We’ve always tried to ask the questions that matter but that are too awkward for people to ask their friends, family and coworkers without seeming dramatic. One of those questions is about mission and purpose – when’s the last time you asked a friend what their mission was? Too often we don’t talk about our own missions and don’t ask those close to us about theirs with the result being that our missions remain secret. Are you just a doctor or are you a doctor who wants to be there for patients in the way you wished your father’s doctor had been? People have incredible and meaningful missions, and we hope our conversations asking folks about their mission can inspire more such conversations in your life.

Jamie Minotti

It was a music festival at sea, produced with my business partner, blending a variety of music genres and worlds that featured everyone from The Flaming Lips and G Love to Slightly Stooped and beyond that actually began to start the idea behind My Yard Live Beer Co. This was before festivals blended genres so it was a bit before its time as was My Yard Live Beer Co. From that event, we dove into event production and ultimately started Alternative Power Productions (APP), Read more>>

Kathryne Buckley-Tessem

After thirty years of having Joy for a middle name, I finally understood what joy is. I’ve learned to live a life full of it, even when simple happiness isn’t possible. I developed a podcast, blog, and website all with one purpose in mind – to bring the JOY back to your journey, wherever that may be! Read more>>

Caleb Seales

My mission has always been focused on cultivating a new realm focused on cinematography and storytelling. I got my start in film being around creatives that did not put a focus on stronger cinematography, therefore, I made that my goal to change the game in a real way. Aside from the trendy effects we see used all the time, I wanted to push out videos with a raw and digestible meaning. Read more>>

Margot Suarez

The running joke is, I started an events company during a pandemic. However, it’s because of the pandemic that ME+WE co. was badly needed – but not in the way you might think. It’s true that we were all getting a little cabin fever and needed human contact. And while my business provided that for over 300 women in the first year of business, it provided a platform for other female businesses to launch from. Read more>>

Alessandra Deerinck

My name is Alessandra Deerinck, I own and operate HH Sensing, a horse training and horsemanship instruction operation out of San Marcos, California. In 2010 I experienced what it is to ride a Mangalarga Marchador, and it has added to my professional life. Since then I have worked on bringing this breed of horses to attention anywhere I work and compete. Read more>>

Makia Thoams

My mission has always been to provide quality, everyday, classic, and elegant clothing and accessories to all women. . When I look at a lot of boutique pieces I see a lot of beautiful statement pieces. I wanted my store to offer everyday luxury pieces that can be worn multiple ways and to a variety of places like your neighborhood grocery store, to lunch with friends, or on a date night with your partner. Read more>>

Olivia Smith

My grandparents had the foresight to go to an attorney and get their estate planning done. This was a pretty big deal and definitely a step in the right direction. However, they went to the local attorney and he did not provide much counsel. Therefore my grandparents left their modest home that sat on 1.5 acres to all 13 of their children equally. And to complicate matters even more some children had predeceased my grandparents and so their children stepped into their shoes which means now we are dealing with a lot of children with some grandchildren sprinkled in. Read more>>

Zarinah Samad

Just like each entrepreneur there is a story, yet how it’s started and how it’s executed is up to the creative mind that tells it. Get Scented By Z Candle Co. was opened to showcase determination, strength and love for candles that allowed me to be able to create scents to bring comfort and decor to any space. The mission is to be a household favorite bringing light out of darkness and relaxing vibes to your home, office and or event. Read more>>

Bonita Jalane Canady

Music has always been my passion but I never thought I would want to get involved in fashion as well. Starting my apparel line Retro Apparel has been fun and inspiring. It all started with just Merchandise for my single Retro when I appeared on shows or engagements as the singer songwriter Bonita Jalane. Then it became a passion project to continue building and growing my brand. Read more>>

Jarvis Lawhorn

The story behind my mission is that Jarvis Lawhorn Weddings & Events offers our amazing clients perfect weddings and events with exquisite planning, design with a creative approach. Providing excellent customer service and flawless execution of our clients special day. We curate venue options, budgets, conceptual design options and assist with hiring an amazing great vendor / “Friendors”. Read more>>

Tiffany Waddell Tate

When I launched Career Maven Consulting in 2018, I thought of myself as a freelancer. Taking on projects if or when people came to me, based on my skills and what I’m good at. At the time I worked in the college career development space, so many of the questions and needs clients and organizations had were aligned with everyday conversations I was having. Read more>>

