Was there ever a time you almost gave up?

We connected with some of the most resilient folks in the community and one of the most insightful questions we had an opportunity to ask centered around whether there was ever a time they almost gave up. Highlighting some of the responses below.

Parker Wright

There have been so many times where things have been hard over the years, but only one time where I was right on the line of giving up and throwing in the towel. It was right as we were starting our first rehearsal of the season. It was a difficult time and I felt like everything was falling apart. Read more>>

Enedawry Santana

No. Giving up was never an option. We have more resources and tools at our disposal than ever before. You either find results or you find excuses. The choice is yours. Don’t abandon your responsibility, no matter what. Read more>>

Krisia ‘ Kiki’ Powell

Yes — and not just once. Last year in LA, sixteen years deep into building my life from scratch, I hit a breaking point. From the outside I still looked “strong” — the one who always figures it out — but internally I was collapsing. It wasn’t only personal. Read more>>

Refugio Rodriguez Ruiz

So many times. I think as an entrepreneur, almost giving up becomes part of the journey. It’s part of the stigma—you hit moments where everything feels heavy, where doubt creeps in, and you wonder if it’s worth it. Over time, you learn that this is life. Read more>>

Harel Papikian

There were numerous times I felt exhausted and depleted. As a matter of fact, it happens regularly. However, I think we get to the place of giving up when we corner ourselves into fixing the problem here and now. The place of holding a problem and not knowing exactly how to resolve it is an important place. Read more>>

Troy Reed

Yes. Starting a business from the ground up can be very difficult. You have to build a customer base and earn the trust of your customers. The first few years were very difficult, and I did consider shutting the whole thing down. Maybe I should have stayed in my lane and continued working a ‘regular’ job. Read more>>

Abboud Khallouf

Yes—there were moments when the uncertainty felt overwhelming, particularly during periods of transition and rapid change within the travel industry. Building something meaningful often requires enduring seasons where progress is quiet and the outcome isn’t immediately clear. What kept me moving forward was a deep belief in the vision behind Premier Travel and the relationships I had built along the way. Read more>>