Having to overcome unexpected problems is a hallmark of entrepreneurship. Almost every business owner, artist, maker, and creative we know has had to deal with countless unexpected problems that arise in the journey and so we asked some brilliant folks from the community to share their stories of the unexpected problems they’ve faced along the way.

Gabrielle Guthrie

When I began painting full-time two years ago, after a decade as a designer, user researcher, and entrepreneur, I expected a steep learning curve. I’d just moved (back) to New York, knew almost no one in the art world, and had never created an abstract painting before. Read more >>>

Andrew Kriska

Running a start up non-profit can be a daunting task, no matter what industry or field you choose to steer the non-profit towards. The most obvious answer for a majority of non-profits; lack of funding, or until at least a donation base is established, and it was no different for us. But I think the real challenge for us was a physical location. Read more >>>

Maggie Murphy

I lease a commercial kitchen for my business. Back in August 2023, the big commercial oven at the kitchen broke, right in the middle of my market season, right in the middle of baking 75 large individual sized brownies. Read more >>>

Julianna Fricchione

My first entrepreneur venture was selling rocks at the Jersey shore when I was 4 years old. No one bought my product. My grandmother, who I was staying with for the week at her bungalow, taught me about supply and demand that day. The next morning, I ventured into a new business-selling lemonade. Read more >>>