all of it. So, what I am saying is that my life is encompassed with helping people. It always has been part of me.
But, what got me started in photography is my grandma and aunt always taking pictures at family events. I always dabbled with photography growing up, even did yearbook Senior year of high school. I didn’t fully pursue it till about 3 years ago.
I love Photography, it allows me to capture what I see in my mind and able to convey it properly. My goal is to always take the viewer to different mental state, hopefully a positive state. Read more>>

Natalie Orr

It was more than just a purpose; it became a calling that evolved into my passion.

My journey began in my teenage years while participating in church groups, where I frequently volunteered to organize events. A few years later, as I entered the workforce, I joined the birthday club committee, planning celebrations for my colleagues.

However, the true revelation of my love for event planning came when I organized my mother’s 60th birthday party. Witnessing her surprise and the joy on the faces of our guests, coupled with the pleasure I found in the planning process, made it clear to me that I was destined to own an event management business, now known as Worriless Experience Productions Limited. Read more>>

Harris Yu

I’ve always believed that the relationship between people and nature should be harmonious and respectful. As a child, I was fascinated by birds and loved observing their behavior. As I grew older, that passion evolved into a sense of responsibility—I wanted to do something that could help more people connect with nature.

I realized that many people want to be closer to nature, especially to birds, but in the busy pace of life, it’s often difficult to make that connection. I thought, why not use modern technology to make it easier for people to experience this connection? And that’s how the idea for Vinguys was born. Read more>>

Andony Ventura

I grew up from a happy & wonderful childhood. My parents introduced me to many things as a kid and even back then I discovered things on my own. I fell in love with cartoons, animated movies, live action movies, & music. Everything above in life. While growing up I met friends who I always had fun with. While enjoying time with them I realized something. It felt good to make them laugh.
It got me thinking and I decided to try YouTube. Ever since the beginning I loved making people laugh and giving them entertainment. Pop culture is where I got my hook and I thank my childhood-self for telling me to stay the same. Read more>>

Emilio Colon

My purpose was found when I first met my wife, Wendy Colón because you now have a person that now relies on you to lead and share this life with. Then in 2004, our daughter Enasia Colón was born and it’s like OK now I have the responsibility of caring supporting providing for two individuals and then in 2008 our son Emilio Junior was born and it just solidified what my purpose was even more. We basically showed them and teach them things that we have learned along the way to be able to make things easier for them in the future as individuals business owners and from an entrepreneur standpoint. Read more>>

Jennifer Laurantius

I have been passionate about the fashion industry since I was a child. Growing up in Indonesia, I always dreamed of pursuing a career in fashion and working in New York City. Initially, I took a different path, enrolling in pre-medical school, but I soon realized that it wasn’t where I belonged. I made the bold decision to switch to fashion, which felt entirely right and aligned with my lifelong aspirations. That decision ultimately led me here to New York, where I’ve been fortunate enough to live and experience this dynamic industry. Read more>>

Minon Maier

I grew up as an only child and did not have many friends in the neighborhood I grew up in. My parents were always working so I spent a lot of time home alone or in activites. What I missed was that constant safe person I could lean on. Because of this, I always knew that I wanted to be a therapist when I was growing up. I was always the person people talked to for guidance and support. I began studying psychology at Arizona State University and on this journey, I found marriage and family therapy. As soon as I was introduced to this, I knew it was for me. I attended University of San Diego for my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and began my career as a therapist. With each job, I found more and more of my purpose as a therapist. Read more>>

The Patricks Feel The Spirit Tour

The Patricks found purpose through God ordering our footsteps. Our purpose is to glorify God. We’ve always aligned our core family values with empathy at the forefront. We strive to produce kingdom building music to make the world a better place. We’re humbled to see weekly data reflecting how people around the world are supporting our Legacy album. The Patricks look forward to seeing audiences around the U.S. and Africa in the 2025 Feel The Spirit Tour. Read more>>

Sylvester Long

To be honest, for a very long time, the word “purpose” was engrained in my head and in my spirit. But I was not sure as to why that was. Growing up, I watched my grandfather give back to people in monumental ways. He was a pastor and bishop in the church. I always wanted to be like him in terms of how he loved helping people and encouraging others while spreading the love of God. It made me smile whenever he did good deeds for people. And he always did it because God placed it in his heart to do so. He never looked for recognition. He had such a huge heart and a sharp mind. He truly had a big heart. He was one of my main role models growing up, and he still is even though he passed 9 years ago. I find comfort in knowing that although he passed away, I gained a guardian angel in him. I wanted to continue his legacy in my way, and make sure that it still lives on through me. Read more>>

Zachary Hensley

There’s a historical marker that is set near downtown Dayton commemorating The Great 1913 Dayton Flood. Over four days and ten inches of rain, 123 fatalities were recorded for Dayton alone. Some streets were flooded with over 20 feet of water and fires destroyed a majority of Dayton’s Business block. A brass sign showing the patina of time, the historical marker is standard. It tells the story of the flood, how the people of the Miami Valley rallied together without aid to rebuild and insured freedom from floods. But, it’s the quote at the top that has always stuck with me. Read more>>

Petunia (just “petunia”)

As a young teenage punk rock loner, I did tons of journaling. This led to lots of poetry and prose writing, which seemed like a natural outlet for me. Later in life, as I started wandering around, traveling and seeing the world (somewhat), I tried out other arts related skills – painting for a brief spell and film making for a longer spell to name a couple. Painting was fun but I was never really that great at it. I still love to create with colour and shapes, though mainly when it pertains to my outfit. Film-making really struck a chord within me, and for a few years that was the direction that I thought my life would take. Until I fell in love with a genius-underground-outside-lady-artist who owned a marvelous collection of country music tapes which she kept in a couple of vintage suitcases. She is also an amazing singer and writer. She inspired me to play and sing.  Read more>>

M’lou Elkins

From a very young age, I immersed myself in music. My allowance money went to buying albums. If my Mom went out of town, she’d bring me back records, not trinket souvenirs. Also as I child I was interested in photography. I can remember being around age 7 and standing in the kitchen tilting a cereal bowl filled with water that I’d placed a strip of 110 film into and magically expecting, hoping, that a photo would magically appear. Of course it didn’t! Though the desire to learn more was there from early on, it wasn’t until I took photography as an elective in 12th grade that I completely fell in love with it and realized I could possibly combine my two loves into a career. When I photograph bands, I come alive. I’m at my happiest in the photo pits and editing images. After almost 33 years of being a music photographer, I can safely say that capturing compelling, artistic images of live music performances is my purpose. Read more>>

Wilbur Pack Jr

For as long as I can remember, my life has been shaped by a delicate balance of passion and fear. Fashion and style have always been my first love, a sanctuary where my creativity could roam free. Growing up in a traditional part of Queens, however, I never imagined that fashion design could be more than a hobby. In my world, it wasn’t something you pursued—it wasn’t something I saw people like me doing. Read more>>