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.

Mary Beth Evans

Yes, there is a bit of an explanation required for better understanding of what makes Calmr Dog Toys special.  Currently, animal behavior research and strategies are based on the 5 typical sensory systems of smell, vision, hearing, taste and touch.  However, there are actually 8 sensory systems, two of which directly impact behavior: the movement sense and the muscle sense.  These are the observable behaviors we see in our dogs when running, jumping, pulling and so on. Read more>>

Kamelia DeSoucey & Allyson McGovern

Our business model is very much based around individualizing our photography to each couple we serve. We feel that is important to be selective about the couples we choose to work with, so we make sure we “vibe” well with them and have a common goal of them enjoying their wedding day as much as possible. We don’t want wedding photos to be a chore you have to get through in order to be allowed to enjoy your wedding day. We want the photography to be something that adds to the fun of the day, without taking away focus from what’s truly important, the celebration of their love story. Read more>>

Jimi Harden

The business of hairdressing in the past 12/13 years has become more about the hairdresser and less about the client; I believe due to social media, instagram, facebook and so on. I’m determined to get back to the source of my industry, the client. It’s not only about how we make our clients look on the outside, more importantly it’s about how we make them feel on the inside. Developing relationships with clients is the key to our success in the salon. How we respond to the client will help determine our reputation as professional hairstylists and the future of my industry. Read more>>

Niecey Onley

I strive to produce and sell organically handcrafted ice cream and other sweet delicacies to our clients while remaining committed to introducing new flavors to satisfy their cravings. I take the input of my consumers to modify my menu and create new items. Read more>>

Deferred Dreams

Dreams are fragile. Especially those deferred for any period of time. So we tackle them sensibly, focusing effort on empowering dreamers in their pursuits. We dig into what existing priorities exist, and how we can best aid artists in achieving their music goals within a day-to-day platform. Read more>>

Tim McKenna

Over the years I always wanted to provide safer non toxic products for my clients, but I worked at a Salon that didn’t use them. There was always bleach powder dust and the smell of ammonia not to mention smoke from Keratin smoothing treatments swirling all around me and I didn’t want to work in that kind of environment. Read more>>

Natalie Topalian

There are two common threads we see in marketing: the use of shame and manipulation. Most sales tactics and sales copy are zeroed in on using shame and/or manipulation to convince folks to take the next action—whether it be to purchase a product, buy a course, schedule a discovery call, or even something as low stakes as following someone on Instagram. Read more>>

Cathy King

I take a sustainability approach to organizing to deliver peace and well being to women and their families. Sustainability starts with taking care of yourself and your environment. I work to ensure that with an aim to not buy more products to get yourself organized as I believe that we already own all that we need in our home to deliver home organization. Read more>>

Trista Gangestad

At Clever Cow Candle Co, we pride ourselves on offering a clean burning candle so everyone can enjoy a candle without worrying about soot, toxins, headaches or allergy issues. The candle industry is full of companies offering the cheapest versions, which are not safe, clean or healthy for anyone. I started making my own candles after a bad experience with a candle I had purchased, which left a black ring of soot on the ceiling of my home. When I saw the soot, I started researching what would cause that. Read more>>

Shelton Wilder

Every year around the holidays, I through a large client appreciation party called Wilder Winter Wonderland. It’s at a day camp in Brentwood that we rent out. We bring real snow in and set up a tubing hill, there’s face painting, balloon animals, and an inflatable obstacle course for the kids, and a variety of food vendors. This year, about 350 people came and we went through 900 slices of pizza! There is no marketing material at this party, it is purely a thank you for my clients. Read more>>

Annette Yates

Our beautiful studios are located in the South Mountain community of Phoenix, Arizona., an underserved community in Phoenix, AZ. We are unique in that we not only offer clients a welcoming atmosphere at our affordable studios, but we also offer marketing assistance for their classes and events. We rent space for private/group dance & fitness classes, choreographer’s rehearsals, group/private parties, model calls/fashion, talent show rehearsals, etc. Read more>>

Patter Gersuk

Yes: our ingredients are 100% whole food. There are so many energy bar companies but very, very few that are actually whole food. Brown rice crisps and protein powder are not whole food. The industry standard is to add “natural flavors”, stabilizers like tapioca starch, or guar gum, processing agents like soy lecithin, multiple sweeteners, and preservatives to make sure the shelf life is at least one year. Read more>>

Amanda Christine

Most female entrepreneur communities focus on growing a large number of members while we focus on the quality of relationships and the safety of the environment. In the same regard… most business coaches focus on helping their clients increase sales or traffic while I focus on helping my clients live a balanced CEO life that brings fulfillment, stirs passion, and provides a true sense of freedom. Yes, I coach on the importance of driving traffic and landing ideal clients, but… being a business owner is so much more than that. Read more>>

Aubrey Fletcher

I think what makes me different as an adventure elopement photographer is that I actually live in the location that I market to. There are so many “destination” elopement photographers that travel the country and the world. But I actually live in a destination location, Ouray, Colorado. Photographers from across the nation strive to shoot weddings and elopements right here in my backyard. Read more>>

