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.

Toño, Hunter Lucero, Banes

We record our podcast weekly, so sometimes it’s a scramble to get that done every single week, by Wednesday on the dot. Because we live in present day, we do 90% of our marketing via social media, namely TikTok and Instagram. A recent pastime includes going live and being chaotic on TikTok- talking and joking about pop-culture and getting into how much we love or what we feel about the newest music of the week. Read more>>

ArrKeicha Danzie

Along with all of the world…the pandemic has been the most unexpected problem I.ve faced since starting my business in August 0f 2019. I think at one point we had to cancel some 17 events because ALL in person events had been canceled. We quickly began to think outside the box and my comfort zone by having a more “digital” presence. Read more>>

Andrea Ester

My name is Andrea, owner and designer of Bijoux de Delone. I am a wife, mother of two, and a business owner. I am a one woman show. I make jewelry, and sell online as well as at events and a few stores. Being a one woman show, I am the one who makes the jewelry, price, tag, photograph, edit, post, take orders, ship, and anything else that may need to be done. Read more>>

Britnee Scott

As a creative on this journey you have ups and downs which can consist of a whole lot of things like frustration, finding a product with high quality, artist block. When creating you have this mindset that what you imagined or visualize will have a great outcome when you start to create it but it doesnt turn out the way you imagined. Read more>>

Britash Wilson

My instagram account was deleted several times. I first got deleted at 4,000 followers, then 9,500 followers, and again at 3,500. My new instagram is @brisclothingcollection, I had the page for only 3 weeks and it’s now at 3,500 followers. If this would’ve never happened I could’ve been at 20,000+ followers. This was so devastating having to start over so many times. Read more>>

Naiia Lajoie

Prior to this summer, I prided myself on being a busybody; “hustling” through the entertainment industry by working as often as possible and earning as much as possible. At the time, it worked out perfectly! I loved keeping busy, and constantly booking not only served as a means of validation, but it also made me feel as if I was on the “right path”. Read more>>

Justina Hutton

I started my business, Just Sweet, in 2016.. it started taking off to the point where I was comfortable quitting my full time job and relying on caking as my sole income. In 2018 I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I also had my son in 2016, so he was 2. Him and my business were the only things in the world that made me happy and one thing that my doctor told me that stuck with me like glue was “keep doing what brings you joy as much as you possibly can”. Read more>>

Melanie Burckes

There’s issues in every area of work. Following my passion of singing, gave a sense of pressure of the desire to succeed. To be the best that I can be. To present myself to world, the way I really want to. That takes time and effort to find your sound and the right words to melodically explain how you feel to the world. I’ve realized I must release the pressure and just build momentum. Create to create, not create to be “understood” or be the “best.” Read more>>