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.
Ty Bjorklund
I think being a woman of this day and age has created these unattainable pressures of always feeling never enough. It feels like I can’t be just one thing; I need to have achievements, goals, and side hustles or I am irrelevant to the world. Thus this extremely high expectation is set that almost feels unachievable. This rhetoric affects how I define success in my life and what my purpose is. So recently there has been a mindset shift that changed my outlook on life. Read more>>
Jeremy Long
That is a strong word: purpose. One that I have been thinking about a lot lately. What is anyone’s purpose? It’s hard to say really and, of course, it is different for each individual. Some people feel their purpose is in their work. And, for some jobs, especially life saving ones in the science and/or medical fields, that feels very apt. Read more>>
Michael Tiny” Alcorn”
First and foremost as a professional entertainer, I believe that compassion and caring go hand in hand with my acting skills. When you have walked through the fire of abuse yourself, you develop a deep sensitivity towards others who have experienced similar hardships. It becomes a driving force behind every character I portray, allowing me to tap into the raw emotions of human suffering and use my performances as a way to connect with audiences on a profound level. Read more>>
Sabine Henderson
When I was at a very low moment and was getting evicted from my apartment, in LA, I saw a family standing outside of Ralph’s. I gave my last $5 dollars, to the family, and cried all way home. On the way home, made a promise to God and asked him to bless my business. I promised God that if he prospered the company, I would give back 10% to the homeless community. Thankfully, I have been able to keep my promise to date. Read more>>
Madeleane Hazen
I have such a passion for helping small businesses grow their brand and find success because I’m such a dreamer myself. There is nothing like the feeling of having an idea and taking action to bring it to fruition. However, having my son and becoming a mother really changed my perspective for how I feel towards what I do as my career. It honestly took me about a year to find my purpose and motivation again. Read more>>
Nancy Goodman Lawrence
I had a sketchbook when I was a small child, and I remember thinking that my uncle had a square head and drew him that way. Instead of taking naps, I would be making sculptures with cardboard and spit and hiding them. What cemented my wish to be an artist was a very gifted elementary school classmate, whose drawing of a ship was hung on the wall by our first grade teacher. Read more>>
Amanda Stockton
My kids. It seems cliche, but if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be here. I don’t think I’d be anywhere. My whole life I wanted kids. And when I had them, I knew I didn’t want them to have the childhood I had. I wanted to be better to them than what I got, and I never wanted them to feel the things I felt as a kid—or as an adult, for that matter. Read more>>
Sean Grant
It was a long journey but the shortest answer is through relationship with God. How God defines purpose is service. When I started comedy I thought the desire was to be a rich and powerful comedian. But this is fruitless. God doesn’t put us here to be served but when your gift serves many then your name is made great which won’t matter to you because you’ll love to exalt God’s name as the reason. I know my material makes it hard to believe I love God but I truly do. 😅 Read more>>
Curtis Rigg
When I was a young kid I had a tragic accident that resulted in nearly losing my arm. I had fallen from a tree, which lead to a compound fracture of my humerus that broke through the artery on its way out. Thus, leaving only a fraction of skin holding the two halves of my arm together. Doctors insisted on amputation, but we refused. Read more>>
Lili Tewes
I saw Pina Bausch’s “Café Müller” when I was three. I was the shyest girl you can imagine, but from that moment, I knew I wanted to be a dancer. That’s how I ended up moving from Germany to New York as a teenager. Read more>>
Enrique Penn
It was when (in short story form), a kid who was in elementary school we had a performance at the school and we had to pick a kid from the crowd each of us to bring on stage with us to do a skit with us. So I picked my kid and he was the happiest to come up with me on stage. Read more>>
Sam G
I think discovering one’s purpose involves a blend of experimentation and learning from experiences. I hold the view that the amalgamation of lessons acquired guides individuals to their purpose. Additionally, I strongly advocate the idea that our trajectory is consistently propelling us forward towards what we identify as our purpose and calling. This includes challenging moments where summoning the courage to persist becomes crucial, even amid times of hardship. Read more>>
Taron Harris
