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.

Kendall Dressendorfer

I would want a newborn session done with him. I found an amazing photographer nearby and immediately fell in love with the process of creating these timeless memories. A few months after my son’s newborn session I contacted Kristen, the photographer, and asked about an internship. I was hooked, seeing the parents so enraptured with how their newest addition was wrapped so sweetly in a beautiful set. Read more>>

Nicole Cumberbatch

After my son was born in 2017, I struggled with postpartum anxiety, and balancing life with a newborn. I needed a safe space to discuss honest, and real conversations about motherhood, and the challenges mother’s face; so, I created my podcast, Mamas Know Best, We Got Something to Say, in 2019. My mission is to educate and empower mothers throughout their motherhood journeys with informative, and inspiring conversations. My podcast is approaching 100 episodes, and was recently voted number 4, of the Top 50 Moms in Podcasting, by Podcast Magazine, which solidifies that I am living my purpose in sharing these conversations. Read more>>

Jarrett Adlof

So I originally started my label when my prior band was on the way to calling it quits. We had a lot of success and also made a lot of mistakes. I wanted to start a local to DFW, TX to help new artists get their music out and do it the right way! Read more>>

Debbie Blinder

I moved from FL to TN over 12 years ago, but has been visiting the area for over 20 years. I would come camp, hike, white water raft and more, I fell in love with the nature and the mountains. I would visit the Sewanee/Monteagle area, eat at local restaurants and always stop at Hallelujah Pottery on the way out and talk to owner Shawnee Gibson who became a friend. I would leave the area so sad as I wished I could stay forever. Read more>>

John Michael Hoyt

Elevate Events’ mission is an evolving group of pages that includes why we began as a company, who we serve, why we serve them, how it can and will affect the person’s life that works with us, what we live by within the company, and what our ultimate goal/purpose is. I make anyone who works for/with us, even if it’s just once for some contract labor, read our mission statement. Read more>>

Antonio Leung

FIRM OVERVIEW LEUNG Planning + Design was founded in 2009 to continue to serve with innovative solutions, creativity and lasting values; providing the highest level of service. We are a boutique design studio, distinguished by the direct and active participation of highly-qualified principals and associates to provide personal attention to each and every project we undertake. This enables the firm to ensure consistent, high quality planning process and design documentations to the client. Read more>>

Vannice McCoy

I have a master’s degree in education for applied behavioral studies and am a life and career coach and speaker. My mission is that by working with me and hearing my story listeners will refine success on their own terms, via the alignment with their true selves. I wish that the degrees and certifications were the reason for my success, but there’s so much more. In spite of all of the degrees I’d obtained and acquiring the title of wife, I was living a life of misery. Read more>>

Brie Kohrt

When you are in a graduate program for clinical psychology, you have to do a number of practicum experiences to develop your skill set. I went to grad school in DC, which has a large Central American population, many of whom are Limited English Proficient (LEP). Since I spoke “decent” Spanish, I ended up doing my clinical training at sites needed Spanish speakers. I worked in children’s hospitals, community outreach clinics, and a children’s psychiatric hospital. Read more>>

Kim Conrey

When I found my teenage daughter on the bathroom floor shaking, dry heaving, and telling me that if the images she sees in her head are true then she doesn’t deserve to live, I knew she’d inherited the beast known as Harm OCD. While an estimated 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children suffer from OCD, it would be difficult to decipher how many also struggle with the intrusive thoughts of Harm OCD that include frightening, recurring, unbidden, images of hurting oneself or others. Read more>>

Sadie Fox Metter

I have two small businesses. One is Fauna Salon, a hair salon and the other is my creative retail biz, Sadie Fox Studio. Although I am not a hair stylist myself; I set out to create a salon space that was healthy for our booth rent stylists as well as their clients. We offer styling and hair care products that are safe and healthy for hair AND are good for the planet. This healthy planet thread runs right through to my other creative business. Read more>>

Sonya Jackson

Edgy Dolls won’t be distracted by comparison because we are captivated with PURPOSE!“ I originally started my company because of my love for hair extensions and how they make me feel when wearing them. I am a very driven and hard-working woman. I wanted women to whom I relate to feel and look beautiful while conquering all their goals and dreams. I personally do not compare myself or my company to anyone else. Read more>>

Jimmy Gialelis

We are an education facility for licensed massage therapists to obtain their continuing education hour credits. Some classes are open to general public. We present massage therapy as an art. The body is like a canvas and our massage and bodywork techniques are like the strokes upon the canvas. We create beautiful art upon bodies. Our mission is to elevate the credibility of massage and bodywork in the eyes of the general public. We are encouraged to see massage and bodywork thrust deeper into allopathic care. Read more>>

Eugene Fanfan

My mission is to educate individuals and families about the matters of personal finances with a strong emphasis on credit so that they can obtain financial freedom. This pandemic has taught us how important it is to have our financial affairs in order, to have emergency savings funds and to be better stewards with our money. I want my clients to pass down what they have learned to their children so that we can begin to break down these barriers of poverty that often plague minority communities. Read more>>

