Below you’ll find the stories and lessons of some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community and how they found their purpose.
Tammie Valer
It was a long and bumpy road to try to find my purpose. I wasn’t fully certain what that was until I left my hometown of Los Angeles and moved to Nashville in 2022. Before then I ventured through different career paths. Some corporate and some on the more artistic path. However, throughout these many ventures, I was already doing what I was meant to be doing for the rest of my life. I have been a photographer for more than 10 years now. I ventured through many avenues in photography. And until recently I was primarily a music photographer. After a year of contemplation, I realize that I am not meant to be placed in a specific category. My interests in the photo world holds no bounds. I have decided that I am the maker of my path and society will not restrain me. Read more>>
BGIRL MAMA
Most people have dreams and aspirations of who they want to be when they grow up. Whether to be a firefighter, a teacher, or a scientist, sometimes a dream can be deemed unconventional, impossible, or far-fetched. Read more>>
Elizabeth Sanchez
I asked myself, what are you good at? What do you like to do? And how can you combine those two into something that gives you passion? We should ensure that both our personal lives and our business activities align with the legacy we aim to create. My business helps fulfill my purpose. My purpose is to have a positive impact on the lives of those around me, specifically youth. To guide them to growth, happiness and success. I want to be a role model – you never know who is watching and who you are influencing so we need to live out lives conscious of that. Read more>>
Lianne Torres
I found my purpose through a very traumatic and life-altering experience. At the height of the 2020 pandemic, I found myself in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship with my ex-partner. On the night of March 12, 2021, he tried to kill me. It was in that moment that my purpose was born. I was able to escape from that relationship, by the grace of God and my angels, and have turned my past trauma into my superpower. I started my podcast, Watch Us Thrive, and my 1:1 coaching business to help women heal after leaving toxic and abusive relationships. If I never went through what I did, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. So for that, I’m grateful. Read more>>
Alyssa Contreras
As the chaos caused by Covid-19 began to subside and life gradually returned to normalcy, I found myself lacking a sense of excitement and direction. Unlike my friends who were actively engaged in sports and school clubs, eagerly anticipating college and clear academic paths, I felt lost and uncertain about how to utilize the newfound post-pandemic freedom. I felt I had no clear life path. Then, unexpectedly, my mom approached me with an intriguing opportunity before school one day. She suggested I attend yoga teacher training at a studio we had occasionally visited. With little familiarity with yoga and uncertain about my level of interest, I agreed to give it a shot. Unbeknownst to me at the time, that simple decision would go on to change my life in a profoundly positive way. Teaching yoga turned out to be a perfect fit for me. Witnessing its transformative effects not only on myself but also on others, both physically and mentally, ignited a passion within me. It became evident that teaching yoga was my true calling, a means through which I could assist others and contribute positively to their well-being. This newfound purpose served as an inspiration, prompting me to pursue an Associates degree in Exercise Science and become involved in the realm of personal training. Read more>>
Mia Grissom
Growing up, my mom was an amazing interior decorator. She could design a living room beautifully! Of course I was with her while she shopped for home decor and design a room.
