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.

Amanda Gayle

Absolutely! At Gayle Law Firm PLLC, I approach my practice from a community-centered, holistic lens by not just offering top-quality legal services, but also helping clients navigate how to build their brands, offering advice on marketing, brand name selection, encouraging them to apply for grants and even supporting them at their private launch events. Read more>>

Alicia Dakteris

Our brand is relatively new, only five years old, so it’s taken all these years to build a trusted brand name. We compete with top brands, some or most of them manufacture their products overseas to pay lower labor costs. For me, it is important to have our bags and accessories handmade in the USA, paying fair salaries and using quality leather that will last forever. We would rather offer higher quality than lower costs. Read more>>

Bethany Walter

One of the biggest things I have done differently from other photographers is to limit the number of weddings I take. Years ago, I thought being a successful photographer meant working as any weddings as possible and working a double to triple wedding weekend. Since then, I’ve learned that working the number of weddings I want to work is a much better gauge of how successful I am. Read more>>

Erin Rich

Here at VIBE, we value building self confidence and the ability to believe in yourself while growing and progressing in the dance industry. In doing so, we believe this truly helps us to support others and every other aspect in our lives. In an industry that gets critiqued and performance is sometimes just based on others’ opinions, we believe that self confidence is such a valuable trait to focus on. So many life lessons are taught alongside of technique and skills and having an emphasis on the core values is one we really strive to work on here. Read more>>

Rich Moyer

In 2017, the idea of opening a bar was pitched to me. Without hesitation, I said, ‘no chance” and hung up the phone. Shortly after hanging up, I was sent a video that showcased self-pour technology that allowed customers to pour as little as 1/10 of an ounce up to an entire glass of beer, wine or cocktails. Since that day Hoppin’ set out to revolutionize the bar industry with our high-tech self-pour taproom by eliminating long lines, slow service and increasing profitability. Read more>>

Jordan Spring

With many business the standard is just the basic outline of the rules. In the reptile industry the basic standards for many are purchasing, selling, and probably keeping. Although our small business, Green swamp Exotics,LLC does this, we do go above that. We trap nonnative and invasive species, Removing them from the wild. We educate the public on native, nonativr, and even the venomous snakes and how to live with them. Read more>>

Portia Kohls

The photography industry is rapidly growing and due to this fast-paced growth, there is a lot of competition to be a successful photographer. Photography includes many hours of increasing your skills, learning the trends, finding ways to stand out, marketing, editing, etc. And like every good business owner, you want your income to outweigh your total costs (explicit and implicit). Sadly, I think this causes a large part of the corporate world to lose the art of photography as it has become strictly business in order to get the top dollar. Read more>>

Danielle Portis

I started Simply Homemade Catering in 2017 after I had my second child. As a caterer my business model is not like most catering companies. I try to stay away from big catering events like weddings. My focus is to assist families in maintaining a healthy work-life balance by providing homemade meals from scratch delivered to their home; Read more>>

Nycole Mason

Yes, there is definitely something that I do differently in my industry. Most people when they think of beauty supply store they think of the traditional brick and mortar store. No one thinks of an online beauty supply store that offers delivery to their customers. And that is exactly what I do. My beauty supply store is online and offers same day delivery 7 days a week to the Portland Metro area. I also offer worldwide shipping. Read more>>

Kim McRee

We are furniture manufacturer that has been building for retail stores for over 60 years. Two years ago we started an online brand called Mantle Furniture. Now we sell directly to consumers so they are buying a quality piece of furniture directly from our factory. Read more>>

Crystal Apel

With Traveling Hands Massage Therapy, we bring the massage to you! With blended techniques from relaxation and clinical modalities client can expect to find muscle tension/knot release in a more relaxing way. Those who feel uncomfortable going into the office can now reap the benefits in their own home. We bring all supplies to you; all you have to do is book and then sit and wait! Read more>>

Luis Chumpitaz

For over 10 years, we have continually invested in people and services to advance the capabilities of home renovation and repair environments. As a result, we’ve become one of the most diverse small businesses in Washington and Maryland, with businesses across the construction, renovation and maintenance & repairs. Together we are driven to create better homes for future communities. Read more>>

Julia Galbate

When I opened my first hair salon at 21 years old I knew I could create a different experience as an owner than what we were all taught was normal in the hair industry. I have always been someone that wanted to make a difference even if I knew I might fail. The hardest part about doing something different than the industry standard is you have no one to base your business model off of, it is all trial and error and everything falls on you. Read more>>

