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.

Ali Hallock

Throughout my journey with chronic illness, I’ve faced countless unexpected challenges that have reshaped my perspective on life and healing. One of the most terrifying was developing botulism from Botox injections I was receiving to manage chronic migraines… something that was meant to help, and did for nearly five years, instead became a serious health setback and almost took my life. Read More>>

Lindsay Snyder

One of the most unexpected challenges in my creative journey came right after I decided to turn my lifelong passion for photography into a full-time career. I’d been a professional hairdresser since 2004, and in 2019, while still working behind the chair, I started pursuing photography professionally. Read More>>

Danielle Anderson

Having a career within the entertainment industry, there is never a day by day routine or schedule. Now, having that same career while having a chronic illness such as Crohn’s disease definitely adds to the roller coaster of the day. Most of my flareups are triggered, not only by my diet, but also stress, whether it is good or bad. Read More>>

Mim Chowdhury

One of the most unexpected problems I faced happened during a shoot for a local fashion brand in Atlanta. We were shooting outdoors, and halfway through the day, the weather completely shifted — heavy rain, wind, and humidity that made it almost impossible to keep hair and makeup intact. The team was stressed, and it looked like we might have to cancel. Read More>>

Kim Evans

When SpoonMoon first opened its doors in 2020, the world was standing still. Studios were closing. Fear was everywhere. And yet, something inside me said let’s try anyway. We didn’t launch with fanfare or packed classes, we began with trust. A few bikes. A handful of clients. A whole lot of faith. Read More>>

Crystal Ifekoya

One of the most unexpected challenges WHOW faced was a sudden funding shortage right before launching one of our core programs. We had secured commitments from community partners and planned every detail — venue, speakers, materials, and marketing. Then, just weeks before the event, one of our primary funding sources fell through. It was a moment of real testing. Read More>>

Sylus Modlin

One of the biggest and most unexpected challenges I faced with 2-6 King Wavy Merch was when our Butter Moisturizer started melting during shipping in the summer heat. At that point, we were growing fast — orders were coming in from all over the country, and customers were posting reviews about how much they loved the results. Read More>>