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.

Scott Del Vecchio

In most cases, there are more people doing things, changing things, and making things than there are people documenting them. I grew up in the world of photography and production because my dad was a model. He loved what he did and it was neat watching the whole deal develop into a final product, but I was always more interested in the people documenting and their craft rather than being on his side of the lens. Read more>>

Yene Damtew

My mission is everyone, regardless of where they stand on the socioeconomic ladder deserves a quality experience in beauty. Education and customer service are at the forefront of everything that myself and my salon team do. It’s always important to provide a high-quality experience for every customer and to continue learning as techniques and trends constantly change. Read more>>

Jasmine Young

RHODA Generation mission is to help every young lady inspire, restore and maintain a sense of belonging in self, family and in community. As a young girl I’ve always wanted to make an impact on the youth. I was set on working with at-risk youth to help the generations to come. My undergrad is in Criminal Justice and law studies. I had an internship with the state of Wisconsin as a juvenile probation and parole officer. I had a second intern with young women who were sex trafficked. Read more>>

Danielle Jefferson

My mission is to keep every small business owner from throwing in the towel on their business. So often, someone says to me “I feel like I just want to shut everything down”. This breaks my heart because most of us start our businesses from a passion. This is what we’re meant to do. And there can be an easier way to do it. Read more>>

Cristal Garcia Marin

Hello! Thank You so much for having me here, and Iam so happy and blessed that i get to have this apportunity to speak to the world!. first off i would like to introduce myself , my name is Cristal Garcia Marin, Iam the owner of Garcia Art Photography and Graphic Design’s Iam 26 years old from Durango Mexico, raised in Austin Tx since I was 3 years old, Iam a wife and mother of 3, 1 boy who is almost a teenager :) and 2 little girls. Read more>>

Nita Ann

I’ve always wanted to be a “somebody.” Then I realized in college it’s more fulfilling to be a “somebody” that makes a difference in people’s lives. I would imagine people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or people who are famous for their talent or skill, successfully doing those things. I always had a desire for the entertainment lifestyle, but then I realized I wanted to make a difference instead. Read more>>

Ken Williams

My mission is to take everyone on a nostalgic journey back to the 90’s and 2000’s. Whereas the only thing we had to do is live and hangout with friends. We get so wrapped up in what is happening right now, that we often forget to do things that make us happy and experience life. So I want SummerOf96 to bring that happiness. I want people to feel warm in the inside when they hear, see or even wear SummerOf96 clothing. Read more>>

Colt McIntosh

I started TheFootyFactoryFL in 2018 with the goal of giving back to my community, to try and give players the opportunities I never had growing up in Central FL. Over the last four years I’ve watched countless clients become more confident on the soccer field, not only as a team player but also as individual players and that’s all I could ever ask for as a coach. Read more>>

Rokmarys Millan

when we started making videos we did it with the intention of helping and informing anyone who wants to know north carolina and the states of the usa, how is their lifestyle, costs of living and places they want to visit. given that when we arrived in this state we did not find any information in Spanish (but we also have English subtitles) that will help us just as we want our videos to help everyone who is looking for a new destination to live. Read more>>

Sabrina McMillan

My property management company Wine N Keys powered by Costello Real Estate and Investments is my passion. I created my company to help empower my peers and community to get into increasing their financial portfolio by investing into real estate. I use my company to help create generational wealth and also help provide rental inventory for my community. Providing rental inventory in my community during the current state of our market is extremely important. Read more>>

Shea Geist

It’s one of my clearer memories of childhood. My aunts and uncles took a bunch of us grandkids to the drive-in. I have no idea what we were supposed to see, but the movie playing on the screen behind us was waaayyyy more interesting. I remember walking back from the bathroom and looking up at the precise moment that Richard Dreyfus, who was attempting to pull a tooth out of a bite in the hull of a boat, was greeted by an oddly-mutilated human head popping out instead. That moment shaped my life. Read more>>

Sid Powell

Writing found me over 20 years ago when myself and my best friend penned 3 fiction novels together. After that I went on to produce and direct stageplays and ultimately found my sweet spot writing for film and television. Read more>>

Jo-Anna Cassino

I have always had a passion for for the natural world and all things beautiful to the eye and soul. I began my work as a stylist so that I would be able to create beauty, make people feel good and to be able to take that skillset all over the world through travel and discovery. I lived in Italy for 16 years, where I began my studies as an Herbalist in a much more ancestral way. Read more>>