While working, she would give me tips on how to make a space look good and simply eye-catching. Over the years, I developed her creative eye. Read more>>
Kytia L’amour
I believe a question everyone on Earth has asked themselves in one form or another is “What is the meaning of life?”. I’ve asked myself this before, but it actually took me well into adulthood to find out what my purpose was and how to pursue it. I grew up in the church, so my perspective was always through a biblical lens. Even though I always believed in God, I thought the extent of fulfilling my calling when I was younger was to be a good person and follow the commandments laid out in scripture. Read more>>
Jennifer Starr
Someone wise told me once that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. After nearly 2 decades in the marketing & communications industry, I finally feel like I’ve found the perfect work/life balance as a digital marketing consultant and pet photographer. Read more>>
Kaede White
I feel as if I am still finding my purpose. I know it’s all through music and the arts, but I feel like I have so many talents that I can use to be of service to others, I hold multiple purposes. My purpose as of right now is to share my knowledge and love of music with people, I found this by becoming a music teacher. Read more>>
Chloe Chen
My purpose usually comes from my art and creative practice revolves around my own experience. And the protagonist in my drawing is always myself. I always feel that some things that happen around us are like boiling frogs, however, the reality is frogs don’t boil, but we might. I created the work Abortion in 2018, and until recently Roe v. Wade was overturned, I think we haven’t done enough. Andrew Wynter, an English physician, and author wrote “If we could watch in secret the rape of each lock, we should be able to give a series of pictures of human agony such as life but rarely presents, for we may be sure that, as a rule, a young woman almost as soon lose her life as that glorious appendage, on which so much of her beauty depends.” when he described a very large trade in human hair- especially women’s hair in the 18th century to explain that there were one hundred tons of human hair annually taken to Paris and were distributed in a raw and manufactured state over the whole of Europe. Read more>>
LeJuane El’Ja” Bowens”
Very interesting story. A friend of mind told me that we were to have a business meeting. Once we arrived to the venue, it was me, him, and two others. Turned out that meeting was an intervention for me because I began to let success at the time go to my head. From that moment own, I had to remember my purpose of being an artist because it has always been to create and inspire. Not to become popular. Hence why I always say purpose over popularity. Read more>>
Eric Cox
I know it’s a dance of words, but I wouldn’t say I found my purpose. I would say I have learned to lean into what feels natural over the course of several years and several choices. And that has led me down this very long path of doing work that is aligned with who I am. I grew up in the Christian faith. Between the understanding of what a “calling” is within the scope of that religion and eastern philosophy of what’s known in the Japanese culture as “ikigai”, doing what I do now is where I find purposeful living. Read more>>
Britt Howell
Thank you for having me. My entire work was built on purpose & gratitude. My beloved Sister suffered with health issues caused by obesity, for a long period of time. Shortly after turning 50 years old, my Sister had to have an emergency surgery procedure. Prior to having the surgery; the doctor informed her, she must lose weight. I had been working in the Fitness & Nutrition field for almost 20 years, therefore, she asked me for assistance. I was eager to assist my Sister. I created a program specifically designed for my Sister. The program worked and she was able to have the surgery. Unfortunately, days after having the surgery; she passed away. From that day forward, I vowed to help others live a healthier lifestyle through designing Fitness & PlantBased Nutritional Programs. I started by creating Healthy Recipes and sharing them online under the name #BrittFit50! Eventually I shortened the name to BF50 and began curating PlantBased Educational Gatherings where I prepare healthy “tasty” foods & assist others on how to grow & prepare their own food. Since 2002, In honor of my Sister; I have offered my BF50 Cleanse to online supporters. The program runs from January 17 – March 5th. Read more>>
Cynatt Hussein
Life’s journey is often filled with twists and turns, and sometimes, our true purpose lies hidden in unexpected places. This is the story of how I stumbled upon my life’s calling in the world of nails, a path I never anticipated but now wouldn’t trade for anything. My story begins like many others, in a world far removed from nail art and manicures. Nails were never a significant part of my life; in fact, I couldn’t tell a French manicure from a gel polish. My interests and aspirations lay elsewhere, or so I thought. I started nails in 2020 being bored in quarantine. My newfound interest led me to explore nail art tutorials online, experiment with basic nail designs on my own nails, and gradually immerse myself in this captivating world. Read more>>
