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.
Betty Arguello
The Lord, my Creator has always been the purpose of my life. He is my Shepherd, my provider, my deliverer, my joy, my best friend, my Savior. My life wouldn’t be the same without Him. Read more>>
Lindsey Owen
As a kids’ TV writer, I’ve always felt that my purpose is to soothe my inner child while also making life easier for all the kids out there now. I was a really anxious kid, constantly faking stomach aches to get out of things as small as going to preschool, or trying a new snack, or deviating at all from my daily routine! Everything about the world felt big and dangerous, and I was tiny and powerless to stop it. Read more>>
Collin Davis
I found it by sneaking through the back door of a dingy rock club one night. The show was sold out and we were underage, but me and my pal Dougie weren’t going to miss this one band. They set the joint on fire, and when the place erupted I realized how powerful music can be. I mean I’d always loved music, but it was then that my purpose became clear. Read more>>
Michelle Banks
I found my purpose when I was younger, knowing what I wanted to be – an actress and a theater maker for Deaf artists of color. I founded Onyx Theatre Company, the only theater company for deaf artists of color, in 1990 in NYC after I graduated from the State University of New York – Purchase. There was a lack of opportunities for Deaf artists of color in the industry. Therefore, it was my mission to fill the void by creating opportunities for them to thrive in the theater arts. Read more>>
J.a. (Jen) Sweeney
I’ve always had a gift of connecting with children. Becoming a children’s author really filled a need to bring stories to children that teach them life lessons that leave them believing in themselves. Read more>>
Julie Freeman
My purpose has always been pretty clear for me, yet began from roots in a dysfunctional family. Of course, as a child, I did not know that part of my purpose would come from the pains of mostly emotional and verbal abuse with a little physical sprinkled in there. Read more>>
Carol Roullard
It may sound peculiar, but as an artist, I’ve often vacillated in my search for purpose. Early in my art career, I would discover it, only to lose it. However, I have recently found a purpose that I love and which will sustain me . This year, I applied for and was awarded a grant to teach fluid acrylics at my local Boys and Girls Clubs. Teaching something I love b is very rewarding. I’ve always found public speaking to be fun and exciting. It’s a form of teaching, and hands-on teaching is even more thrilling and fulfilling. Read more>>
Grammy Szn
Attending Kendrick Lamar’s 2014 concert was transformative; the energy and artistry ignited a spark within me. It was the sole concert for which I purchased a ticket. Post-show, a resounding thought echoed: “You have to do this.” Three years later, I heeded that inner call and found my purpose in music. This revelation unfolded through the sheer force of my will. Read more>>
Tyrisa Burdine
Growing up we are always asked what we want to be. So most people give answers based on what they see as a kid. I want to be a nurse, a firefighter, a police, and a doctor just to name a few. I feel like those answers are conditioned based on what we have heard, not what we love or have experienced. Finding your purpose comes from life experiences. I believe life and living is our biggest teacher. Based on life experiences we develop and recognize our strengths and talents. I turned my pain and frustration of natural hair into my purpose. Read more>>
George Schmid
I was the youngest of three children with two successful parents. My Mom was the head surgical nurse in the hospital I was born in. My Dad owned the 2nd largest Volvo car dealership in the state of NJ and as a teenager was a champion swimmer with trophies everywhere. My Mom would always tell us kids that we were all champions. My sisters were quite a bit older than I was. Read more>>
Nita Mistry
For a long time, I didn’t know what my purpose was. From a young age, I did various activities in the arts, but I never really knew what it was exactly that I wanted to do or what my gift was. However, it all changed when I turned 20, and I turned to Christianity. Coming into a relationship with Jesus and reading the Bible is when I began to understand what my purpose was for my life. For me, this was not only realizing the gift I was given in storytelling as an actor and writer but, more importantly, using it to inspire and help others. I am a firm believer in having a purpose which should be greater than yourself. Read more>>
Monica Vila
I found my purpose in 2020 when Covid-19 started, when the long Moratorium started. I lost several friends from Covid and some of my family members were forced into the hospital for long period of time until recovery. It was then when I realized I had to do something to help others to get protected and at the same time to be available to enjoy it as my profession. Read more>>
Mathieu Cailler
I think this is a great topic. And to me, success is finding your true purpose. Many times, while touring or teaching, people ask me to define success, and writing has always given my day purpose. It allows me to wake up in the morning eager to get to the blank page and try to bring the world that is in my mind into book form. I found writing by reading, by observing, by wanting more than anything else to tell stories. From an early age, people would say that I was a good storyteller, which I took as highest compliment, but then the question became: how can I turn this into more, and writing fiction, poetry, essays, screenplays, and more afforded me that opportunity. Read more>>
