Deviating from industry norms is one of the most common characteristics we’ve seen among highly successful brands and professionals and so we’ve asked some brilliant folks to give us real life examples of how they do things differently from the industry standard.

Laurence Sevy.

I believe in a connection between physical spaces and personal wellbeing. With Quietly, I take a holistic approach to interiors. My goal is to create healthy environments that help you reach your inner quiet, and bring wellness within your walls. I like to take an evidence-based approach, and I collect research on how colours, materials, and finishes affect our blood pressure, stress levels, heart rate, etc. The spaces I design are simple, calming, and feature natural materials that age gracefully and support our physical and mental health. The air in our interiors is 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside, yet, we spend about 90% of our time indoors. Read more>>

Brisa Renteria

We walk away from a lot of opportunities that we come across. To achieve sales success, businesses must have the right systems and environment aligned. If they don’t, success is not likely to happen. Also, we believe in equipping companies with the skills they need to scale their businesses. Sales hiring is often a topic that’s not taught anywhere. Therefore, companies have to rely on outside help to help them find sales talent…but that doesn’t mean they’ll end up with the salesperson they need. Read more>>

Natalie Blanco

For Magic Helpers our All-Inclusive Airbnb Housekeeping company- we were the first ones in Austin to create the business we have. We decided to hyper-focus on Hotel-style cleaning, instead of the regular residential cleaning you can find for the masses. We went all out and niched-out to a very small market. This market eventually became bigger and bigger and we grew with it. We started implementing even more hotel-like qualities to our operation and business and started providing a very detailed set of services that has made us 100% different than anything out there. Read more>>

Romi Sunga

Our dance events are family-friendly, outdoors, and accessible to the public. This is very different from the industry standard where customers must be 18+ years old, go to a club or dance studio, and pay an entry fee. In addition, our events end at 10 PM compared to the average dance event that ends at 2 AM. Read more>>

Robin Evans

The whole concept of Chicks with Triggers is different from the industry standard. Every firearm class that I’ve ever been to was made to feel intimidating and like women didn’t belong. That simply had to change. I wanted something fresh and welcoming. The environment that I create for these women is extremely informal. They can just come as they are. We even listen to music from Rihanna, Beyoncé and Cardi B just to name a few. It helps set the “vibe” for the class. Read more>>

Piper “Posh” Barley

Being apart of a heavily saturated industry it can be hard to stand out. I always try to maintain a level of professionalism that can be respected and appreciated. I work hard to stay educated and aware of the new products and trends that are valuable addition to my business. Read more>>

Stephanie Heard

I think the thing I do differently from the new Industry standard is that I fell in love with what I do so I truly take pride in my work. I feel consistency is lacking in our industry so I strive to show up in good spirits with great skills every time, because customer service will always be a priority for my business. Also, I’m bringing back that old school beauty salon feeling where you and your stylist connected, you laughed, you gossiped and you networked Read more>>

Josh Butcher

Graduating from college (Full Sail University) with a degree in recording arts meant I was sure to land a job at a high-paying studio somewhere right out of school and never worry about money again… This was a reality I learned was very much not true. Making money as a musician or audio professional of any kind can be very difficult and stressful to the point where most give up and get a “REAL” job after struggling to make ends meet for so long; especially with a huge student debt payment looming over my head. Read more>>

Kayla Watson

My main goal with the living room sesh is to create an environment for artist where they can truly be themselves. The entire set, visuals, camera angles, and edits are designed to fit the artist aesthetic to the tea to give their fans and new found fans an inside look on who they are and what they represent. Read more>>

Carlos Kelly

We actually care about our community that we do business in unlike these major corporations, or means isn’t to just make a lot of money to make me rich. It’s about building up people in these communities so they can have more resources to also contribute to their community. Read more>>

Kristie Barrett

My ultimate goal is to help other small businesses get a web presence. Most small businesses are faced with the daunting task of creating their own website or hiring a company that costs thousands of dollars. At BloomiDesign we are passionate about helping business get an amazing, and affordable website. Read more>>

Abby McLain Moore

Anyone involved in the wedding industry, in any capacity, knows that it can be an intense, high-stakes and high-cost arena. In the last decade, photography has climbed the ladder and taken residence as a top priority for many couples when planning their day. In my – albeit, biased – opinion, wedding photographers have one of the most important jobs in this industry. For many couples, when the day is over, the only tangible items that remain from their wedding are their photos. Photos are physical memories that can be passed down for infinite generations to come, even when those in the photos are no longer there to share them. Read more>>

Coleman Whitaker

A Real Estate Sell or Purchase is one of life’s biggest financial decisions. Presto Real Estate was launched with an uncompromising mission is to provide the highest level of service to our clients, while saving them thousands of dollars! Presto provides Home sellers & purchasers with an efficient, technology based option to Sell or Purchase Real Estate, with our products: Presto 1% Listing™, Presto 2% Listing™, & Presto Cash Offers™. Read more>>