Emily Cooley and Kaley Eads
When the opportunity to open a Sitting Made Simple® location in Raleigh presented itself, we knew it was something we wanted to do, and wanted to do together. As sisters, the chance to work together, to build a business together was an exciting venture we were really thrilled to pursue. We opened up SMS® Raleigh in March of 2019, and throughout the years, the ever-changing world around us and our growing families, we find our purpose in continuing to provide families and organizations in this amazing community with reliable childcare and it’s something we are truly passionate about. Read more>>
Brooklyn Jones
Finding your purpose entails doing something that makes you want to wake up and do it with a smile even on difficult days. For me, it is capturing people’s meaningful moments. Finding your purpose entails going on adventures, meeting new people, and determining what is and is not meant for you. Finding your purpose is not a simple task, but it is well worth the effort. It takes time and commitment, but with the right people to guide you, you will discover your own mission Read more>>
Natosha McCrary
Growing up as a military child we traveled often. I enjoyed taking pictures of each new adventure. It was not until I became an adult that I found my purpose through photography. I was a domestic violence survivor that decided to focus on rebuilding inside and out. I joined a gym and participated in a challenge. One of the rewards for completing the challenge was a photoshoot. I saw the pictures of myself and couldn’t believe it. For the first time, I saw myself in a whole new light and I loved what I saw for the first time in a long time. From that moment I decided I wanted to make women feel the way I felt through photography. That was the moment I found purpose. I am passionate about helping individuals feel confident, empowered, and beautiful. It’s my way to celebrate and showcase the unique beauty of each person. The driving force behind my purpose is connecting with people on a deeper level and helping them see themselves in a new light. Read more>>
CienTell
I found my purpose in life when i realized how I always seen myself leading by example and speaking positivity into others’ lives. I’m an advocate for having love and compassion for others so I decided to create music that celebrates love and how to not be afraid to speak the truth! Read more>>
Brandon Scott
I come from a long line of engineers. So naturally, I started out pursuing engineering and architecture in high school. I recall sitting in architecture class and learning about building codes, such as where doors can and cannot go. However, I have always been a tried and true rule breaker. So naturally, I wanted to put the door where it wasn’t supposed to go. that same semester, I had taken a digital design class to fill and elective and I was introduced to the world of design. This design class really helped me discover my love for design. My teacher encouraged me to embrace being the square peg in the round hole. I finally felt like I was truly in my element where I had the freedom to create with out limitation. Read more>>
guiize
A year and a half ago, as I was preparing to come to Berklee College of Music for a week-long summer program in Boston, the most important person in my life — my mother — passed away suddenly back home in Brazil. The last time we’d seen each other was in 2018 when she came to visit. Music was not just a dream for me, but seeing me pursue it was also her dream. She was beyond excited and proud that I had decided to take that leap of faith and find my way into the most prestigious school of contemporary music in the world. That was the reason I originally moved to the United States from Brazil back in 2013. Almost ten years fighting and finding my voice, I went off to Berklee heartbroken that my mother would not be alive to see where I’d gotten. But her spirit was cheering me on. At the end of the week, with the help of two amazing faculty members, I was awarded a scholarship that helped me get my foot into the door. That life-altering moment made me realize I am meat for music; there has to be something special within me that I need to share with the world, and I was determined to find that. As I finished my first semester in August, I ended up writing songs like I never had before. Words have poured out of me making me realize there is greater purpose to the hardships we go through in life. Writing about them feels like a therapeutic moment where I get to sit in sadness only to transform it into melody. I am now inspired by the ability to write songs that I never thought existed in me. Read more>>
Brian Kearley
I found my purpose like most people did; by complete accident. Ten years ago I was working second shift at an aluminum factory in Methuen, Massachusetts (where Sully from Godsmack lives and everyone is a close personal friend of his) listening to podcasts to get through the night. I was listening to Joe Rogan at the time and he basically said something along the lines of “hey you! You can do stand-up comedy. Just go out and do it.” So I went out and did it. I did a few open mics in the New England area and bombed about 75% of the time. A couple of months went by and I decided to move to Phoenix on my way to L.A. to pursue comedy. I loved performing and really everything about comedy, I became quickly obsessed like so many hopeful comedians do. One night I was performing on a competition at the dive bar that had a comedy club called “Crack Ups”. Read more>>
