If not giving up was always the right answer life would be so easy. History shows us that sometimes quitters prosper and sometimes they miss out. Knowing when to quit and when to keep going is one of the most difficult questions and so we asked folks we admire to tell us how they think through this question.

Natalia Hill, Kirk Wang, Tsukasa Takahashi, Ryland Fallon, Miren Edelstein, Mario Hubbard | Ska Band – Nothing Special

If you are willing to put in the work, accept rejection, and then continue to have a passion for your career, keep going. There will be sacrifices you have to make. There will be falls and wounds that will make you think you should move on but they prepare you to truly know the in’s and out’s of what you are striving for and the career field you are pursuing. Every step you make connects you with someone and they will remember you despite if it was a win or fail. Be true to who you are, be kind to everyone, build the connections, and keep moving. Your paths will cross again and then timing will be everything. If your career goals start to feel like work that gives you anxiety and starts to drain you of your happiness I would take a step back and reevaluate what matters to you. I can’t say that I think anyone should ever give up. Sometimes it’s just redirection. Set smaller goals, decide what you can live with and without. See if there is something else in your field that you didn’t think about pursuing but would keep you in your passion and make you happy. Read more>>

Amanda Flores | Small Business Owner

I find that in the craziness of life, there is a simple solution to give up. However, the reason any of us keep going is because there is genuine purpose to what we do. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of where I started.There’s a rush when you see someone’s positive reaction to something you created is indescribable. It’s simple occurrences like those that bring me back to the “why” of what I do. Read more>>

Jill Gibson | Ballet Director & Owner, The Ballet Company

If you truly love and believe in something, I don’t think giving up is really an option. Due to the pandemic, the studio where my dance program, The Ballet Company, had held residency for the past 3 years opted to close its doors permanently. Like many in the performing arts industry, we pushed on and continued to adapt so that we could do our part to keep this art form alive. The dance studio is more than just a job or an after school activity for all of us, It is our home. I knew that no matter what, I was not alone, because I had a family of students that showed up for me every day…and I had to continue to show up for them. There was too much love there to give up. Too much life. Read more>>