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.

Cameron Mack

My earliest professional projects were startups that found me via word of mouth. They were exciting, but they also came with some challenges, especially when it came to pricing. I was still in school, juggling freelance graphic design work, and didn’t know how best to gauge my skills. I worried about charging too much and scaring off potential clients or lowballing and getting taken advantage of. I also tended to do favors for people in my immediate circle of influence. There can only be so many friendly discounts before it becomes a tricky habit to curb outside of that circle. But, as I gained more experience, I realized that the right clients will recognize your value and pay accordingly. It’s okay to turn away a project that isn’t a good fit. This gave me the confidence I needed to stand firm on pricing. These days I hardly think twice about how much I charge, and my network has expanded because of it. Read more>>

Chase Cameron

We work with a lot of high school aged basketball players and a major issue we were running in to is players having to cancel on our training sessions for a variety of reasons. Often times their schedules would suddenly change because team practices rescheduling last minute, school, projects, etc. Rescheduling our training sessions are not always possible, and also inconvenient for our business. These frequent reschedules would affect their results due to lack of consistency, as well as affect our business and the retention of our athletes. What we decided to create was an alternate form of our online program which we call “Local Online”. In addition to our private and small group training we offered our program online and included open gym access so the athlete can come train anytime of the day out of our gym, as well as “office hour” sessions each week where athletes can come by to trouble shoot any technique issues they were having with a coach. Read more>>

Quanisha Lucas

I absolutely love being a Licensed Esthetician that specializes in Full Body Waxing , although it has challenges like everything else. Living here in Texas is a blessing! The weather for the most part stays pretty warm, but of course when it gets cold…ITS COLD. The weather and even businesses can become very cold during the fall and winter months. If you are not prepared or have not planned for the seasons to change, you can definitely encounter some issues! Being in business for six years, I have experienced unexpected things like a pandemic that was totally out of my control. Read more>>

Morgan Booth

One of the most unexpected challenges I faced in my creative journey came post-COVID when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. As a painter, this diagnosis was particularly daunting—it directly affected my ability to use my hands and impacted my energy levels. There were days when I couldn’t even grip a brush, let alone work on a piece. It was a difficult and emotional time, filled with uncertainty about whether I could continue creating art in the way I always had. Read more>>

Anton Krasavin

Seeking approval, applause, admiration, and success—hearing “Anton, you’re amazing!”—used to define my understanding of a great performance. These desires fed my ego, and for a long time, I craved that validation. In many ways, I still do. However, I’ve shifted my perspective. Now, I see that every role and project is bigger than me. I no longer seek personal praise; instead, I aim to serve the art. My purpose is to reveal the story of the character I’m portraying, to give life to their experience. Of course, I still bring my skills and creativity to each project, but my focus is on the character’s needs, not mine. Read more>>