One of the most under-the-radar benefits of entrepreneurship is its ability to build fortitude and make the entrepreneur a more formidable person. Challenges – particularly the crazy, unexpected ones that take on a life of their own – build character and confidence. And the unexpected surprises to the upside, the crazy good moments offer a high that’s hard to reproduce elsewhere. The charm and the challenge of entrepreneurship is dealing with the crazy things that happen and so we’ve asked some fantastic business owners and leaders to share some of their stories with us below.

Rachel Beall

Venturing into the unknown as a socially anxious person, I pushed myself to engage in a door-to-door initiative to connect with downtown stores. The concept of initiating conversations with strangers, promoting my business, and building connections within the community filled me with a sense of dread. The encounters varied from lukewarm to mildly encouraging, but it all came crashing down when I faced a particularly hostile and cold individual at one store. It left me on the brink of giving up, feeling emotionally drained and feeling like a failure. Read more>>

Brad Montgomery

You’ll never believe what happened on stage TWICE! Read more>>

Vasili Malkotsis

Quite literally, my back is my business story. I was a pro athlete (BMX bike rider) for much of my teen years and early twenties. When I was 18 I was in an accident unrelated to my sport that led to emergency surgery on my spine. I was able to ride for only a few years afterward until that injury forced me to resign and ultimately pivot my life’s trajectory. Read more>>