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.
Simone Alexa
Growing up as a multiracial person in Hawai’i I rarely saw representation of people that looked like me. I’ve always been drawn to art but in not seeing people like me in art I felt very discouraged. Finding my purpose came in creataing representation for myself and then others like me. Today I see my prupose as an artist to be empowering BIPOC communities. I focus on that and healing through my art. Read more>>
Matthew Wappett
Several years ago I was engaged in a discussion with a female colleague about privilege, equity, and justice. At one point in our discussion we were discussing equal rights and gender issues; my friend was arguing that it was better to be a man, and I was arguing that being a man was not as wonderful as it may seem and that there were tremendous advantages to being a woman. Read more>>
Amanda A. Carpenter
I love helping people and have always had a deep interest in health and vitality, so I began my career in 2001 as a physical therapist, specializing in sports and work-related injuries. Pursuing the path of traditional success, I earned my doctorate and accumulated multiple credentials related to human performance. Read more>>
Meng Lan
I studied graphic design with a focus on printed media during my college years. It was a hobby of mine, as I found it natural to express my ideas through images. After graduating, I began working as an art designer at a small design studio. Read more>>
Yokiz Xi
My journey into the art world has been quite a ride. I was doing traditional arts back when I was in high school. I love the texture and the versatility of mixed media, and that created a dream of me becoming a traditional artist. However, in my Freshman year of college, my art direction started leaning towards game art. Read more>>
Joseph Arnold
Like many, I discovered my purpose through dealing with pain. I grew up playing violin and I went to music school in the hopes of becoming a professional concert violinist. This plan was interrupted by the onset of tendinitis in both arms. Neither my music teachers nor any of the dozens of doctors I consulted had any useful advice. Read more>>
Ali Green
I recall starting to understand the concept of having a career at an early age and I would constantly ask my parents, “Mom/ Dad, is there a job out there where I can help people with their problems?,” and they would always respond, “Yes, Ali. Read more>>
Ashley Moore
As a sustainable surfboard art company founded during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding our purpose was a journey deeply rooted in both personal passion and a commitment to addressing pressing global issues. Read more>>
Kate ToUyen Vu
It’s been a long journey that has really stemmed from a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. My purpose I feel, is to help nurture and provide space for the younger generation of API, more specifically, Vietnamese creatives through creative arts to help heal generational traumas and bridge divides in our community. However, the realization of that didn’t come until the last few years. Read more>>
Dr. Tonya R. Portis
I’ve always been deeply curious about a wide array of subjects. When I graduated from high school, I found myself torn between numerous career paths, each holding its own appeal. However, my journey truly began to take shape around 2002 after I experienced personal success with a popular fad diet, which ignited a passion within me to dive deeper into understanding the intricacies of the human body. Read more>>
Robert McCready
I never believe that there’s a purpose existing for humans to find. God probably knows my purpose better than I do. If I get to reflect on my life in the hereafter, I might see ways I fulfilled my purpose without even knowing it. I believe that the point of life is to live it. Read more>>
Gracyn Bartelucci
Before one finds their purpose, I believe that one needs to find the courage to stand a part from others but possesses the vulnerability and humility necessary to maximize each experience that comes their way. While it feels like this does not typically come naturally, the words, Read more>>
Kierra
Finding your purpose can be a challenge, especially without understanding what truly motivates and inspires you. My journey began when I enrolled in cosmetology school during my senior year of high school. While I initially explored female-oriented services, I discovered my passion lay elsewhere. Read more>>
Shannon Wilde
My business partner and I have been a part of the magical community for many, many years. We have visited countless occult or magic shops all over North America, and while some of them have been wonderful, it was obvious to us that there was a void in the market of offering something a little different. Read more>>
Andrea McGrath
Discovering my purpose was an evolution rooted in the profound love I hold for my children. As a parent, I recognized the transformative power of passion, and with a heart devoted to making a positive impact, I embarked on a journey that culminated in founding a business and becoming an advocate for mental health. Read more>>
Stacey E. Haught
I don’t think anyone ever finds their true purpose. Please stick with me. I think we’re conditioned into believing we have to seek out that one thing we are good at. That career or interest that turns into a passion, and therefore we never really feel like we are ever working a day in our lives. But that’s not necessarily how life works. Read more>>
Hannah Heltzel
I am and have always been an artist. But, I also used to be a trial attorney! When I was young, all I did was create – painting, ceramics, drawing, and 3D art. My mom and grandmother were both designers and artists too. Growing up, I worked with and helped my mom design weddings and events. Read more>>
Nick and Amanda Tyler and Piteo
We found our purpose in our coffee shop when we were both unhappy with our current career/jobs. We were both managing restaurants, but had a passion for coffee. You could even say that we were addicted to coffee. Read more>>
Debra Ruh
As Debra Ruh, my journey to find my purpose in advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities was deeply personal. It all began with my daughter, Sara, who was born with Down syndrome. Sara taught me firsthand the misconceptions and underestimations people with disabilities face. Read more>>
Tashi Nicole