Artistically I found my purpose five years ago when I started teaching dance and performing arts. I noticed that I could impact and inspire my students in ways that I hadn’t fully seen growing up, but the one thing that was instilled in me artistically was creating my path. I faced many challenges as a student in the arts being seen as the “underdog” due to lack of resources and consistency. My biggest challenge was never the obstacles that stood in my way because I could always find a way through them; my biggest challenge was myself. Read more>>
Deneen L. Garrett
Prior to moving to Las Vegas in 2009, I prayed to learn what my purpose and passion was. I became very involved with our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and our volunteer organization (The Pioneers). A friend invited me to help with a committee for the women’s ERG for our annual ERG Conference. While at the conference, I KNEW I wanted a career in Diversity & Inclusion which is where the ERGs sat. Read more>>
Jim Kimo” West”
I know that many folks search for years to find their purpose but for me it was something that happened at a very young age. I had always been into drawing and painting and that was my course of study when I started college at age sixteen. But I had also discovered guitar a few years prior and my focus was rapidly shifting to music by then. I didn’t really know many other guitar players and did not take lessons, but I would be glued to the TV if there was someone playing guitar! Of course nowadays it’s all there on YouTube. Read more>>
Bre Nefertiti
I don’t think I found my purpose..I developed my purpose with growth and self awareness. I’ve always been an artist adolescent yrs. As I got older, I slowly found my passion and created my own lanes. I started doing hair at 14 yrs old and also majored 4 yrs in graphic design & visual marketing in highschool. For me both were considered art. Over the yrs I used both skills to bring in multiple streams of income. Read more>>
Melody Daly
I found my purpose professionally working with the model and talent industry through my previous job at the Ford/ Robert Black Agency as a New Face Booking Agent. I’ve always been obsessed with the entertainment industry, so when I was offered a job finding new talent and helping them begin their careers, I knew it was where I belonged. It really hit me when I coordinated my first “New Face” mixer and had a flood of my “kiddos” (as I called my new-faces) run up and hug me all at once. I’ve never felt more loved or appreciated in my career. Read more>>
John Koller
I’ve been lucky to have some great teachers in my life, including my parents. For me, High School was a pivotal time to establish (and own) my identity and career path. I have always been artistically inclined, but I certainly wasn’t thinking about a career in art during High School. Luckily, we had a great program, and art class became not only a refuge but a place of empowerment. Read more>>
Maggi Quinn
Purpose is a personal and evolving concept that often intertwines with various aspects of life. For me, purpose can be defined as the guiding force that gives meaning and direction to my actions and choices, in both my personal and work life. It is a dynamic journey of self-discovery and alignment with what truly matters. Read more>>
Jessica Joines
Simple. I stopped trying to find it. Instead, I opened up myself to receive it. At first with a prayer: “Please show me who I truly am. What I love and how to share this with the world.” For years, I kept trying to find it. As if my purpose was a problem to solve; a complex equation. It took me years of trying to find it, and not, to finally understand the following: You can’t think your way into your purpose. Because your true purpose is the highest expression of your soul. And you don’t become the soul within, through the thinking mind. Read more>>
O.J. Pipkin
I started my creative journey back in 2009 in Indianapolis, IN as I was pursuing graphic design. I linked up with a friend named Lu who had a small production team which included graphic design, photography and video production. This is when I found my creative purpose. I saw what Lu was doing and fell in love with the creative process of creating something from nothing. In 2010 I did an internship with a small record label as a videographer/editor. I shot, directed and edited my first music video with the label. Read more>>
Rachel Linkwald
It was an accident, really. I came from generations of people that were deeply involved and invested in the arts. A symphony harpist, a sculptor, a painter, a few actors, it ran deep. I grew up playing in all the mediums, both visual and performance. I needed an outlet, and if one medium wasn’t available at a given time, I’d bounce to another. This has continued to play out. After college, I made my living in performance, mostly acting and puppetry. Read more>>
Tyler Martina
When it comes to finding your “purpose”, and I believe the majority of people overthink it. They think that one day they will just be overcome by this unstoppable passion that will bring meaning to their life. But, the truth is, that’s not what a purpose is. Read more>>
Bri Alexander
Finding my purpose came through my healing journey. I was going through a huge transition in life, unmarrying and exploring life through a new lens. Along the way, I found unique experiences that helped to heal me from the inside out. Read more>>
