Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly, but so often folks live life without thinking about their purpose. We believe that thinking about your purpose and trying to identify what it might be is one of the most impactful things you can do to level up your life, career, and general level of happiness and fulfillment. Having a sense of what your why is will help you become a better decision maker which inevitably will improve your life. Below, you’ll find some interesting discussions, stories and perspectives around find your purpose.

Marcy Mckay

Years ago, a voice woke me from a dream and told me to write a book. It took various manuscripts that will NEVER see the light of day, but finally, the RIGHT VOICE came to me from my debut novel, PENNIES FROM BURGER HEAVEN (over 900 Amazon reviews). How WEIRD + WONDERFUL that a fictional 12-years homeless girl who “lives” at the cemetery came into my head and heart to tell her story about her missing mom?! Read More>>

Esenam Asembri

 

The Birth of The Velvet Embrace: Transforming Loss into Purpose

On November 28th, 2023, our world shattered when my husband was found unresponsive. Suddenly, I became the sole parent to our two children, then 11 and 12. While our family rallied around my husband’s care, my father’s health deteriorated quickly and we lost him just three weeks later, on December 18th. Read More>>

Nicole Thomas

My purpose is closely related to my spiritual grounding. I’ve always been Christian and grew up in a household that affirmed my identity and unique gifts. The first time I wrote a song, it literally came from nowhere and within about an hour I crafted a complete song. I shared it with my grandmom who reminded me that not everyone can create music and that this ability was God-given. It seemed that once I heard that first song, the next several flowed out of me with ease. Read More>>

Tyler Garritano

I started playing drums when I was 12, and started taking lessons at 14. I actually started with metal. But very soon found myself in love with jazz, blues, and funk. At 15 I started writing lyrics while continuing my passion for drums. At 16 I started to freestyle rap over beats. Eventually it became an everyday habit. But to end all that, I realized my body and mental would actually suffer if I took too long of a break from music. Sometimes it feels like the purpose was always wired within me. Read More>>

Ashlyn Hairston

I have been an athlete and trainer for over a decade, exploring a myriad of sports and avenues of fitness from lacrosse and cross country, to powerlifting and bodybuilding, to yoga and calisthenics, but it wasn’t until I dislocated my knee in a rock-climbing accident that I finally uncovered my true purpose in the world of health and fitness. With this traumatic injury, I had all of my prior mobility and athleticism stripped away, literally having to teach myself how to walk again once I was finally off crutches. Without the joy and freedom of movement, life was pretty bleak.  Read More>>

Victoria Pittman

Growing up, I was fascinated by relationships, beginning with my own. I wanted to understand my talents, gifts, and thought patterns. So, I started exploring my inner world through journaling, poetry, and self-reflection. However, it was my spiritual curiosity that truly sparked my journey.

I remember looking up at the night sky at 12 years old and asking God, “Why did you create me?” That question started a lifelong quest to understand my purpose and connection to something greater. As I grew older, my passion for understanding relationships deepened, and I began to notice a common thread: women’s stories. Read More>>

Giulia Martello

By listening to those moments when I felt butterflies in my stomach and recognizing what came naturally to me.

Let me take a step back:
I grew up in Italy, studying Design, surrounded by friends, creating crafts in my spare time, and nurturing a passion for nature and volunteering. When I landed my first big job in Austria at a design and art company, I kept asking myself: “What makes me unique? What would truly fulfill my life?” Read More>>

Ryan Hawkins

When we started Method Demo and Hauling, we saw a real need for safe, methodical, and high-quality demolition. Too often, demolition crews left job sites in poor condition, causing unnecessary repair costs. We knew there was a better way—to bring care and professionalism to an often-overlooked part of construction. Read More>>

Sabrina Yegela

I found my purpose in the most unexpected way—through struggle, resilience, and a deep-seated desire to create change.

Growing up in Tanzania, food was more than just nourishment; it was a thread connecting culture, community, and survival. But my perspective on it shifted dramatically when I experienced malnutrition firsthand. It wasn’t just a personal challenge—it was a wake-up call. I saw how food insecurity wasn’t just about scarcity; it was about broken systems, global trade imbalances, and climate change disrupting the very foundation of how we feed ourselves. Read More>>

Bo Zhao

Purpose has never arrived for me with the grandiosity of fanfare or the certainty of a calling. Instead, it has crept in—quietly, insistently—and shaped me through the pauses in my life, in the moments when I was forced to stop and listen.

