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.

Christina Smiley

Selfie museums are a fast growing business in America right now. Something that we do differently from others in the industry is offer intimate date nights on our beautiful rooftop. It definitely sets us apart from other businesses like ours. Also, our space is smaller than most other Selfie places which we wanted it to be a more intimate setting and not to feel overwhelmed with so many selfie rooms. It’s about the memories you create with the people you love. The pictures you take are just a bonus. We also designed it more like a “selfie art gallery”. Read more>>

Aqeel Hasan

The Enterprise Theater is a television network & multimedia streaming app available for download on Roku, Apple, & Android devices. When creators partner with us they are able to maintain 100% of their rights. It is our goal to partner with creators that are driven and determined to have their content televised and are interested in monetizing off of the content. Our core goal is to empower the independent creators to enable them to create more content. I am a filmmaker as well built this platform for myself and others like me. Read more>>

Markee Farrant

We truly believe in offering the most unique and highest quality photo booth experience that is memorable and a great guest experience, for your event or wedding day. We offer this unique experience with our selection of photo booths that range from Volkswagen buses, Shasta camper, to a vintage tricycle. Read more>>

Mariah Chang

Yes, I love to differentiate Rayne Desserts outside of the industry standard. Baking is a science and there are so many different ways to elevate the cakes and desserts in the baking process to make them stand out. A lot of the time when you attend a wedding or a special event, you can tell that the cake is dry and wonder how long ago it was actually baked. At Rayne Desserts, I always make sure to bake all of my cakes and desserts as fresh as possible, and never freeze them. Read more>>

Jessica Lyttle Nutt

Lash extensions get a bad wrap because although they aren’t necessarily bad for eyelashes, they can be if they’re improperly applied and maintained. My main focus is to ensure that I am preserving my clients’ natural lash health so they can safely and comfortably wear their extensions long-term. I customize every set of lashes down to the weight, length, and density of each individual extension, so every client’s extensions are unique to them, adjustable, and can be worn for years. Read more>>

Brian Ngo

Yes. If I can sum it up in one word, it is “quality”. My business focuses on the quality of the end product itself, but on the quality of customer service as well. Let me explain. I’m sure that many of us have experienced a somewhat good haircut, but after a week of growth or worse right after the shower, you realize that the haircut wasn’t done right after all…You painfully discover uneven length of hair around your head…You hair doesn’t seem to lay right and doesn’t look right either…The staff was super nice. The decor and atmosphere were fantastic. But the haircut was scheisse….. Read more>>

Ryan Olson

I feel like what sets me apart from my competitors is how I treat my clients and build relationships. Building relationships with my clients is one of the main things I focus on when recording or meeting someone new. The better relationship I have with someone, the better I understand their goals and what they want to achieve with me. I try to treat them like family! Making music is much more personal than many other services so I want my clients to feel comfortable and open to making the best music possible. Read more>>

Erica Payne

I do not define myself and my business by the subject I shoot, I define it by style. I don’t want to be labeled and placed in the standard boxes society has chosen for photographers. Why a person is choosing to get photographed at that time in their life is definitely important. However, choosing a photographer based upon the fact they have photographed people for similar reasons is not enough. Just because a photographer has photographed 15 other graduates doesn’t mean they are the right fit for you. Read more>>

Stacia Familo-Hopek

There are several ways that The Lost Druid is different than the industry standard. The first and most evident way is that the brewery is 100% woman-owned. Despite women being the original brewers several hundred years ago, women make up a very small percentage of staff in today’s craft breweries, with even fewer being owners. Second, The Lost Druid is a taproom focused brewery. This means that we distribute a very small percentage of our beer to retail establishments like restaurants and bars. Read more>>

Carroll VanHook-Weaver

Kenect Phoenix is breaking barriers left and right when it comes to the future of multi family housing. Since 2010 this concept has been researched and developed by Rajen Shastri, owner/founder/CEO of Akara Partners, LLC which has their own management company of Akara Property Management, LLC. Kenect is a product of APM and is an all-in-one social club apartment community with onsite coworking offices, short term housing floors, customer furnished floor plans and mixed use retail. Read more>>

Sydney Goldberg

My packages have really evolved over the years to fit the needs of my changing clients. One that I am particularly proud of and excited about, which is very different from the industry norm, is my ‘Hands Off, Party On’ package which allows couples to step completely out of the wedding planning process and just enjoy the period of being engaged. They get to share with me their style, their wants for the day, their priorities, etc. but after that, they take a back seat. Everything from the venue to the place cards is designed and taken care of for them and they just get to show up and enjoy the ride. Read more>>

Vanessa Jordan

I always have prided myself to take the time to learn a skill and hone in on it. I am in a constant state of learning which I feel sets me apart from others. Also whenever I work with clients I always do my best to really listen and understand what they need. Sometimes it may not even be something I offer which is totally ok! I’ll then steer them in the right direction to someone who can do that. Often professionals try to convince any client to go with them. Sometimes the best thing to do is to let them go so they can get what they really want. Read more>>

