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.

Kari Spencer

The Great American Seed Up has always been a big experiment. In 2015, we established a festival bustling with gardeners and filled with more than 100 varieties of seeds ready to literally be scooped up and taken home for planting or saving. With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, seed companies saw a sharp and sudden increase in demand. Gardeners, especially those who were new to growing food, were dismayed to discover that the seeds they needed were in short supply. Unexpectedly high demand pushed fulfillment operations past capacity. Read more>>

Jennifer Hawkins

I am so excited to be in our 10 year Anniversary thanks to the city of Arlington in Texas, and all the dance families that know we are true to our word when we say we will help your dancer grow at a rapid pace. I think some of our unexpected problems are not watching the clock… Before you know it you are at the end of your lease and having to make that decision of what is best, what is a risk that should be taken, or just settle. We never settled, we get tired of moving but you never know what is better or worse unless you try it. Read more>>

Leora Cowart

Most businesses faced challenges due to Covid 19, but the world of childcare was hit tremendously hard. I thought I was closing my childcare business for two weeks, but I was forced to permanently close my center due to lack of funding. I was completely devastated! I have been an educator for more than fifteen years and there is nothing I’m more passionate about than educating young minds, I understand a great educational foundation can change the direction of a person life. I wanted to quit, but I took time to reevaluate my business plan, educational values, work life balance and stresses. I decided to reopen my center but as a family home center. Read more>>

Shelby Mattingly

Inside the Orchestra was certainly not alone as an arts organization faced with severe challenges throughout the COVID pandemic. But we definitely faced unique challenges as an organization that historically provided large scale, immersive and interactive programs for young children (frequently below vaccination age). From the very start, it was clear that business was not going to be as usual for us for a very long time. First to close, last to open. However, it was clear from the moment we started canceling programming in March 2020 that “going dark” could not be the answer for us. Read more>>

Ricardo Trillos

It is not surprise that every business owner was affected during covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately Cao Chocolates was not exception. We quicky realized our retail location was going to be affected for stay home mandates and one of the ways we found to make it work was creating “quarantine boxes” we either deliver or ship surprise chocolate boxes to our clients that could not visit us. We had schedule two large 3 day events the weekend when the pandemic started and both were cancelled. We had lots of merchandise and no walking traffic so we decided to package those items into quarantine boxes and promote them online and started selling as much we could. It was the first success! Read more>>

Damondray Christle

So in the process of creating a film there is a lot of work that must be done to get the job done. Overall having the idea of a film is a beautiful thing but, some time the process can be hectic. In the midst of shooting a film the pandemic was taking place. So you know there are certain procedures that had to be done to even shoot specific days for a film that I am still in the process of creating. So if I can go back a tad bit, So before even shooting the film everything was smooth sailing getting the story board together building the crew and cast everything was perfect. Read more>>

Georgia Tournai

The hair industry can be considered one of the most unstable, elusive and demanding, yet fluid, multifaceted, and innovative careers – a lot of it having to do with the type of work you do and what you specialize in, what your work environment looks and feels like, and the location in which you work. Simply put, statistics especially in this current social climate indicate that 80% of salons fail within the first 2 years of opening. We as creatives have to put on multiple hats in order to be able to afford the lifestyle that we want to have – which is creating art and being able to live through our passions. Read more>>

Camille Kesler

The most unexpected problems that I have experienced in owning my cupcake shop has been the supply pipeline issues and hiring. Ever since the start of the pandemic, when we reopened after being closed for two months, we have had repeated issues getting our supplies that we need. Across-the-board all of the costs have gone up exponentially. It’s been very difficult but we’ve maintained most of our pricing levels so that we have not had to pass most of those increases on to customers. I really want people to still be able to enjoy our yummy cupcakes and sweet treats without feeling the pinch of inflation. Read more>>

David Fisher

First my brother and mentor died 4 months after we opened the company. I fully resolved the issue by educating myself from being an aircraft mechanic into an aircraft sales person with relatively no one to turn to for advice. Then there is 9/11 that really impacted the economy and aviation … coupled with the great recession in where aircraft dropped in value up to 60% making many obsolete. One of the biggest impacts on my business is the advent of the fractional ownership companies such as NetJets who not only were selling fractional shares to customers that would normally purchase an entire aircraft. Read more>>

Cheryl Tall

Learning how to run a business. Dealing with customers. Keeping records. Creating publicity and using social media Studio upkeep and maintenance. Storage space for and organization of available work. Prospecting for future exhibitions and art events. Creating and maintaining a teaching program. Creating and maintaining an inventory and collector’s database. Building relationships with other artists, collectors, art institutions, galleries, city art programs, guilds and leagues. Finding time and inspiration to make new and cutting edge art, You can tell that being an artist is a full time job! Read more>>

Melanie May

Super Sonic Spreads, formerly known as That’s My Jam, (Jams & Jellies inspired by music) faced a tremendous problem over the 2020 holiday season and it had nothing to do with the pandemic, also known as the “pan-dammit” around here. While the “pan-dammit” served up it’s own course of bitter challenges, the 2020 holiday season was proving to be one of the best yet for our little artisan jam business. We were expanding Nationally at a rate we could barely keep up with. In the midst of the frenzied orders, supply chain issues, & shipping delays caused by an unprecedented influx of online shoppers, we were served a cease and desist. Read more>>

Brooke Page-Thompson

I took over my yoga studio in July of 2019. We already had a great community built under the previous ownership, now it was time to grow it! Oh the work that went into the next 7 months…community classes, marketing, teaching 7-9 classes a week, partnering with community business owners and local businesses…we were growing and it was all working! I come from a consulting background, and in hindsight, having that probably is one of the key reasons what was about to happen next didn’t take us under. Read more>>

Sara Miles

The Covid19 pandemic was a wildly unexpected problem to deal with as a business owner and service provider who was working daily in person with clients and their pets inside of client homes! Once everything started to shut down and no one was going out or inviting people in to their homes, I had to pivot my business to stay afloat. I turned my focus to coaching people through training tasks and behavior modification protocols via Zoom. It was a bit rocky at first as I figured out the best ways to share materials and demo things I could previously do in-person with the dog. But it was the best thing I could have ever done for my business. Read more>>

Myra Harris

June 9, 2020 would forever change my life – that was the day I was diagnosed with Stage 2B – Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (Breast Cancer, which spread from my breast to one lymph node). I had to undergo 8 rounds of chemotherapy (to include 3 different chemotherapy medicines), 4 surgeries and 30 rounds of radiation treatments. During this time, I was confined to the house, as my immune system was weak and Coronavirus was in full force. However, I was still baking and cooking, as much as my body/energy would allow. I was even preparing meals for seniors and donating desserts to non-profit organizations. Read more>>

Brian Lohman

I think one of the hardest issues and unexpected problems to face businesses in the last 100 years is Covid. Each business evolves each year and to be successful you have to project, pivot, and scale. In 2021 I decided to scale my business up and open a second Gunsmith shop in Old Town Spring Texas. One of the hardest things to do is scale up and with Covid it has been a real challenge. Covid has caused supply disruptions, customer disruptions, inflation, and uncertainty. With supply disruption you have to project and plan for things you need to run your business. Read more>>