Never give up. It’s advice that is thrown around daily – but is it always right? We asked some folks we admire about their thoughts around how to know when to give up and when to keep trying

Kjirsten Beltz | Digital Artist and Calligrapher

This question has haunted me since I first began entertaining the idea of starting my own small design business. I’ve spent years exploring various creative paths I thought I would be interested in, just to realize I didn’t like certain aspects of those paths. With every failed attempt to find my niche, I learned more about what I didn’t like and what I wasn’t good at, but also learned where my greatest passions lie. I started pursing a side business in hand drawn calligraphy in 2018 because of my love for lettering, but it has since evolved into a more robust digital design business, as I’ve adapted my work onto my iPad. Read more>>

Dina Goodhue | Jeweler & Environmentalist

When I first started making jewelry, I remember friends and family being impressed that I didn’t just stop after a few weeks. I feel like that can sometimes be the usual path of action, taking a class, giving it a whorl, and putting it down. To me, it’s something I couldn’t imagine not being apart of my life. It grounds me. Jewelry has become a piece of who I am. But at the end of the day, it lays in the passion. You know when you feel it. Regardless of what it is for, its something that drives you, excites you, moves you, and most importantly, leaves you sleepless at night thinking of ways you can continue to learn and grow. Read more>>

Maya Nahra, RD, DAIS | Registered Dietitian

Yes, I think the pandemic created such a spot for me specifically in business. This answer may seem odd at first however there’s a meaningful point I wish to communicate – In my experience, knowing what ‘version of you’ is driving you to keep going versus what ‘version of you’ is driving you to give up, holds the answer as to what to actually do. What do I mean by ‘what version of you’? Read more>>

Amanda Steele | Speech Therapist (SLPA) & President and Director of Communications at EPIC Disability Advocacy

When the going gets tough…what do you do? We have all loomed over the thought of giving up on something, likely we all have given up on things, I know the saxophone and scrapbooking were not for me. However, there are things that passed me by and left me wondering if I was missing out. This occurred when I was unable to successfully be supported in high school and had my son by 17. Giving up on finishing high school, I missed out on a lot of things; prom, graduation, friends… but I did not give up then. Read more>>