As almost any entrepreneur or creative will tell you, unexpected problems are to be expected. Below, you’ll hear some incredible stories that highlight and illustrate the kinds of issues and problems entrepreneurs and creatives are dealing with everyday. It’s not easy, but the silver lining is that dealing with unexpected problems is one of the best ways to develop antifragility.

Diy Raves

DIY Raves was co-founded in Los Angeles through a partnership between DJ “IKU” (Andy Rivera) and his manager Roy Ng. Andy was a college dropout who only recently started to pursue his career in producing and mixing music. Within the last year alone, he has amassed over 170,000 streams on his viral song “Nightvision” and has been booked at over 20 shows while operating independently from any labels or collectives. He closed for Softest Hard in San Francisco and even headlined his own show at the Yost Theater for Peaking Duck. His popularity grew remarkly fast, but it was not always sunshine and rainbows. Read more>>

Dionel Lake

Balancing Passion and Boundaries in Business Owning a photography business is a rewarding journey, but it’s not without challenges. For me, the greatest struggle has been balancing my passion for creativity with the realities of running a sustainable business. My drive to hyperfocus on details and perfect every aspect of my work is both my greatest strength and my greatest challenge. At its best, this focus allows me to create work I’m proud of—thoughtful, meaningful, and detailed. But if I’m not careful, it can become draining. Ignoring the small warning signs, like irritability or mental fog, leads to burnout. When I push too far, even small tasks can feel overwhelming, leaving me emotionally and mentally depleted. Read more>>

Jacqueline Patrice

Right after I graduated from college in 2019, I moved out to Los Angeles. I started pursuing acting, mostly in local theatres or low budget movies. Of course, the pandemic hit in 2020, but what hit me was a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer, in 2022. As anyone who has received news like this, you start to feel like you’re rolling down a hill, starts slow but begins to pick up speed. My dream of acting professionally was going to have be put on pause while I was undergoing treatment. It was devastating. Read more>>

Charles Ivy

Today’s unexpected problem is a Trademark issue with my corporation name. An individual attempts to appropriate my corporation name, EnvyInk, Inc., through a Pending Trademark with the [USPTO]. I’m consulting with a legal firm to understand my options for resolving this matter. That said, I am appalled by how morally wrong individuals are, as I created the name in 2008 and incorporated EnvyInk, Inc. in April 2021. The feeling I have because of this scenario is unreal. I want the ambush on my corporation to stop so I can continue to earn a living with the corporation EnvyInk, Inc., which I labored diligently to create. Read more>>

Ally Remington

I work as a sales executive in the logistics industry, and one of my clients owned a goat dairy farm. He shared with me his sadness over having to cull the male goats, particularly two young ones he wished could have a better future. Around that time, I had purchased some property and realized I could provide a safe haven for those two goats. This experience opened my eyes to the broader issue of unwanted farm animals. By connecting with the animal rescue community, I learned that offering sanctuary and educating others about animal welfare could make a significant impact. This realization led me to establish an animal sanctuary, where we strive to help as many animals as possible and raise awareness about their plight. Read more>>