Kelly Martinez

In a world where trends come and go, permanent jewelry stands as a testament to enduring elegance and timeless style. From soldered closed bracelets to necklaces and anklets, these exquisite pieces redefine the notion of jewelry by seamlessly blending sophistication with convenience. In this article, we delve into the captivating world of permanent jewelry and explore the unique offerings of the Permanent Jewelry Club, where enthusiasts gather to celebrate this art form. Read more>>

Casey Vanac

Our mantra at The Sweat Box is “Come as you are”. It is a top priority that every single person that steps foot into my studio feels this the moment they walk through our doors. The fitness industry can be really really scary and intimidating. We’re not about this. My trainers aren’t going to work you so hard that you’re throwing up. We’re not going to tell you that you need to lose weight, or make you step on a scale every week. Read more>>

Jaclyn Fischer

When my hobby suddenly became my career 15+ years ago, I wanted to make sure that I would always love what I do and be able to continuously share that with my clients. As I continued to grow, I really honed in my craft and all the processes that go into shooting a session, editing a session, and delivering a fantastic gallery to my clients. This created much streamlining to make the second half quick and proficient. Read more>>

Kellan Bartosch

WISEACRE was zigging when others were zagging back when we opened in 2013. At the time and still somewhat today, craft beer has been defined by big beers – IPAs, Barleywine’s, Stouts, etc – but WISEACRE’s first beer was a 129 calorie light lager in Tiny Bomb Pilsner. These days more craft brewers are making the harder to execute styles of lagers, but making it our calling card from the start has differentiated us. Read more>>

Leah Culley

One thing that Sweet Almond does differently is that we pride ourselves on creating a high quality product that consistently delivers on taste and texture. One common thing you often here from people who have had macarons before is that they don’t like them because they are crumbly, dry, and lack flavor. But then they taste Sweet Almond and their minds are changed. The macaron industry has highly processed macarons. The focus is less on quality and more on volume. At Sweet Almond, we prioritize quality over quantity. Read more>>

Adnan Sakib

In my view, two pillars underpin our success in the rapidly changing digital era: innovative thinking and adaptability. It is no longer enough for us to follow the same worn paths and worn-out formulas. In order to make a significant impact in today’s hyper-competitive landscape, we must consistently push the boundaries of creativity and dare to think beyond the conventional. No one client is the same and a cookie cutter approach to creating content will not suffice in every case. Read more>>

Lindsay Ashley

Being a small business, it’s obvious that my production process is going to look a lot different from that of a larger stationery company or printing press; it’s the same for any small business/maker. One thing that I’ve done differently from other small stationery businesses, though, is producing every product in-house. Read more>>

Greg Dempsey

It’s so funny to call my self a wedding photographer. I shoot weddings all through the year and I still find my self not being able to really believe it. It’s probably because I know other wedding photographers who pour their time into marketing, posting on social media regularly, their analytics, etc. and I just don’t have the energy for that, Read more>>

Keisha Hall

I would say in my small business that I separate myself and standout, because my clients are not a number, but a person. I allow my clients to have one on one services therefore they have my undivided attention and skills. I set a high standard for my brand and services and nothing less is acceptable. Read more>>

Sandy Barajas

Luludew Diaper Service prides itself on its unique approach to diaper services, setting itself apart from the industry standard in several ways. One of the key aspects that differentiates Luludew is its commitment to environmental sustainability. Read more>>

Tiffany Nutt

Since I specialize in elopements and small weddings, I cater to a specific niche and provide an intimate experience for couples who prefer a more personal and secluded celebration. This focus allows a more personalized and tailored service compared to larger, more conventional wedding venues. It’s a refreshing departure from the traditional notion of traditional weddings and offers a more authentic and meaningful experience for couples who don’t want the big wedding. Read more>>

Courtney Marino

I think there’s a certain ideation that comes to mind when you think of wedding planning, or weddings in general. Personally, it always made me think of fancy dresses, 3-piece suits & white roses. While all those things can absolutely represent a certain style of wedding, it doesn’t necessarily define it. When I got married in 2019, I realized how much tradition was expected of me, and, being part of the queer community, how difficult it was to make sense of the overall “etiquette” when it came to planning. Read more>>

Jaci Wilson

As a holistic run coach, I focus on what I call “ALL THE THINGS. – strength training, nutrition, life stress, sleep, recovery, mobility, mindset, etc., alongside the running training. When I first started running and felt awful after finishing my first half marathon, I made some big changes with my training. Strength training and good nutrition made a huge difference in how running felt AND in my performance over the course of a couple months. Read more>>