Ashley Dawson

Vegan What Vegan Who Mission: Mission: SERVE nutritional and flavorful vegan meals; INSPIRE women to be purposeful on their health journey; and UPLIFT black communities. The foundation of my mission is aligned with my life’s motto: Serve. Inspire. Uplift Vegan What Vegan Who was birthed when I began my personal journey of being intentional with my health. I suffered for 8 years with fibroids, had multiple blood transfusions, and four surgeries. Read more>>

Nicki Odom

My missions is to make every woman have faith and confidence in themselves, and inspire joy and positivity in everyday life. Through body positivity and at home DIYs, I aim to invoke a sense of “I got this” in every woman who is feeling down or who may just feel like she doesn’t have what it takes. Young women, busy moms, work from home moms, basically all women who feel like their lives are too busy to have that “Pinterest Perfect” party or wear that new trend on their bodies because they’re not a size 4 anymore. I grew up being a little bigger than most of my friends. Read more>>

Christian Lamitschka

Country Music News International, the unique multimedia hub for fans of country music, has moved to a new online home, giving country music fans a modern, updated destination that is easier and quicker to navigate while still providing the popular news, reviews and interviews that fans are always looking for. In addition to an online magazine, Country Music News International will continue to provide its popular radio show, heard several times a week. Read more>>

Aisha Armstrong

My name is Aisha Armstrong and I was born in Memphis, TN. I grew up in a small town in North MS…Coldwater. As the child of a Principal and Educator, education was always stressed to me at an early age. I can even remember moments of actually having a school desk at home and using it when doing homework assignments on my own. Read more>>

Jaclyn Gallo

When I was a 21 year old college student, I sat in a corporate internship questioning what I really wanted out of life. I wondered “Is this it? Is this the best its ever going to get?” I knew that there had to be more out there for me. With no experience and no savings, I took a leap of faith and pursued my first business idea. Read more>>

Sychoya Castex

My mission began when I went in search of a sense of belonging, first in myself, in my womanhood, then in my sisters and the Black Girl Magic I discovered was nothing short of extraordinary! Read more>>

Laura Merino Franco

Laura founded Primitiva to create tangible reminders for you to live purposefully and consciously. Every soul-crafted design invites you to embody the spirit of its affirmation and reconnect with your authentic self. Her talismans and amulets draw inspiration from astrology, spirituality, and Mother Earth, and she believes that the combination of healing crystals and intentional symbols act as conduits for manifesting one’s desires. Read more>>

Rachel Williams

State Farm’s mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. I started with State Farm during a time my mom was suffering from cancer. My mom had a life insurance policy that allowed my family to stay in our home, my brother and I to stay in college, and my dad to not have to worry financially about what was next after she passed away. Read more>>

Josalyn Sanders

Memphis, TN native Josalyn Sanders a.k.a “Ms. J” is a woman of many talents. She is an experienced singer/songwriter, actress, author, model, philanthropist, and chef. Her journey has been a colorful one because she is driven and strives to give her all in anything she puts her mind to. On February 1st, 2020, she decided to continue that journey when Ms. J’s Kitchen Meal Prep and Catering came to fruition. Read more>>

Walter Wardlaw, Jr.

My mission is to write books that will help people change their lives for the better. I also do a weekly podcast to inspire people. God has been faithful to us, I am always excited to talk about God. Read more>>

Ivan Miller

I created Eclectic Shades Magazine to include all. My goal is to cross culture lines and get an understanding of each other to bring us closer. Growing up and Asheville, NC I always had a desire to learn from different cultures. I went to a private school growing up, and at my school we had students from all over the world and it just amazed me as a child to learn from so many different cultures. Read more>>

Julie Kusma

My mission as a writer is to help explain the human condition as much as life is often experienced as difficult and challenging. It doesn’t need to be. Life is about perspective and all the meanings we each assign to every event. This is the source of our suffering. It’s what Buddha referred to as attachment, what ho’oponopono refers to as data, and what I refer to as layers that veil and cloak true sight. Read more>>

Kathy Chlan

I am a mom to 2 boys – the oldest being developmentally challenged. My boys now are 27 & 30. I made a decision early in motherhood that I would ALWAYS choose laughter over crying. No matter what adversity our family endured, there was never a “woe is me” attitude. Read more>>