Sheila Zayas
My purpose emerged from my quest to relieve my stress and anxiety. Demands from work, errands, family, and everything in between kept me busy moving from one thing to the next. Time seemed to be moving faster than I could handle. Read more>>
Michael Scruggs
I found my purpose in seeking God and asking him for his wisdom. I’ve always known that my purpose was to impact the lives of people. My life has never been about me. God put me here to impact lives and, that gives me great joy. Hearing my former students tell me how I did or said something to change their life lets me know that my living is not in vain. Read more>>
Robert Diaz
My life’s purpose took shape in unexpected places. It’s more than just making songs; it’s about crafting a canvas of emotions that anyone can connect with. And a big part of that canvas comes from when I fell in love. Read more>>
Kiara Miller
My journey as a successful beauty entrepreneur began in my teens, a time of curiosity and exploration. Intrigued by beauty techniques, I started experimenting with lashes and eyebrows, which quickly gained attention among my peers. Charging a modest fee, I began to see the inklings of a future in this industry. Read more>>
Pastor Yosef Hamilton II
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
It was only through the Spirit of the One True Living God that my purpose in this life was revealed. My walk since turning my life over to The Most High in 2018 has been one filled with tests, trials, tribulations, losses, gains and revelations. Quite the absolute learning experience and I am truly still learning to this day. Read more>>
Latia Parker
To be honest, it seems that I have discovered my purpose rather than actively seeking it. It all began when the responsibility of caring for my father was placed upon me. In 2020, he received a cancer diagnosis. During that time, it became clear to me that this marked the beginning of my personal journey. My main goal was to provide assistance and support to individuals and their families who are impacted by cancer. The ultimate objective is to meet the needs of the oncology community. Having gone through the experience of caring for my father, I now strongly prioritize assisting individuals affected by cancer by offering various resources and promoting natural methods of healing the mind, body and soul. Read more>>
Jessica Revele
My love of sports and studying the body is the short answer. I have been an athlete my entire life…everything from cross country/track, basketball, tennis, and as an adult I still run half and full marathons. Early on, I got the college degree and did the corporate job gig, but I knew that was not how I wanted to spend my life. After taking a couple of massage classes, I realized I had found my path. I am very intrigued by the body and am obsessed with learning now it works on a soft tissue/functional level. Combining my love of sports and working with athletes to keep them healthy and help improve their performance is definitely my passion. Studying each client’s body mechanics and figuring out ways to help improve their range of motion, speed, flexability, mobility, and overall performance is my niche. Read more>>
Wendy Gates Corbett
My life purpose is to manifest belonging in myself and others so our divine light shines brilliantly.
I discovered it on my journey to becoming fully who I am. I’m in my mid-50s. I spent most of my life guided by a silent but loud inner voice that said, “You don’t belong here! You’re different!”. They are the words of my 7-year-old neighbor when I was 5 years old. Read more>>
Courtney Vardar
I’ve always be interested in beautiful things, art, objects, jewelry, clothing! Growing up I had posters all over my room of women in beautiful garments. Muses from artists, Gustav Klimt, John William Waterhouse, Alphonse Mucha, and Frida Kahlo covered my room. I studied art and art history in college and traveled all over the world gathering inspiration. It wasn’t until after I graduated I realized my medium was fashion design. I opened a clothing store and started designing and manufacturing a couple of years later. Read more>>
Amanda Lopez
I love this question, there’s so many layers that it was easy to see the simple message like ‘Don’t ever give up on your dreams’ and not look any deeper. It seems so easy and also so impossible. Looking only on the surface was what stopped me from finding my purpose for years. The message started to feel farther and farther away, when rejection was on repeat. “How much rejection can one person take before moving on? ‘Am I insane? Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result?’ I gave up on my purpose a few years back. It felt like I walked away deshoveled, licking my wounds, when I said ‘F it’ I’m just going to do me. I’m going to stop caring what people think, I’m going to resentfully live my life, because life wasn’t going to give me what I wanted anyway.’ I was spiteful. Read more>>
Meleah Nelson
