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.

KENNETH COHEN

an unexpected problem I actually found to be a common issue was not getting the correct feedback, which ultimately means I was asking the wrong questions. if you accomplished everything you wanted it may not seem as big but it is an issue in situations or projects where I may feel like I didn’t execute to the best of my ability. Read More>>

Jennifer Wallace

One of the most unexpected challenges in my creative life wasn’t technical or material, it was learning to live with long, quiet stretches when I wasn’t producing anything at all. I think about these periods of time when people ask how long it takes to make work. Like…where do you even measure the beginning of a piece? Read More>>

Alison Woods

The most unexpected issues: I couldn’t do everything and I didn’t know everything!. I didn’t know that the book size I was committed to wasn’t one that ingramSpark and Amazon KDP would print. It was too big (10.25 inches square), hardback and had a dust cover. That meant I’d have to get my own printer. That meant I’d have to do all of the formatting. Read More>>

Vance Zahorski

One of the most unexpected and defining challenges I’ve faced in business came when a multi-billion-dollar corporation copied one of my patented products and began selling it as their own. Read More>>

Nico Paradis

This fourth year of business ownership has been my most humbling one yet. I went from proudly operating three locations to intentionally consolidating down to one. It was not the plan I had on my vision board, although I am pretty sure the universe enjoys reminding entrepreneurs that vision boards are suggestions, not contracts – speaking of which – I have learned. Read More>>

Syd Linkletter

The most recent and most relevant speedbump I’ve hit is getting a full box of misprints halfway through a project. Absolutely devastating. Halfway through my TarotSaur tour I got my second shipment of book stock and quickly realized the entire box was full of lemons. Double printed and misaligned. Read More>>

Marcus T Clyburn Sr.

As a minister of the gospel it can be very difficult but also very rewarding. When I was first called into the ministry I was a bit naïve as I thought that every minister of the gospel and every church had a true desire for the true word of God. Read More>>