Much of my early life was shaped by the immigrant journey, which defined success as academic achievement and financial security—to prove that my parents’ sacrifices were worth it. I pursued a career in STEM and even attained a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. Read More>>

Tabitha March

Could you imagine a world where every human had the opportunity to be creative and practice their passion and creativity daily? I wanted to have that world for myself. I had a strong creative pull to sew and upcycle full-time. I knew I could be utilized at a higher potential while working a job with zero ability to use my creativity. People are their best when they are happy and creative, and I was ready to take the risk of quitting a job that was not fulfilling and tap into my creative passion. Read More>>

Nancy Labrada

Everything I do now started in early childhood. I was born with a strong faith in a higher power. Although I call that power God, others might call it the Divine, the Universe, Source, etc. Regardless of the label, I have always been very aware of its loving existence in the world, in my life. I was a very sensitive and intuitive child but as I grew older, I attributed my traits to an overactive imagination on a good day and a shortcoming on a bad day. I had put away all my inner wisdom and to be honest, I suffered. I never lost my faith in God despite all I’d gone through, but I had lost faith in myself.  Read More>>

Tiffany Henderson

I found my purpose in professional home organizing through my own experience as a busy mom trying to maintain a peaceful, less chaotic home for my family. Prior to finding my purpose, I felt overwhelmed with clutter in my home – items were constantly missing, my home always took forever to tidy, and I always felt like I was playing catch-up.  Read More>>

Charlene Moy

When I returned to painting, I explored new mediums and subjects. What I previously avoided, I embraced – watercolors and nature. In my watercolor practice, I painted a lot of “duds” that I saved. These became my focus for collages. As my knowledge of plastic pollution increased, I began to save the plastic that I now knew would not actually be recycled in hopes of finding a use for them. While I was in the “groove” of creating, I grabbed some of the plastic and integrated it into my collage. Various plastics, Styrofoam and other single use items that I cut, stretch, paint, weave and anything else I discover are now my primary materials. Read More>>

Álvaro Nuñez Secchi

I don’t think finding purpose is a single moment of realization—it’s something that reveals itself over time. At first, I tried following a more conventional path, but I always felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I started studying film that I realized why nothing else had fully clicked before—because, ever since I was a kid, movies shaped the way I saw and understood the world. I grew up watching characters and narratives that helped me make sense of my own emotions and experiences. Read More>>

Dawn Budd Molly Kardelis

Dawn: I’ve worked as a creative director and graphic designer for 30+ years and over the years have discovered that my passion has always been on hospitality. It matters to me to help people feel joy and comfort. I’ve always put the highest priority on being kind, optimistic, inclusive, and empathetic. We created The Dot for people to gather in a nostalgic setting to feel safe, comfortable, and joyful. Read More>>

Sarah Williams

As far as finding my passion and purpose with swimming, I have only my mother to thank for that. She’s the one that got me swimming young and onto my neighborhood swim team at 5 years old. Finding my purpose with teaching swim, would be one of my youth swim coaches, Ben Whiteside. Ben was the most wonderful coach I ever had and he shared his joy of teaching swim with the next generation, which I will always be thankful for. Read More>>

Alford West

Finding my purpose was the, salient, single most meaningful, important discovery. The search, I believe, began at my birth, since which, I have been described as having a patient curiosity. As far back as I can remember, I have been observant of my surroundings and the events occurring upon the landscape. I grew up in a religious household. And, for the most part, I believe my perception of a higher power caused me to imagine the forces at work beyond the visible. My imagination filled in the empty spaces. Read More>>

Zoë Klimek

As a young child, I grew up in the country in Wrenshall, a very small town in Minnesota. I admired Mom’s flower-filled garden bed and vegetable gardens tended by Dad, and loved building fairy houses with my cousin. My dad is a collector and a craftsman, and often brought me home old beads and materials to use in art projects. At that time, flowers and creating artwork was just a fun hobby. Read More>>

Brian Viers

My drive in life came decades ago. I always wanted to have nice things but after having helped others succeed, it gave me a much great appreciation and perspective on what true success meant to me. I began volunteering my time and resources to charities and ministries best aligned with my values. When we have such view or purpose for the how and why we do what we do it’s much more gratifying. My wife and I now have our own family foundation: Uplift360, based in St. Petersburg, FL focused on giving back and making a difference. Read More>>

Barbara Kris

I didn’t always know this was my purpose.

