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.

Matren

The most unexpected and biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome as an artist was re-training my voice after being told I may never be able to sing again. I began vocal training at a young age in choir and theatre as a first soprano. I had a crystal clear and pure sounding voice that was higher pitched, but always prayed for some soul to come out of me somehow. I began vocal training at a young age in choir and theatre as a first soprano. I had a crystal clear and pure sounding voice that was higher pitched, but always prayed for some soul to come out of me somehow. In September of 2019, I was put into a medically induced coma for one week due to an asthma attack. During recovery my doctor informed me that the intubation likely caused permanent damage to my vocal cords; leaving an indefinite rasp and lack of control over something I worked so hard my whole life for. All the progress I’ve made to build my artistry was suddenly gone (in my eyes) overnight.  Read more>>

Bj Seidel

Firefly Art was created because I love to travel, take photos, and sometimes turn those photos into paintings or drawings. I meet a lot of great people and they seem to like my art. When I began to sell paintings on Fireflyart.biz my goal was to make and sell original paintings at an affordable price. That is still my goal. There have been a few roadblocks the past two years forcing me to stop for a while and change direction for months. The first couple years were pretty good, as I was selling from the website and at some summer Art Walks. Then my life was interrupted when my siblings and I dealt with the issues of elderly parents. I had closed my mother’s art studio which was a major undertaking, especially during the Covid pandemic. It was not long after that we moved them to an assisted care facility. Read more>>

Alyki Senoj

Hitting creative burnouts. They would come in waves, as I’d either be finishing up a project or stepping into another one. After I transferred from Savannah State to move to Atlanta and finish my studies at Georgia State, I was in a really dark space creatively. Around this time, Covid just hit and I didn’t get a full experience at being a student on Georgia State’s campus. I didn’t get to meet other creatives and collaborate. I initially felt distant between my accomplishments and goals. This lasted about 2 years, my longest creative burnout ever and I felt so washed. Read more>>

Ohgee

The most recent and I feel like the most relevant set back , or unexpected issue iam having right now is . I was recently in a severe car accident. Aug 13th I was driving home from a studio session late night,it was pouring rain and I lost control switching lanes on the highway and hit a light post going 65mph. Literally lucky to be alive and breathing again . I suffered from severe injuries , internal & external but by the grace of God iam still alive. I Don’t know if these types of things ever happened to yall but for me it’s always right when iam about to see light at the end of the tunnel “Boom” something happens to me that sets be back or is tragic or I take a financial hit or something. And it’s always like right when iam about to catch a break or at a time it’s really important for me to invest in myself due to an opportunity knocking on my door.  Read more>>

Kelci Wilner

As a non-profit organization, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our fundraising efforts and overall financial picture. Like everyone else, we were significantly impacted by the pandemic and took a major setback after only being open for a few years. Fundraising across the board was virtually nonexistent in 2020 and barely came back in 2021, however we knew how important it was to our families and participants to keep our doors open and programs available, so we had to get creative. Our team hosted “drive thru” events at the playhouse where families could still come visit and have fun while maintaining the safety and social distancing, we hosted a virtual 5k for our community to participate in, and other activities throughout those two years. We really had to stick together as a team during this time to focus on what’s most important, serving our Down syndrome community! Read more>>

Jonathan Anwar

Problem: Managing Consistent Communication and Building Long-Term Business Relationships Story: As a popular kid growing up in the digital age, I initially believed that securing a social media follow was enough to stay connected with people. However, as my audience grew and my career advanced, maintaining those relationships became increasingly challenging. I’ve had the privilege of touring as a DJ across 46 states, working with talent agencies, and performing at notable clubs throughout the tristate area. Meeting new people was always a priority, but the real challenge came in sustaining and nurturing those connections as a business owner. Read more>>

Alex Shwarzstein

I was first diagnosed with stage 3 vaginal cancer in December 2022, while I was still working in-house as director of development and communications for a local nonprofit. My team was incredibly supportive and flexible as they could be while I underwent 2 months of treatment during the spring of 2023. But within a few months back at work, I had to reckon with my own burnout. Like so many in the nonprofit sector, I had spent the years since COVID stretching myself thinner and thinner even as our workload grew. It took a life-threatening illness to make me realize that I needed to prioritize my own well-being. Read more>>

Christina Collins

The world of being a boss comes with inconsistency, long hours, uncertainty, and risk, constant problem-solving, slow growth at first, and so much more. It can literally be the complete opposite of working a 9-to-5. One of the main things I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur, and I’m confident others can relate to, is the mental strength it takes to persevere—often being put in the position of a student, constantly learning lessons while running the business. These topics get talked about often, yet they still feel unexpected when they occur. But these challenges are inevitable and come with the territory. Personally, a real-life event that stood out was not having enough clientele and experiencing attrition. These situations can feel genuinely discouraging and will make you second-guess yourself. Read more>>

David Webber

There are many difficult and unexpected problems that come with business ownership, especially in a creative business. One of the biggest challenges is understanding what is important as business objectives for you as an owner. If there are multiple objectives, navigating through them can become even more complex. The second challenge is acknowledging that others may not be wired the same way as you, which means they might not approach these objectives at the same level. Drawing out the insights and capabilities of your team can be exceedingly difficult. Read more>>

Kirsten Ritenbaugh

With September being Desmoid Tumor awareness month I wanted to share my story about facing adversity through my diagnosis. In January of this year I noticed dissension in my abdomen as well as debilitating pain. After it being diagnosed as an Ovarian Cyst I went in for surgery only to discover it wasn’t in fact a cyst it was actually a Desmoid Tumor the size of a watermelon connected to my mesentery artery. After multiple procedures I was able to get the tumor removed. I might not look the same on the outside but I feel completely better mentally and physically. I am eternally grateful for my medical team at St. Joseph’s.  Read more>>