Ashkan Mapar

Everything. The world of finance, and more specifically Investment Management, is one that is built off of tradition. There is usually little innovation relative to other industries such as tech, healthcare, etc. Being a younger portfolio manager compared to the rest of my peers, I try to shake things up daily and look at investing differently than how the majority do which you can catch a glimpse of on our strategy page at alumnicapital.com. Read more>>

Joanna Ahmadian

Something that Glow Aesthetics does differently than our industry standard, is that we are a full function medical spa – that also includes other professionals in the salon business. We are located in Carrollwood, which is a suburban area of Tampa. Over the past few years of business, I realized that our area would prefer to have a “one stop shop”. Upon our growth and build out process, we created a building layout that accommodated our medical spa and also rooms for hair dressers, permanent make up artists, and lash artists. We also including space for a full service Blow out bar. This format, being different from others, has really helped excel our business and provide our patients with full service under one roof. Read more>>

Brandon Vee Burroughs

The music industry is a very large place, and with so much talent out there, I believe what I give to my listeners is introspection reflection and joy. I think it’s important to get back to, simple human emotions. Post COVID, people are, a little unraveled. We’ve spent time away from family, and have endured death, isolation, financial stress and uncertainty. I feel like my music, give a comfort, a knowing that it will be ok, because transformation is part of life. Read more>>

Karina Garate

I don’t sell houses or properties. I help people to create a new lifestyle, creating more memories with their love ones and to create additional income purchasing a vacation home. The best way to maintain the relationship, it’s keeping the service managing their property and giving them peace of mind. Read more>>

Garrett Taylor

I think people think “I want to be a successful photographer, I have to buy expensive equipment” and I just don’t see it. Will a full-frame mirrorless camera with an expensive Sony Glassmaster lens make your photo’s better? Certainly, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t understand framing and technique. I shoot with a Canon 70D… it’s an old, cropped-sensor, “cheap” camera, but I have 36×48 fine art prints hanging up that look as crisp as one taken from a Sony A7 riii. Read more>>

Coty Dolan

Our Philosophy at Dolan Capital is simple, Our Investors come first. Our thought is, If you are trusting us to grow your hard-earned money, that is what you deserve. *Now I know that is what all private equity firms claim right? but is it ever actually the case? High & hidden fees, low equity splits, no or low preferred returns, AND! they keep you locked in their deals no matter what…If you have invested as an LP before this may sound all too familiar.* Read more>>

Catherine Kristynik

Let’s face it, your eye care journey has probably had one of two experiences: Either you walk into a stiff, cold medical optometry office to get a routine eye exam and find yourself counting down the minutes to your escape, or, you walk into an optometry boutique with fun lights and soft music making you feel like you’re the special guest they’ve been waiting for. Read more>>

Howard Berk

Ellijay Mushrooms is working with Kennesaw State University (KSU) Mycology department Chris Cornelison, Ph.D. and Kyle Gabriel, Ph.D. to help us use the Agricultural waste i.e Cottonseed hulls, peanut waste, Corn Chaff , Cotton gin trash and turn it into a suitable mushroom growing substrate. We are currently setting up our log making facilities as we speak. Read more>>

Nikk Nguyen

As an artist, I’m not sure I believe in perfection. What makes art good or bad? What’s the difference between a snapshot, and an image worthy of hanging on your wall, or selling at a gallery? What makes a photo perfect? I take at least one photo every single day — a habit that started years ago when I picked up my first $100 point-and-shoot camera, long before I fell in love with wedding photography and made it my career. Read more>>

Britney Miller

Quite honestly, I truly love food. I really think about the customer’s experience every time I cater an event. I like to give my customer’s an experience with food that they haven’t had before. Sure, they can get a charcuterie board or mac n cheese from a myriad of places, but I like to take to the next level in order to make it gourmet. How the food taste is imperative, but I also love making the food look beautiful. Everything is made from scratch and with fresh ingredients every time a cater an event. Read more>>

Barbara Abel

Most traditional media training is focused on fitting in, how to communicate the “right” way. I don’t believe there is one right way. My methodology is built on how to stand out and communicate in the way that best serves you and provides value to your audience. Read more>>

Karen Cerboni

I approach my business a bit differently than I think most do. For me, starting my company is a second career after spending thirty five years in corporate America. Because of that, while of course I want to be successful and profitable, I am less focused on growth and more focused on my passion and providing my clients with a very personal elevated experience. I am personally involved in the design, planning and coordination of every wedding. To do that, I limit the number of clients I accept each year. Read more>>

Cindy Chang.

Have you ever been doing something random – like driving to the grocery store, or daydreaming in the shower – and you see something that inspires you… and before you know it, you have all these creative juices and ideas flowering inside your brain? Those moments of total ease – when you are just being YOURSELF and letting your mind roam free – those are really moments of magic. Read more>>

Nick “Nez” Nesbitt

There are a lot of good instructors out there, but the one who have real world experience and are teaching to serve others as a way to help them become more capable instead of teaching for profit or ego are the best. I use real world experience and give options that work and solve problems. I don’t teach the way, I teach a way. My mission statement is to train the everyday citizen to win the fight for their life, to train every officer to become more capable in their daily duties to protect and serve, and to reteach society to protect and preserve human life! Read more>>