Jess Schmidt
My purpose is always, always, ALWAYS figuring out how to tell a story in the best way possible. Our stories are so important – the tell the world who we are, how we want to be perceived, and what matters the most to us. Stories are used to entertain, convey meaning, and express feelings. I knew from a young age that I loved stories, but it took me much longer to figure out that being able to help other people tell their stories is not just a gift, but something that continues to bring me enjoyment and purpose as I move throughout my career. Read more>>
Alisha Cobb
I found my purpose very early on in life. I have always braided my baby dolls’ hair since around 8 years of age. I would go to school and braid my teachers and friends’ hair. My mother was a very dedicated woman growing up, she still is! She was always working to provide for her 5 children or going to school to further her education. Due to her being very busy, I decided to start braiding my sisters and I’s hair. I would go to school with a new set of braids that I did on myself and everyone adored them! I shortly realized that I could make an income from braiding others’ hair. At 12 years old, I took my first paying client. Read more>>
Chassica Cee” Braynen-Thomas”
To live a life that is pleasing to God is my overarching purpose. Knowing that I have my Faith gives me the motivation to keep pushing day after day after day. The next source of motivation is my family, followed by my career, and finally my customers. In essence, purpose is WHY you do what you do. Finding your purpose can be discovered by what makes you happy and truly fulfilled. That’s purpose! Read more>>
Caleb Hinojosa
Finding my true purpose came from lots of journaling, alone time, and self-reflection. I felt so burned out in my craft when I graduated from music college. I had just dedicated the last Four years of my life to this art that I loved, but now that it was over, it felt like I wanted nothing to do with it anymore. I needed to get away, so I booked a month-long Airbnb in the mountains of North Georgia. I had so much time and space to reflect on my life over the last four years, and it made me realize why I had burnt out in my art. Read more>>
Jennica Klemann
I would love to say that it was a mystical epiphany that came to me in a dream and my manifestation unfurled into what it is today…no, it was something that kept showing up in different ways over many years until I recognized it for what it was and I had the experience and timing for it to be realized. That’s not to say I felt prepared or had the confidence for it. I just “knew” that it was a direction I needed to follow and I did! Read more>>
Stephanie Matsuba
Living with a mental health diagnosis used to be the biggest secret and pain point of my adult life. When I originally received my mental health diagnosis of Bipolar, I chose to ignore it. I didn’t understand it, and based on what I knew and saw, it felt like my life was over. All the dreams and hopes I had for myself seemed impossible and I thought if I ignored it, maybe it would just go away. Read more>>
Freya Graf
Not to be cliche but it was a bit of a “make your mess your message” kinda deal when I discovered my true purpose. I’d tried my hand at various different career pathways and done a variety of jobs that, to begin with, felt really inspiring and rewarding. However, they all inevitably wound up becoming a drag and I would find myself bored, burnt out, and seeking a change that’d bring the excitement and passion back into my work life. Read more>>
Drew Lewis Guerra
When I was younger I used to think that I was going to be a drummer in a rock band. I started playing drums at the age of eight, took a few years of lessons and even started my first band around the fifth grade called Payday. We wrote our own songs and we rocked. When high school came along, I joined a new band. We practiced twice a week, and played as many shows as we could, determined to get signed by a record label before we graduated. When that inevitably didn’t happen, I was left wondering what I was going to do next. All my friends were going off to different colleges, but I hadn’t really left myself with a backup plan, or at least I didn’t think I had. Read more>>
Tranika Raines
Discovering my purpose as a stay-at-home mom has been a deeply fulfilling journey. It all began when I realized the immense joy I found in supporting and encouraging fellow mothers. Sharing my experiences as a black stay-at-home mom navigating the unique challenges of our society became my way of connecting and uplifting others. Read more>>
Asha Clements-Elliott
This is such a loaded question that no explanation can grasp the whole process, but if we’re going to tell the story, let’s start at the very beginning. As a child, I loved to read, draw, and think about unconventional topics; as I grew, so did my imagination, thoughts, questions, and creativity. When life started to shatter the bubble of ignorance all children obliviously live in, I ran to art. If you told me then I would be operating an art and design business in the future, I wouldn’t believe you; I was trying to get through the day. Read more>>
Maria Benavidez
