To persevere or to pivot is a question that do-ers have been asking themselves since the beginning of time. It’s never a straight road when you are doing something new, blazing a trail, breaking a ceiling, or pushing boundaries, so it’s only natural to wonder whether to give up midway. How do you know whether to keep going or to give up?

Taya Sebring | Founder of Cool Poo Bags

I often ask myself, ‘Does it feel right to give up yet?’ The little voice in my head always answers, ‘keep going!’ So, I tend to trust my gut on many business decisions, which has consistently led me to positive outcomes! Read more>>

Daniella Jin | Photographer

I’ve actually often thought about whether to keep going or give up, and for me, it really boils down to passion. If you wake up excited to do what you love, if you find joy in the process and expressing yourself through your work, then that passion is a sign you should keep going. Read more>>

Adam Arnone | Musician/Sound Editor/Company Owner

It’s all about trusting yourself. That’s the most important thing. There is beauty and success in letting go. I prefer saying that instead of giving up. Giving up has a negative connotation. Learning how to give something your all and then realizing when you’ve gone as far as you can is a necessary skill. Read more>>

Nafen Wu | Director & Editor

When deciding whether to keep going or to give up, I typically consider the following aspects: Passion and Motivation: I first ask myself if I still feel passionate and motivated about the project or direction. As a Director of Photography and Editor, I’ve always loved the process of creating visual stories. If that passion is still there, I tend to keep pushing forward because it’s the core driving force behind my work. Read more>>

Jordan-Maeve Eusebio | Designer & Illustrator

This question has been the background radiation of much of my life, especially when it comes to artistic pursuits. Between my own passions and skills, pressures to choose a “safer” more lucrative career, the ever-changing landscape of creative industries, and economic and financial factors, it’s always been difficult to decide which way to go. Read more>>

Jhalil Miller | Rapper

I knew to keep going just off how people actually tell me drop more and are actually intuned with my work which gives me the motivation to keep going. Read more>>

Meryem Lahlou | Furniture Designer, Architect, Filmmaker, Writer

I look at the joy in a child’s eyes when they encounter something truly imaginative, something that speaks to their innate sense of wonder and curiosity. I see the way their minds light up, the way they explore and interact with the world I’ve helped create. Read more>>

Chris Calogero | Comedian and Actor

This is such an underrated question, but one that artists and creative types always have lodged in the back of their minds from day one. I think the answer is complicated and simple at the same time. My metric for whether to keep going or to give up comes from responding to one question: do you love it? If the answer is, “Yes I love it” then you keep going. Read more>>