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.

Jennifer Hussein

I started my baking business a couple of months before the Covid pandemic happened. It’s not something you can see coming, factor into your expected business success, and I felt completely at a loss when we went into lockdown. Any large gathering, party, event, or even meet-up was canceled. We didn’t know how long this would go on for. We didn’t know if it would change. We didn’t know if the business would stay afloat. At that point, we didn’t know anything other than figuring out how to pivot to stay afloat. As a baker and a nurse at heart, I knew the importance of keeping everything clean. We pivoted to selling individually wrapped items and supplying local coffee shops that were offering curbside/contactless pick-up while keeping the dream of getting back to large cakes and event tables alive. Read more>>

Benda Comb

One of the most unexpected and difficult challenges I faced in my business was related to a trusted friend and assistant who had worked alongside me for over five years. Our relationship went back to 1999, so I felt comfortable entrusting her with important tasks. Regrettably, the situation took a turn when she betrayed that trust. I had sent her funds specifically for a trademark application, only to later discover that she never filed the application. When I attempted to reach out to her for clarification, she completely cut off communication and disappeared from my life, effectively “ghosting” me. Read more>>

Farah ‘firefly’ Mitha

One of the most unexpected challenges I’ve faced in my creative journey was realizing how long it could take to truly understand who I am as an artist and develop a strong sense of identity and confidence. When I started, I genuinely thought this would happen overnight. I believed that talent alone could be enough to carry me, and I didn’t anticipate the amount of internal work, self-reflection, and growth that needed to happen first. Read more>>

Milisent Saav

The most challenging obstacles weren’t artistic—they were the unexpected turns life threw my way. Navigating divorce, illness, and loss while building my business tested me in ways I never imagined. Each hardship forced me to reframe my perspective, viewing these challenges not as setbacks but as opportunities for growth. I learned to hold myself accountable, give myself grace, and move forward as a victor, not a victim. Read more>>

Kelly Meiners, Phd

Prior to becoming disabled by COVID in October of 2021, I was not on a creative path nor did I consider myself creative. I had successfully practiced in Kansas City as a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer since 1999, completed my PhD and subsequently began a career in Physical Therapy academia teaching and researching. I attained a leadership position as Chair of the Physical Therapy and Exercise Science Department at Rockhurst University in 2020. I was previously very healthy and exercised daily and ran marathons. A mild COVID infection in 2021 left me with multi organ damage and physically and cognitively disabled. I spent over a year completely bedridden, unable to talk, walk or handle basic stimulus such as light or sound. Now over 3 years later, I’m still homebound and move within my home using a power wheelchair and require a caregiver to help with day to day needs. Read more>>

Louise Goffin

I think for me, the most unexpected problems that occur stem from not understanding the best use of time. There’s a constant push and pull between needing to connect with people and be visible, but also conserving your energy and focus so you have the agency to do things for yourself in a way that elevates your work. Read more>>