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.

Katie-Rose Watson

One challenge I face as a food blogger and recipe creator is that I never considered myself to be a photographer. The most popular food blogs have the best photos, even if the recipes aren’t all that unique or innovative. I’m glad that I dove in and started my food blog anyway, undeterred by my lack of photography skills. I study food photos that I love, learn on the job, and challenge myself to be better every day. I spent the last year updating old recipes with brand new photos now that I have significantly improved by photography skills. I think that’s a good lesson for everyone: don’t hold back and strive be better every single day. Read more>>

Janwin Overstreet-Goode

I founded Casulana, the Women’s Choir of Houston, in the fall of 2019 with my friend and co-artistic director Neena Taylor. We had a successful first audition, and were fortunate to find willing and knowledgeable individuals to serve as board members. By our first concert in the spring of 2020, we were already established as a 501(c)3 non-profit. That first concert was on March 1, 2020; within two weeks, the world shut down, and we worried that our fledging choir experience was over before it really started. The momentum gained from our first concert ground to a halt, as well as the board’s impetus to pursue donors and other financial resources. Read more>>

Alfonso Brooks

Clients and product creators often do not have the resources or technical expertise to conduct business digitally, grow their local brands or influence the public’s perception of their region and territories. Development of cottage industries and local brands are hindered by the lack of access to the international marketplace. Organizations in the U.S. and abroad are affected by hindrances to conducting business due to lack of exposure, information and resources and the inability to travel. Read more>>

Ronald Herman

We invested heavily in securing a long-term contract with a top-tier mobile network operator in the US. Our team created custom mobile apps for iOS and Android for use in customer acquisition and retention. The client and its agency created digital ads, in-store POP materials and all new branding for the marketing campaign. Three days after both apps went “live” in the app stores, our client’s chief marketing officer pulled the plug on the entire initiative and most other marketing efforts. The executive team pushed the company into a quiet period while they were exploring a merger with another mobile operator. Read more>>

Dawn Pilpel

19 years of being the owner/designer of iWEAR …do you? have been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been ups and downs, however, nothing could have prepared me for 2020, when the world shut down. 2019 was a great year for iWEAR and I was looking forward to an even better 2020. I was excited, travelled a lot throughout 2019 and booked shows that were new to my company. Travelling state to state is hard and exhausting, but also fun and rewarding. The trade shows and events went well and because of that I committed to the 2020 shows. 2020 arrives and with all new years, we hope it will be better than the previous. Read more>>

Daniel Hendrick|

When I was 24 years old, I was invited to Italy to participate in the ‘Caruso competition’ for young tenors. My teacher/mentor at the time was famed Tenor Giuseppe di Stefano, he was the idol of the great Luciano Pavarotti. But unfortunately that year, I had strep-throat off and on for many months, I’d get better and a few weeks later, it would return, the doctors were perplexed, they could not figure out why the strep kept returning, unfortunately, this caused me to start forcing my voice, but I was determined to compete in the competition and make my mentor Giuseppe di Stefano proud of me. (This proved to be a flawed approach). Read more>>

Bridget Ericsson

Before COVID hit my business was doing fairly well. I work at home teaching private pilates sessions as well as coaching for personal traning. I’ve always had a “backup plan” and have a second job as a contract instructor at a small botique-style pilates studio near my home as well. Business was going well for me in both jobs. When COVID hit everyone was told to shut down for an indefinate period of time. I was fortunate that the studio I worked for was gratious enough to still pay us for that time we were closed because I was no longer making money at home. Read more>>