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.

Larisa Crockett

Looking back, I guess it all started when I was 12. My dad gave me a camera for my birthday — and at the time, I had no idea it would shape the course of my life.
I was just a curious, restless kid, constantly moving from one interest to another. But something about photography stuck. It held my attention in a way nothing else did. Still, I wouldn’t have called it “my purpose” back then — that understanding came slowly, over time. Read More>>

Katy Frazier

I’m not sure I believe in one singular, soul-defining purpose. I think that idea puts a lot of pressure on people to “figure it out” early and get it right forever. For me, purpose has shown up in different ways, through different seasons. Right now, it looks like growing plants with intention, creating products that help people feel more like themselves, and building something from the ground up that my kids can be proud of. Read More>>

Plethora

I’ve been playing music since elementary school and have always enjoyed making people laugh. I basically combined the 2 elements into one comedic rock/metal band and it seems to work well. Making people forget their life problems for 30 mins-1 hour is always rewarding. Read More>>

Channae Haller

Finding my purpose has been a battle after a battle, a series of wounds that led me to the war I continue to face today. It didn’t come from peace or clarity, but from injustice, confusion, and survival. I didn’t wake up one day with direction; I lived through days where I had to fight just to stay afloat. Read More>>

Kelley Pettibone

My practice has become essential self-care following a decade of loss. In a decade of time I had experienced the deaths of all my grandparents, my parents, and a family pet. As an only child and college student I was left feeling orphaned and overwhelmed. Read More>>

Diana

I always knew I wanted to help people. I first thought it was the medical field. I tried being a pharmacy technician, but my empathy for people came out a lot more than I expected. I saw an elderly gentleman have to choose between his insulin and blood pressure medication and I thought “what if that was my grandfather” and I nearly cried that shift, because at that point I’d lost both my grandfathers. Read More>>

Professor T

I found my purpose by first understanding the definition of purpose which was my first step. Purpose means the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. I had to understand this in its entirety to understand my purpose in my profession. I have been in this industry for over 11 years and with each day I am realizing that my purpose is changing.  Read More>>

Charles & Candice Mintz

This is a great question. It took me some years to really, confidently say that I have found my purpose. For a long time I toyed around with what my purpose could be, but as we’ve gone through the relaunch for the brand and working with the team, I finally realized my purpose is to show others that your past doesn’t define you. Read More>>

Nile Fortner

Ever since I was a kid, I was drawn to the power of storytelling. Whether it was through the vivid worlds of comic books, the unforgettable characters in movies, or the thrilling narratives that unfolded on Saturday mornings in the family living room, stories always spoke to me. They were more than just entertainment — they were magic. They were windows into the human experience, mirrors reflecting our struggles, triumphs, and dreams. Read More>>

Janiya Denise

Fashion has always been a part of me something deeply rooted in who I am. Since I was young, l’ve had my own unique sense of style and a desire to stand out from the crowd. In 2018, I began my modeling journey and walked in amazing shows like Miami Swim Week and Fashion Week. That experience sparked a dream: one day, I wanted to have my own fashion show, featuring my own designs. Read More>>

Positive B White

It takes time for one to find their purpose. In my case, I found my purpose through helping others. My radio show Positive Mind Saturdays with Positive B White, provides me with a platform to connect and network with colleagues and individuals who are eager to share their products, services, and passions with a wider audience. Read More>>

Jayne Madigan

Like many, my path to purpose wasn’t linear—it was born from pain, resilience, and a deep desire to heal. I’ve been on my own since I was 16, navigating life without the support of a traditional family structure. I was estranged from my father for over 40 years, and I’m a 33-year, multiple-time survivor of suicide loss—grieving both my uncle and my beloved nephew. Read More>>

Ryan Van Smart

I didn’t so much find my purpose as I came to realize it had been with me all along—woven into my family’s story, my way of seeing the world, and how I interact with it. My grandfather, Rex, was a hand-painter and builder who transformed ideas into physical form for Tulsa businesses and city projects. I spent time in his shop as a kid, watching him create worlds from scratch. That left a permanent mark on me. Read More>>

