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.

William Tresten

God! – Aug. 8th, 2016 Jesus Christ saved my life! Since then everything I do is to try and live for Him. Tresten Knives was started back in 2020, I was getting married at the time and was looking for a new way to generate income. God blessed it! It took off faster than I thought, and now after my son being born I don’t have as much time as I used to for making knives, but I still enjoy making beautiful custom pieces for people to use and enjoy. Read more>>

Mike Penny

I’ve found the search for purpose in this world to be vexing at times, but “purpose” is such a tricky concept. Who are the arbiters of this abstract notion? We are the only ones who can know what constitutes purpose for ourselves in our own lives, and it seems to be closely related to a sense of belonging. Read more>>

Karen Bankhead

I have always enjoyed entertainment and also entertaining. Being creativity, finding joy, laughing, pondering, observing, are the things that occupy my attention most. As an actor, I feel into doing comedic roles more so than the dramatic type things, and then once I got into sketch writing, improv and stand up, I felt like I found my “sweet spot.” I pursued that despite the ups and downs. There were three pivotal moments that let me know my purpose: once, when I was on stage performing as my signature character, Etta Mae Mumphries. It was a standing room only audience, and the laughs were flowing so that I had to pause and just let it soak in. It was an amazing feeling, and at that moment I was overwhelmed with gratitude and I heard a voice (I’ll say it was God!) saying this is exactly where you need to be! The second time was when I got a last minute email for a clean comedy convention: it was a Sunday afternoon and I was preparing to chill out for the evening, but once again I heard a voice (again, I’ll say God!) saying, this is what you’ve been waiting for. So I got out of chill mood, and drove down to Orange County for the event. That conference opened up so many doors, and I began to learn the ropes of pursuing the type of comedy I’m doing now. And finally, when my father passed unexpectedly over 30 years ago, we were all devastated. I spent hours seeking God, seeking wisdom, and once again a heard a voice, letting me know that more so than being an actor, I should be writing. So, I have also tried to keep writing something, and also writing the material that I perform today. During the pandemic, I was so grateful for the many avenues of entertainment we had access to while shut down and shut in, so I feel compelled to contribute and do my part to provide some entertainment as well. So many opportunities come across your path, but if I remember my purpose is to encourage and bring lightness and laughter, and it is all a lot less confusing! Read more>>

Michelle Denise Button Carrillo

Following my heart. Following the music. Many of times we think we find our purpose and at times I believe that Purpose finds us since we come into this Planet Gaia. A spark of light touches us where our heart smiles and we know that there is a calling within. That calling is a Dream. That Dream is our Purpose.
As I connect the dots, all my journey has led me to where I am today. Of course, with its detours, but the path was paved already. Always moved by music, little did I know where this would lead me to. Since a young age I had a calling for music, people (a natural pr) and production. Read more>>

Jessica Irwin

It took several years and a few iterations of my career before I became a full-time jeweler. I always loved arts and crafts as a kid, yet found myself studying math at UC Santa Barbara as an undergrad. After graduating, I started my career as an actuary. Read more>>

Joanna Proffitt

Hmmm… I’m going to be very careful with this question, I don’t believe my life has a singular “purpose” but instead many PURPOSES. Your purpose is likely not one thing but many, many things. One of my purposes was to be a mother and to raise my two sons to adulthood. Another was to find a way to make a living that was fulfilling to me and made the best use of my unique strengths and skills, That turned out to be a position in law working as a legal assistant. I still struggle (like many) to find the ideal fit but I now know what kind of job I am good at and what type of work I find rewarding. Another “purpose”, one I prefer to look at as more of a “passion” is as an artist. My 9 to 5 requires a lot of structure, organization and prioritization. Photography is the perfect yin to that yang. My art is a place where I don’t have to seek anyone else’s permission. A place where I am free. That is a refreshing place to be after having to follow so many rules in the workplace (or the world at large for that matter). Read more>>

Shania Love

My mom is my purpose.It all began when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer in 2018. I needed a place to channel my energy during my senior year of high school, so I started working on my business. I did not anticipate how quickly it would take off for me. On my 19th birthday, June 27th, 2020, I formally founded Love Kouture. I gave myself the company that is today called Love Kouture. As an entrepreneur, it was a little discouraging that I didn’t make any sales on the first day. To see the success and growth you desire within your business, you must be willing to sacrifice time, money, and energy. With all that I have sacrificed I love what I see. Read more>>

