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.

GiGi Diaz

The coaching industry is a new a fast growing field. Most coaches who are serious about pursuing this path get their ICF Certification so they’re in alignment with the best and most ethical ways of coaching and so their training puts them ahead of the rest by getting the proven coaching tools for maximum transformation in their clients. Read more>>

Melly Sponselee

What we are doing differently…. ~ We are a woman owned and operated company. ~ We are CO green certified. That means specifically that we are a paperless distribution and sales company ~ We deliver everything exclusively by 100% electric vehicle. ~ The brands we work with have to be local and health conscious. ~ We place emphasis on supporting brands that are woman owned and operated. Read more>>

Maria Huntoon

Many people don’t know that a dog trainer and a behavior consultant are actually different positions – they are different types of certifications and different levels of experience. What I do as a behavior consultant is offer a holistic approach to addressing your dog’s behavior concerns by looking at all the factors that affect a dog’s behavior and working there at the root to affect change from the inside out. There are always reasons why a dog is doing what he is doing. Read more>>

Bonnie Cohen-Greenberg

All our Learning Specialists (tutors) at BCG Learning Specialists have a minimum of a Master’s degree. We pay significantly more to hire the best professionals available to meet every student’s needs. Since we are not a franchise, all the tuition we collect goes directly toward helping each student. BCG customizes each student’s curriculum based on his or hers needs, with special consideration for psychological, speech and language, occupational therapists’ evaluations, school reports, teacher recommendations, and most of all, input from parents and students. Read more>>

Beth Crain

Generosity is at the heart of BEYOND Studios. We are intentionally generous with our clients, our employees, and our community. One thing we do that is unique in the boutique fitness world is our annual employee profit share program. Each December, we pay out a portion of the company’s profits from that year. This program encourages loyalty and teamwork throughout the year. Last year, the profit share pool was over $10,000 and we look forward to wathing that grow as the business continues to grow & expand! Read more>>

Christina Blodgett

I have chosen to view my business through lenses of sustainability. There’s this idea out there that flowers are “green” and the industry is as well. This is far from the truth. When I started my business, I wanted to assess all of the places where I could cut out single-use plastics. I also wanted to dive into the local flower community in Arizona. I truly feel the industry as a whole has been driven too far in the direction of convenience! We are out of balance! As a business owner in this industry, it is partly my responsibility to respect the Earth. I am selling a natural product. Read more>>

Ashley Mitchell

The Yellow Morning isn’t just another vintage shop, it’s a curated fashion journey. What makes us stand out from other vintage boutiques is that our clothes are organized into a color scheme and collection, based on each piece. A lot of vintage shops organize their inventory based on the style or era, instead we carefully curate our clothes to compliment each other within the collection they best fit. You’re currently able to shop four different collections, each offering their own color palette and unique style. This gives the customer a whole new experience when shopping secondhand and vintage. Read more>>

Melissa Kim Corter

Yes, there are three things that stand out to answer this question: 1. I do not compare myself to others in the field; otherwise, I’m hinging my potential success or failures on someone else’s vision. 2. I trust my instinct and have honed my intuition. This has served me to avoid many mistakes and quickly get back on my feet when things have not gone as expected. Business is not surface level and sometimes you will make a move or decision that baffles people…but works out because you went with your gut and not the norm. Read more>>

Mallory Gemlo

What I think sets me apart from other design businesses as well as some artists, is that I reuse and repurpose most of my items. Whether it’s thrifted décor for weddings or items I find on a hike that incorporate into my art, I try my best to give new life to old objects. The event industry, especially the wedding industry can be extremely wasteful with one time use items that some just toss after only ten hours of use. I do my best to buy back items after each event to use over and over again. Read more>>

Wilonda Previlon

When I first started social media back in 2012, I think one thing I did that really set me apart was love on myself unapologetically. Being a darkskin woman, there were so many unhealthy habits we did both consciously and subconsciously. Too scared to wear bright colors, using filters that made up look shades lighter, bleaching our skin (cultural), feeling lesser than, and how dare us have an ounce of confidence. So I think young dark-skinned woman were drawn to the confidence I oozed via my social media platforms. Read more>>

Taylor Stonack

The social media landscape is changing. Gone are the days of the perfect flat lay and sharing photos. With the boom of TikTok and Instagram Reels, vertical video is the way to get ahead. I’ve had to shift my offerings and added a 2-hour in-person session where we work to create your vertical video for the month in one sitting! I’m talking Stories, Reels, TikTok Video! We record as much as time allows and we take care of all the editing afterward too. Read more>>

C. Nathaniel Brown

The media and entertainment industries have historically gotten a negative rap. In many cases, that hatred was justified as both industries have been known to eat people alive. I’ve witnessed it on all levels in the media where I’ve seen people’s lives ruined for ratings or to sell newspapers. I’ve seen in it the entertainment industry where people’s intellectual property has been stolen right from under them or they were manipulated and abused for position. Read more>>

Vikita Poindexter

We are a a Certified Management and Human Resources Consulting firm committed to providing the total Human Resources infrastructure your business needs to succeed in today’s complex work environment. With over three decades of experience, our team understands the intricacies of labor law, workers compensation claims, Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), sexual harassment training and prevention, EEOC complaints and compliance, training and development, conflict resolution, discrimination claims, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employee benefits, recruiting and so much more. The rules and regulations governing human resources change constantly. Read more>>

Abner Jackson III

Try to be different and stay in my lane. I cover a plethora of things and topics on my website. I like to give my audience a variety of things to see. Most people have one niche, I have more than one. Read more>>

Sara Drehobl

There are a lot of mixed schools of thought on what an “industry standard” is in real estate. I think what makes me stand out from other Agents is my ability to connect with people at a heart level and really understand what they are trying to accomplish. There are times I will receive a call about a divorce before the other member of the marriage even knows, there have been births, deaths and everything in between. Read more>>