How do you know when you should keep going versus when it makes sense to cut your losses and try something new? It’s a difficult decision most entrepreneurs and creatives have faced along their journey and so we asked some brilliant folks from the community to share their thoughts.

Eyal Alfandary | Actor

I think that you should never give up. It is not even an option for me. I knew from a very young age that I’m going to be an actor. Since I was 4 years old. I always knew that and felt that. It started when I performed in front of my family in our house in Israel, and then when I went to every acting class exist or drama class when I was really young. I performed in every stage that I could ever possibly be on. In school, after school. I always knew that this is why I’m here in the world and that is my goal and I’ll do anything to accomplish that. No matter how hard it is going to be. I remember the process to get an agent and how hard it was at first. I’ve done a research about agencies and found all the agencies that relevant and then I sent mails to every agancy in Israel. At first no one has respond. After I sent emails I also called all the agencies to make sure that they didn’t miss my mail. After one month, still no one responded and I tried again and again for 3 years, every month I sent again mail to every agancy and called them, until it will work for me. And after 3 years finally one agancy answered my mail and asked me to do an audition, I have done the Audtion and got accepted. I didn’t give up for one second because I knew that it is going to happen and it is just a question of when but I knew that no matter what I knew that it is going to happen. If I would give up I would never be in an agancy and will achieve the work that I’ve done, but I knew that I won’t give up and at the end it will work. And this attitude is still going with me because I have so many things that I want to accomplish and I know that if I’ll keep work hard and always do so much work and won’t stop I will get what I want. Read more>> 

Ziyan Wang | Interdisciplinary Designer

Reflecting on our journey with House of Wando(a FURNITURExILLSTRATION design duel launched by me and my twin sister Cara Wang in 2020), the decision of whether to keep going or to give up has been a profound and ongoing contemplation. When my twin sister and I first embarked on this venture, fueled by the success of our illustrated decorative home goods that reflects on our shared Cantonese heritage, we were filled with enthusiasm and determination. However, despite the attention garnered on social media, we encountered a significant disconnect between online interest and actual business success. Our crafted objects, intended to infuse warmth and delight into homes, were met with hesitation from potential buyers due to concerns about functionality and suitability for daily use. This realization forced us to reassess our approach and confront the crossroads we found ourselves at. While we deeply valued the aesthetic aspects of our creations, we also recognized the importance of functionality in the objects we created. Read more>>

Amère Blackwell | Actor & Musician

If you let it go, it always finds it way back. Many times I’ve taken a step back from my craft, and within 2 weeks I find myself craving it. There have been things I’ve let go and we never found each other again. There’s an element of persistence and go with the flow. You can’t force a situation, and you can walk away from your calling. If you can shut your eyes and it’s there it’s yours grow. Read more>>