When I was about 8 years old, I was listening to the radio and realized how much fun the DJs were having. They got to play music for a living. They met all the famous bands, got to go to all the best concerts, hang out at all the cool clubs and they only worked for four hours a day! That’s what I wanted to do when I grew up. So, that’s what I focused on. When choosing a college, I chose one that had a program in Radio. In the Summer of 1990, before going off to college, my father was having lunch with a friend who was the Executive Director of a non profit called The Downtown Youth Drop In Center. Read more>>
Donato Ricci
Growing up in a household were money were scarse, and you have big dreams, purpose get installed in your DNA. I knew that to do better in life I had to push to the max. Like everything that you apply in your daily life consistency becomes habit. I don’t think my sense of purpose will ever leave me. Read more>>
Yiran Guo
Ever since I was a kid, I knew what I was good at and what I could gain by working hard. Therefore, I had a clear purpose from a very young age. My goals have changed at different stages of my life, whether it was aspiring to be a magician as a child or pursuing a career as a painter when I realized my talent. My primary goal has always been to excel in whatever I do. This mindset may have been a result of my strict upbringing; I have always strived to be competitive and stand out in any room. Read more>>
Kianna McCurdy
My purpose comes from becoming a mother i have found so many rewarding things after becoming a mother. One of those things would have to be going full throttle with my nail business NAILS BY KIANNA LLC. This by far has been one of my biggest accomplishments outside of being a mother of 2. I have learned so much being a business owner/nail technician it comes with highs and lows but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Nails have always been a positive outlet for me since the age of 12 I was born to be a creative artist. Read more>>
Darryl DJ DLIFE” Payne”
From a very young age I’ve had a keen interest in music/DJing/entertainment. My introduction came from my late uncle Desmond James in the early 80’s. He was a music fixture in the Brooklyn New York area and he would take me along on most of his gigs. His extensive vinyl collections was also part of my motivation. Read more>>
Jason LaPierre
I’m a believer that “true purpose” starts to appear at an early age, and it’s our job to sit and mediate on what that is. For me, I have always been fascinated by sounds, which has led me into the path of being a musician. We grow and develop as we get older, but I believe our soul remains the same as long as your preserve it. Read more>>
Jerry Lopatin
I found music at a young age. I was fortunate to have parents who saw a great deal of value in music and did everything to make opportunities for myself and my brothers to find a pathway into the world of becoming musicians. While my older brother Steve was busy learning the guitar, my younger brother Ted and I took up playing the piano. By the time I was in junior high I became rather proficient at creating arrangements on the piano for all the popular tunes of the day. By the time I was in high school, listening and performing music became my passion. Read more>>
Alice Toyonaga
Thank you for letting me share my story! I believe our purpose can take on different shapes and morph as we learn, age, and follow different life paths. But deep down, at its core, it has a fundamental value, and it is one that speaks to you to your bones as your ‘truth’. My purpose became clearer and clearer not due to what I had/did not have in my life experiences, but rather, the narratives I had attached around those. Read more>>
Kevin Nash
The path to finding my purpose is ever evolving! To me it’s been an endless exciting trip with many twists and turns down a scenic narrow road filled with great rewards, setbacks, lessons, ups and downs, and a guiding voice in my spirit that tells me to keep moving forward. Looking back in retrospect, every event , good & bad, played a significant part in my discovery of my purpose. I was introduced to radio and radio broadcasting at the age of 11, 43 years later I’m still on the air, and now teaching the art of Radio / Podcasting to over 50 students weekly through my Accelerated Radio School of Broadcasting program, on the campuses of LAUSD & IUSD (Inglewood Unified School District) Read more>>
Verniese Lorielle Moore
My purpose found me! Sometimes, it will hunt you down until you yield! On April 23rd, 2010, I was given 6 months to live. I heard those dreadful words over the phone that shattered my world. The nurse whispered “Verniese the biopsy came back as Lymphoma”. I was 2 years into medical school, training to heal the sick and now in my 20’s I was facing death. It was the toughest, yet the most purpose-defining time in my life. It was the start of a journey that exponentially propelled me into extraordinary living. It was at this point, that I learned the difference between truth and facts. You do know there is a difference between the subconscious understanding of truth vs. facts, right? Read more>>
JULIENNE HOGARTH
I think my purpose found me more than I found my purpose. I began my career after college in Graphic Design and quickly discovered this was most certainly not my purpose. After working at several design firms, I found a calling as a teacher after spending time teaching high schoolers at a youth group. I knew I belonged there, sharing, educating, and building relationships with them. This led me to becoming an art educator. Sharing my love of art and helping students grow and find themselves through art or simply through a relationship became my purpose. The creativity I was able to feed into my teaching was fuel. Read more>>