As far back as I can remember, I have always looked at people from a different perspective. My first impression was more of a reading of their body energy, posture, skin condition, hair health and overall appearance. Read more>>
Carrie Schmidt
My journey to finding my purpose has been a remarkable and transformative one, shaped by a past that was filled with challenges and a desire to rise above them. Growing up, I never felt the warmth of love or the support that many children are fortunate to have. This sense of emotional absence persisted into my adulthood, fueling my mindset and decisions. I found myself living in survival mode, navigating life’s twists and turns without a strong foundation of encouragement. Read more>>
Cynthia R Bennett
My purpose came from pain and pressure. When I was younger, I felt that I would be assisting women who were in traumatic situations. But I wasn’t sure how that could be, seeing that I was sheltered growing up and had not experienced anything. But further along my path, I experienced date rape as a teenager, I survived a relationship filled with domestic violence as a young adult I buried both parents and six siblings within a span of ten years; my purpose was unfolding through the road, detours and path I was traveling. Read more>>
Susana Porto
For a long time, I lived as a version of myself that I didn’t like, trying to please everyone else before my own interests or desires. I didn’t love myself. I believed whatever anyone said about me. I denied myself happiness, even though I had a beautiful family, a career, a successful business, and believed in God since I was a child. I felt my life lacked meaning. I remember a night when, while talking with my husband, my heart broke as I identified many childhood wounds that had led me to become someone I didn’t want to be. At that moment, I started experiencing a weight being lifted off of me. Read more>>
Brooke Fischer
I knew from a very young age that I loved art. I was discouraged by an art teacher when I was in elementary school. Looking back now, all of these years later I don’t remember what she said to me exactly, just that she took the wind out of my sails and I gave up on art for a long time thinking I wasn’t good at it. It wasn’t until high school when I was looking for a class my senior year and the only class that fit my schedule was an art class that had prerequisite art classes. My counselor told me to go and talk to the teacher to see if he was open to having me join the class. He asked me to do a sample drawing and when I returned with it the next morning he looked up at me said this is wonderful and I would be happy to have you join my class. Words matter. What teachers say and do can change a students life. My confidence was restored and it has been my journey ever since. I love dutch master artists and have had a deep passion for botanical images since the age of 10. This love has always been at the heart of all of my work. Read more>>
Sophie Gamand
When I started going down the “dog photography” path, I knew I couldn’t be a part of the dog world and not help the most vulnerable of them. And I think this should apply to any industry you work in. Whether you work in the food industry, or in IT, or fashion. Think about how that industry impacts or ignores the most vulnerable of us, and find ways to give back. Read more>>
Susannah Harris
Finding my purpose has been such a journey, and to be honest, I believe it is an ever evolving journey. I came into this world as a true creative who loved the arts and anything that went along with expression and beauty. Along the way, my creativity became stifled, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and I found myself graduating from nursing school in 2006 and thrust into a career that was stable, appropriate, and logical. For fourteen years I excelled in my career, delving into the marketing and liaison world of healthcare, all while starting a family of my own and ignoring the creative gene that constantly brewed inside of me. Then the pandemic hit. I found myself in a role where I was in the busiest intensive care unit in Nashville, Tennessee, at the most heightened time of the virus. I powered through for an entire year, becoming the “go between” for families, ICU doctors, and insurance companies. Read more>>
Ciera Robinson
Well that is a very long story. So let’s hit some highlights… I have always loved taking pictures, but growing up I was taught to have a more practical job. So I went to cosmetology school, then college getting 4 degrees, but never found that PASSION I felt while taking photos. Then one day God took things out of my hands. I was injured and told that I wouldn’t be able to do hair as a career anymore. Although I have since proved the doctors wrong by returning to a salon, I took that as a sign to focus on my passion. Even if it was just driving around and parking on the side of the road to take pictures, I toned my craft. Youtubing, researching, learning everything I could to do this the RIGHT way. Read more>>
Amy Campanini
I have loved animals my entire life and volunteered for animal organizations whenever possible. During my time as a private chef on yachts, I was always feeding the stray populations in marinas. This is when I knew we, as a society, were not doing enough to end animal suffering and made the career change to devote myself to animal welfare for the rest of my life. Read more>>