Edward Rushing

The mission of White Feather is as simple and powerful as any mission I’ve ever been on in my life: To help our nation’s heroes build Financial Freedom so they can live the American Dream they fight to protect. It started without me even realizing it. I read Rich Dad Poor Dad on a deployment to Afghanistan, began buying rental properties in between deployments, and was so excited about it I talked about it to anyone who was interested. Read more>>

Amy Senter

After the birth of my second child in 2014, I developed some disturbing health issues. I experienced migrating pain, twitches, and even memory loss. Doctors had no answers and as the years went on, my list of symptoms increased. I had trouble holding conversations, and experienced so much neuropathy pain that I couldn’t walk to the bathroom on my own. Every test was normal, yet I was using a wheelchair and taking over 80 pills a day. Eventually, doctors began to question my sanity. Finally, in the spring of 2017, I was diagnosed with L Read more>>

Ju Martins

I would say the story behind my mission is definitely the way I was raised. Life taught me a lot growing up, especially how respectful and open-hearted you have to be along the way. My experiences, especially traveling to so many countries and experiencing so many different cultures, opened my mind and made me want to help people in some way. Being positive is something that is part of me, so sharing and doing good things to motivate people who maybe can relate to my experiences/story and inspire them is my mission. Read more>>

Riley Goben

I wanted to build something that helped spread awareness and a deeper understanding about energy. I grew up learning all about it through crystals, meditation, reiki, etc. It always lit my soul on fire to explore the energy of everything around me. I loved having deep talks about why we are here, what’s our purpose, manifestation, law of attraction, all that good stuff. I wanted to spread awareness on these thoughts and ideas and let people know that it’s okay to ask yourself why? You don’t have to just follow this life path system that they have in place for us. Read more>>

Chenay Mitchell

Before I decided to start my foundation, I was working at Macy’s specializing in a brand called, International Concepts for plus size women, My job was focused on personal shopping and developing clientele. While working with my clients that’s when I realized self confidence was a actual awareness amongst women because everyone always had something negative to say about themselves. In the mean time I developed a closet organization business for my clients outside of Macy’s. Read more>>

Renata Brown

DreamSpire TV and DreamSpire Publications mission is to provide the biggest stages to highlight excellence in the arts and entrepreneurship. I founded and executive produced an award show for Poets and Neo Soul artists in 2014. Each year we conducted online voting. In 2017 in the six-week voting period we had over 7,600 ballots cast and 10,000 hits to our website. I started what I perceived as a glorified newsletter that same year to keep in contact with our viewership year-round not only during our voting season. Read more>>

Kalauna Carter

I’m Kalauna, founder of Kolors by K! I’d like to thank you for being a part of my journey as I work to create the best Nail products through affordable pricing and healthy ingredients that you can trust, read and understand. At Kolors by K my primary focus is and will always be men and women’s health. I channel my energy into creating the healthiest alternative of nail polish that works towards your health and not against it. Read more>>

Andrew Eck

Our mission is sustainable craftsmanship nationwide. I started off building coffee tables out of pallets as a hobby that paid for beer in college. But I got really excited when I met the customers and saw that there was this big desire to have high quality furniture in their house made out of real wood and made here in America. The need was there for a company to step up and build that high quality furniture and make it for customers all over the country. So I grew the company in order to achieve this. Read more>>

Rowan Magennis

I moved to the US to obtain a degree from the university of Texas at Dallas in Arts and Technology. My focus was in creating 3D assets for Games and Animation. It was this knowledge in combination with my passion for tattooing that have begun my journey into breaking the limitations of the human skin. Read more>>

Nikki Bee

I was lost. A confused, misguided, lost youth. I had no purpose. I had no direction. And no ambition to accomplish much of anything. I was just kind of… blowing in the wind like a feather on a breeze. In my early stages of my teenage years all the way into my adulthood, I carried an overwhelming weight of resentment towards the world. Read more>>

Meesh Harris

Growing up and really even now I’ve always been the kinda shy mild-mannered person in the back of the room. Even when I’ve had things to say or opinions, I just took the easy route of not saying anything at all. Even now. It’s easier for me to let people think they’re right or smarter or whatever it is. Well when I noticed other people doing it, people that I know have so many valuable things to contribute it kinda upset me. Read more>>

