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.
Sparsh Verma
I did, and to be honest, I still do sometimes. When life hits hard, it’s a very human instinct to feel like letting go and giving up. This industry can be unpredictable and overwhelming, and there are moments where it feels easier to step away than to keep fighting through it. Read more>>
Julie Vogel
I love this question because I can honestly say that the majority of my life has been me making a conscious decision NOT to give up. I have wanted to give up more times than I can count… Read more>>
Ashley Oken
When I was starting out in my career, I didn’t have any industry connections or background, so I was taking on whatever I could. I ended up working at Hearst Magazines as a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan Magazine and that would kickstart everything. I loved the people there but I knew that I wanted to pursue writing about music. Read more>>
Katie Perkowska
After moving my business to Ireland, then to Atlanta, then to Portland – it absolutely plummeted. I spent 1-2 years not even trying really. I cancelled most of my business softwares and almost shut my website down. Read more>>
Dan Kazan
There have been countless moments when this path has tested me. Social media can make any artist look successful, but the reality behind the scenes is very different. A career in the arts is the hardest thing I’ve ever committed myself to, because it challenges every imperfect part of my personality – discipline, patience, confidence, consistency, resilience. Read more>>
Bri Hepworth
There’s been many times in running this business when I’ve felt discouraged. When orders are slow, when I’m feeling like I’m not getting as much engagement on my social media posts on our business’ instagram, when I feel worn out from business decisions, it can feel like too much. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that owning a business is like a rollercoaster. Read more>>
Molly Goehring Burke
Not ‘almost’–I have given up before. Many times, and in many ways. I think ‘giving up’ needs a new PR team. It’s not bad to give up. I think we’d all be a lot better off if we let ourselves ‘give up’ sometimes. It offers perspective. I’ve given up art before, but I’ve always found a way to come back. Read more>>
Karina Guardiola-Lopez
A significant challenge came while completing my bachelor’s degree. I had almost dropped out of school while obtaining my associate’s degree and I wasn’t sure if I should continue with my studies. My boyfriend at the time, now my husband, encouraged me to keep going, and I eventually did. Read more>>
Kim Edwards
Yes absolutely! Actually, regards to my online dating website. It was hard trying to drive business to the website, and it was a lot of work trying to build a website that people could trust. I realized a lot of people were apprehensive of ‘Christian Dating’ website due to people having the wrong motives i.e. Read more>>
Tia Lee
Yes. I almost gave up on myself by staying comfortable with what was right in front of me. My corporate career was looking incredibly bright on paper—more promotions, more spot bonuses. It’s what I went to school for, and it was my dream job upon graduation. I’m genuinely grateful for that experience because I learned so much that will help me on my entrepreneurial journey. Read more>>
Shavonne Cantrell
After my father’s passing, I made the tough decision to continue with my event, and although it didn’t turn out as expected, I was lifted by the encouragement of those who recognized my efforts. With my good sister Candy help had I not takin her advice I would have not continued to pursue catering/event planning business. Read more>>
Harut Sassounian
No, I never give up. I am very stubborn. Once I put something in my head, I pursue it to the bitter end. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. My motto is: Never give up, never give in. Read more>>
Mariana Beauchamp
There’s been many occasions in which I’ve thought of giving up, especially now given the state of the world’s political and social climate. It’s difficult to convince yourself that what you’re doing is important, that by speaking about how you experience the world holds value amidst so much collective pain. Read more>>
Jordan Metzner
Almost give up, I think, almost every day. I mean, business is hard, and you go through challenges, but try not to give up. I’ve had failed businesses before, so you’ve got to know when to cut your losses. But I think what makes a successful businessperson is someone who continues to get up in the face of adversity. Read more>>
Khalilah Morris
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Yes, definitely. There have been time’s when I wanted to stop my Author’s journey. Although I wrote books on families dealing with substance abuse. When I first started in the writing community. I didn’t believe i would have an audience. Because there’s not alot of stories out like mine. Read more>>
Jonathan Mookie & Brett Morant & McKee
So many times for both of us. Even recently! It’s always a challenge, a test, to keep going. This is part of the discussion we hope to engage in with folks of every age and demographic. It’s so important to understand the power in not giving up—no matter what! Read more>>
Lucky LeRoy
Yes but we survived. Read more>>
Aaron Grayum
The first time I remember wanting to give up was pretty early in my career – before it even began, really. It was seven years after graduating college and artistically I felt lost. I loved to paint, but my paintings didn’t feel like my own. Read more>>
Billy Hanson
Literally every day. A lot of what I do can feel like screaming into a void. Like I said before, this business requires you to forge your own path ahead, so you have to be comfortable feeling like you’re lost in the woods. It is a constant struggle to remind myself that these things I’m doing are actually worth while. Read more>>
Kate Dunn-Flynn
I wouldn’t say there was ever a time when I almost gave up, but there were many points in my journey toward publishing my book when the rejections piled up and it felt like the challenges were never-ending. Read more>>
Stephanie Rose
ONE time? No. Several times? Yes. There’s often a voice in the back of my mind that tells me to quit trying to share my writing with everyone, quit trying to draw their attention, it’s not worth the energy. That I could spent my time doing things that really relax me. Read more>>
Fanny Minnitt
There was a time that I almost gave up ministry. My son, whom I love from the core of my heart, whom I prayed for even before ever thinking about being married, was my lifeline, my joy, my strength, but yet somehow we drifted apart when he began to have problems with—I won’t say. But I am happy to say it wasn’t addiction. Read more>>
Debra Markowitz
Almost every film! The first one, The Last Taxi Driver, we had six different weather patterns in three days, we were filming 98% exteriors and filmed during a blizzard. It was freezing outside, and we had our gloves and shoes packed with heating packs. Read more>>
ERIK REEVES
So many times I wanted to give up and just go sell drugs or something but after I would cry or drink too much from the pain of not knowing what I was doing wrong I usually would wake up the next day and start over. Read more>>
Kate Kaminski
So many times! Being an artist – particularly an independent artist – is not for the faint-hearted and it can be incredibly discouraging. And I’ve gone through dry spells in my creative life where nothing worked and the flow was interrupted and I’ve thought, what if I can’t do it anymore? Fortunately and inevitably, however, something will break through … Read more>>
Katherine Pryor
I thought of quitting writing after my second picture book came out. I’d taken a huge leap of faith and quit my job to write full time, but I wasn’t getting much published. I had saved up enough money to pay my share of our rent for a year, and that time (and money) was running out. Read more>>
Lisa Solomon
I actually feel like NOW is a time that I have been closest to giving up. I’m not going to – I’m realizing that I have to be kind to myself and allow some down time in order to collect myself and take care of myself. Read more>>
Judith Braun
This is a common issue for artists—overcoming the most discouraging periods and not giving up. For me I literally did give up in 1995, even though I had arrived at ’emerging’ artist status in New York City. But at the same time I had also gotten divorced and was facing financial insecurity. Read more>>
Mike Elder
Too many times. I’ve always taken failure very personally. Childhood trauma taught me that I was somehow responsible for the happiness of everyone around me. I grew up believing that I had to fix everything for everyone or I was unlovable. I thought I had to be perfect. Well… no one is perfect. Read more>>
Taryn Lewis
Absolutely—more than once. The deepest unraveling came after surviving a shooting in 2021. I lost colleagues, friends, and a version of myself I’ve never fully recovered. For a while, I didn’t know if I’d ever find my way back to myself or to making magic. I left the FBI, moved back home, and couldn’t create at all. Grief and PTSD rewired my nervous system. Read more>>