Trá R. Harriott

The story behind my mission is simple; representation matters! As an entrepreneur, I’ve had my share of trials and tribulations, failures and successes. One of those challenges being operating a business with ADHD. When I would research and review different business coaches and entrepreneur sessions, they would consistently speak on how you must stay motivated, stay focus, stay disciplined, and other attention-tedious tasks. Read more>>

Kyle Plett

My mission is simple to help people define their goals and the steps it takes to accomplish them. Once they are set we work together to stay on target to the steps it takes to get there. Celebrating our wins and unpacking our learning opportunities. Read more>>

Blandina Goncalves

When I started my business, my mission was to help women look and feel good. Now, I want women to not only feel good, I want them to fall in love with themselves. I want women to forget about the number on ten weight scale! I want them to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and love what they see. Read more>>

Q. Sutton

Although, I grew up in the financial capital of the world, the basics to achieve financial stability or entrepreneurship were not taught in school through college nor easily accessible to a melanated girl born in the South Bronx. I designed my firm with those like myself in mind. To provide a combination of services and guidance for financially stable homes and financially limitless businesses. Through hands on experience, I have been able to achieve that through dedicating my insight and resources. Read more>>

Erin Flynn

I had been teaching for eight years, both university, as a postgrad, and high school. I moved to a principal position for four years and completed my certification studies as a Texas Superintendent. I have to say, these experiences and the many people I worked with and learned from were extraordinary. I began to see very clearly though, that despite the brilliant people working, I stress the word “working,” in education, our students were not being served nor treated as respected members of our communities. The pressures and stresses of safety, testing, and conformity have become untenable. Read more>>

Lashanda Houston, MSHRM, SHRM-CP, PHR

The mission of New Heights Career Services is to help underemployed professional pivot into their ideal 6-figure role by landing at least 3 interviews within 14 days. Being underemployed is a harsh reality and many people have experienced the glass ceiling. There are many talented and skilled professionals that need an extra boost to help them achieve their ideal role. Read more>>

Angeli Rodriguez

Hi! My name is Angeli Rodriguez and I am the owner of the Witty Whisker Cat Cafe in St. Augustine, FL. What is a cat cafe you ask? I am so glad you did. A cat cafe is a luxury adoption experience combining cats and coffee to create a delightful, relaxing space for the cat lover. Grab a delicious drink on our cafe side and then hang out with sweet, adoptable cats in our cat lounge. Read more>>

Laura Lerman

I love my story because it shows that if you put your mind to something you can make it happen! Many years ago i found my self a single mom (2 kids 8 months and 2 years), $34 to my name, $300k worth of debt, no job to speak of and no plan to get out of that situation. The business I was running was 2 months old and had yet to make on $$. After about 6 years I made the decision it was time for a carrier change and got my real estate license. Read more>>

Zack Knight

I’m releasing a book on Veterans Day that highlights the Legacy of Love: a Journey of Self-Mastery. My story is one similar to many veterans and to many people, we forget to love ourselves while we grind and drive hard to succeed. I remember as a teenager really having a mindset of wanting to protect everyone around me. Every single fight I got in was in the defense of another. Read more>>

Cam Clear

My mission is to provide premium, organic, herbal products to low to moderate income areas. The reason for this is the lack of resources and knowledge provided to those areas of natural herbs and how they can help heal the body. Read more>>

Racheal Walker

Everything stopped, people were stood like statues all around me, people in cars, men on bicycles, babies in prams all lifeless, frozen in time. The two coins in my pocket clinked together as I stumbled down the cold pavement .. I spend most of my time traveling the world and seeking out adventure. Trekking through Asia, hitchhiking through Europe and sailing any seas. Read more>>

Kelsey Orton

Home is meant to be your safe place. It is where you should feel the most like yourself, with the people you love. Often times, I see people continuously fall into a cycle of constant spending on something they see in a store that looks great by itself, but doesn’t fit into the aesthetic of their home, nor is a representation of who they truly are. Their purchases become a “copy and paste” from what they see on social media, or their friend’s homes. Read more>>

Yolanda Brathwaite

Being a woman is so empowering. We’re strong, ambitious, and wear many hats. I am so proud of my gender and enjoy every minute of being a woman. We want to be understood and would like to be respected. I love a little friendly competition every now and then but to never be happy for your “Sisters” accomplishments and continuously try to show them that you’re better? Isn’t a ‘Sister Code’ way to be. Read more>>

