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.

Melissa McGaughey

Sean and I came from high level restaurants where we were praised and appreciated for the work and food we put out for the guest. When we opened Troubadour with the first menu, those same guests saw us very differently. When cooking in a Michelin kitchen, those guests are a lot more trusting of how their experience is going to go and how the quality of their food is sourced/ cooked/ presented. Read more>>

Mario Medina

On December 31, a car collided with a light pole that was on the corner of the restaurant in Ramona, California. We had dinner sold and half an hour before serving, no matter how much we tried to talk to repair the light, we had to cook with our cell phones, we tied them in our head and that’s how we cook our customers also understood the problem and used their cell phones to light up the night and so no one ruined their New Year’s Eve dinner Read more>>

T’onna Clemons

Being from Ann Arbor I have found it is extremely hard to be a success as an African American in any facet, especially art. I have been successful in other states in regards to my art but never in the state or town I was raised in. I want to be able to be a success and open doors so that people who look like me will not have to struggle or have as hard of a time as I do/did. I want to be an inspiration to the youth and aspiring artist. Read more>>

Daimon Hampton

I think the timeline for your career as an artist is so much different than the narrative you usually hear about it. when I was a kid it seem like you had to become like a kind of wunderkin you have to like make a big splash as a teenager and then in your 20s like take over the world or whatever. Read more>>

Princillia Rhodes

Some of the most unexpected problems I’ve faced in this business is funding. I did lots of research on food truck funding before starting my business, just to make sure I knew what to expect. All the banks that I spoke with said they didn’t provide business loans if you’ve been in business for less than 2 years. I felt so defeated as everywhere I turned; the answer was “I’m sorry but we can’t help you”. Read more>>