An Exploration on Purpose

Throughout the month of August, we researched the topic of Purpose – the intentional way in which we live our lives, the strengths and values that differentiate us, and our unique contribution to our surrounding environments. As part of that exploration, we asked members of the WYLD Tribe what Purpose is all about for them and how they have set out to build meaning into their daily lives. Here’s what they had to say.

Trace is equally as humble as he is hardworking – He says his purpose “is to be a better person than I was yesterday. I do what I do because I’m tested daily – with animals, land and people. I never get bored. I like to see the fruits of my efforts and to me ranching is the best way to do that. My contribution to the world is to be the best person that I can be. Husband, father, and friend to other people. I help people wherever I can. My proudest success is that the ranch improves every year on some aspect whether that’s increased production on hay, healthier cattle with better genetics or better team organization and operations.”

If you come to a WYLD West retreat, you will meet Trace and get his sagely advice on how to move cows and ride a horse – his lifestyle is truly a daily leadership exercise.

As the to-do list looms, I get to tackling the emails, client calls and editing—the less fun bits of being a photographer and entrepreneur. The fun parts however, the act of capturing moments, be it sentimental, amusing or emotional, is where I find my purpose. Sharing the subtle splendors of life and split second memories through my photographs.

As I create imagery, I’m constantly procuring that “OK to dawdle” moment: that split second of being unabashedly present. This comes in various forms; in moments of laughter and tears, in moments of complete stillness, in landscapes and in ocean breezes. I then offer these captured snip-bits to the world in hopes that they too will experience that moment to dawdle. Permission granted. Gift sent and received.

Now I’m leveraging my finance background to strengthen the business case for sustainability in the built environment, working in Colorado at a clean energy nonprofit ‘think-and-do tank’ (Rocky Mountain Institute). Every day I get to develop and scale market-based solutions that reduce carbon emissions from our buildings.

We’re all just one hard decision away from having a whole different life.

I love getting up everyday to stir up beauty to make a conscious change — from sourcing sustainable, superfood ingredients to personalizing skin, hair and body treatments that resonate with each person’s unique physical and spiritual state of being. As our individual beauty becomes more tactile, we become more visible to everyone including ourselves.

What is my contribution to the world?

Stirring things up to stop beauty from wasting water and polluting with plastic. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean and fish and by 2025, 5 billion people will be affected globally by water shortage. As the worlds first zero waste, organic beauty brand, we’re making a conscious change with 100% waterless products, ingredients sustainably up-cycled from food and 100% certified, compostable or reusable packaging.

What is my day like?

As a female founder — who loves to be in ritual — sitting in a tech accelerator, no day is ever the same. From meeting investors or scavenging the globe for the next, best ingredient to hosting a forgiveness ritual in central park, I’m always on the go. One of my lessons is practice the prioritization of self-care that LOLI Beauty represents. In fact, “LOLI” stands for Living Organic Loving Ingredients!