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.

Brad Daniels

When we started Exuvium Records, it was fueled by the excitement of sharing music we loved with the world and creating a home for cinematic electronic music. I did not foresee the vast amount of legal and accounting work that my future held, and these less-than-exciting parts of the business turned into a massive time sink. Hours of research, figuring out contracts, trying and failing to automate royalty payments – it wasn’t the way I had hoped to spend my time running a record label. I felt like I was in over my head – I knew music and promotion, not law and finance. Read more>>

Michelle Cannon

After completing two summers with the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory in 2000 and 2001, I was determined to pursue acting professionally. However, my migraines became chronic, and the best treatment option at the time was a medication that caused memory problems. I could no longer memorize scripts. Read more>>

Kayra Theodore

As my community online started to grow, I’d find myself in spaces amongst people at the level where I want my art to reach. When I’d cross paths with celebrities, casting directors and other creatives, they would tell me how they’ve come across my page and love how unique the art in the hair is. I realized that there is a disconnect because if everyone loves and has seen my work, then I’d internally question why it hasn’t translated to being hired to do hair for red carpet events, or on screen projects and things in that realm. And on top of that, when I’d be hired to model for projects, many times the hairstylists don’t know how to work with textured hair. So there is a need for what I do, but when do I get to be included in those spaces? I would love to exist on a project beyond someones moodboard and I’m trying to navigate bridging that gap. Read more>>

C.J. Julianus

Unexpected problems/issues are always waiting in escrow when you are doing anything creative, and those issues increase exponentially when you have large groups of people that are associated with your project. There is a real reason to keep your footprint as small as you can, and working with folks that you not only trust, but who can get their jobs/responsibilities accomplished with a minimum of heartburn. Resolving issues often comes down to your interpersonal skills, combined with inevitable Sysiphean efforts to make your project run as smoothly as possible. And there’s a reason I mention Sisyphus. Read more>>