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.

Ashley Wright

As a mother-daughter wedding planning business, we’ve found that the bond we share is both an asset and a challenge. What works well is the deep trust and understanding we have for one another. We can read each other’s thoughts and support each other through the ups and downs of the wedding industry. Our shared passion for creating unforgettable experiences for our clients is what truly drives us and helps keep our business running smoothly. Read more>>

Janice Fried

Time is the essential ingredient in the process for creating a piece. For me, it’s not so much the time to complete a piece as much as the time I need to simply sit and think and gather visual inspiration. About twenty-five years ago when I became the mother of a very active child the only time I could work was when he napped or later when he was in school. My son was challenging in many ways and those challenges often took time away from doing my artwork. Read more>>

Amy Saffell

2024 was full of unexpected issues! For the wheelchair basketball tournament we hosted in February, the printing company we have worked with for years where we had our tournament tshirts printed for all of our participants (around 200 athletes from around the country) closed suddenly, and our shirts had not yet been printed with time running out before the tournament. Then, we had a team who told us they might drop out about a week before the tournament with the schedule made, which would impact playoff rankings for other teams, the schedule signage already at the printer and no opportunity to change it, and tshirts and food paid for. Read more>>

Gabriela Bravo

One challenge has been raising awareness about opals. Many people are unfamiliar with them and unaware of their rich history and value. Mexican opals, in particular, are considered precious stones—rare, unique, and celebrated for their vibrant colors and play of light. These gemstones have been cherished for centuries, beginning with the Aztecs and Mayans, who revered them as symbols of fire, passion, and the divine. Known as quetzalitzlipyollitli, or “the stone of the bird of paradise,” opals were used in ceremonial rituals and jewelry. Read more>>

Aurianna Oricchio-gilley

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is the amount of time I need to spend on social media to be successful. While it can be rewarding, it can also feel disheartening. I might pour hours into creating a post or video, only for it to barely get any attention. Instagram’s algorithm often works against me, but it’s still essential for sharing my art, which can be frustrating. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to not let social media dictate my worth or how I share my work. I understand what Instagram’s algorithm favors, but if I’m not comfortable making a quick, trendy reel just for the views, I won’t do it. It’s crucial for me to feel good about what I share of myself. Beading is deeply personal, and I’m not willing to compromise my values just for content. While there isn’t a perfect solution to this dilemma, I’ve managed to find a balance between meeting social media expectations and staying true to my own principles. Read more>>

Kay Dolores

When I started Suicide Queen, I knew I wanted my friend Dorian Dolore involved. We’re both from St. Louis but we didn’t meet until I was living in Oakland and he was living in Chicago. We connected talking about music and production and other forms of moral degeneracy and we would trade demos for the projects we were working on. So when he eventually moved to LA, I asked him to play guitar in Suicide Queen because, in my thinking, 300 or something miles between Oakland and LA were not a sufficient obstacle. When I scheduled the first SQ show, he was going to take the bus up to Oakland, which would have been the first time we actually met in person. Read more>>

Sun A’marri

In music, I think it’s easy to feel like you’re working towards something, when in reality you’re going nowhere fast. For years, I was blindly working as hard as I could, on as many projects as possible, but I never saw progress in my career. I thought talent was enough. I thought work ethic was enough. But through many trial and error scenarios, I learned you have to have a specific goal and plan. You can stay on Earth or shoot for the stars, but it’s important to objectively look at what progress you made (if any) and think about if what you’re doing is really working for YOU or not. Read more>>

Filomena Jack

One thing that has surprised me is how often I’ve had to remind organizations to pay me. Despite being clear about my payment schedule, there have been numerous times when payments were delayed or not ready when expected. This is especially common with libraries, where multiple people, desks, and protocols can complicate the process of paying contractors. In one instance, a library even issued me a bounced check. Ironically, they had received a grant specifically to pay me, so the funds were there in theory—but the situation still turned into a mess. Read more>>