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.

Daniela Furtado

We’re tremendously specialized – we are excellent at search engine marketing for the design and build industry. Since we only work with designers, we understand what many want so we’ve revolved our entire business to help them. Our services – how to structure, package, price, and deliver them – are tailored just for designers. Even who we hire on our team and how we delegate are tailored to designers. Read more>>

Holly Seidewand

I co-founded First Fill Spirits with my friend Charles Grabitzky about two years ago. We both spent over a decade working in the whisky and alcohol industry and knew where it was lacking the most: retail. Retail, in general, has been undergoing a transformation over the past 20 years, but it has remained relatively stagnant in the alcohol and liquor store world. Read more>>

Case Resor

Almost all transportation companies use a tactic called drip pricing. This is when they give you what seems to be a great quote, let’s say $500. But then they add a ton of fees including cancellation insurance, fuel surcharge, a booking fee and automatic gratuity. By the time everything is accounted for, your quote has practically doubled to $900. Here at Double Black, we can’t stand drip pricing and instead use straightforward pricing with no fees or add-ons. Read more>>

Sarah Russell

After years of working either in marketing agencies or with marketing agencies, I wanted to do something that broke the mold. In my mind, traditional agencies are a thing of the past, and I wanted to create a network that embraced new technologies, new work philosophies, and overall just a better relationship between service provider and client. Read more>>

Kiah Sweeney

In Influencer Marketing, most brands and influencer marketing reps go after the influencers with the highest following or *biggest celebrity name*, to showcase their products or services, resulting in unsuccessful deals and a lot of wasted money. How I approach Influencer Marketing: Read more>>

Nikki Macdonald

I am relentless in my focus on my client’s goals (not my own interest, not “most people’s goals”), and how I can help create a plan to achieve them. My clients entrust me with their hopes, dreams, fears, and I get a front row seat for the highs and lows — something I will never take for granted. I’ve been the first person couples have told their pregnancy news to (the best!), and also a first call when there’s a health situation that changes everything. Read more>>

Megan Wolter

My business model is based on Fear Free principles – which is to provide the lowest stress care and environment possible for any pets that I am working with. Larger companies are based on volume, where I keep my numbers low. Currently I keep a maximum of three family’s pets at one time. This allows me the time and space needed for each pet to have individualized attention. This would be impossible to do if I took on more dogs and opted to forgo my Fear Free principles. Read more>>

Jordyn Villarreal

One thing that separates me for many nail techs is focus on natural nail health and growth by offering Gel-X and Structured Manicures. Gel-X is a pre-shaped soft gel extension that is applied with an extension gel glue and cured with an led/uv light. Structured manicures is a soft gel overlay meant to help your natural nails with strength and structure in order to grow long Read more>>

Amy Cunningham

Even though we are in the nail industry, we differ by focusing on the male clientele. When I was previously married my husband at the time went with me while I received a pedicure, and one of the workers convinced him to get a pedicure as well. Although he enjoyed his service, the environment is what threw him off and he shot out an idea, saying there needs to be a place for the men so they can relax and enjoy themselves While getting the proper foot care. I agreed and now here I am five years into the business. Read more>>

Katara Banks

My brand takes a unique approach in the fashion industry by focusing on slow fashion principles. Unlike the prevalent fast fashion model, we prioritize sustainability, ethical production practices, and quality craftsmanship. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by designing timeless pieces that are made to last, rather than following the trend of disposable fashion. Read more>>

Teneal Ivery

We go above and beyond industry standards with how much time and care we put into out products. Often times when people think cotton candy they that old school pink and blue stuff. Well those aren’t really flavors and we are big on flavor so that let us to putting a modern spin on an old school treat. We flavor and color all of our sugars in house which allows us to achieve complex flavor profiles, like our Maple Bacon Cotton Candy with real bacon in it and our Orange Sorbet that taste just like a scoop of Orange Sorbet on a hot day. Read more>>

Maria Baldwin

I am the artist behind Resin Vibes by MB. I specialize in resin wave art, floral preservations and functional art. Being the artist, media manager, accountant, photographer and designer of my brand is what sets me aside from big corporate. I create one of a kind pieces for all my clients. From coasters, charcuterie boards, floral blocks, tables, earrings…etc they’re all unique! Nothing is replicated. Read more>>

Brittany Stephens

Cat’s Eye Graphics is a small, yet Mighty company of two individuals who have a passion for blending the future with the past. We adapt modern tools and techniques in our web development and graphic designs, along with a lot of old tricks. Read more>>

Jessica J Fox

To be 100% honest, it really hard as a florist for find information about how to price, run a business, and more. We mostly sign up to do creative stuff and then find out we have also signed up to run a real profitable business. When I started my business I found that there is not much of an “industry standard” anything in the floral world. We kinda just make it up and learn a bunch of different techniques and then choose what we like best. Read more>>

Kent King

I think the title of “strategist” comes with a certain desire to appear the smartest in the room, where as for me, I tend to enjoy making my clients feel and appear smarter than they anticipated. I consider myself as more of a translator in the sense that my role is to translate the “unknown” or hidden factors of digital branding and marketing into a game plan that is both easy to digest and duplicate. Read more>>