Julia Van Arsdale

At Juwels & Co, we are proud to celebrate our collaboration with climate-positive diamonds. We believe that it is our responsibility as a luxury brand to prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing in all aspects of our business. That’s why we have partnered with a supplier of lab-grown diamonds that are not only of exceptional quality but also have a carbon-negative footprint. Read more>>

Darvincia Warren

What makes me stand out in my industry is my unique approach to helping consumers achieve financial freedom. Unlike many others in the industry who solely focus on making sales, I take an educational approach. I believe that providing consumers with all the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions is the key to success. Read more>>

Andi Hanson

One of my main missions as a Cosmetologist offering skin, nail, lash, brow, and body care is to go against the grain of the industry standard. The beauty industry has been filled with toxic messaging and ingredients for such a long time that it has become the norm to adhere to toxic standards. Until recently, certain brands have began to question the ingredient list and the messaging behind what we as professionals are offering to our clients. There is an unfortunate amount of “green washing” happening, which simply put, is saying a product or service is “organic,” “nontoxic,” “vegan,” etc. Read more>>

Leo Dunn & Matt Danitz

The driving factor in starting our own exteriors company was the poor industry standard in customer service. Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, we saw that the majority of companies do not prioritize the customer experience. We pride ourselves on communication and establishing trust between us and the customer. Our company motto is “Do What Is Expected, Then Do More”. A little effort goes a long way when working on someone’s home. We know it’s not always a fun experience, but we make every effort to relieve any anxiety or concerns as we provide a quality product. Read more>>

Brett Wilkins

I’ve found in my line of work, most musicians approach each performance with a planned set. Nothing wrong with that, because these sets are usually polished and played with accuracy. Even the big acts do it. As a person that enjoys listening to live music, I found there is a risk of it stale if you see the same musician performing the same set multiple times. Read more>>

Evan Harris

I believe that I strive to not define or enclose myself into a particular niche like I see many others do. That’s absolutely fine if there is a certain niche you prefer to be in, but I love to explore various styles in terms of not only angles but editing styles, too. I think the way someone edits and showcases their work gives audiences a preview as to who that artist is, their aesthetic, and so on. Read more>>

Ashley English

When it comes to Locs, I don’t believe there is an actual standard. If I’m being honest, Locs are not meant to meet any standard. With locs/dreads, whatever you want to call them, the whole point, the whole purpose is to embrace self and its natural form: without restrictions, without limits! I have seen people wear their locs many ways be it Microlocs, sister locs, comb coils, wick locs, Congo Locs, or traditional and I tell all of my customers the same thing: your journey, your way. Read more>>

Lauren Baughman

The travel blogging industry is very saturated, but there really is a place for everyone wanting to share their stories and unique points of view. I focus on hidden gems, primarily because they are what I’m most interested in finding when I travel, but also because I know just how helpful word of mouth is when it comes to sharing or promoting small businesses. One of the hidden gems I found while I was in Spain in 2022 is actually where I’m hosting my first yoga retreat later this year! Read more>>

Shana Maleeff

There are several factors that set us apart at FoodandFitnessPro. First is the frequency of sessions with our clients. Most dietitians see their patients/clients every 2-8 weeks. We understand that accountability is one of the key factors for success, so we make it a priority to meet with our clients every week not only for accountability, but to review the prior week, provide feedback and education, and set goals together with our client for the coming week. Second is a holistic approach. Read more>>

Emily Aarons

While I help coaches, healers, and leaders grow their business, what makes MY approach different is that I teach my clients how to harness the intelligence of their intuition. There are really incredible ways to receive answers from WITHIN and not just from a coach telling you so. That wisdom always yields powerful results. Read more>>

Bryan Abdallah

Most of my work is in the construction / building and design industry. I started off in the industry in bidding software sales, then as an analyst for aggregates, which led to manufacturer sales, and transitioned into marketing and building brand community. That’s over a 10 year period. I focused mainly on building the brand not only through the products the company was selling, but really showcasing the people using the products. Most building manufacturers focus so much on on their products and push and push products all the time that they forget about people. Read more>>

Shylabeth Taylor

One thing that I feel very passionately about it is working closely with other growers. Cut flower farming is a fast growing industry and I believe that it’s important to support one another instead of treat each other as the competition. When I’m contacted for an event, I often find myself reaching out to other flower growers to see what unique blooms they could add to the floral work. I’m constantly bouncing ideas off of other growers and sharing tips about all aspects of the process. Read more>>

Monika Nielsen

Normal industry standard is to have his checklist to follow.- “If you haven’t worn something in a year, get rid of it” or “Everyone needs a proper white button up shirt in their wardrobe”. I disagree!! What is I don’t like white button downs? What if I have pieces I wear very rarely, but love? Not everything in your closet needs to be functional. There. I said it. Read more>>