Ali Goras

Since I was little, I was always called to follow a career path that helped people. I also was fascinated by what the human body was capable of and always questioned everything (my poor mother!). Throughout highschool I was obsessed with pushing my body and training. Volleyball was my sport of choice. Not long after graduation I decided to set the goal of competing in a bodybuilding competition. Read More>>

Nora Wilhelm

I see purpose as a cyclical process. First, there needs to be some kind of fertile ground. A supportive context, our basic needs met, a predisposition for empathy, care and justice… And then a seed is planted. As it takes root and a seedling grows, we begin to take action, create new projects, begin a new chapter in our career or volunteer engagement. Read More>>

CM Aragon

From my very first memories of childhood, I knew I wanted to create. From the moment I could hold a pen I would write down fantastical stories that I only I could decipher. Lines and lines full of teeny tiny circles so meticulously placed filled the lines of the paper my mom would give me. I told ghost stories late at night with a flash light under my chin just like I’d seen in the movies. Every single surface became a canvas — much to my mother’s dismay. Read More>>

Mauricio

I’ve always had a strong desire to tell stories. That is why I started acting at the age of six. Throughout the years I discovered what kind of stories I wanted to tell.

I believe that as artists it is our responsibility to use our voices to create consciousness and deliver an impactful message that will affect our audiences in a positive way. You never know who might be in the audience and how the stories you present might impact them. Read More>>

Andres Gonzalez

I grew up in Venezuela, and my father left us when I was just seven years old. That created a hole in my heart that I spent years trying to fill with all the wrong things, drugs, alcohol, partying, women. Deep down I always had a sense that God was real, that He was calling me, but I just kept running. Read More>>

Christina Ramirez

Growing up, I had loving and supportive parents. They did a great job at allowing me to see life’s challenges but not feel them in a difficult way. I seen my mother develop illness which changed her abilities as a mother and caused instabilities in my life as a child. This is where my resilience began. Moving from different states and towns to seek better medical care and familial support challenged me to be open to new friends and environments. Read More>>

Jesta Pollard

I discovered my purpose at a very young age. My father passed when I was just a baby and I grew up with a hard-working single mother as an only child. This meant even at a young age I was often alone, as she would work long days. From watching movies getting inspiration from them, writing scripts around the age of eight or nine, creating stories and blocking them out with my action figures, I knew I was destined to be a filmmaker. Read More>>

Gene Williams

I remember being a young athlete myself and always wanting to improve my basketball skills. Back then, private sports coaching wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today – so most times I would train with friends or at the park by myself. Fast forward in life, and I wound up playing college/pro basketball.  Read More>>

Nikki Mae Bonite

Well, I kind of lost myself because of the situation I was in. I just graduated from University, I couldn’t find a job that made good enough money or anything that could make me feel fulfilled. It wasn’t until the pandemic came in 2020 where I accidentally found my love for art.  Read More>>

Stephen R. Orefice

Getting Saved on November 6th, 2022 by the Lord. Set Me on a path of rebuilding and purpose while going After My FIELD OF DREAMS. Found my way to the state of Texas to find everything that I was looking for in life and more. Met the wife of my dreams and started the window and door business I have always wanted too. Read More>>

Vivian Meraki

My divorce wasn’t a moment. It was a process. One that stretched over nearly four years. My co-parent and I even cohabited for more than two of those years, partly to reduce the impact of the transition on our children. We tried to do everything “right,” to be thoughtful and intentional. But when I finally moved out of our matrimonial home, our children were gripped with crippling anxiety. Read More>>

Myaja Watson

My purpose was shaped by the storms I’ve had to weather. I grew up with a difficult childhood and faced more than my share of hardship, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Over time, I realized that I was often the one going through the hard things, not just for myself, but so I could later help others who didn’t know how to navigate their own pain. Read More>>