Was there ever a time you almost gave up?

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.

April Nowlin

Ha! I think about quitting business at least once a month. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart—there are days when the weight of responsibilities, setbacks, and uncertainty feels overwhelming. But what keeps me going are the people who need what I do. Read more>>

Heather Promise

Yes, many times. My teacher instilled in me the awareness that the path is full of forks. At any juncture, there is a choice. You can give up, or you can keep going when it gets hard. I have chosen the hard way over and over, because I know that the hard way is the easy way. Read more>>

Emily Evans

As an entrepreneur we’re lying to ourselves if we say no to this question. There are days that I look my boss in the eyes (aka myself in the mirror) and tell her ‘I quit’. She calls me back the next day and says ‘Let’s get to work. Read more>>

Emmanuel Allen

Last year, I was in a serious accident that caused severe damage to my neck, spinal cord, and lower back. As a personal trainer, it was devastating—not just physically, but emotionally and professionally. I fell into depression because I couldn’t work out like I used to. I had to endure neck and back injections, pain medications, and months of therapy. Read more>>

William Turner

There have been many times Ive almost given up on different things in life, but giving up has never truly been an option. There are too many possibilities, and growth often comes from even the hardest experiences-including failure. Read more>>

Joseph Perez

Every day of my first year in law school, I wanted to quit. I was overwhelmed—physically, mentally, emotionally. I was running on fumes, juggling case law and auditions, sacrificing sleep, and questioning if I was cut out for any of it. I’ve also had moments where I wanted to walk away from acting and just settle into a 9-to-5. Read more>>

Maddisen V.

Definitely. I think every creative and entrepreneur hits those moments where they question their path, and I’ve had a few. One of the biggest was during COVID. At the time, I was working in the music industry, and when everything shut down, that world didn’t bounce back right away. Read more>>

Hollywood Beard

I want to give up all the time but I’d rather burn out chasing my own vision than live a safe, average life. Working some regular job until I die? Depending on a company to feed me scraps? That’s not living. That’s a slow death. Read more>>

Lacey Konjevich

Sure. I’m definitely my toughest critic… I like to try new things but not at the expense of my inner happiness. I’ve learned to set reasonable expectations for myself so that I don’t burn out. Perfection is an illusion. Where there is joy there is art and a piece of art doesn’t have to be perfect to be loved by someone. Read more>>

Kae Techaprasert

Yes, I almost gave up not because I didn’t love the work, but because I was so tired. In the early days, I worked seven days a week, every single week. No breaks, no vacations. I poured all of my energy into building something meaningful, but there were nights when I came home completely drained. Still, I kept going. Read more>>

Amanda Maratas

Absolutely. And honestly? More than once. Building a business-especially one centered around helping others-comes with a whole mix of emotions: excitement, doubt, gratitude, and fear. There were days I sat in silence, asking myself, Is this even worth it? Read more>>

Sherri Adler

There was a time when I almost gave up — a moment that really tested me. It happened when my old business partner bought me out. At that point, I felt defeated and unsure of what to do next. I had put so much of myself into that business, and watching it slip away felt like losing a piece of my identity. Read more>>