Joe Alvarado

I started taking indoor cycling classes when I was in a dark season of my life. I went through a divorce and went to the gym as an outlet. I not only lost 50 pounds and got healthy, but I also found community and support in the class and fell in love with the type of workout and the music. Today, That experience fuels what I do today when I create my cycling classes. I think about who I am helping physically and what they may be going through emotionally. If it helped me, it can anyone. Read more>>

Dream Smith

I started this organization in hopes of making an impactful change to help tackle illiteracy within my community. I am from Savannah Georgia. And though this is one of the most beautiful cities throughout the country. There is a huge disparity amongst education for the children in impoverished inner city communities. Read more>>

Alexa DeFalco

Madison Phillips and I created Gaia’s Closet — Gaia is a reference to Mother Earth in Greek mythology — as a way to promote slow fashion and sustainable consumerism. 84% of what is given to thrift stores nationally is then sent to the landfill or third world countries, where it disrupts their local economy. We wanted to bring awareness to the cause as well as show people how fun it can be to shop preloved clothing. We often joke that we are just fostering the unique, individual pieces and that we are waiting for them to find their “forever homes.” Read more>>

Colin Soper

I’m assuming this is where I share my story. My story is the story of my son, his passing, and what me and my incredibly supportive wife have done since. I had a small bbq catering company with a friend in its infancy just prior to Bobby being born. Bobby was born in early May 2018, less than two week after he was born we were being sent to the pediatric oncology floor at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center. Bobby spent most of the summer there before passing away in late August 2018 at just under 4 months old. Read more>>

Sparkle Hill

Initially, my mission was to become a Celebrity Makeup Artist. I wanted to be behind the scenes and on set for movies and TV shows. Over time, the mission has evolved into becoming an innovator, educator and to be for a lack of a better word “The Boss” Read more>>

Rachel Casstevens

Courtney and Rachel have seen the effects of the foster care and adoption systems first hand through foster siblings, group homes, and connections with foster and orphans stateside and internationally. When we were thinking of the ways we wanted to serve our community outside of just serving stellar coffee, the faces of the kids and teens we know personally that were in adoption and foster care systems came to mind immediately. Each month, we partner with a different organization that supports families and kids effected by foster care and adoption. Read more>>

Tanesha Triplett

Tutus By TT was created with a simple tutu that put a smile of a child’s face. At that moment, I realized that Tutus By TT could help build confidence in young girls all over. The goal wasn’t just to get sales from this. It was to make sure that every girl regardless of color, size, or personality had that same smile. Being a plus size child (and now woman) I had struggled off and on with my confidence. I knew that there was that one thing I could put on rather it be shoes, a dress, or a hair style that could boost my confidence. Read more>>

Becky Blair

My husband and I opened a toy store in 1992. In 2013 we sold it to our manager and decided to try working for other people. Fast forward to 2018 and I was visiting my hometown and saw a beautiful old building sitting empty. The idea popped that my little town needed a gift shop. I convinced my husband to take a look and we were hooked. We moved into the upstairs loft after purchasing the 1930s building and began restoring the shop downstairs. Read more>>

Melinda Longtin

While working towards my Master of Social Work degree (MSW), I began volunteering for some nonprofit startups. I discovered that though many founders had incredible visions for how to help others, their professional backgrounds did not provide them with opportunities to learn how to fund, structure, or develop nonprofits. I was taught how to do those things in the MSW program, so I was able to contribute that skill set. Read more>>

Jamie Rowley

I have several why’s to my business. One is the fact that someone gave me the opportunity to work as a single mom with a kid at my feet, in the office. They believed in me so much that they helped give me the opportunity to start this business and give other single moms or just people in general that want to or need to work from home. Read more>>

Gary O’Brien

My story, is the equivalent of most entrepreneurs. It starts with a passion, then becomes an obsession. O’Brien “BIG CITY” BBQ, was formed years before I started it. It was born with me witnessing and watching my grandfather cook for the church, with me watching my father grill on the weekends and manifested into me ultimately taking the leap to pursue my dream. I literally love everything about bbq. The prep, the smell, the time I have to reflect while I’m cooking. Read more>>