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.
Amanda & Lauren with SYNT travel
You could say that SYNT has always been an idea brewing. We’ve always shared our love and passion for travel with others and finally decided to turn it into a business. We’ve been friends for over 20 years and are both avid travelers. We’re know as the “go-to” people for travel advice. One day I ( Amanda) made a comment that I wish I could do this for work. Lauren responded with “why not? Let’s do it together” . Read more>>
Thelma de Castro
I believe that writing is liberating. Creativity is a high. In elementary school I wrote a story about a chicken starting a chicken noodle soup factory. Well, maybe it didn’t go exactly that way, but I remember the thrill of having it published in a school collection. It was magical. I guess I never stopped chasing that thrill. Read more>>
Sari Rose Barron
Oof. That’s a good question. In some ways I feel like my purpose found me. I grew up wanting to be on Broadway, so I trained for that, went to NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and lived in New York for 7 years performing. I fell into teaching theatre arts as a side gig to help pay my bills and little did I know that would impact my career and life’s trajectory. Read more>>
Tyler Lamph
I mean, I’ve always loved drawing. I’ve drawn monsters, dinosaurs, & comic book characters since I was a kid. But I never knew you could have a career drawing what you loved. I thought you had to work for a major company like Disney or Marvel, drawing what your employers told you to draw, so, after graduating high school, I went to college on an art scholarship. Read more>>
Travis Reigh
Truth be told I can always think of my mother and find the answer quickly every time to that question. When I figured out performing and releasing music for a living was what I was chosen to do was when I was very young and my mother and brother went overseas after 9/11. I spent 6 months to a year without my family and started writing and playing instruments. I just knew in that moment that was my peace and happiness. Read more>>
Shamar Rice
Finding one’s purpose in life is a deeply personal and ongoing journey. For me, it has been a process of self-discovery and growth, and I believe that I am still adding to my purpose as I continue to evolve and learn more about myself and the world around me. Read more>>
Melissa Libutti
I was born with an alternate view of reality. After 2 surgeries as an infant my parents were in the predictament of putting contact lenses in my eye.at age 2. After wearing a patch through kindergarten and coke bottle pink glasses when I lost contact lense, not to mention day long visits to the eye Dr., I still remained double visioned with my right eye legally blind. I believe this was the foundation of seeing the world on a macroscopic scale with all the intricacies that I could imagine. Read more>>
Nakeesha Kenney-Futrel
Discovering my purpose was a profound journey, intricately woven with faith, prayer, and unexpected turns. At its core, prayer played a pivotal role. My relationship with God, guided steps, and unwavering faith became the cornerstone. Prayers from my ancestors, especially my father and mother, echoed across time, connecting me with divine purpose. Read more>>
Jodie Bentley
I didn’t know it at the time, but I discovered the basis for my purpose when I was 10 years old. Growing up, it was my coping mechanism to not be fully present to my life. I had to be the emotional support of my parents and help take care of my sister, Laurie. Laurie was the older one and had cognitive disabilities – her mind will forever be 2 years old. To win my parents attention, I worked as hard as I could to get straight A’s and not rock the boat. Read more>>
Josh Wilhelm
I believe that purpose is not only something we often overlook, it’s also something we tend to overthink and complicate. Personally, I discovered my purpose at an early age in Sunday school, and it revolves around the simple principle commonly known as the ‘golden rule’—treating others the way you want to be treated. Read more>>
Stan Myers
It has taken the journey of life for me to come to the realization I was called to be an artist and what that really meant. An individual can be talented and make good art, but that does not make them an artist. I know of people like this who struggle with why they do art other than because they are talented. Or they are gifted, but have no passion. Read more>>
Jordan Foley
I am an active-duty Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and have served for 12 years as a submarine officer and now as a Judge Advocate (JAG). I am currently serving as the National Security Law Department Head for Naval and Maritime Law at the Pentagon. Read more>>
Lynn Meyer
This is going to sound strange, but I found purpose out of pain that endured. My story starts at the incredibly young age of 1 and 1/2 years old. I give that age because I know the abuse begin when I was a toddler. I was sexually abused by my biological father and my mother knew about it because she prepared my body for him. Read more>>
Megan Nolte
Everyone yearns for something meaningful in life, and some people spend their entire lives trying to find their purpose. I was fortunate enough to be given my purpose and meaning very early on in life. For as long as I can remember it has been the one thing in my life that has made sense to me consistently. For this reason I couldn’t imagine pursuing anything else but this creative journey. Read more>>
Corey Jones
In 2008 I was living in Charlotte NC. This was around the time of the recession. I watched people move out of their homes and their things were on the front lawn due to the economy. I called my Grams and explained my situation with not having a job and she said to me, Corey look at your hands. God has given you talent with those hands and I taught you how to cook so you tell me what you are going to do. Read more>>
Jessica VanNess
In the words of Rick Rubin, “The universe never explains why,” a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the quest to find one’s purpose. The mere mention of “passion and purpose” often triggers a sense of overwhelm, as if declaring a lifelong commitment to the universe, set in stone. Read more>>
Naoshi
I was in search of something I could immerse myself in, and tried anything that interested me, including guitar, dancing, and skateboarding. One day at a bookstore, I came across a book featuring a collection of works by Kin Shiotani (https://kinshio.com), an illustrator and writer. The unique, freehand style of this travel-loving artist left a deep impression on me. Read more>>
Marlo Ramirez
Purpose is not an easy thing to find. Like so many, I have spent countless years trying to figure it out. Little did I know, my purpose was being shaped by each experience, disappointment, and victory I had had in my life. Let me explain. I grew up having zero direction in life. I was a late bloomer so to speak. I didn’t go to college out of High School. Read more>>