Jade Syan
I feel that my purpose is to inspire others to always follow their dreams no matter what hardships you may come across. I found my purpose by paying attention to the signs. By paying attention to how things that I did made me feel and also how quickly I picked up. When I say signs, I mean the things that naturally gravitated towards me and continued to reoccur in my life. Growing up, all my brothers and I really had to depend on was our dreams. Read more>>
McQuaid Boo
I find my purpose in the people I work with and having the opportunity to tell their stories. Read more>>
Kristin welch
13 years ago, I took a leap of faith and decided to dive into a new hobby. I received a metal stamping kit and supplies for Christmas that year and dove in head first teaching myself the ins and outs of metal stamping. I practiced until my fingers were sore and bruised but I knew the alignment had to be just right to create something meaningful and beautiful. I began selling pieces to friends and family, and before I knew it, I was making 10,000 pieces almost monthly for a Christian Grammy Award-winning artist. Read more>>
Bette Bentley
No matter what job I’ve had, my soul’s purpose is to help women. As a comedy writer, I wrote about women for women. But being a mom really put a fine tip on my desire to connect with the community of women around me and make their lives better. The moment I held my daughter, I was changed forever, like my actual heart exploded. And I knew I could bring that huge heart into my work. Read more>>
Lauren Wilson
I found my purpose when the world was ending (2020), and I was so unhappy at my job. I looked around and asked myself, what is something I have always loved. I have always loved perennials and landscape design. I let not having a degree stop my passion for years and when the world is ending and you have nothing else to lose, you find the will to push through and make it happen. Read more>>
Ash D. Collins
There is a lot of pressure on people to find the ‘one thing.’ The one partner. The one job. The one house. The one purpose. As if that ‘one thing’ will be checked off a long list of what we must complete in this life. This creates a problem when we find ourselves unable to attain or hold onto this singular ideal. I have had many goes at finding my purpose in my life. When I was young, my life was about survival. It felt like I had no purpose, but in truth, I was laying the groundwork for the life that would follow. In early adulthood, I tried on many hats. I tried to enlist in the military. I tried to make it in dozens of jobs. Read more>>
Dana Doss
My purpose has changed over the years, but my family is ultimately why I do what I do! My husband, Ryan, and I have big goals for ourselves so that we can provide our kids with the memories and traditions that we want for them. I believe that my profession allows me to help others and encourage them on their journey in their business. I am a stepping stone for them to grow and it’s an honor. Read more>>
Maria Martinez
Growing up I naturally was the mediator, the positive one, the one that always wanted to help others. I remember through Elementary, I helped others, translated for others and during the summer I was a tutor for younger kids. So I can say that being of service brought me joy, gave me purpose and it was a natural quality and characteristic that I expressed. From my early years I seeked positions in school where I was leading, helping, serving and inspiring others. And this continue through college and even through my years in corporate America. Read more>>
Meagan Wolterman
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom for the last 8-years. In that time, I’ve experienced all the emotions that come with being a stay-at-home mom. Such as anxiety, depression and the loss of one’s self identity. My kids became my complete and total focus. I honestly stopped taking care of myself and started silently spiraling. Then I found my love for gardening. How I could plant just one tiny little seed and grow something absolutely breathtaking or something that could nourish our family. Read more>>
Gina Capobianco
I think I struggled to find my purpose in life, but I have finally figured it out. My purpose is to share my story of overcoming illness and using writing as a healing tool. I was 14 when depression first entered my life. The illness of depression has been with me for over 36 years. When I was faced with stigma because of my depression and accompanying anxiety several years ago, it not only hurt, but it angered me to the point that I decided to start advocating for better care in mental illness. Up to that point I viewed my writing as literary. Read more>>
Traci Duncan
It was shown to me in a dream. Psychic abilities ran in both sides of my family. It was apparent from a young age that I had them. Everyone inherits different things. Some of my relatives inherited green eyes and left-handedness. None of us thought about trying to turn any of these things into careers. I gave readings to family and friends over the years, but my main focus and purpose was being a mother. Once my kids grew up, I kept wondering what my new purpose was to be. Read more>>