Jaimie Beebe & Jake Deptula

We found our purpose to create the podcast, Strictly Stalking, in a roundabout way! Both being true crime fans, we knew we wanted to start a true crime podcast but weren’t sure what direction to go. – there’s a lot of crime we could’ve covered! Through our research we learned that stalking is not only a very underreported crime, but also one without much awareness. Our purpose in creating Strictly Stalking was not only to raise this awareness, but also to give survivors a safe platform to tell their story. Read more>>

Kat Ivanov

I think we’re always searching for our life purpose, and it’s not just one big novel, but many short stories. I often check in with myself and reevaluate my choices. I try to refer back to my life experiences and core values to make sure I’m being true to myself. After high school, I did what I thought I needed to do to be successful, and while I enjoyed my time in college, I knew something was missing. I was an artsy kid and believed college was a must so I studied art and design. But, it wasn’t until I went to cosmetology school and completely changed my surroundings, that I found what I believe is my purpose, which is people. Read more>>

Regina Gerrato-Greenhaus

I have always been passionate about working with children. As a teen, I became a camp counselor and a preschool teacher. While I loved working with kids in these settings, I found it challenging to be effective in the large group setting. I quickly learned that I did my best work one-on-one with kids. I soon realized I was interested in studying adolescent and child psychology. After completing my undergraduate education, I moved on to graduate school and completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. I worked for various non—profits after graduation and then with Children’s Hospital outpatient services. After having a child, I took a leave of absence from my profession. Fast forward several years later, I volunteered with first-generation high school students in their senior year of high school. I started as a homework tutor and then began helping the student’s research colleges and coaching them through the college application process. I spent an entire year reading essay books and learning everything possible about college admissions. After the kids received their decisions, I realized how gratifying it was to help younger people to achieve their educational goals. From then on, I began my post-graduate studies at UC Irvine and earned my college counseling certificate. Read more>>

Gretchen Bergman

I knew I wanted to be a dancer when I was 5 years old, so performing and teaching dance was a natural progression. Then when I started modeling in my 20s I realized that fashion and art and dance are based on similar elements of line and design, so I became passionate about combining the performing arts and fashion into a theatrical showcase. I started my fashion show production company Gretchen Productions in 1979. Read more>>

Arlina Roman

I found my purpose at my last job. I was a junior graphic designer at a small marketing agency, learning and gaining experience in branding for small corporate businesses in Austin. When I saw that I had an eye for identity design, I started my side hustle of designing logos for my close friends and family who had started their businesses. From beauty to construction, I created the branding for almost every industry! Then one day, I got laid off unexpectedly and decided to take my side hustle to the next level and go full-time as a brand designer. Read more>>

Mecki Johnson

I believe we have multiple purposes here in life, but for Matched By Mecki I found that anything love related feels natural to me. Helping others fix their relationship issues or determining whether or not someone is a good fit for them feels effortless. I am also a natural born organizer, so helping people plan their special day fell right into place with what makes complete sense to one of my purposes. I always say “God is love, so naturally I enjoy it”. This purpose is to share God’s love. It goes hand in hand. Read more>>

Joe Baldelomar

Finding purpose in life has been challenging. Throughout the years I had my setbacks and felt like the world turned upside down, that made me asked: why I am here? This existential question made me realized that learning from my setbacks as well as my triumphs helped me have a better sense of myself and my path moving forward. I understood that “purpose” is not a short-term goal, but a journey! Finding the overlap of what I love and what the world needs (within the scope of what I am good at) helped me find purpose! I practice gratitude; I explored my passions, joined a cause and I spend time with people that inspires me; that has tremendously help me in finding purpose. Being able to help our communities by providing awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, educational presentations, support groups and many other services is my purpose! Read more>>

Malik Smith

I found my purpose pretty early, and very easily. Drawing was always a hobby of mine, I’ve been doing it since the age of 5. I was never paid to draw anything in my younger years, it was something I naturally wanted to do. If you find any of my old notebooks from school, there is notes in written down, and endless streams of sketches in ballpoint ink. Read more>>

Jessica Smith

Psychology has always intrigued me. I knew around 9th grade I wanted to become a therapist. Around eight years old I became very interested in studying the human mind and behavior. Unlike other kids my age, I seldom wanted to play outside or watch cartoons. I stayed inside just to read encyclopedia books, dictionaries and write. One of my favorite shows as a kid was “Unsolved Mysteries”. I have personally experienced a lot of trauma during childhood and throughout young adulthood; in the midst of my pain is where I discovered my purpose. Read more>>

