To pivot or to persevere? Or more bluntly – to give up or to not to give up? This is a haunting question, a question that has ramifications far after an answer has been chosen and it’s also a question that almost everyone in our community has had to face at one time or another. How do you know when to give up and when to keep trying?

Vla Da Vyber | Artist

For me quitting is not an option, Yes I do get frustrated at times especially at how the game is being played but hey it’s what I signed up for. I just try my best to not lose focus on why I started rapping in the first place, and that was simply just the love of music, being able to tell my story in my own creative way.I kid you not, every time I feel like my career isn’t going anywhere I always get a sign to keep going and to be honest, this interview is one of my recent signs. Read more>>

Joshua Smith | Photographer & Spoken Word Artist

I think the the best way to know if you should keep going or to give up, is based on the question, “Do I still love what I do?”. I always have to ask myself that exact question when I am feeling doubtful about my passion, photography. The moment that you answer “no” and feel like you, truly, do not love what you do, then that is the moment that you give up. Honestly, any individual who is thinking of starting a business or has started a business, has been told “no” or has felt opposition. From first-hand-experience, I know that opposition like that will cause self doubt. All in all, you still have to ask yourself, “Do I still love what I do?”. Even if that answer is “no”, it is not the end of the world and you are not giving up. Read more>>

Nayoung Lee | Founder of The Modern Woman’s Uniform

I am an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur is hard. Having a job is hard, but choosing a career path and having such a strong personal involvement in the success or failure of the business can be really challenging. For me, the biggest challenge thus far has been the constant challenges to my momentum. When I first started the business, I tried different avenues to market and nothing seemed to be working. I recall about a month before I really started gaining some strong success and momentum, my biggest investor, my father had some very loving, but hard to hear words for me. He asked me, if this was really the right path and if I should just give up. I know he only wanted what was perceived as best for me, but it hurt. Honestly, I was already feeling doubt about the path, but ironically it was that moment, that I promised myself I would push forward. Within a month came the series of successful months of business, only to be thrown into a complete halt by the pandemic. Read more>>