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.

Sade’ Tippton

Yes, Most definitely I have these moment often in this year of 2025 alone after leaving retail for good. Especially when it comes to my art. Even with tattooing. but I honestly believe in myself so much that I wouldn’t even allow myself to give up. Read more>>

Rob Taylor

Every project I’ve ever done whether that be a short film or an online series or tattoos or running my own business. So many times I’ve wanted to quit, and I do for a short time. Sometimes that’s for a day and sometimes it’s for a month but when I pick it back up I always move forward with whatever I’m doing. Read more>>

Duane Ackley

I have given up a million times and died a million deaths. The me that exists now is because I’ve never fully given up. While art is my conduit for expression, life has had its hard moments with me. Part of the gig. Been through a lot in my experience of life, things that have temporarily taken the want to continue living out of me. Read more>>

Amanda Kern

There are moments when I think back to how nice it was to clock out at the end of the day and not carry the weight of whether a whole organization succeeded or failed. But giving up is genuinely not in my DNA. Read more>>

Lauren Funchion

Absolutely- There has been more than one time I’ve wanted to give up. It’s so easy to get bogged down on yourself when your putting your all into something you want so badly to succeed. Things consistently not going your way, struggling financially – working at something for years to have it not work out. Then watching someone else succeed after the first few months. Read more>>