Yoga Your Way YYW

Yoga Your Way was created by a diverse group of woman to empower people to stay healthy fit and well. We are a group of women from younger to more mature (After-all, age, the number is only a state of mind) who wanted to combine and share our journey to health and being active to encourage every body to feel better.Our purpose was founded in the midst of the pandemic and has grown to be an international wellness journey. Our philosophy is to stay active and we encourage families to work together to promote a healthier lifestyle. Read more>>

William Bly

How did I find my purpose??!!…LOL!!, Well, I started out as a Hairstylist / Cosmetologist and after completing school and taking the state board exam, I was ready…I opened my 1st salon, had employees / stylist, and I thought I was doing the damn thing. And I struggled to do that for over 8 years, not knowing that, it was not my purpose…I loved it, but it just wasn’t fulfilling, I enjoyed what I was doing, but that just wasn’t it. So while I was still working a 9-5 job, running a salon, struggling to make it work, I was asked to cater a birthday party, I didn’t have any supplies, didn’t know how to cook enough food for the amount of people that would be there, but I just ruff it, and pretended that I knew what I was doing. And it worked!!! From that event, I ended up with 2 more events, then from those 2 & 3 more events, and it just went on from there. Eventually, I shut down the whole salon thing, and focused more on what it would take to start my own catering business. I already had some of the best influences in my life that were amazing Cooks/ Chefs; my Grandmother (Inez Scott) Mother (JoeAnn Scott) and Grandfather ( Stanley Bly) so cooking and the culinary mantle had already been instilled in me. Read more>>

Yochi Yakir-Avin

I believe it was actually the other way around; my purpose has found me. I can recall a few details from my early years.
When I was just six years old, my parents got divorced, my father left Israel, relocated to the US, and never returned. My mom was a working single mother who struggled to make ends meet. My life included moving about and switching friends, schools, and often my environment. Read more>>

Lisa Botto Lee

I grew up in a very creative environment and knew from a really young age, this was my arena. Both of my parents are artists, and a had tremendous influence on me. On my father’s side, my artistic lineage goes back five generations to mural painters in northern Italy. It’s like a family of trapeze artists or singers. Art is what we do. My childhood was filled with an abundance of art, museums, exhibitions, and extensive travel throughout the US. We also spent a great deal of time in the outdoors hiking and being with nature. We hiked Bear Mountain in New York all the time. One of my favorite places to visit was Yellowstone National Park. To see a herd of buffalo, elk, moose or a bear up close in the wild was exciting to me as a child. As an adult, I traveled abroad in Europe, which widened my sense of art and the world. Art was always in my life, so I never questioned my purpose…it is my touchstone. Read more>>

Jasmine Felder

How did I find my purpose? That’s a funny question! Over the course of the last few years I have experienced trials and tribulations that have tested me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Over the last year and a half, my beliefs and everything I knew were tested. I felt like I lost everything. I faced struggles with my physical health. I experienced loss financially. My career was derailed. In some ways I personally isolated myself and in other ways through divine intervention I was isolated from everything and everyone I knew. However, through these challenges I began to connect with God and myself on a deeper level. I began to receive clarity on my strengths and areas of opportunities. I started to realize there was no “glass ceiling” and the sky was not the limit. I communicated with God on a regular, filled my cup with inspirational messages, and increased my knowledge through research. I found my purpose when I was stripped of everyone’s thoughts and opinions, the worries of the world, and I believed in myself. Read more>>

Presley King

My purpose is to help people. I create conscious clothing that is not only organic but all natural materials are used. I have recently realized the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle, I feel now I am following my higher path and my purpose. I found that I really enjoyed how I felt only using natural materials in my sewing process and that customers would feel the same. Read more>>

Nada Adjadj

Ever since I was 18 years old, and I would visit the various shopping areas of Lebanon, I would see the lovely chocolate favors in the various specialty shops. I was so entranced by the different designs that I dreamed of creating my own unique designs and possibly open my own business using my own creativeness that I always wanted to display to others. Read more>>

Suni Gargaro

This one is easy. My purpose derives from the intersection between my yoga path, and my son. That is to say my purpose as I see it at the present moment, is to bring Yoga to as many young people as possible. When I got into the yoga apparel business I was inspired by the culture, traditions, and literally the colors of India, where I was born, But that wasn’t the complete picture. Very specifically, my goal was to bring inspiration to moms and children to embrace a yoga practice to enrich their lives, their health , and their bonds with each other. This aspect of my purpose ties directly back to becoming a mother to my son because from the moment he was born, I knew that my purpose on this planet was undeniably, even karmically, tied to giving my son the very best possible life that I could. Read more>>