My journey of self-discovery spans nearly 15 years, marked by a quest to understand myself and what ignites my soul. As I navigated the complexities of life, giving back to my community and guiding others to find their voices became my calling. Read more>>
Nicholas Reese
I’ve found my purpose when I stopped playing college basketball. I never knew what I wanted ti do with myself in regards to hobbies because I was so in tune with sports. As time went on I went on a journey to find what works for me and photography did just that. Ever since I picked up a camera I’ve yet to place it down. Read more>>
Shawn Greenleaf
Finding purpose is critical to living a content life. My purpose in my 20’s was parenting and teaching kids and share their love for learning. Read more>>
Regina Faison
That is a great and powerful question! To be honest, I used to think my purpose on this earth was to be a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, but that all changed when Iost my spouse unexpectedly at a young age, leaving me to raise two young sons as a single widowed mother. Read more>>
Vincent MacTiernan
Discovering one’s purpose in life is often portrayed as a daunting task, but in reality, it can be simpler than expected. In my case, it all boiled down to a single question that led me from a mediocre job to becoming a highly acclaimed Visual Effects artist and compositor in the film and television industry. Read more>>
Amy Robinson
As a kid, I always enjoyed art. It was something that just brought me joy and comfort. I figured there was something in the art field I could make a career out of (even though I didn’t know what it was yet) and after high school I enrolled in an Art School to try and make that dream possible. Read more>>
Grace Leonard
My purpose in life snuck its way to my life through a simple conversation while making wheel pottery with an old friend. It was around November of 2023, and in that current moment I was feeling utterly stuck and lost in my life. Read more>>
Shinika Broussard
Finding my purpose was a journey of self-discovery that began after realizing I lost touch with my true identity while deeply immersed in the corporate world. Despite my success in management, I felt a profound sense of disconnection and unfulfillment. Read more>>
B. E. Padgett
I found my purpose at a young age. I was in middle school when I learned that I loved stories. We are surrounded by stories every day. The tales of the people in our lives, everyday adventures, books, TV shows, and podcasts– these stories take us to new places. Read more>>
Karl Moore
Mooreshots LLC started as a result of my Dad. Growing up, I watched him taking pictures of trains, depots, and railroad related items as a hobby. In his retirement, my Dad started his own business selling his images all over the world, and saw his pictures grace the covers and pages of railroad magazines and books. Read more>>
Andrew Nunn
As a graphic designer, my journey to finding my purpose was a gradual evolution of self-discovery and exploration. It all began with a deep passion for creativity and visual storytelling. I found solace in the process of translating ideas into captivating designs that resonated with others. Read more>>
Nick Martier
I found my purpose very serendipitously in high school. I went to a technical school so I could get out of regular school. I didn’t care where I went so I was going to take the automotive class because my friends all signed up for it, but I waited until the last minute and the class became full. I figured I’d take the carpentry class so I could wear a cool tool belt. Read more>>
Florence-Susanne Reppert
When I was a kid all I wanted to do was sit in a comfortable room and create art. I didn’t know there was a whole community out there of people who wanted to do the same thing. My poetry journey took me to so many incredible places and gave me the opportunity to meet writers and creatives of whom I never would have met had I stayed home. Read more>>
JC Gardner
There are many people who wander through life not understanding their place in the world. I was not one of them. Ever since the age of 12, I knew I was a storyteller through the written word. It was a steamy, hot day in the Bronx, NY, and my best friend and I were visiting my grandmother for a week, having just graduated sixth grade. Read more>>
Josh Ginsburg
I knew that I was passionate about music from an early age. Although I could not articulate this from the beginning of my journey, I gradually realized that music spoke to me on a deep level and that it would allow me to express aspects of myself that could not be expressed in other ways. Read more>>
Emily Lisker
I would almost say that my purpose found me. I have been drawing and painting and writing and reading from a young age. I have discovered that it is through my body that I keep my creative life alive. I see my body as an antenna that has to be kept alert and awake to pick up the signals. Read more>>
Jennifer Seidner (Kuchler)
There is a fire inside each one of us that guides us, from the time we are little, towards the subjects we like…. and away from the ones that don’t ignite us. Taking the time to understand what it means, is the tricky part. I spent alot of time trying to let that fire to grow inside of me while trying to think logically within the parameters of possibility. Read more>>
Melissa Mann
Sometimes we don’t find our “why”; it finds us (and when we least expect it). As a registered nurse, wife, cat-mom, graduate student, and now candle-maker, I’ve embraced so many roles that have each contributed to my sense of identity and purpose. Read more>>
Abby Auch
I have always been drawn to helping others whether it was after school programs for kids, wilderness therapy for teens or outpatient therapy for adult women. Each different field, each new role gave me tools, insight, and skills that I could take with me no matter where I would go. Read more>>
Keeley Brooks
While I’ve always known I am a writer, I never knew what my purpose was in life until a couple of years ago, when I was forced to detach from mainstream life and slow down in my efforts to live, and to start taking care of myself by getting in touch with who I am at my core, which meant finding and giving my spirit what it needs instead of giving my ego what it wants and expects. Read more>>
Vijay Ravikumar
Great Question! So, here’s a twist on the age-old quest for purpose: I used to feel like I was on this grand mission to discover my life’s calling. But you know what? That pressure was suffocating. Then it hit me – what if there’s no grand purpose to find? What if life is just about rolling with the punches? Read more>>
