What Is My Purpose—And How Do I Build a Business Around It?
- Camille L. Miller, MBA, PhD ABD
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
I recently returned from a retreat in Costa Rica—my first ever. I arrived expecting quiet. Rest. Maybe some clarity. But what I received was far more powerful: a return to the most essential question we can ask ourselves.
What is my purpose?
It was the opening inquiry of the retreat, and the one that cracked something wide open in me. It’s a question I’ve built my entire life and business around—and yet, in that jungle surrounded by soul seekers, it landed differently.
For years, I’ve helped high-achieving professionals walk away from careers that look good on paper but feel empty in the soul. I’ve guided them in uncovering their deeper calling and designing businesses built on purpose instead of pressure. But something new stirred in me that week—something I hadn’t fully named.
I realized that even my own drive toward greatness, visibility, and impact was once shaped by a need to achieve without being seen—a quiet trauma response, born from my upbringing. But through this work, I’ve healed. I’ve evolved. I’ve stopped hiding.
And now, I’m here to say something simple but revolutionary: You don’t need to keep living a life that no longer fits.
Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, leading a team, or quietly wondering what else is out there—your next chapter begins with your purpose. And your purpose is not lost. It’s waiting.
Let’s Redefine Purpose
Purpose isn’t a job title. It’s not a role, a resume, or something you find by accident.
Purpose is your soul’s calling. It’s the work you’d do even if you won the lottery. The thing you’d get up and create for free—not because it’s practical, but because it makes you come alive.
For me, that purpose has always been teaching—but not in a traditional classroom. Over time, I discovered that I thrive in hybrid spaces: part mentor, part strategist, part truth-teller. That’s what led me to design my Business Accelerator, my Masterminds, and eventually, the Soul Professional Movement—each offering the kind of high-touch teaching and intuitive mentoring that lights me up and helps others rise.
But it didn’t happen overnight. And it won’t for you, either. Purpose is revealed over time. It’s discovered through curiosity, experimentation, and being willing to ask:
What brings me joy?
What do I lose track of time doing?
What could I do forever, with or without a paycheck?
These questions are the breadcrumbs that lead you home.
What If I Don’t Know My Purpose Yet?
You’re not alone. So many of the brilliant souls I meet say: “I know I’m meant for something more—but I don’t know what it is.”
And that’s okay. Purpose doesn’t always show up fully formed. Sometimes, it’s a spark. A pull. A whisper that there’s a different way.
When someone tells me they don’t know their purpose, I ask:
What brings you joy?
What would you love to do even if no one paid you?
When do you feel most like yourself?
It’s not about chasing money. It’s about finding your lane of joy and letting that joy guide the structure of your business.
For me, the early signs were there—but I didn’t know how to name them. I knew I loved learning. I knew I loved supporting others. I knew I hated bureaucracy, inefficiency, and being boxed in.
It took decades of trial and error—and saying yes to the unknown—before I landed where I am now. So if you’re still exploring, you’re right on time!
Signs You’re Not In Your Purpose
Before I stepped fully into this work, I served as the Executive Director and CEO of a regional nonprofit. From the outside, I was thriving—and truthfully, I loved the work. It was meaningful, community-centered, and allowed me to lead with heart.
But something deeper began to surface. For the first time, I noticed I was living two lives: the polished executive version of myself, and the authentic, soul-led version that didn’t always fit in traditional spaces.
That role became a mirror. I saw myself—and I saw others—wearing masks, following rules that didn’t quite fit, doing important work but still feeling like something was missing. It was there I first realized that the more I showed up as myself, the more impact I created. That realization changed everything.
When the organization lost funding in 2015, I didn’t panic. I paused. And I listened. I realized that creating impact—not chasing income—was what truly drove me. That job didn’t break me. It became my springboard.
Shortly after, I wrote the business plan for what would become The Natural Life Business Partnership—and my soul-led journey began.
So how do you know if you're not in your purpose? Here are a few signs:
You wake up feeling lost, not inspired.
You feel emotionally drained at the end of each day.
You know your work doesn’t reflect your true gifts.
You’re constantly fantasizing about doing something else.
These feelings aren’t failures. They’re signals. And the longer you ignore them, the louder they get.
How to Start Building a Business Around Your Purpose
Here’s the good news: You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow to start building your purpose-driven business. In fact, the best time to start is while you’re still stable—while you have income, time, and the space to build with intention, not desperation.
Here’s where to begin:
1. Assess What Brings You Joy
Start with the basics. What lights you up? What are you naturally good at? What have people always come to you for?
This isn't about resumes—this is about resonance. Trust what feels good in your body and heart.
2. Identify Who You Want to Help
Purpose often shows up in service. Who are you drawn to support? What problem do you feel called to solve?
Hint: It’s often something you’ve overcome yourself.
3. Get Clear on What You Don’t Want
Before designing anything, define your boundaries. What do you not want in your new life or business? No more commuting? No more toxic work cultures? No more trading time for money?
When you start with boundaries, you build with clarity.
4. Design a Business Around Your Truth
This is where I come in. My superpower is helping you take those answers and build something real—scalable, soulful, and in full alignment with who you are.
Because a soul-aligned business model doesn’t just generate income. It creates freedom. It supports your well-being. It reflects your values.
And when you’re in alignment, money flows with ease.
The Power of Being Seen
That retreat in Costa Rica taught me something else.
It showed me how many brilliant people—especially women—hide their gifts. How many of us feel this deep calling to lead, but resist being seen.
And I get it. For years, I did the same. My own need to “be great without being seen” was a trauma response I'm still unlearning.
But here’s what I know for sure: The world needs your light.
Not the masked version. Not the corporate version. The real you. The purpose-driven you. The you who is finally ready to stop pretending and start living.
And that’s the mission behind the Soul Professional Movement—a global community of entrepreneurs, leaders, and visionaries who are rising together to lead with purpose, integrity, and heart.
Because when you step into your purpose, you give others permission to do the same. And that ripple? It changes the world.
This Is Your Time
You didn’t miss your chance. You’re not behind. You’re not too old, too late, or too far gone.
You are exactly where you’re meant to be.
I work with midlife professionals all the time—doctors, educators, executives—who are finally ready to live on purpose. And I can tell you with complete certainty: This is your moment.
This is your invitation to redefine success. To stop settling. To create a business that serves your soul and the world.
Ready to Explore What’s Possible?
If you’ve read this far, I know you’re feeling it—that gentle nudge in your heart that says there’s more for you.
And I want to help you uncover it.
Here are two simple ways to start:
1. Book a Free Clarity Call
If you’re curious about how to turn your purpose into a business, let’s talk. This is a no-pressure conversation to explore what’s possible and help you get unstuck.
2. Try My 28-Day Self-Paced Course: Corporate to Calling
This course is your gentle guide into reinvention. It’s built for high-achieving professionals who are ready to explore their next chapter—without blowing up their lives.
In just 15 minutes a day, you’ll:
Reconnect with your core values
Clarify your passions and strengths
Discover how your purpose can shape your business
Begin designing a new way of living and working—on your terms
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to say yes to what’s calling you.
Because your purpose isn’t out there somewhere. It’s already in you—waiting for permission to lead.
Let’s build something beautiful, together.