Cat Warren

I took a trip back to my childhood. I’ve had the opportunity to work many jobs, from writing contracts for the Navy to writing insurance policies for big corporations. However, I often felt that I was not utilizing my natural strengths; and, because of this, I was not achieving optimum fulfillment with my professions. Read more>>

Vanessa Oliver-Robinson

You don’t really find your purpose, your purpose finds you. It became evident that my calling was to assist Black Women with their pregnancy journey’s. After losing my son in 2019 to a preventable pregnancy complication, I knew I had a responsibility to add to the conversation and change we need to see in the medical field to help save black women and babies. Read more>>

Dawanna Jones

I believe that my purpose is making a difference in the lives of others. I truly enjoy knowing that I helped someone in their journey. I realized my purpose one day after I helped someone with an issue they were having. This person explained to me what I meant to them. They told me that they had never encountered anyone who took their time to break things down in a way that they could understand like I had done. They told me that I had gone over and beyond what they had expected, and for that they were grateful. This made my heart smile but it also was an “eye opening” moment for me. These days, a lot of people are trying to reach their goals and are confused about how to get there. So many people are trying to live a certain lifestyle that requires a certain amount of money. Therefore, they aren’t willing to share a lot of information for free. A lot of people don’t have time or want to have the patience to help others. Also, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet. I knew that for me, it isn’t just about making money. I find joy in helping people regardless of monetary gain. When that light bulb went off, I knew that my purpose was helping others in any way that I can. Read more>>

Danielle Vogler-Bos

I believe that purpose is a creative and meditative process. It is two parts— one part is sparked by little nudges that help guide us into our purpose (or purposes—I believe our purpose can be multiple or change with time) assigned to us and one part is the cultivation of it within your heart and soul—the spiritual piece of you that we often take for granted. These ideas I think ultimately contradict the way that culture has taught us to believe, which is why, one, it can be challenging to find purpose, and, two, why many find themselves dissatisfied in their life or work. Within my life, I can say that everything that has ever turned out better than I ever anticipated was the times I allowed that intuitive process to guide me, often requiring a lot of quiet thought and prayer, rather than forcing something that never felt right to begin with. Read more>>

Jenilee Samuel

I grew up un-allowed to look at fashion magazines, and almost wasn’t allowed to have Barbies because my mom didn’t want me to develop a sense of insecurity around my looks. I thought it was annoying, and that there must be something horrible in fashion magazines but I complied. I appreciate my mom’s intentions and realize she very well may have protected me from unnecessary comparison issues when I was young. However, in many encounters in my life and circles I was in, there was an idea that female beauty was nothing more than vanity, and that us girls (especially as we passed puberty) needed to make sure we were covered up! No spaghetti strap shirts, shorts almost to the knees, nothing fitted, because my goodness you wouldn’t want to be responsible for making a boy lust after you. Now, no one said these things so dramatically, it was kind of just the undercurrent and the strict dress codes that sent this message. Again, well intentioned, but the delivery suffered. When I became an adult, grew into my woman body and began having children, everything changed so much with how I was shaped, but inside I still had a resounding sense of self-confidence and self respect that made me want to dress stylishly and respectably, even if I was going through lots of changes. However because of my upbringing, the idea of pursuing fashion, or giving much attention to my clothing still carried a tone of “vain” and “materialistic”. Read more>>

Cerila Gailliard

I do not think you can ever find your purpose in life. I think your purpose comes in different phases and where you are in life. I never thought about owning my own business until I graduated from college. I think you need to be open to new ideas as well as what life is telling you and showing you through friends, work, and other activities in your life. Read more>>

Jayna Jennings

My faith is what gives me purpose and I found it through my relationship with God. I know He has given me a message of hope to share and I am firm believer that I have gone through what I have and experienced what I have so that I could help and encourage others. My passion with my work and just with my life has been to raise awareness for mental health so that care can become more accessible- the stigma around it can be broken and those in need can get care without guilt or shame. Mental health is health! I feel that my purpose in life is to use my voice to remind others how incredibly needed and purposeful they are- how they are fearfully and wonderfully made and that they make a difference in this world by being alive and being themselves. Read more>>