If you had told me years ago that I’d be coaching women through some of their most frustrating struggles of their lives, and helping them break free from restrictive dieting, food guilt, and exhaustion, I wouldn’t have believed you! Read More>>

Ashton Wu

I wanted to create board game reviews that comprehensively covered games from top to bottom; Reviews I would watch before buying a game that would entertain and inform. This necessitated a review of the highest highs and the lowest lows of any given game. Thus, components, replayability, player count numbers, the chronically underrated accessibility, and more all had to be dissected. Read More>>

Arron Quinn

I want to start off by thanking you for having me here today. I am extremely humbled by this amazing first interview as an independent artist. It means so much to me to be given this opportunity to do this interview with you.

How did I find my purpose? Oh man, I’m not sure if I have to be honest. I mean, as far as I can remember movies and art have always been a big part of my life. I’ve been drawing since the age of 5 and movies have always been a part of my identity. When I was a kid, I would always have sketches of these weird films I would watch with my grandfather. Most weekends he would take me to a flea market where we would find and buy random 25 cent bootleg VHS tapes.  Read More>>

Alexandra Brown

Finding my purpose actually came through a time of grief as a collective across LA. It was during the most recent Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 when George Floyd was murdered that helped me discover the deep need across this city for mental wellbeing and safe spaces for community. During this time, I found myself all over LA, on the ground, protesting and volunteering as much as I could to stand on the right side of history like so many of us. Read More>>

Chelsea Borruano

In 2019, just a year after getting help for my anxiety and depression for the first time, I started a nonprofit in Louisiana, the You Aren’t Alone Project (YAAP), with the goal of changing the conversation around mental health.

Since then, we have served thousands of people from all backgrounds with an even stronger mission–facilitating & changing conversations around mental health so that no one ever has to feel alone. We offer community programming, events, and resources that bring people together over shared creative journeys to foster holistic connections.  Read More>>

Alexis Lively

I believe my purpose found me. Or maybe I was led to it by something greater—some force, some whisper, some pull in my soul that I couldn’t ignore.

When I was 15, living in Ohio, I visited my aunt in Portland. She was an acupuncturist, and I spent time in her clinic, just observing. Up until that moment, I had only heard of the traditional career paths—doctor, lawyer, teacher, veterinarian. But the moment I stepped into that space, something clicked. I had never seen anything like it before. The energy of the clinic, the blend of science and something more—something ancient, something deeply intuitive—it lit me up in a way I had never experienced. Read More>>

Ben Skolnick

Ben Skolnick (AKA NICK), Co-Creator/Co-Chef of Wick and Nick’s Blueblood

I found my purpose when I fell in love with cooking. I’ve worked in kitchens my whole life, but it wasn’t until college that I fully decided this was the path I wanted to take. At some point, I realized I couldn’t juggle school and cooking anymore. I had to ask myself: was my degree in Anthropology from Georgia State going to fulfill me in the long run, or was the kitchen where I was meant to be? Read More>>

Sihyun Uhm

Finding my purpose has been a gradual and transformative journey, one that has been shaped by a deep connection to both music and nature, and an evolving understanding of how these passions intersect. As a child, I developed a profound love for animals and the environment, something that stayed with me throughout my life. I’ve always felt a sense of responsibility towards the world’s creatures, especially those in danger of extinction. However, it wasn’t until I began studying music and multimedia art in depth that I truly understood how I could channel this passion into a meaningful, artistic pursuit. Read  More>>

Jesse Horton

I found my purpose as a firefighter and instructor after I realized how lost and depressed. I was due to the fact that I had no purpose prior to this. Prior to becoming a firefighter I had a job I was not passionate about. I had the attitude of work to live not live to work and I thought the words if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life was just another cliché. Through some uncomfortable self Introspection, and some somewhat forceful we’ll say encouragement from those who love me I started down the path to become a firefighter at the age of 33. Read More>>

Annette Thull

My purpose overall is to make things beautiful and function as well as possible. I love helping people, whether it is creating a space in their home, designing a landscape or helping a local business with advertising. I believe that a strong local community is very important, so I have always volunteered in the community and worked locally to help businesses prosper. Read More>>

Rachael Koepf

What a great question, thank you. My core purpose is to offer parents supports and services that uplift and strengthen their family.
As far back as I can remember, I have always had a special connection with children and a heart to offer support and encouragement. Read More>>

Sarah Deblock

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been searching for the key to living a joyful, fulfilled life. I made a promise to myself in middle school that I would be a happy adult and not fall into a daily schedule that I dreaded. It wasn’t until I came across yoga during an overly stressful semester in college that I began to sense it might be part of the equation. The practice spoke to me in a way nothing else had, resonating with both my heart and mind. Read More>>

