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.
Stacey Laviolette
There were moments, especially in the early days of My Friend Toothy®, when I felt completely overwhelmed. Running a business while raising kids, managing every detail myself, and navigating the uncertainty of launching a new brand felt like too much at times. Read More>>
Kid Lennon
It was the day i was leaving for my first ever tour. I had already been doing this journey for almost 10 years and was mentally and physically exhausted. I felt like the vision i had was no longer there, just a slight glimpse of what it couldve been. Read More>>
Big Brody Ode
Around 2022/2023 I really considered not making music anymore. I was like ‘maybe I’ll just manage Mouse Sucks’. Working in music can truly rob you of your love for music. Not to mention the way music consumption, content creation, artist expectations and actual results have changed since the blog/Soundcloud eras. Read More>>
Ahmad Carter
I’ve wanted to give up plenty of times but I never succumbed to it. I’m very stubborn, whether that’s good or not I don’t know. I know my talent and I know my worth. Life will give you plenty of ups & downs but you must ebb & flow with it. I know my light is needed in this world so I cannot give up. Read More>>
Ruth Nemzoff
The same week that I was elected to the legislature, I discovered that i was pregnant with my 3rd child and I was accepted to Harvard for my doctorate. I did not have the option to postpone any of these items. So, I proceeded to do all three. I was superwoman with a very tattered cape. Read More>>
Christian Edgerson
Yes, numerous times. And what even worst then giving up is when you doubt yourself every second about what you want to accomplish. Doubting yourself mentally can hold so many barriers to your progress not just as an Athlete but an overall Human-Being Read More>>
Robert Mazzucchelli
Yes. The summer before my senior year in college, I wanted to quit playing tennis (I was on scholarship at the University of Richmond, and hoped to turn pro after graduation). I had had a terrible summer full of loses in multiple tournaments, and I thought my dream was dying. Read More>>
Blakeli Swilling
There have been many times I wasn’t sure that this path was going to work out for me, through growing my clientele and then having the pandemic made me start all over again it’s been a long road. Read More>>
Jenni Lauren
Oh yes! The first company that hired me as a wedding photographer very promptly let me go after my first wedding with them. They told me I wasn’t good enough. I cried for about 8 solid hours. And then I thought to myself, I can either quit now or I can figure out a way to make myself better. Read More>>
Maria Wen Adcock
Every writer I know has encountered rejection. It is part of the publishing industry. There are so many people who want to write books, but there are only so many opportunities through publishers. The supply of manuscripts is much higher than the demand for them. When pitching manuscripts to agents or editors, rejection is part of the process. Read More>>
Joel Moody
There is always times when you take leaps of faith and you don’t get that instant feedback. Thats when you ask yourself ‘why did I do this?’ But when you power thru the negative feelings and start to see results you realize you can never give up! Read More>>
Corinne Clapham
There are many times I almost gave up in life. When I was in my pre-teens I went through a deep depression and had attempted twice to give up on life completely. I had worked hard to get out of that mind frame by self discovery, learning, reading, support etc. That is a whole chapter in itself. Read More>>
Cortell
Yes, there has been plenty of times where I almost gave up. I reflect on those times even during breaks or periods in my life where I’m not as creative as I want to be or should be. Read More>>
Brandon Holley
Whenever you are chasing a dream, you will almost always come to a fork in the road. Do I continue hustling and grinding as an artist? Or give up and get a regular job to make a living? The struggle can be real and there came a point in 2018 where I chilled out on music for a bit and got a job in sales. Read More>>
Brittney Renee
Yes, I almost gave up fairly recently. We had such a difficult time finding a drummer for this band. As any Tool fan knows this is really difficult material to execute. Luckily, our current drummer, April, saw my ad and told me she dreamed of playing Tool like me. Read More>>
Mamie Turner
December 16th 2020, my son Lee Vern Turner life was taken by Gun violence, two juvenile stalked, hunted him down and murdered him. I know I will never get over losing my son. But I almost lost myself, I stop trusting people, I didn’t want to be around people. Read More>>
trevaun walker
There were a lot of times I felt like giving up. Being surrounded by people but not too many actually support you is eye opening. I watched many times what people would do for others but wouldn’t even come close to doing it for me. A lot of what keeps me going and still does is music from my favorite rap artist. Read More>>
Bridger Teton
There was definitely a point where we almost walked away. After pouring ourselves into songs, playing shows to half empty rooms, and seeing little traction, it felt like maybe the dream was slipping away. But in that moment we looked at artists we admire like The Avett Brothers and remembered how long it took them to build something lasting. Read More>>
Elyse Schiller
