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. 

Deborah Stewart

Businesses rarely look like a straight diagonal line upward. In my case, business slows down during the summer, but the worst summer we have ever had was the summer of 2020. We had to mitigate all of our classes to an online platform the moment they shut down the rodeo in Houston. Read more>>

Juli McEachern-Havens

About Me I earned my BFA from Auburn University and, many years ago, enjoyed a successful career as an artist in Atlanta, Georgia. At that time, success meant something simple and deeply fulfilling: painting every day and selling enough of my work to support myself. Then, one day, a picture framer accidentally damaged one of my paintings. Read more>>

Joe Fee

I think there is always a struggle of some kind because every time you try to write a new piece (whatever medium you are in), there is a risk and a period of learning or transition. In the end, no matter how much you plan, you can never really predict where it will go. Read more>>

HyDro tha Xlushie K.i.D

Well, to be honest I’m only just recently running into one of the most unexpected issues I’ve ever faced in my music career. As the members of my 9Familia know, I recently signed a distribution deal for a single release with KMG, a Sony Music affiliate. Read more>>

Layne Polzin

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that life can change in an instant. I served in the Marine Corps as a young man, and those experiences taught me discipline, perseverance, and resilience. After my time in the Marines, Native artist Sonny Burnham became both a mentor and a friend. Read more>>

Gil & Renee Beavers

If you’re answering a question about publishing Our Marital Code to Oneness (or your first couples anthology) during the pandemic, you could share something like this: The Obstacles We Experienced Publishing Our First Couples Anthology During the Pandemic Publishing our first couples anthology during the pandemic was both a calling and a challenge. While the world was slowing down, fear, uncertainty, and isolation were increasing. Read more>>

David Huffman

When I started my business I was naive to think that all of the ingredients I’d need would always be readily available. I’d perfect a recipe using a specific kind of cocoa or vegan margarine only to have the cost go through the roof or a supplier go out of business. Read more>>

Rolan Pongpuntara

Being a business owner, you’re bound to encounter problems so its important to be a problem solver. You’ll have to fix things and deal with them because there’s always a point A, a point B, and a point C, and so on. You just have to be ready to fix the situation and move forward. Read more>>

Alina Butina

Lesson 1: Work on Your Confidence and Acceptance I think one problem is that I wish I had started sooner. For almost five years, I would not post my work online because I was afraid of what people would think. Read more>>

Clayo Ryan

Since I was a kid I was under a computer doing something creative, and I stayed in studios and tattoo shops, I felt those places were some of the 1st times I witnessed people cut from cloth run a business and be creative. Along with barber and beauty salons. Read more>>

Brian Saviano

Some of the most unexpected problems in my creative journey came from dealing with the backend logistics that really make the workflow and business operations happen. As a lifelong creative, it’s easy for me to get wrapped up in the big, bold ideas that define who I am. Read more>>

Solomon Franks

The most challenging thing as an actor and recording artist is balancing a day job. Read more>>

Marc Block

One of the biggest challenges in the luxury appliance industry is managing supply chain delays. Because luxury appliances are typically among the last items installed in a kitchen, the delay of even a single critical product can disrupt an entire construction schedule. These setbacks can postpone homeowner move-in dates, delay certificates of occupancy, and create financing complications for all parties involved. Read more>>

Audra Thompson

One of the most unexpected challenges I faced wasn’t technical at all—it was learning to trust my own voice. When I first started my business, I thought success meant creating what I believed people expected from a jewelry artist. Read more>>

J Lin Palencia

The biggest growing pain in my life had very little to do with business. The biggest growing pain was learning how to receive. For most of my life, I was the helper. The resource person. The person who could connect you to somebody. The person who could figure it out. The person who kept moving. Read more>>

Tiffany Ruby

One of the most unexpected challenges I’ve faced wasn’t finding clients—it was discovering that after years of building my business, I could potentially lose the ability to operate because of a zoning issue. I own Truth Be Told, a tattoo and cosmetic tattoo studio that also hosts community events and creative workshops for women. Read more>>