Mike Deutsch

I grew up in New Hyde Park, NY and my dad would work 10 hour days, take the train home from NYC and play basketball with me and my older brother in his suit and tie on our driveway.. He played with me on weekends and enrolled me in a travel basketball team. I learned a lot from some great coaches who added inspiration to every practice and discussed the important of team play.. Read More>>

Robin Gentry Mcgee

I found my purpose after my father’s traumatic brain injury. As my father lay dying in a coma, out of boredom, I picked up the can of the “food”, the enteral nutrition product that had been his sole source nutrition for many months. I read the ingredients and I was mortified. Read More>>

Julius Alejandro

I’m a doer and always had a drive to do good in my community. My origin story is as a community organizer in college. In college, I got involved in a grassroots movement to save the Filipino language classes in K-12. That’s where I learned the power of community and that individuals coming together and working with different systems can make a positive change. I continued that work as a nonprofit professional in economic development and public health, and it gave me a broader lens on the issues affecting one group of people affecting other groups and communities, all being intertwined.  Read More>>

Jenni Ogden

I love that question although I don’t have a very clear answer. So my question back is did I find my purpose or did my purpose find me? I am an entrepreneur, creator, storyteller, producer in new and emerging formats and technologies. I lean into social impact storytelling across formats. Read More>>

Kier Spates

I was born in 1978 with a chronic illness, but it wasn’t until I was 7 that I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. My parents were understandably lost and didn’t quite know what to do. I still remember the moment a doctor told them I probably wouldn’t live past 11. It felt like such a heavy blow to our family. But against all odds, I made it to 15, graduated high school at 18, and even went off to college. Read More>>

Brigitte Tolson

I was fortunate that at a very young age, I knew I loved helping people feel better about their appearance and my career would go some where in that direction. When I was 4, I would do makeup on my mom’s friends (what troopers!), and I would make face masks from plants in our garden with items in our kitchen with no clue what I was doing. Read More>>

Evan Greif

I grew up in a low income household and lost my family home to foreclosure, like many other millennials of my generation due to the 2008 mortgage crisis. My siblings and I saw our parents struggle with money, and I made it my mission to never be in a financially vulnerable position at their age. I learned everything I could about managing my money and optimizing my personal finances, scouring books, blogs, podcasts, articles and any resource I could find to understand how to increase my income, reduce expenses, and invest my savings responsibly so my money could work for me. Read More>>

Erica Jazmeen

I found my purpose through self-discovery and embracing my unique qualities. At first, modeling was just something I was curious about, but over time, I realized it was a platform for me to express confidence, creativity, and inspire others. Every photoshoot, runway, and collaboration taught me more about myself and how I could use my presence to empower others. My purpose is more than just being in front of a camera—it’s about storytelling, representation, and showing that beauty comes in many forms. Read More>>

Renata Buzolin

From a very young age, I was always independent, mature, and determined. As an only daughter, I grew up in an environment where my parents encouraged me to take responsibility for myself. They taught me the value of being self-sufficient, and this became a natural part of who I am. I remember waking up by myself, getting ready for school without any reminders, and always being on top of my homework and assignments. I was a responsible child, and this independence carried with me into adulthood. Read More>>

Johanthan Tran

I found my purpose by reflecting on the season of my life when I was in the most need. Growing up in an underserved environment, I experienced a profound sense of “lack”—lack of parental involvement, home stability, encouragement, and basic provisions. During my adolescence, I navigated life on my own, facing hardship, discomfort, and instability. In those moments, I often thought, No one should have to go through this. Read More>>

Tyler Jordan

Over the course of my career, I had some negative experiences that helped me define the company I wanted to work for, which turned out to be the company I’m building. Those experiences – I had limited upward mobility, I was given narrow responsibilities and not encouraged to learn my craft more broadly, and promises to build a mutual alliance between myself and my employer weren’t upheld – really informed the cultural values that persist at JDM. Read More>>

Mahsa

I have always wanted to do something great—something that would have an impact on the people around me and improve their lives. Art and technology have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. I wanted to create, to bring ideas to life, and to make something meaningful.

As a child, I was good at math. Naturally, I followed that and eventually pursued electrical engineering. It was a great experience—I learned a lot and built some exciting projects with microcontrollers. But something was missing. I didn’t feel the impact I was craving. I wanted to do something more creative, something that truly resonated with me. Read More>>