We connected with some of the most resilient folks in the community and one of the most insightful questions we had an opportunity to ask centered around whether there was ever a time they almost gave up. Highlighting some of the responses below.
Maria Kosmidou
Many times, I’ve faced moments when giving up felt easier and safer. Whenever you try to move forward in life or pursue your dreams, uncertainty can be intimidating. It’s natural to retreat into your routine rather than take a risk, especially when success isn’t guaranteed. But I’ve learned that if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not worth pursuing. Read more>>
Nick Barilla
Certainly. I’m in a weird place currently. I have been doing music for awhile now. Writing, recording, and touring. Things are different whenever you’re in your early 20’s. You have the world in front of you. You can afford to fail a few times without any real repercussions. Read more>>
Danielle Bracamontez
It actually happened this past summer. It was my slowest season to date, and I was struggling, both personally and professionally. Within the span of three weeks, I totaled two cars. The first was from hitting a deer on the way home from a wedding, and the second was my fault, on my way to an elopement. Read more>>
Jennifer Calvillo
There were seasons when I was exhausted from fighting battles no one could see. As a woman, a mother, an entrepreneur — there were nights I cried in silence, feeling like I had to be strong for everyone else while my own heart was breaking. Read more>>
Alane Gianetti
Oh gosh, so many times! When potential clients said no. When I was overworked and barely keeping my head above water. When a launch didn’t go the way I’d hoped. But honestly, that’s all part of the entrepreneurial journey, isn’t it? Being an entrepreneur means you get the highs AND the lows. Read more>>
Kerry Maunus
Yes. We have faced declining sales and numbers that are not what we had hoped. Each year as a seasonal business we have to assess whether the time spent and efforts are worth it. As we build momentum each year it diminishes by the next season, which is tough. Read more>>
Leslie Lutz
When I wrote my first manuscript and collected fifty agent rejections, I felt pretty low and stopped writing for a while. Then I picked up my pen and wrote a poem, remembering that love of the craft. Poem by poem, I got back my confidence until I started a new book. Read more>>
Jessica James
Over a year ago, I nearly quit my business due to slow sales and poor results at vendor events. After reassessing and listening to feedback, I diversified my products, adjusted pricing, and expanded into Real Estate and Hotel clients. Read more>>
Nikkie Brooks
Yes, more than once. There were days when the weight of it all felt unbearable. Running a funeral home, creating art, raising two kids, and trying to keep music alive in my soul it was like juggling fire while walking a tightrope. Read more>>
Cerila Gailliard
I think every business owner reaches a moment when giving up feels easier than pushing forward. The dream starts to feel heavy, the financial strain, the uncertainty, the exhaustion of not seeing immediate results. I have been there. But in that moment, I reminded myself that I was doing the right things which was building, learning, and staying consistent. So I kept going. Read more>>
Yuriko Shibata
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune condition. When it flares up, something terrible happens: my art stops. Not just in my work — inside my head. At the time, I was making my Off-Broadway debut with SKIN at Rattlestick Theater. Everyone around me was excited and celebrating, but I was distracted by worry and physical discomfort. Read more>>
Jae Grind
There was multiple times I wanted to give up as a creative as an artists. Read more>>
Eric Wohlwend
In the Army I was physically, and worse yet mentally beaten. I started to give up on myself. It was late one night in Sapper School. We were doing a timed 20 km road march with heavy packs. I was so far behind that even the trail vehicle passed me when I refused to get in. Read more>>
Travon Lee
I believe that giving up is apart of the process because I would’ve never realized that this is what I’m meant to do with my life. Read more>>
Sanghamitra Dasgupta
Sometimes it happens when progress gets slow or you are dealing with personal stuffs but then I realised that my passion is my comfort place. Read more>>
Antionette Watkins
Yes, there was definitely a time I almost gave up. When I first started UMBEREDco, I was juggling motherhood, grief, and the uncertainty of building something from scratch. There were moments when I questioned if people would understand the heart behind what I was creating—or if my message of slowing down and healing through scent really mattered. Read more>>
Melanie Ellezam
Ha! This morning? Yesterday? All the time. Last week was a big one. The world’s only Canadian eiderdown outerwear? Really? Until when? A harvest that has a positive impact, that promotes biodiversity — is this even real? Can building a luxury brand that truly helps the planet work in the real world? Read more>>
Anasa Greaves
About two years ago, my closest cousin passed away, and it was not only a shock to me but to my entire family. We’re a small but close family, and I never imagined she would leave us so soon or so suddenly. Read more>>
THE RIDAH G.O.D
There were plenty of times that I came close to giving up. I threw away rhyme notebooks and stepped away from music many times. I’m from Little Rock, Arkansas. To have a passion to do hip hop/rap music was never the popular or safe choice of profession where I’m from. Read more>>
Shawn Niles
Early on, I hit a wall after a brief jolt of success. Because I was still learning the value of living out my unique identity for my own approval, I was ready to throw in the towel. But there was a woman of faith who reached out on the night that I secretly quit, less than a year into my journey. Read more>>
Danny Archer
I was dating Rayetta (we later got married) and when she became pregnant, thought it would be best to give up the world of show biz and get a real job and try to be a regular person. I got a job selling computers and moved to Denver to be with her and our child. Read more>>
Mario Loor
no I had half the record finished before I left. I knew the songs needed some time and a clear mind to finish so I didn’t pick back up on it until I got to New York. Read more>>
Lisa Hodorovych
Oh my goodness, yes! I could probably count using all my fingers and all my toes the times I almost gave up on my dream. Read more>>
Valentine Aseyo
I thought about quitting more times than I can count. There were nights when I stared at my laptop, watching sales crawl, wondering if I had made a colossal mistake leaving a stable career for an idea that might not survive. I’ve experienced factories shutting down overnight, shipments lost at sea, and months when I couldn’t afford to pay myself. Read more>>
Empress Giddings
Sometimes I feel like giving up when I do not get casted for certain shows, but then I just keep trying and I know my time will come. Read more>>
Caroline Sowers
I have never truly wanted to give up, but at the end of my last year in the US I was at a crossroads: join a smaller company in America, or move across the world to study at Vaganova. Going to Russia was full of unknowns and uncertainty, and it was not a simple decision. Read more>>
Jon Ososki
As many of my fans know I started out playing in a band and performing. Which is different from what I do now. I have always loved writing music, but it was always difficult for me performing on stage. I thought about giving up on music, and especially giving up on music as a career. Read more>>
Grace Blackburn
Absolutely. I was so unhappy in this industry this time last year, to the point that I almost gave it all up. I was in an unsupportive and toxic environment that truly made me question my sanity and myself. Once I started to feel like that, I knew it was time to reassess and change my mind frame to say, ‘Okay Grace, you’re capable. Read more>>
Deidra Hogan
Absolutely! I have an actual list. Haha it keeps me going. The biggest thing I could think of is my period of “being a boss but not being the boss.” I was trying to regroup personally, stay in business, & maintain of level of strength that everybody around me always saw. I was essentially telling myself I could fake it until I made it out. Read more>>