Adrian Jauregui

Becoming a muscian can be discouraging, However as an artist you have to realize music is subjective and you can’t please the world. My daily motivation is to inspire those who can relate to my art and connect with my lyrics. I create music hoping to connect with another human. It’s an amazing feeling when I have a fan reach out and say ” I love your music” or “great song” those are big wins! Read more>>

Sandi Wilson

I was lucky enough to have been raised by a mother who was hardworking, resilient, and the kindest person you’ll ever meet. Watching her care for so many students as an educator as well as caring for me and my sister as a mom, allowed me to see what it was to fulfill your purpose. Her purpose was to build people up, make them feel good, and help them move forward on the best path for them. She was always encouraging me to never give up and find new ways to reignite the joy and passion I had for the things I loved. I began playing violin at the age of four and fell in love with it. While I had my moments throughout my musical career where I wanted to give up, my mom always helped me keep going, try again, and remember why I loved doing what I do. Her powerful example inspired me to follow in her footsteps, and I found my purpose as a music educator. My purpose is not to produce the next star musicians like Mozart or Beethoven, it is to build a nest for all of my students that allows them to feel safe, secure, and encouraged. So when they do leave and fly free, they have the courage and confidence to find their purpose. Read more>>

Nicole Simpson

They say when you discover what you’re passionate about, are really good at, and the world needs — you have found your purpose. Walking into a space and knowing exactly how to organize it has always come naturally to me and is something I love to do. In doing this work I’ve realized the joy I get from the look of disbelief I see in my clients when they walk into their organized homes and offices. I love knowing that I can use this skill to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a privilege to know I get to do work I am passionate about and in that journey, I discovered my purpose. Read more>>

Raven Gates

I never found my passion, but my passion found me. As an undergraduate student, I wanted to become a lawyer like Maxine Shaw on Living Single. However, in college, I found a passion for helping victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual. I thought I would be an attorney fighting for victims and survivors. Sadly, I became a survivor of sexual assault while getting my undergrad, pushing me to go harder for victims and survivors. Read more>>

Macee Binns

The path to self-discovery is a wild journey to say the least. The word “purpose” is literally defined as the reason for which something exists. Therefore, the pursuit of one’s purpose is an enormous task that the majority of us struggle to discover. The most valuable lesson that I have learned in regards to this topic is that your perceived purpose is allowed to evolve, shift and change over time. Former aspirations that you had, when you were young, often fall by the wayside or evolve into something new as you mature and that’s perfectly alright! Read more>>

Dee Dee Moreland

My divine purpose was imparted in me before I was in my mother’s womb, by God, my creator but I discovered it in the process of pain and lack. We all have been given a purpose but we often fail to recognize it, sometimes for many different reasons specifically, past trauma and loss can greatly impact how we respond to life. It can catapult us into arrested development where we are stuck in cycles of grief, regret and emotional prisons that causes us to squander moments and seasons of producing. Read more>>

Joel Martin

A personal sense of purpose, to me, comes from being of service, It’s completely bizarre to be of an age or a position in life where I have a useful perspective about “how to live”, but HERE WE ARE! Read more>>

Kellee Murrell

It is a wonderful blessing is when your purpose and passion align. I found my purpose at 14 when I started my first job working for New York Summer Youth Employment program. I was a daycare teacher in the NYC housing projects summer program. There, I found my passion for education and for creating equal educational opportunities for all students. I would later work for a wealthy summer camp on my summer breaks while in college, and I saw the disparity in programming between the wealthy and the poor. As a child growing up in the Bronx, New York, I always wanted to attend a better, safer school, but my single mother could not afford it. My purpose and passion are to provide an exceptional educational experience for all students, primarily those with limited resources. As a teacher and school administrator, I am inspired when I see a young person excited to go to school and learn. I did not grow up that way, and I want for others what I didn’t get the chance to have. I want kids to find their purpose and passion in school and cultivate creativity. Our purpose should bring us joy and encourage us to impact the lives of others. Read more>>

Queen Lin

When I first started posting covers of me singing and seeing how they were going viral and people were requesting more I knew then I wanted to keep pursuing my career in music. Read more>>

Kimberly Millard

I believe my purpose is part of my DNA, I never get tired of making people laugh, smile, or feel important. Being an Event Creator makes it even better because I can create beautiful, memorable celebratory events for my clients and their guests that will always bring about smiles and lifelong memories, and I’m just blessed to be a part of such an occasion. Read more>>