Eboné Almon

The PHG (Professional Homegirl) Podcast was created after my Na-Na transitioned in March 2016. Discussions surrounding mental health were not as popular as they are today and I decided that if I wanted to survive my depression, therapy was my only option. During my healing journey, I wanted to share the tools that I learned in therapy with other women that might not have access to these resources. In addition, Read more>>

Erica Friedman

Movement has always been a huge part of my life. But, during my first pregnancy and after my son was born I felt overwhelmed by the direction I received around my return to exercise and the activities I enjoyed doing. My body felt so different physically. I was also going through a rollercoaster of emotions navigating the transition to motherhood, lack of sleep, feeding, a new city, and my own identity as an athlete. Read more>>

Emily Shipp

As a military spouse, I’m in good company as an entrepreneur- 48% of military spouses are self-employed, business owners, or aspire to be! I’ve seen the struggles that small business owners face while trying to fulfill every role in their growing companies. That’s why I started Social Graces. I love to help service providers (think real estate, finance, coaching etc.) take a few tasks off their plate. A social media presence and strong graphic identity are almost required to give a business credibility in 2022, and I specialize in helping small businesses present a consistent, engaging public face online. Read more>>

Nicholas Nguyen

The First Responder Whiskey Society was formed in 2020 amid trying times. First responders from all over the world were facing unprecedented tragedies from illness, mental health issues, and lack of public support. An idea was formed to connect first responders of all disciplines through a shared love of whiskey. From police, fire, military, and medical staff, this group is a place where we can gather in camaraderie and support each other. Read more>>

Carrie Steen

“Invigorating your space through natural ingredients and promoting aromatherapy in any environment.” At The Naked Buzz, we strive to help our consumers create the environment they desire through beeswax candles made with local, sustainable ingredients. Our beeswax comes from a beekeeper in Orange, California who services over 800 hives across southern California. and our fragrances are derived from nature using plant based fragrance oils and essential oils. Read more>>

J. E. Bright

At a certain age, 8 to 11 years old, a dismaying number of children, especially boys, get put off reading fiction and never come back to books for entertainment. Certainly much of this turning away from fiction is due to the multitude of other, faster-paced entertainment options available. I certainly enjoy video games, streaming TV and movies, the internet, and social media apps myself, so I understand their appeal. Read more>>

Barbara Holguin

I started off more than 10 years ago wanted o work in the Criminal Justice system. I had not idea that my path would bring me to where I am today. I now own an Alcohol & Drug Treatment/Education Program. For the last 5 years I have used my background in the jails, courts and drug and alcohol addiction to build a business that offers a complete continuum treatment program. Clients can be assessed, received education or treatment and also maintain their sobriety with our support staff. I am proud to also provide all services in Spanish as well. Read more>>

Alysha Frieden

I want to help women carve out a space for themselves in their world. I want to pay forward what someone did for me. When I left corp America, I left a bit lost. It was sudden as I met my husband and moved. I knew I wanted to have a family and be around my kiddos. I also later on realized I enjoy working and connecting with other professionals a really significant amount , as so many of us do. What I realized is are options for us available. You don’t have to do one or the other. Work or not work and be home with kids. You can work in a “side hustle” and still never miss any moments you don’t want to miss. Read more>>

John Andrew

When I created my company, I created it with the reminder that I am a homeowner first, contractor second. As a homeowner, I have had my own issues with contractors and I made it a priority to make sure the work my team and I did for my customers was with that in mind. For the most part, jobs have gone on without any issues, however, not all have been perfect. There have been times my team and I have been called back and we made sure to fix whatever the issue was. My slogan is ‘Making Right Decisions’ and every decision I have made was to ensure I stick to my slogan. Read more>>

Danielle Brown

Before starting real estate my background was the salon I’ve been a salon owner for over 15 years now. And during the course of my time servicing clients I truly enjoy communicating with them making referrals on products that it should use that’s best for your hair or skin or whatever occurring condition they have going on in addition to that I also enjoy a small aspect of my job where it’s educating clients on how to take care of their hair better while you can in the correct products for their skin and giving them the history behind why doing these things are important and not just using any part of the year because it might be cheap. Read more>>

Kim Combs

My mission is to create a prayer force across nations, bringing the power of prayer back into the church and back into the home. This mission began in October of 2019, when I enrolled in a program to hone in on my purpose. After a three month program it was confirmed that I am a here to shine bright to bring about restoration through coaching, speaking, writing and prayer. Read more>>