Boris Basishvili
My journey has started when I was very little. At the age of 3, my mom catches me in a stack of hay under our house in our village (you call it a summer house in my country). I was trying to light matches to smoke a cigarette roach. She was terrified that I could burn myself, the house, and everyone in it. I remember a lecture and smell of the tobacco. I don’t smoke any more, but I still love the smell of real tobacco. Read more>>
Maria Ricciardi
The journey to discovering my purpose as a woman landscape and wildlife photographer began with a simple gift—a disposable camera on a class trip to a dairy farm. Amidst a hundred snapshots of cows, something stirred within me, igniting my curiosity for capturing moments that spoke without words. High school broadened my horizons, introducing me to photojournalism—a world where images wielded stories. But college led me down a different path, steering me toward graphic design and 3D modeling, promising stability in a career. Read more>>
Emily Lewis
Finding my purpose has been a huge part of my life’s work and what I help my clients with in my business, Emily the Mystic. I view purpose as a very multidimensional and multi-layered concept, and I want to start by defining what purpose means to me. First of all, from an overarching perspective, the purpose for all of us is to be alive, to be fully present here and make the most of our time on earth. That’s the purpose of life. Read more>>
Kelli Scott Kelley
My Mother is an inspiration. She is an artist, musician and writer, who made a living as an elementary school teacher and principal. Mom played the organ at her church for 45 years, and at 85 she still regularly plays her harp and piano, often for events in her retirement community. She still stays up late into the night, excited about the story she is writing to share in her writing group. When I was young, my Mom stayed at home with my two sisters and I, while my Dad, a raging alcoholic and philanderer was mostly absent. She always had an area in our house, in the corner of a room, for her easel and oil paints. Read more>>
Houda Chami
In a tough time, when I felt lost, I wanted to find my strength. For few months, I lived in a state of spiritual enlightenment, where sleep was hard to come by. In those moments, my mind shifted to another dimension, leading me from a dark place to one filled with light. I sensed a calling to my mission in life and that’s when I discovered my true purpose. Read more>>
Ashley Kwanten
It all started with a deep love for music and the artists that created it. I landed a dream internship at The Artist Organization under my mentor, Rich Holtzman, while I was still in college. He took me under his wing and this started my almost decade long career working in the Artist Management world. After a short period, we moved to Red Light Management where we managed different artists, like Portugal. The Man and Big Wild. During that time, I experienced every aspect of touring and witnessed how the touring lifestyle affected our clients. Read more>>
Brandi Fisher
I discovered my purpose by aligning my values and aspirations with a desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to meaningful causes. My full purpose stems from a combination of personal fulfillment and a broader vision for the impact my work can have on others. Some of my purpose revolves around being available to help people during their most stressful and emotional times, which tend to be weddings and events! My commitment is truly to providing support when it’s needed the most. Read more>>
Tom Foley
Finding my purpose has come in many different forms over my career. After practicing law for 15+ years, I redirected my efforts to designing business models that work to drive social justice. In 2016, I partnered with celebrity chef Tiffany Derry to launch T2D Concepts, a purpose-driven hospitality group operating Roots Chicken Shak, Roots Southern Table and ‘Shef Tiffany (spice and apparel line) and soon to open, Radici Wood Fired Grill. Read more>>
Azure Stewart, Ph.D
I’m a firm believer that we all have gifts. I’ve always been in the role of helping people, cultivating opportunity, choice, and support. As someone who has been a student, professional, and colleague in different systems, I’ve had to learn how to navigate different spaces. I often thought about how we can make things more accessible and create fewer barriers for each other. I’ve since transformed my work from being in specific systems to supporting individuals as a life coach. My framework for engaging in this work is different in that I was mentored to take a liberatory perspective on how I work with clients. By liberatory I mean not only in supporting clients with their goals and vision for the future but also providing space to engage in embodiment work as well. Read more>>
Erin M. Jacobson, Esq.
I’ve always loved music. When I was in college at USC, I took an “Introduction to the Music Industry” class and as we discussed recording agreements and how musicians were regularly signing agreements that were unfair to them. I also learned about the role of music lawyers in the business, and decided then and there that I would become a music lawyer to protect musicians from signing unfair agreements. Since that time, I have been instrumental (no pun intended) in protecting the copyrights of musicians and music rights’ owners, making sure they are paid fairly for the use of their music and creative services, and helping them make business decisions that contribute to their success. Read more>>
