As almost any entrepreneur or creative will tell you, unexpected problems are to be expected. Below, you’ll hear some incredible stories that highlight and illustrate the kinds of issues and problems entrepreneurs and creatives are dealing with everyday. It’s not easy, but the silver lining is that dealing with unexpected problems is one of the best ways to develop antifragility.

Rebecca Dowman-Ngapo

Finding acceptable balance. Balance between my art and my family. Balance between my mental and physical health and the things I want to accomplish. Balance between the types of work I do. Read more>>

Ebony Hamlet

My job as a venue Owner is to book events. Needless to say I was extremely happy to land the Fulton County District Attorneys two day leadership conference.  The event took place August 11-12, 2021. On August 12, 2021 –  I got a letter from my landlord demanding immediate possession of my two suites, because the event took up too much parking. Want to know who was in attendance and parking their cars. Cops from all the surrounding municipalities. Yes, you read that right. Read more>>

Dana Klose

We encounter daily struggles in the world of animal welfare. From people losing their homes and having to surrender their pets, pet owners not able to pay for medical care, people not spaying and neutering their pets. The community unaware of the crisis that is happening in the world of animal welfare. More animals than homes. Overflowing county shelters and rescue groups busting at the seams. It truly is is never ending daily battle to try and help these very deserving animals. Read more>>

Emilia Van Ert

I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and autism in my 20’s. When I was manic I would get so much artwork done because I wasn’t sleeping. Then I wouldn’t be able to get out of my bed for 2 weeks because of a depressive episode. Throughout my creative journey I have dealt with the extremes of bipolar disorder. At times it has helped me, but overall it has been my biggest struggle. Read more>>

Carmen King

When I first started Black Light Candles I was ordering my supplies based on a ” need ” basis. I was a new business owner and didn’t understand the importance of reviewing reports and ordering in bulk. Read more>>

Amy Moha

The worst things happened to me when our exhibition completely destroyed … “ I fell in … I fell in “ I’m so freaky out about people goods . ) Read more>>

Alysia Coffield

Time. Hands down I never thought I would need as much time as I do to not only create my pieces but the work it takes to get items uploaded to my site or onto social media are all different jobs within the “job”. I’m a stay at home mom with two preschoolers so finding decent chunks of time to get much done is quite a challenge. Read more>>

Tish Fletcher

Some of the most unexpected problems were due to my love for CBD. Although CBD is legal, many social media and marketing avenues such as SMS prohibit ad sales. My first unexpected problem was when I did a soft launch and Shopify held my money. It’s my fault because I opened a Shopify account with a ton of zeal and a lack of knowledge. I wasn’t aware that they prohibit use of their payment processor. Read more>>

Abigail Vettese

The greatest unexpected challenge I’ve come up against as an artist is finding the right conduit through which to express myself most deeply, while honoring the very things which inspire me to create in the first place. Something that is immensely important to me, which I hope to honor in all that I do in this life, is nature. My illustrations are centered around plants and insects and creatures of the natural world for whom I carry deep respect, and similarly, Read more>>

Amanda Shafer

The single most unexpected issue I experienced that changed my creative journey was the sudden loss of my husband seven years ago. Read more>>

Page Stroud

This journey has been full of challenges. Building a brand while working full time, being a wife and mother, isn’t for the faint at heart. Learning to make setbacks a positive experience and trying not to get too carried away by the victories won along the way have both been a part of my growth as not only an event planner, but a business woman as well. Within the event planning industry challenges abound in finding clients and then being able to meet each of their individual expectations. Read more>>

Christopher Sims

Working as an artist in advertising can be an extremely challenging experience. One of the biggest challenges that artists face in this field is the need to conform to the corporate baggage that comes with a profit-based industry. In advertising, the ultimate goal is to create visually appealing content that resonates with the target audience and generates revenue for the company. While this may seem like a straightforward objective, it can be difficult for artists to balance their creative vision with the needs of the business. Read more>>