Satori Shakoor
t’s 2011, Six years after my mother and son died. Barack Obama is President. Everyone is chanting”Yes we can! Yes we can!” I’m running out of money. There’s not a theatre job in sight. All my investments have crashed with Wall Street. I need a job, but I don’t want a job. I want to do what I love to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>
Clarissa Carlucci
After obtaining 15+ years of experience working at top Fortune 100 companies in New York and Miami, I realized that my true purpose in life was extending my experience and knowledge to others so that they could accomplish their dreams. Read more>>
Annemarie Sampson
My personal story and experiences surrounding body image, growing up in Title IX’s infancy- experiencing discrimination in sports, pushed me to learn more about the health and wellbeing of females. I found purpose through self-reflection and exploration. This involves understanding my values, passions, and interests. Through introspection I discovered activities and causes that resonate with me on a profound level. Read more>>
Sarah Parker
Finding my purpose is something I’ve struggled with for a really long time. I’m a college drop out, I’ve never had a traditional career, and I’ve always very much related to the saying, “jack of all trades, master of none” – meaning I’ve found I’m pretty good and am interested in a a lot of different things, but not phenomenal at any singular one. Read more>>
Tammy Tappan
Purpose. Purpose? I am not certain that I have actually found my purpose. I am also not sure that we have only one but, the question is one that I ask myself on a regular basis. I have not always considered myself an artist which is kind of ironic given the fact that I went to art school. I also had a career that was very much dependent upon my creativity. I owned a sign company for nearly three decades before stumbling into what many consider my true calling – an artist. Read more>>
Raphnee Manning
Finding my purpose has been a profound journey, and at the core of it is my relationship with God. In moments of introspection and spiritual connection, I discovered that my purpose is intricately woven into the tapestry of my faith. Through prayer, reflection, and seeking guidance, I’ve come to understand that my purpose is not just about personal fulfillment but aligning my life with divine intentions. Read more>>
Kylee J. Marshall
Finding my purpose has been a journey of more than forty years. And the journey walked through very long seasons of perfectionism and of people-pleasing. Many years of saying yes when I wanted to say no. And even more years of not saying anything at all. Growing up, purpose was synonymous with useful. Read more>>
Teja Smith
As the owner of a social media agency, my purpose emerged from a combination of personal experiences, passion, and a desire for change. Being from Oakland California it helped me shape my purpose and growing up, I witnessed the systemic injustices and disparities that Black and Brown communities faced. These experiences ignited a passion within me to use my skills and resources to contribute to positive change. Read more>>
Marjuan Canady
In my journey as a 1st generation Caribbean-American artist, I discovered my purpose through a harmonious blend of cultural exploration and creative expression. Embracing both my African-American and Caribbean heritage, I found inspiration in the rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and vibrant aesthetics that characterize the communities in which I come from. Read more>>
Neysa Garcia-Muhammad
“How did I find my purpose?” Oooo, that’s such a heavy question. I’ve been thinking about my purpose a lot lately, and I’m learning that it’s my purpose to be a light. I am here on this planet to find joy, community, and make memories. Read more>>
Charlotte Batista
Finding my purpose was an unexpected journey that unfolded in the midst of adversity. Four years ago, I received a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer that turned my world upside down. In the darkest moments of my treatment, I realized that I had a choice: I could let this experience define me, or I could transform my mess into a message for others. Read more>>
Carlo Fiorletta
I think my purpose is my closest characteristic to living in the moment. When I was young, I was the oldest child. I think my age and size made me strive for leadership roles later in life. At some point I recall my dad saying my word was gold. We had our share of disagreements, but now long after his passing, I try to spare feelings but sometimes truth is harsh, We each have limitations. If we fall short in one directions we can re-direct to find a better path. Read more>>
Kristy High
Finding my purpose was always important to me. I prayed to God to show me my purpose and how this purpose could serve my community. It started with being in a position that allowed me to engage with children that had certain health issues. Read more>>
Ford Ferreira
I feel purpose isn’t a fixed singular thing. Instead, as we grow and experience the world around us, new adventures and purposes await us. I’ve seen so many good friends fall into the trappings of thinking they need one monumental purpose and feel wildly insignificant because they haven’t found it. However, I believe purpose is way more organic and not something we always have control over. Read more>>
Dorian Gerdji
I believe my “purpose” in life changes throughout time since everything is always moving and evolving. However, with my art I have found that it can relate to any of these changes, and that’s why I believe it’s a big part of me. When I was a kid I’d imagine entire scenes and movies when I’d play with some of my lego sets. Read more>>
Lori Coan
In my view, creativity is both a personal purpose and a shared experience. I’ve always felt this drive to make things, and if they don’t reach the world, it feels selfish. However, teaching others to be creative is equally important. It’s about fostering an environment where creativity is appreciated and encouraged. Read more>>
Wing Lam
In the early 1980s, my two brothers and I embarked on a culinary adventure that would shape our lives and the landscape of fast-casual dining. Little did we know that opening the first Wahoo’s 35 years ago would become a journey of purpose, passion, and perseverance. Read more>>
Vanessa Young
Finding my purpose took a long time, atleast, that is what it felt like. I discover a bit of my purpose each day! A huge part of my purpose came to realization when I connected by current business to the dreams I used to have as a child. I always dreamt of helping people and sending love out to the world. Read more>>
Juliana Lievano
As a little girl, and growing in a family of both parents being entrepreneurs, I knew my life was destined to go in the same direction. I went to school for advertising and Graphic Design, worked for big and great businesses, but I always felt empty. Read more>>