Leslie Ellis

At Meaningful Change Consulting, we have learned over our 13+ years of supporting complex change initiatives with for-profit organizations, that there isn’t a one size fits all change management methodology or framework in our industry. There are some methods that are more comprehensive than others, more open to interpretation, and some intended for certain types of change but the truth is, the secret to being a great change practitioner isn’t the methodology or framework they use. Read more>>

Meliss Jakubovic

I like to look at business as a balance. For instance, are you bringing your feminine and masculine energy to the table? A healthy business has a healthy balance of both energies. I take a look at your business and together, we will identify your strengths and weaknesses. From there, we can assess which energy is lacking and what we need to inject into your business to create a well-rounded, lead generating system that will attract consistent clients and income. Read more>>

Morgan Nagle

Yes! For us, our focus is not only to deliver beautiful photos that our clients fall in love with, but also to make sure they are displaying these photos. So many photographers just deliver a digital gallery, and send clients on their way. We don’t want to put the responsibility on the client to figure out what to do with their photos and how to display them. That is part of our job. Read more>>

Michael Eckles

My team and I have worked in upscale restaurants for many years and with that comes a lot of frustration, anxiety and sleepless nights. Imagine working in a “Gordan Ramsey” type restaurant for 70 hours a week. For a lot of young cooks this is the lifestyle and the only way you can learn to cook great food. But here in Michigan we don’t have the same resources that New York or Chicago have to make great restaurants. So even the best spots in Michigan cannot compare with the standard of food that other cities have. Read more>>

Alexandria Phillips

When people think of physical therapy, the first thoughts are usually knee or hip replacements, back pain, post-op or post-injury, and balancing exercises. Amplify encourages investing in yourself. We educate people on placing importance on their health and wellness. We perform a FULL BODY analysis on every single new client, whether they originally came for a specific pain or just a wellness visit. We examine which parts of the body are tight and which parts are weak. Read more>>

Charmia Elam

MAUVE, is a Black Female-Owned Vintage & Luxury Lifestyle eBoutique. MAUVE offers both products as well as wardrobe/styling services from our in-house internationally certified fashion stylist, Charmia Elam who has over a decade of experience in the Fashion industry. MAUVE provides access to exclusive collaborations and timeless staples while offering wardrobe services from an individual who not only has work experience in the field, but collegiate educational experience as well. Read more>>

Aileen Mitchener

The field of organizing can often be a bit rigid and prescriptive at times. Our team shines when it comes to individualizing the process for our clients. Some clients do need a firm and well-outlined system; however, that system is uniquely tailored to each unique client. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach or that there is only one “right” way to do something. Read more>>

James Phelps.

I started doing photography, in 2007.. this was before the start of more social consciousness. I was working with Curvy and Plus sized models in ways that others hadn’t at the time. Proudly supporting the models I worked with who weren’t industry standard. I was a lone voice in this belief of showing all body types at this time, to the point agencies are telling me I have a great portfolio but the models need to be skinnier for me to be seen as a serious photographer. I never changed my belief, and that’s made my work viral in the plus model and body positive industry. Over a million followers on Facebook. Read more>>

LeeNor Dikel

My business helps women create their own businesses based on their passions. I help my clients with both business strategy as well as the important mindset work necessary to become a successful entrepreneur. In my program, I work with my clients to heal their limiting beliefs, their self doubt, their perfectionism and procrastination, and to learn the right motivation and goal strategies to create a successful business. I also help them figure out what kind of business they would like to start based on what they’re good at, passionate about, the current market demand, and what will provide them the lifestyle they are looking for. Read more>>

Samuel Fudge

I present the American black experience through perspectives that are less favorable in today’s industry. The messages I express through my work are raw, gritty, viciously honest and prevalent to contemporary black culture. This is what makes my work different. I don’t shy away from the truth, nor am I afraid of expressing it. Instead, I use the truth to inspire, educate and spread awareness. Generally, my work is intentional and serves as food for the black soul. The industry’s set priorities are completely different from what mines are. Read more>>

Mary Love

What’s in a name? For our team, it’s everything. Mach 1 is the speed of sound – and a metaphor for high speed in general – and this principle, along with efficiency, is what this group was founded on. I should note here that my business partner and our founder, Katherine McLane, is a PR legend – an actual PR legend. She helped navigate one of the most visible reputation crises in history during her time with Livestrong (formerly the Lance Armstrong Foundation). She’d also served for the governor of California and was a presidential appointee as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education. Read more>>

Carolyn Dumas

Established in 2018, Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge was the first mobile cigar lounge in NC, SC and Southern VA. The idea was birthed in 2015 by researching other mobile businesses and identifying a service that has not been provided in the past. Read more>>

Dana Klein

While most people refer to me as a photographer, I see myself more as ‘an artist with a camera’. I specialize in photographing children but not like the traditional portraits you are used to seeing. I’ve combined my experience as a fine artist with my love for photography to offer families one-of-a-kind portraits that whisper their child’s unique story. Read more>>