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.

Tania Chakraborty

As a mom content creator, I’ve faced a fair share of unexpected challenges. One of the biggest has been balancing my creative pursuits with the demands of motherhood. There have been countless times when I’ve felt overwhelmed by the juggling act of trying to be a present and involved mom while also maintaining a consistent output of content. One particular memory stands out. I was in the middle of filming a video about a new parenting hack I’d discovered when my toddler decided to have a full-blown meltdown. It was a classic tantrum – screaming, crying, and refusing to cooperate. I tried everything I could think of to calm him down, but nothing worked. I felt a wave of frustration and disappointment wash over me. I had spent so much time planning and preparing for this video, and now it seemed like it was going to be a complete waste of time. And let’s not forget mom guilt- I felt as if I was the cause of my toddlers emotional outburst and I was prioritizing making a video, over spending time him. The feeling of failing as a mother was so devastating that I had almost quit, almost…. Read more>>

Jessica Fetter

My biggest obstacle yet was, and still is, being diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome. June 28, 2024 I woke up with numb fingers and toes; over the next three days it would progress to not being able to swallow. Then, I was unable to walk or talk clearly, which led me to call 911. I went from a watercolor artist to almost paralyzed in a matter of days. I spent nearly 4 weeks hospitalized, followed by 5 weeks in a physical rehabilitation hospital, before being released to continue therapy at home. At one point, I ended up in the ICU where they were talking about intubating me; I remember laying there just repeating to myself, “Just keep breathing Jess and wiggling your toes. You’ll be ok.” They never had to intubate either. The power of our minds is crazy. I am still working to regain my strength and the use of my dominant right hand. Read more>>

Jacqueline Cherepinsky

Last year I started doing really well with both my acting career as well as my career as a historian. I was getting cast in commercials and films, but I was also extremely busy with my local historical commission and the museum that I serve as a board member and educational consultant. I have three daughters, the youngest at the time was only six months when I started feeling pains in my breast. I was spooked because a few months prior, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her cancer was not genetic and luckily she was considered stage 0 and only required a lumpectomy and radiation. My doctor didn’t feel anything on me but because I was so nervous, she ordered an urgent mammogram and ultrasound. She ultimately saved my life. I was fully expecting the radiologist to tell me I’m crazy and only 38, but they found a significant mass in my left breast. If my mom had not had breast cancer, I would have assumed my pains were because of hormones. Read more>>

John Ryder

Some of the unexpected problems that I’ve faced in the music business has been that record companies won’t take even a moment to listen to new music unless you have millions of followers on social media platforms. The backstory to this is when I was in Nashville, TN for a week, literally pounding the pavement and knocking on doors of record labels. Well, I could not get past the receptionist, that’s if the doors weren’t locked, or even leave a calling card. They are totally locked down and will not see you or listen to your song. It was very disappointing and left me feeling (almost) hopeless. The music industry today is not anywhere near what it used to be in the days of Elvis Presley or Loretta Lynn or Randy Travis. Today, the music business is not so much about finding new talented artists, but about finding an artist that has an already established massive social media following. There was no resolve to this issue. Read more>>