Lindsey Kear

My career has been in the creative field. Since I first started in fashion until now working in costumes TV & Features, I have experienced a lack of support in regards to navigating my career. Finding a mentor can be quite difficult for various reasons. I found myself coaching coworkers as well as seeking out advice for myself. Read more>>

Linda Bradley

About 80% of the cut flowers in the US market are imported. Generally, they come from South America and are shipped to Miami. In Miami, they are fumigated with pesticides and then distributed to wholesalers and other large distribution centers. From there, they make it to grocery stores and other outlets for public purchase. This means that the flowers are several days old by the time they are available and it means that the selection is limited to flowers that ship well. Read more>>

Sasha

When it comes to our business , our top priority is our tribe! We consider everyone who purchases a product or supports our events or business in anyway our family, they are our TRIBE. Unlike big business our goal is to continuously remind our tribe of their true inner power. Healing is a journey and it starts within, we use our candles to aide in that healing journey. Read more>>

Beth Wood

One of the main things we do a little differently than most gifting companies is offer personalization as well as branding on most of our gifting sites. We believe that customers will use products more if their name is featured on the product. We also believe that people love seeing their own names on things and that extra added touch to a gift makes it seem that much more special and unique. Read more>>

Mistura Adeyemi

I am a braider but I not your average braider. I am The Braids Doctor. I treat clients’ hair and scalp before their braids. I also educate them on their hair and help them achieve their hair goals. I do this because I saw a gap in the braiding world. I’ve been braiding for years and I noticed that a lot of people who wear braids did not have healthy hair. Read more>>

Alan Goodman

When I initially founded A Goodman’s Desserts, I studied the dessert industry and started down the path of opening a bakery. But I never really felt comfortable with running a brick and mortar business. From the overhead, health inspections to the need for employees, I learned from my corporate experience that I wouldn’t enjoy this business model. Read more>>

Will Arvin

We differentiate ourselves from the industry standard, reflecting the values we hold dear. One of the core principles we uphold is our unwavering commitment to maintaining complete control over our production processes. Unlike some bourbon distilleries, we have never outsourced any aspect of our production; from sourcing the grains and ingredients to distillation and bottling. Read more>>

Nick Salzman

For most tattoo artists we find ourself assisting many people during their milestones in life. Some get tattooed to commemorate an achievement, some to honor someone they love. Sometimes to help remember someone who they have lost along the way. To others it may be to help them celebrate their heritage or to just simply help someone feel comfortable in the skin they’re in. Read more>>

Kristen Powelson

There’s no question that someone could find a beaded watchband online with Amazon for cheaper. Small businesses, especially those hand making their final product, can’t compete with the Amazon’s of the world–nor should they! I know the materials, time and dedication that goes into each and every one of my products. My goal is to provide my customers with a unique and quality hand made product that they CAN’T get from Amazon. I also care about the packaging, presentation and experience my customers receive when they shop local with my shop. Read more>>

Kim Giovacco

My business is a tour company for vegan travelers. Too often when vegan travelers join a mainstream tour company, they will be told that there will be options for them, but the options are usually quite limited with no choice given, and the traveler is often singled out as vegan and therefore different from the rest of the group. On our tours, guests travel with like-minded people and no one feels that they are the odd one out, nor need to explain their dietary choices and lifestyle. Read more>>

Diana Keeler

We’re dedicated to going the extra mile in developing our clients and creating a supportive community within the entertainment industry. Our team has evolved from a production company to a management company and finally to a talent agency, while retaining the best elements from each stage. Our unique ability to handle various aspects of self-promotion in-house, such as headshots, websites, and reels, without any cost to our clients, sets us apart. Read more>>

Mai Alina

Since I was little…I want to say around the age of 10-12, I knew I wanted to impact the world differently. I knew that whatever i ended up doing in life, I wanted it to be meaningful. My business focuses on natural beauty, skin, and body products. Everything is handmade as well and I genuinely enjoy what I do. The goal I had, was to release products that were free from harsh chemicals and 100% natural/ vegan friendly. Read more>>

Rebecca Kindvall

I believe my faith in Christ is a huge part of the success and happiness in my business. I use my industry of beauty and PMU to also minister to the lost and hurting and I strive to be a sense of comfort and peace to my clients though the power of the Holy Spirit within me. Without His guidance, I really wouldn’t be where I am. Read more>>

Sharon (Shay) Newell

I am the backbone of my organization and I employ one person, my daughter. Everything I do comes from my heart and the amazing set of skills that I’ve accumulated over the years. For my press on nails, I wanted something that was more than a one-time order process (although I have that as well) so I created my monthly subscription process. Every subscriber gets two sets of nails a month with two application kits. Read more>>

Troy Gregory

I’ve come to realize in business every so often there is a new business structure that comes along that has the potential to change the mold. In journalism, it is not common that a platform gives the everyday man and woman a platform to share their story. Read more>>