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.
Veronique Gautherot
There was a time when I started giving up. Being mixed race in a white French world in the 60’s has not always been an easy and pleasant experience although my Mum has provided my brother and I with a cosy, loving home with strong foundations. Read more>>
Krysta Cossitt
I almost gave up on my business two years ago when my husband and I made the decision to move to London. I had created a successful wedding planning business in Colorado planning mountain weddings. Moving to London would take me out of the beautiful landscape I loved dearly and away from the hundreds of business connections I had forged over the years. Read more>>
Kuda Rice
Yes, there was a time I almost gave up. I remember writing a post where I said, “Perhaps this is where my creativity ends… I’m empty. Uninspired. Disconnected from my source.” I had reached a point where I felt my spirit and creativity were out of sync, like the well had run dry. Read more>>
Erin Gavin
Those challenging times have actually been the making of me especially the time i got knocked down by a drunk driver amd missed the casting to play Marilyn, later down the line i got the role! They’ve given me resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of why I do what I do — not for validation, but for connection. Read more>>
Dennis Kim
Absolutely – one of the toughest things about being a full-time working artist is the emotional turmoil along the way. Any freelancer will tell you that the inconsistent pay can be both super rewarding as well as crippling. Read more>>
Syrie Roman
There was absolutely a time I almost gave up, in 2020, when the pandemic brought the entire events industry to a standstill. Overnight, every wedding I had on the calendar was either postponed or canceled, and the future felt completely uncertain. Read more>>
Junn Yang
Last year, I almost gave up. I went more than six months without a single sale. My savings were gone, and I seriously considered leaving San Francisco maybe going back to Korea to start a small business, anything that felt more stable. It was terrifying to admit I was struggling. Then, out of desperation, my studio mate started a GoFundMe for me. Read more>>
Dzon 711
Yeah, honestly, I almost gave up not too long ago — like four months ago. I didn’t have a job, my streams were down, and I hadn’t dropped anything new in a while. I just wasn’t feeling creative at all, and it really had me questioning if I was meant to keep doing this. I was struggling — mentally, financially, everything. Read more>>
Doc Clarke
I think there are probably many times I have thought about ‘Giving Up’. But there is something inside of me that just wont let me. I would feel like a straight ‘Buster’ or a ‘Mark’ if I did. For those of you who know what those 2 terms mean. There is NO explanation needed. Read more>>
KT Moyer
YES. The first year of sobriety was HARD! The second and third year felt like a honeymoon. This past year was back too hard again. Last summer was the first time I actually thought to myself ‘I should just give up’. I was in the middle of a growth phase: we were expanding our physical location by double. Read more>>
Omowonuola Hall
Yes, several times. There have been moments in both my personal life and business when I felt like giving up. Entrepreneurship can be tough, and life itself can be even tougher. Read more>>
Harmony Obasi
Yes, there was a time I almost gave up when I lost my business partner, Jalil. That moment really shook me because we had built so much together, and suddenly I had to figure out how to move forward on my own. It forced me to rebuild not just the business, but my confidence and sense of direction. Read more>>
Ariana Hayes
Absolutely! In the past when things didn’t go my way and I didn’t quite understand why this and why that is going on in my life, I did almost give up on myself. I almost gave up on school/college and my dreams on modeling. I would yell and question God and curse and all. Read more>>
A. R. Redington
Yes. I actually have felt close to giving up the past few years before 2025. My life changed drastically about 8-9 years ago, and then COVID hit right when I got pregnant. Having a child is beautiful and wonderful, but it’s exhausting and time-consuming in many ways. I also developed a second autoimmune condition right after having my daughter, and my life nearly stalled. Read more>>
