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?

Brian Smith | Photographer

A very timely question as this has been going through my mind recently. The reality of the incredible competition out there, with thousands of photographers and millions of photos, can be intimidating. Anyone with a decent phone can now take high quality photos. I’ve learned that many people love to look at beautiful and interesting photos, and being human I certainly enjoy compliments on mine, but only a very small percentage will ever purchase. Why would they, when they can pull out their phone and have instant access to unlimited free shots? The challenge is how to make mine stand out as unique among an enormous crowd. I can’t say I’ve found the answer. But I know I love the process of thinking about and planning a photo, then organizing and sharing my work, and that keeps me going even if nobody’s buying. Read more>>

Kat Onyirioha | Designer and Owner of Juste Etre: Handmade Earrings

I pay close attention to signs when it comes to knowing when to give up. There have been plenty of times when I felt like I should pack it all up and walk away from my business but then something would happen that would reassure me that I’m doing good and I should keep going. For example, I set a goal for my business back in 2019 that would be my determining factor of whether I dissolve the company or keep pushing. My goal was to get at least one wholesale buyer and by the end of the year it never happened. I slowly started setting my business up for closure which I actually did by May 2020 though the last of my earrings were still available for purchase on a free website host. Read more>>

Alexandra Engelman | Freelance Artist & Designer

Everyone knows that life is unpredictable, uncertain, and being a military spouse, it can feel even more so. We get unexpected news, we move to places where we don’t know anyone; sometimes to a new country, we’re away from family, or our partner gets sent away for extended periods of time without knowing when they’ll come back. I feel it can put a bit of a strain on your mental health which in turn could affect productivity. Your productivity isn’t what it most valuable about someone as a person, but for me it’s a key factor and validates me as an artist to an extent. Luckily the art community is vast and I can find my niche and sell my art pretty much anywhere; especially in this digital age we are all in. with online storefronts and conventions. Read more>>