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.

Caroline Owusu-Ansah

Fashion is a big part of my DNA. The bath tool industry is very simple and has basic colors. We focus on fashion colors. Read more>>

Stephanie Pohlman

I think when people think of interior designers, they think we create spaces that are bold, pretty, and magazine worthy. Although we shoot for these things as well, we also want our spaces to be livable. We love to meet with our clients and find out how they use their space, how it can be better for their family, and how we can create a space to be both beautiful and functional for their needs. At the end of the day, it’s our clients’ homes and we want them to love their space! Read more>>

Avner Ben-Natan

We design, manufacture, sell and fulfill in-house. This gives us a lot of control over the design, process, and quality. We wouldn’t have been able to do so without online channels like Etsy, Houzz, Wescover… that allow us to make most of our sales directly to costumers and interior designers. Read more>>

Jade Boyd

As a Business Minimalist, I believe that there are infinite ways that less can be better, but our modern society would tell us otherwise. “You need to create more content.” “You need to get more clients.” “You need to create more offers.” Read more>>

Maggie Rechkemmer

As a creative I think it’s easy to want to chase the trends and get pulled into doing what you deem as the norm and desired by clients. I’ve learned over the years that what makes photography beautiful isn’t the perfectly posed and curated images but deep connections between people and what they love. Take away the expensive dress, the golden sunset, every hair in its exact place – and what should still remain is the emotions we have with each other – especially within our families. Read more>>

Ashley Patino

We try and make pizza bones a place worth working at. It is run by everyone, and everyone gets credit for that. As tempting as a late night pizza shop model is, who am I going to ask to work there? I don’t want to work those hours. When I do the schedule, I think about everyone’s professional, and personal life. I stress to them that whatever happens outside of bones, is way more important than what happens inside of bones- and I don’t think that the classic capitalistic model considers or cares about that. Read more>>

Terpmongers

At Terpmongers we are solely obbsessed with quality and flavor. In the cannabis industry the large majority of mid to large size farms focus solely on the quantity of production. All we care about is the flavor and quality. Read more>>

 Janine Jarman

In the hair industry, th word perm has a negative connotation and majority of stylist refuse to do them. For the past 20 year we have just accepted that this was the best we could get. I challenged that narrative and the product itself. It took me 7 years to develop Curl Cult, a healthier, safer, more natural looking option. I noticed the concerns were consistent with every client; they wanted a solution for flat, frizzy hair and something that air dried and avoided hot tools. Read more>>

Melanie Espeland

My unique background with a mix of corporate and creative experiences across industries allows me a unique and informed perspective that’s differentiated from other coaches. Additionally, I have my own proprietary philosophies and frameworks under the Espeland Method that I’ve developed through my life experience, research, and observations from working with a multitude of high caliber professionals. Read more>>

Community Connections LLC

The Cultural Resource Management (CRM) industry is a very important industry for the growth and development of the U.S. The CRM industry helps save and manage any and all cultural resources that are found before and during development of any kind. Thousands upon thousands of archaeological resources are found per year and are saved or at least well-documented before other industries develop on the landscape. Read more>>

Donna Gonzalez

Quaint Culture 7 LLC focuses on having the least impact on Mother Earth. It is unsettling to see the amount of plastic used in the skincare industry. So we came up with a solution and focused on having our body butters on a non plastic jar so you can have the skin glow without the guilt. Our cardboard jars are made out of biodegradable coating on the outside, and lined with plant based wax that is fully compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable. We are most proud of this! Read more>>

Jay Horn

I don’t advocate drug use to attain fit physiques. The advocacy and glorification of bodybuilding drugs in the fitness world is a poisonous route. Many fitness influencers, bodybuilders and trainers glorify it simply by using these types of drugs themselves. In the event they are also trainers, they typically push these enhancements on their clients. It’s common. Read more>>

LaTanya Black

Mothers Against Community Gun Violence offers holistic trauma-informed healing and restoration services as a gun violence prevention modality. Prevention typically views as crisis work or community first responders. However, our approach to mental, physical, and spiritual support is prevention by providing support that helps de-escalate and prevent individuals from retaliating against another community member or human being. Read more>>

Jessica Walsh

At &Walsh, when we on-board our clients for branding work, we take them through a “brand therapy” phase to help them discover their brand personality and voice. This is accomplished through a combination of an onboarding process, stakeholder interviews, and workshops. The goal of these sessions is to help brands “find their weird.” We believe every brand has something unique about them, and that’s their most valuable asset. Read more>>

Bob Walsmith Jr.

I believe that I, and our team, understand that we are not salespeople, but we are in the relationship business and our job is to educate our clients about buying and selling their homes, which is the greatest asset that they will every own. Read more>>

Denise Hejna

As a hairstylist who also does empowerment coaching, I do things differently from the industry standard in several ways. Firstly, I incorporate coaching into my services, so it’s not just about hair but also about empowering my clients. This could involve providing guidance on personal or professional goals, building confidence, or working through personal challenges. Read more>>

Craig Camp

Troon Vineyard is Oregon’s only Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Certified® farm. We are one of thirteen Demeter Biodynamic® Certified wineries in Oregon and were the second winery in the world to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification. In 2022 we were nominated as “American Winery of the Year” by The Wine Enthusiast Magazine. We are dedicated to natural, chemical-free farming and winemaking. Read more>>

Gabriella Katia

We definitely do things differently by keeping ourselves a boutique production company. This lets us cater to our clients from start to finish with every detail in mind. Read more>>

Martha Moore

Yes, wellness-focused interior design. Read more>>

Britney Jones

I include God in everything I do. God is the reason I have the gift so using the gift for his glory is only right. Read more>>

Wylie McGraw

The self-help or “personal development” industry is a multibillion-dollar industry selling programs and services that revolve around hype, basic conceptual advice-giving, and linear programs and systems that separate the personal from the professional. In contrast, military special operations training is not based on these aspects; Read more>>

Daniel Montano

What we try to do differently is to ensure that the customer is getting exactly what they pay for. We want to see each of our clients exceed their expectations. Read more>>

Danielle O’Malley

I’ve recently been entering the more industry aspect of the art and illustration world. I’ve been learning all the things the Artist brain does not enjoy, like copyright law and licensing contracts. I’d say what I’ve done different is really try to ignore industry trends to create a style new and specific to me. I think it’s hard being an artist or illustrator, to want instant satisfaction with every piece and to go off on a tandem, following hallow trends or comparing yourself to other people’s success and work. Read more>>