Sanika Harris

The story behind my mission is becoming a mother. As a mother I developed a different set of goals and a stronger drive to become successful. I wanted my child to grow up seeing mom working hard and enjoying the results. I also wanted her to see how to treat and interact with people by providing impeccable customer service and giving each client undivided attention and care. Read more>>

Dr. Melanie Falvey

Playing safe was my default. Somewhere along the path of life I lost my ability to lead, stand out and play big. Circumstances, people, beliefs…a load of stuff we bring upon ourselves and it just becomes easier to conform, to fit in, to blend in and morph into a smaller version of yourself. But that urge to serve in a bigger way, to grow in uncomfortable directions was too strong to quieten… Read more>>

Malachy Poinan

The whole story behind our brand basically boils down to the things that happen in your life that shape the decision you make and the direction your life goes. For example not growing up in a the best neighborhood you could use that as motivation to succeed and make it out of that situation and be better than that or you can become a product of your environment Read more>>

Kendall Aubrey

Before photography I was a public speaking professor at a University. I supported undergrads to have confidence in themselves and face the number one fear in the world: public speaking. Growing up I never imagined I would be speaking to a large group, let alone inspiring others to do such a daunting task, but the confidence instilled in me from my entry level public speaking course changed my life. Read more>>

Don Gaston

One day while fishing on the western shore of Lake Lewisville in North Dallas TX and shortly after moving to the area from California, I couldn’t help but notice all the trash accumulating around the lakeshore. Where I was at was not indicative of the entire lake, but there are certain places where there’s a lot of trash — especially where I like to fish. Read more>>

Jennifer Carruthers

After a decade of Fine Wine Sales, I founded JC Select Wines to share my passion for uncommon and exceptional wines. I’m dedicated to sharing extraordinary wines and the stories that make them special. My objective is to elevate the modern-day wine enthusiast’s experience with wine. Read more>>

Melanie Lewis

I started Mello Moms, a CBD Bath, Body, and Skincare company in the midst of the pandemic, a little over a year ago. The idea for my company, and the mission behind it, which is to make high quality self-care products to help improve mental health and physical wellness, grew out of my own health struggles, As the mother of two young boys, I struggled with undiagnosed postpartum depression after both births. Read more>>

Keeley Miller

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me! My mission as a photographer is more than just photography — it’s about creating an entire self love experience. My work is all about empowering women through photography by showing them how beautiful they already are. I believe boudoir is for every body and that every woman deserves to see herself as art, at any age, any size, and any shape. Read more>>

Hillary & Loren Cullum & Heller

Loren “birthed” the idea for Berkley Clothing while she was pregnant with her daughter, Leighton. As a health-conscious mom-to-be, Loren was unable to find maternity activewear that was fashionable, comfortable and functional. She identified a gap in the market and immediately shared it with her friend. Hillary shared Loren’s passion for style, health and wellness, and was dismayed by the gap in the maternity market. Determined to change things for future moms-to-be, Loren and Hillary set out to design the perfect pair of maternity leggings for before, during and after pregnancy. Read more>>

Meg and Ella Casano

When Medi Teddy inventor, Ella, was 7 years old, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called ITP. This meant that her body was destroying it’s own platelets, a cell in the bloodstream that is needed to stop bleeding in the body if an injury should occur. To help keep her safer, Ella had to receive an intravenous (I.V.) infusion every 6-8 weeks. Lots of efforts were made to distract and comfort her when her IV was being placed, but after that she had to sit in a room for about 6 hours surrounded by medical equipment. Read more>>

Linden Wolbert

My mission is to share the beauty of our planet, specifically the life and habitats beneath the surface of the sea, in an effort to get children and adults alike to explore, care about and conserve our oceans and the creatures in them. When I was little, we had only three television channels, and no cable TV. PBS was my favorite station, because there were wildlife documentaries on it. I was obsessed with Jacques Yves Cousteau, Marty Stauffer’s Wild America, NOVA, and all of the documentaries involving natural history, the planet, and specifically the ocean. Read more>>

Yesenia Lopez

When I first started this ,I honestly didn’t think it would go anywhere because their was so many balloon artist in Austin and event planners as well..I thought I was competing with everyone but slowly I realized I wanted to create a platform where I can show create and help discover other small business like myself come together and work together..Sometimes it’s hard to find the right fit in this industry with other vendors or similar vendors because you tend to compare yourself and sometimes it feels like a competition but it doesn’t have to be like that I believe that my job is to find those amazing small business vendors that go with my business so I can create the best experience to my client. Read more>>

George Buchanan

The story behind our mission begins with my own career journey. I studied electrical engineering at Florida A&M University with the sole mission of getting a decent paying job with a steep over-time salary curve. I was a bit of a bleeding heart back then, and told myself I wouldn’t work in an industry that didn’t, as I saw it, advance society. After graduating, Read more>>