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.

Aria Seif

Yes. There were several moments in my journey where giving up would’ve been the easier choice. One of the hardest periods was when I first moved to the United States in 2013. I had left everything behind — my businesses, my network, my comfort zone — and suddenly I was in a new country where I knew almost no one. Read more>>

MONIKA PAWLAK

There was a moment early on when I almost walked away from building a brand altogether. Before Be Mi Los Angeles existed, I started another company with a partner. I believed collaboration would make the journey stronger, but instead it became one-sided. I was doing all the work — designing, planning, investing — while she took credit and expected results without contributing. Read more>>

Ian Campbell

There have been plenty of times I wanted to give up — honestly, more times than I can count. One moment that really stands out was early in my battle rap career. Being openly gay in such a hypermasculine, often homophobic culture meant I wasn’t getting the same opportunities as everyone else. Read more>>

Anton Krasavin

Every day, to be honest. Sometimes you wake up and the first thought that comes is, “I can’t do this anymore.” Building an acting career in LA isn’t exactly the easiest path. Some days you don’t want to go to set, you don’t want to send another email, you don’t see any results. Read more>>

Nathalie Dahan

Was there ever a time you almost gave up? Yes, during the COVID-19 pandemic I came very close to giving up. I lost my restaurant, my savings, and had to sell my dream home. On top of that, I was going through a divorce and facing a lawsuit—all at once. It felt like everything I had worked so hard for was falling apart. Read more>>