How did you find your purpose?

Core to our mission is helping our audience and community reach their full potential and the most important part of reaching your full potential is starting to find your purpose. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from the community around how various folks found their purpose and we hope it helps you in your journey.

Jack Winkler

Growing up dyslexic, I developed problem-solving skills at an early age, often finding unique ways to navigate challenges that my peers did not face. This early necessity for creative problem-solving became a core part of who I am and profoundly influenced my journey toward finding my purpose. Read more>>

Wilson Joel

It started with an innate desire to see those around me succeed and flourish, even if it sometimes came at a personal cost. Early on, I noticed that I derived the greatest sense of fulfillment not from my own accomplishments, but from being able to lift others up and support them in realizing their full potential. Read more>>

Twinkle Zaman

I think our lives are like building blocks. If you look back at certain moments even when you were little you can connect the dots to where you are now. I would write a lot when I was a younger. Sometimes I would make things up and find my escape through my mind and other times I wrote things as they were happening. Read more>>

Marcy Bulkeley

The story of me finding my purpose is multi-leveled/layered, beginning when I was very young. From an early age, I was immersed in the power of music. From The Beatles and The Temptations to the first scores that captivated me with John Barry’s *Out of Africa* and the soundtrack of *Labyrinth*. Read more>>

Tina Murphy

How did I find my purpose? Let me share a story with you that weaves through the darkest moments of my life and brings you to the light that now guides my every step. Growing up, my life was a whirlwind of confusion and pain. As a young girl, I faced the unthinkable—molestation that left scars on my soul.  Read more>>

Tracie Kesatie

Finding my purpose as a pediatric sleep coach started with a deep desire to help others. Witnessing friends and family struggle with sleep-deprived children, the toll it took on their well-being, and the frustration they felt resonated deeply. I knew I wanted to be a part of the solution, to offer that guiding hand through the often confusing world of childhood sleep. Read more>>

Ronay Hershey

I believe I developed purpose from witnessing my fathers entrepreneurial endeavors throughout my life. He taught me the value of resilience and independence which are the building blocks in finding and pursuing ones own purpose. Read more>>

Candace Brooks

For me, finding purpose has been an ongoing process. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. I’ve always been curious about a lot of things, and I allowed myself to explore those interests without worrying too much about where they would lead. Some paths were dead ends, but others opened up new opportunities. Read more>>

Benjamin Villers

I found purpose by continuously focusing on my passions. I never worried about what other people think. None of those opinions mattered. Peoples thoughts weren’t going to get me where I needed to be. For years growing up I never knew what I wanted to do or be, so I kept just doing what made sense to me. Read more>>

Gina Wurtz

This is such an interesting question because I don’t actually believe anyone’s purpose has to do what their passions are or what they choose as their career. I learned a lot of this from the Disney movie Soul. Basically, the main character in the film realizes that while he thought playing music was his purpose on Earth, that was actually his spark. Read more>>

Gerald Campbell

I’m passionate about this question because I know it will resonate deeply with someone at a pivotal moment in their life or career. I teach a unique formula for discovering your purpose, which I’ll share with you now. While I briefly cover it in my upcoming project “I/O Investing In Opportunities,” I’d like to delve deeper into it here. Read more>>

Maksim Baglaev

This question is constantly spinning in my head, it has always been difficult for me to answer it unequivocally. I have many goals, but it has always been morally difficult to link them into one. During this period of my life, I can say with confidence that the main goal is to convey to people a sense of beauty, emotions and aesthetics! Read more>>

Rhea Adkins

When asked…”How did you find your purpose?” Once we find self, purpose follows shortly after. I’ve always loved to cook and serve others. Never in this lifetime would I imagine it would be what I do now. Owning what I love led me on a bold and courageous journey. Read more>>

Jenece Jones

I found my purpose by discovering how much joy I derive from watching people win and grow. My passion for helping others achieve their goals and stand in their truth is what drives me every day. I seem to have a natural gift for making people feel comfortable enough to share their secrets, fears, and accomplishments with me.  Read more>>

