On Finding Purpose

There is no simple recipe for finding purpose in life. I believe for most of us, there is a little bit of magic and serendipity in discovering our passion. For some, it is simple, we are drawn to a calling. For others, life is a journey of trial and error, ups and downs, and often some detours. Finding my own purpose in life has been a combination of all the above.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, I watched my parents build and create a greeting card business, driven by a deep need to be independent and self reliant.

I remember my mother often writing verses for cards in the evening while settled into our living room sofa. She would often love to laugh at her own jokes! My father had a gift for connecting with others, whether business associates or personal contacts. Many of these relationships blossomed into life long friends.

I realized early on in life that relationships are what makes life richer, and I saw how a simple greeting card could be the link that holds together people who want to express their thoughts and emotions with those that they love and care about.

When I was 20 years old, my father shared that he was considering selling the business. I was about ready to start my life as a professional and ‘adult’. Because of my love of the business from childhood, I asked him if I could work by his side to see if the business was a fit for me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was when I discovered my purpose in life.

The world of greeting cards is a unique and nuanced niche. It is a world that conjoins art, emotion, writing, relationships, and connection. Greeting cards provide a private and personal gateway to share genuine thoughts and emotions with someone in a safe and non ‘confrontational’ way. Sometimes it is easier to share our feelings through writing than it is to speak the words… and somehow, the words shared in a greeting card have more of a lasting impact than a conversation. And the combination of the right words, paired with the right content on a card, can change the course of someone’s life forever.

In the current arena, the whirling pace of modern technology floods us with fleeting impressions. More than ever before, the gift of a tangible, handwritten card stands out as genuine and meaningful. This drives me to create thoughtful content to inspire these connections amongst people.

I have been blessed to have found my purpose 40 years ago, and this sense of purpose has guided me through thick and thin in my life. Creating greeting cards that inspire others to reach out, to connect and to celebrate the joy of life through their relationships, has kept me motivated for decades.

I have been blessed to have found my purpose 40 years ago, and this sense of purpose has guided me through thick and thin in my life. Creating greeting cards that inspire others to reach out, to connect and to celebrate the joy of life through their relationships, has kept me motivated for decades.

Doing this work has always challenged me to be my best self everyday. With each design I create, I try to think about how other may feel and imagine what people want to express during important moments in their lives and relationships. I think about how products I have created over the last 40 years, have been at part of so many celebrations, joyous moments, sad times, and happy times. I feel proud, in some small way, to have provided a spark from which the connections have been made.

Today, my purpose carries on through the NIQUEA.D brand. I am excited to share the culmination of my life’s work through our cards, and I hope you join me on this journey of personal expression.

Start now… Share your love… Make someone’s day… and change someone’s life forever…

May you discover your purpose in your own way.

Dominique Schurman

Founder & President

Larkwood Studio / NIQUEA.D