Yesssss! After playing in clubs for two years and getting a synth pop record deal in Los Angeles with Columbia with songs on the Disco Billboard charts, there was a bit of time after having the deal where I was really wondering if music was still the way to go. Read More>>
Margaret Orlando
Danny and I aren’t quitters, but this past year tested us more than ever. We poured our hearts, energy, and money into trying to open a brick-and-mortar location, only to face roadblocks with restrictions and requirements that made it impossible. That dream had to be released—but instead of giving up, we pivoted. We’ve rebuilt, refocused, and now have a new location for our food truck. Read More>>
Juliana Ruggiero
This question really hits hard. Yes their dwfinetly was. After my dad passed away tragically from the advanced stages of diabetes in 2019, i truly thought when we left the hospital that night that my life was over. My dad was my biggest supporter and my rock. Read More>>
katrina carter
There was a moment when I almost gave up — when life hit me with a diagnosis that felt like a life sentence. I was broken, not just by what my body was facing, but by the emotional weight of feeling unseen and unloved. I couldn’t understand how someone could devalue me when I had given them everything. Read More>>
Pierre Junior Guillaume
There are many times where you can feel like giving up. I’ve taken so many L’s. There have been times where I’ve had clothing orders made entirely wrong, things damaged, funds wasted. There are many reasons why you can argue to give up, but that can be the case for anything. Read More>>
Crystal Cabrae
I feel like I almost give up at least once a month because of the state of the world. It makes you feel like there’s no point to any of it. But then I see a reel from my favorite artist or hear a song made by my friend, and I’m reminded there is a point to it all. Read More>>
Amy Wade
Yes. In October of 2020. I had several bottles of pills at my bedside, ready to swallow. I had written letters to my family and my fiance, asking them to forgive me. I had spent over 35 years of my life battling depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD. Read More>>
Rebecca Babcock
Yes. The moment that comes to mind is when I had emergency surgery to remove my colon in my early thirties. I had been living with ulcerative colitis for years, but nothing prepares you for waking up to find your body permanently changed. I remember lying in the hospital bed, weak and scared, wondering how I could possibly rebuild a life from there. Read More>>
Hannah Hoffmann
Absolutely. This time last year (September 2024), I had reached a breaking point after an incredibly difficult and traumatic year. My OCD and mental health had spiraled, and I felt completely burnt out, not just on business, but on life. For the first time, I seriously questioned whether I wanted to keep Sunny Social going at all. Read More>>
Emily Lenning
After I had my daughter, my business was at its biggest point yet, we had the largest number of clients, revenue, and team members. On the outside, everything looked like success, but on the inside I was struggling deeply with postpartum depression and anxiety. I reached a point where I was almost ready to give it all up. Read More>>
Fabian Perez
There have been many times where life has given me immense challenges, which have almost led me to give up. In particular the loss of my parents in Argentina to the doubts of my future. Read More>>
Nicole Roach
Every time I’m about to do something meaningful, doubtful, or something that makes me vulnerable. I wanna give up. I’m plugged with thoughts of doubt and ruminating on lack of worthiness. I often ask myself, “ why me?.” But what I’ve learned is the louder the doubt is generally means I’m on the right path. Read More>>
Nick Mertz
These times come more often than you think. There isn’t just one single time an entrepreneur wants to give up and throw in the towel. It is a constant struggle to overcome but you have to be empowered to push through those thoughts and keep going. Read more>>
Eric Santoli
I’m sure everyone knows that the artists life isn’t easy and any sort of creative pursuit is challenging. Simply put, I love painting and teaching, but it seems like the simple things in life are the most difficult to achieve. Read More>>
Pamela Palma
There was a time I worked corporate, for arts organizations. It was rewarding in its own way but also sucked the life out of me. I had no time or energy to create. I wouldn’t say I almost gave up but I did put my work on hold for a time. Read More>>
Steffon Seay
Yeah — there were times I almost gave up. There were stretches when I was juggling school, basketball, odd jobs, and trying to build music at the same time. Money was tight, doors got closed, and it felt like every step forward came with two steps back. Read More>>
Adam Pecora
All the time. Especially when you have actual data that tells you to give up. The worst thing about my show to me is that no one knows about it. But I think it’s good and I enjoy doing it. Having a small audience is not a reason to bail. Appreciate that there’s anyone there at all. Success is defined in your own terms. Read More>>
Tom Nguyen
At the end of 2009, I had gotten a divorce. On top of that, my business was struggling, and I had trouble getting new business. I spent Christmas Day alone in my apartment. I wasn’t just failing in business, I was failing in life, and I was pretty depressed. To make a long story short, I rectified my situation. Read More>>