Jennifer Johnson

I was in the Life Sciences industry for 18 years. I didn’t set out to join the industry, but through an analyst role at a large consulting firm, it was where the project openings were at the time. The biopharmaceutical industry was growing rapidly, and I was opportunistic. Read more>>

Claudia Villalona

Finding my purpose was a journey filled with challenges, self-discovery, and determination. When the pandemic hit, I realized that I needed to make a shift in my career, after 17 years as a retail executive for iconic Fashion brands, I knew I needed to be more present for my family while still pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams. Read more>>

René Thompson

Designing and creating clothes is my first love and the first time i ever felt comfortable, myself, well connected and seen. I was lost in finding what was well suited to me by picking things that i thought made the most money, example being, i was going to study law but the revelation came when i was still sketching and designing outfits in my free time and with my mums help of following my passion and praying about my true purpose will always be being a fashion designer. Read more>>

Josephine (Josie) Scherer

I have always been drawn to cooking and baking ever since I was a little girl. My family is Italian (explains a lot) but beyond this, I have always had a strong relationship with food. I would always turn the channel from Disney Channel to Food Network, I would beg my mom for food magazines and cookbooks, and I would constantly be in the kitchen learning what my mom was doing and mimicking her until I was old enough to use the stove like a “big girl.” Read more>>

Ana York

I found my purpose through a journey marked by challenges and resilience, deeply rooted in my love for God, my children, my parents, nature, and my dogs. When I was eight, my family moved from Puerto Rico to Modesto, CA. Starting school at the end of the first semester was tough because my Spanish was different from my Mexican peers, and I also needed to learn English. Read more>>

Tpretty Smile

Never have I been shy in starting conversation with strangers. I have always been a person who “pushes the envelope” and take chances against society norms. I found my purpose while going through the most difficult times in my life. Not only did I discover my purpose with each trial and tribulation past or present, but it helped to discover my reason and goal for my passion.  Read more>>

Maritza Gutierrez

I found my purpose over 19 years ago. When I had my daughter, at 3 months, I saw her, looked into her eyes, and realized I was so depressed. I wrote myself a letter Dear body, mind, and soul. I despised myself, despised who I was, despised my life, my husband, everything about me. I realized I had a serious problem.  Read more>>

Coley Arnold

People don’t often make it because they don’t know where they want to go! Finding purpose and vision for your life is vital for success. If you look back at my life and my job experience, at first glance it would look like a hodge podge of random jobs that made no sense together. But if you pulled back the curtain and took a closer look, I had a passion for helping others and building community. Read more>>

Andrea Ramirez

The age old question , what’s my purpose? I like to think it’s a lifelong ongoing project . To find and embody my purpose . To be completely honest on some days it’s clear as day and other days it’s foggy. To paint a clearer picture let’s go way back to when I began cooking professionally about 12 years ago . Baking to be exact. Read more>>

Trystin Kier Francis

I found my purpose six years ago during a trip to Africa. I spent a little more than two weeks exploring northern, eastern, and southern Africa respectively. I visited Egypt and was captivated by the Sphinx one the seven wonders of the world, I sipped authentic Ethiopian coffee with butter in Addis Ababa, and drank Savana Cider on the beach in Northern Mozambique in a remote fishing village.  Read more>>

Bethany “Orá” Cruz

Born into the bustling streets of New York City, with the heartbeat of Cuban heritage pulsating through my veins, the journey of finding purpose in the creative realm was a vibrant tapestry of self-discovery and resilience. Inspiration drawn by the eclectic blend of cultures and artistic expression that defines New York’s rhythm & Cuban culture gave me purpose in the creative world. Read more>>

Zayra Carbajal

I would like to start saying that up today I am a single mom, and that statement has two of the words more challenging and also more amazing to me: mom and single. I can say that after 14 years of being a mom I really enjoy and consider maternity one of my life purposes and hobbies, not saying it is an easy process or that I am a perfect mom, indeed my teenagers would say maybe I am not. Read more>>

Naïkey Lenescat

When I was a little girl I was always drawn to colors and pictures. I could not shake my infatuation with art and just knew, as a 5 year old that I wanted to be an artist. The older I got though, the more challenging it became to keep that burning passion alive. I began to struggle in school and in my personal life which made my desire for creativity unreachable. Read more>>

