Doing things your way is one of the best parts of being your own boss and when done right seems to be highly correlated with outsized success. So, we wanted to gather real-world examples to shed more light on how the best artists, entrepreneurs and leaders differentiate themselves from others in their respective industries.

Sarah Hrudka Behlke

Whether I am speaking on behalf of my photography business, linyage or Velvet Raptor, all of my brands have always done things different than the norm. Read more>>

Kathleen Reeder

I’ve been a full-time photographer since 2015 and I’m thankful to have had a successful career in corporate America before making the leap into full-time photography. Read more>>

Heather Myers

Boy was I awkward when I first started out in television news. That is why rookie reporters get their start in small markets. We make all of our mistakes and work our way up. Read more>>

Samia Grand-Pierre

I think authenticity is always top of mind whether in my work in marketing of with what we do at snobette. Being part of a culture like streetwear that became mainstream has given us a unique advantage. Read more>>

Kim Hunter

As a chef and former restauranteur, my mission is for food to serve as a medium for love and connection. Inherent to this mission is the practice of sourcing the best quality, sustainable ingredients that are grown in a manner that gives back to the soil and nourishes body and spirit. Read more>>

Phoenix Mendoza

The tattoo industry has changed tremendously in the eight years I’ve been working. A number of unsustainable new styles and fast fashion attitudes have emerged, leading to a decline in the quality of machines, materials, and art. Read more>>

Michelle Singer

No longer SEO. Digital search and authority built efficiently and with integrity will weather the constant changes. When meeting a new prospect or business connection, I still need to use the term “SEO” as a shared framework and starting point. Read more>> 

David Bailey

We diverge in many ways from industry standards. For Example: Swale drainage plans instead of sheet flow. No metal edging it doesn’t work well and cuts paws and feet. Read more>>

Claire Landgraf

By in large, the bridal industry’s focus as of late has been that of a “churn and burn” mentality…one bride out the door and another bride in. Read more>>

Erica Schlabach

Absolutely! I’m all about shaking things up in the beauty world with our passion for dry manicures and pedicures. While many nail salons and beauty brands offer manicures that are more generic and less specialized, we’ve honed in on the intricacies of the dry manicure technique, making clean, healthy cuticles into an art form. Read more>>

Suzanne Dayton

Over the past five years, the world underwent a profound transformation. I don’t need to explicitly mention the pivotal event that reshaped our lives and consumer habits, but it’s hard to ignore the impact of the 2020 pandemic, known as COVID. Read more>>

Maria Alcantara

I take candid portraits and images of people because I’m looking to connect with their personality, not how well they can pose for the camera. Read more>>

Jessica Bubb

With experience in both photography and painting, I’ve often found it challenging to decide which career path to pursue. Thankfully, I discovered Photoshop early on and began integrating it into my photography, blending elements of painting and photography so I didn’t have to pick just one. Read more>>

Laquitta Smith

At Pretty Quick Tax Service, i believe we differ from others im the industry because even though my team are their own boss we still rep the brand like a family unit when we come together to do things in the community! Read more>>

Holly Woods Tate

I am a hair colorist and I have a niche! So many people think stylists need to be able to do every type of color and style. I think it’s better to specialize in an area that you love and are amazing at doing! Read more>>

Samantha Savannah

In general, there is a lot of waste in the event industry. Trends come and go in the blink of an eye and a lot of people are so focused on getting their aesthetic “just right” that they purchase items that may fit the theme but have no practical use after the event has occurred. Read more>>

Cowbird Creative

As a small business, we’re nimble and able to create truly custom work for our clients. Our goal is to help our clients illustrate what makes them totally unique in each of their industries. Read more>>

Elizabeth Rodbell

I have founded and currently run two businesses one for profit: Pilates by Beth and one nonprofit: Pilates for a Purpose. Pilates by Beth has grown via word of mouth and client referrals. Read more>>

Adriana Mariella

Harridan–meaning bossy belligerent woman–is built on the notion of defying the industry standard. We do this in 3 main ways: redefining what vodka can be with a sippable, flavorful profile; Read more>>

Samareign Hassan

33Fusion© achieved a monumental breakthrough and disrupted the retail industry by merging Fashion and Fine Arts. 33Fusion®, LLC’s business model is based on an innovative retail store, which is part boutique, part gallery, and part placemaking that offers visual and performing artists a space to showcase their talents. Read more>>

Sumedha Rai

As an AI researcher and data scientist, my journey has been defined by breaking stereotypes and transcending biases. For a long time, to the market, my unique selling point was being a financial data scientist. Read more>>

Ashlee Mattingly

As a business owner you are always looking for ways to stand out and to help people understand your mission. I learned years back that I had Fibromyalgia and Lupus and in learning about natural healing and holistic care, I learned there were other ways out there to heal the body/gut. Read more>>

Asia Clark

Asia Gabrielle Design takes creating beautiful spaces a step further. We craft environments that embody a profound sense of belonging, weaving together personal stories and cherished memories. Read more>>

Liz Scobee

My fiance and I have a private, in-home sushi dinner business where we are invited into people’s homes to make them a 14 course sushi omakase dinner for them and their guests. Read more>>