Dawn Gregory

Three Words – Near Death Experience What I was shown during this experience was that life doesn’t end but that life that we are given is very important within your purpose. As I began to have visions of my life before the NDE I saw that my grandmother was providing me with all the tools and the knowledge for my journey called life. Read more>>

Candice Pedraza Yamnitz

I think my purpose found me. I’ve been mentoring teens at camps and at church throughout my twenties. I got back into reading when I had my babies and I realized that I wasn’t finding the book I wanted to see. Positive messages and truthful characters weren’t in sight. I also didn’t see myself and my friends on the pages of all the YA fantasy books I was reading. Read more>>

Bella Estrela

I began my professional journey as a journalist, immersed in the relentless pursuit of the next big scoop. My days were filled with pitching stories and navigating the competitive world of journalism. I was dedicated to climbing the career ladder, but it left me constantly on edge, craving balance and peace. Read more>>

Kai Matsukuma

It’s all about staying patient and true to yourself. I feel like for the majority of my life I was always trying to find my purpose. My first real passion in life was basketball. I was the kid who stayed up all night dreaming of hitting the game winning shot in an NBA game. I used to dribble around the neighborhood and bring outdoor lights to shine on the rim at night so I could see the hoop.  Read more>>

Dajah Callen

I was always meant to be an artist. It’s been a part of who I am since I can remember. It’s one of the few ways I can express myself without having to say anything. Being an artist makes me happy even when I’m not. It’s my way of escaping the outside world, it’s also my way of communicating with it. Read more>>

Iva Halgota

I believe that each of us can find our purpose through life experience and the roles we have in life, the role of parents, partners, friends, etc. As we learn from life’s lessons, we grow and upgrade ourselves, becoming more and more aware of our purpose. Read more>>

Sean Cancellieri

As children, we are given the gift of play, imagination and a sense of “childlike wonder.” I can say with some certainty that I knew what I wanted to do from that young age of innocence and empowerment. I couldn’t articulate it, I didn’t understand what it took to achieve, but I knew I wanted to be an actor before I could spell it. Read more>>

Rochelle Ratkaj Moser

Making things beautiful has always been my goal as a designer. Designs that captivate, dazzle and delight have always appealed to me. However, I’ve found that a lot of these designs aren’t accessible. When aiming for a wider audience, they fall short, failing to take into consideration the obstacles that people in that audience face and prevent them from accessing the content. I am referring to much more than visible impediments. Read more>>

Julia Cole

My whole life I was wondering what was my purpose, although from the outside I always made it look like I was in alignment with my craft of the time, I knew I was faking it. I was desperate for the connection to my work. Directly out of college I went into Fashion, being from New York this seemed like a girl’s dream, ultimately the industry was tough and I honestly didn’t have the kind of interest you needed to rise to the top. Read more>>

Maggie Kimberl

I spent a lot of my early years in survival mode. I had a violent and tragic upbringing, so things like hopes and dreams really didn’t enter the picture until I was well into my 30s. I was always so focused on surviving the next catastrophe that I didn’t take the time to think about what I wanted out of my life. I had a dream of traveling when I was in college — I wanted to be some sort of travel writer or host a travel show or something like that — but I was told that that wasn’t a realistic dream to have so I went back to trying to survive.  Read more>>

Emilee Harney

Finding my purpose… Hmm, one would say it was a journey to get here. A journey of thinking I knew my ultimate purpose from a young age. That purpose was only to be a creator and a performer. I so clearly knew I was meant to become a professional dancer and live out my dream of traveling the world performing in various companies. Read more>>

Indra Persad Milowe

In my youth, I wanted to study art. My interest was in nature, still life and design. I adored my high school art teacher, Mrs. Helga Mohammed. She was from Madrid and married to a Trinidadian. On my first day in her class, she wrote on the blackboard: “Art is not just a painting hanging up on a wall, art is in every aspect of your daily life.” My paintings were chosen for the high school’s yearbook for two consecutive years. Read more>>