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.

Mallory Wehrung

After making the hard decision to become an independent hairstylist, one of my first concerns was wondering if I would ever teach again. After 15 years with one company and over 13 of those being in some form of education, I was feeling grief for a big part of my identity in the beauty industry. Covid changed so much about our salon life, but it also halted education for a significant period of time. Read more>>

Emma Rodger

As a brand strategist and designer, I talk with many business owners who want to feel set apart in their industry. And rightly so — as entrepreneurs, we’re constantly keeping up with technology, the latest trends, or our competitors, and it can feel like everyone’s swimming in a sea of same-ness. In today’s fast-paced digital world, I’ve noticed that the standard is having branding or a website that simply looks nice. Read more>>

Carolina Massote

Yes, there is. Because of the huge instability in this industry both in Brazil and in the US, I learned how to get my income from other types of work. Of course, nothing fulfills me as writing does, but I also realized that I can make a steady income as a translator and as an English teacher. Read more>>

Mara Lucas

In the theatre industry, there isn’t a precedent for the training you should receive before working as a swing. But the role is incredibly nuanced and can pose major safety hazards if not done correctly. Read more>>

Regina Larko

When we look at podcasting industry standards we see a couple of trending themes: how to make the podcast production sound good, how to create engaging content, how to grow and monetise the show. My approach is to add on the – in my experience – most important layer in the podcast creation process. I look at the podcast creators. I acknowledge and help them overcome doubts if they have important things to say or if anyone would listen. Read more>>

David Haddad

Fumar Cigars was born in the 1995 cigar boom as a solution to the Luxury Resort/High End Golf club needs for cigars and a service to provide them a consistent and dependable program, using the best in class of PREMIUM cigars, with a custom humidor and on consignment on premise service. Previously, I had spent 20 yrs in the hospitality industry in concept development, resort operations and private ownership. Read more>>

Iris Showalter

It is humbling and rewarding at the same time to provide a service most women do not even know exist. I connect with each of my clients. I speak to them about what makes them insecure and why, and often we connect with other things outside of the service. I value integrity by continuously evolving and maintaining my signature “naturalism” style, always remaining passionate and authentic with every service, which always leaves the client leaving happy and thrilled with the results. Read more>>

Lorena Sauer

I distinguish myself through my remarkable ability to intuitively understand and cater to the unique needs and lifestyles of each client. Unlike many other interior designers who might be driven by current trends and personal preferences, I take a client-centric approach. My expertise lies in perceiving the way clients live, their habits, routines, and individual preferences, and translating these insights into spaces that truly resonate with them. Read more>>

John Rich

One of the things that sets Watashi No Dojo apart from most other schools is that when you walk into our dojo you will notice a lack of colored belts in our school. That is because we have a two-color belt system ; white and black! We have a 10 kyu (rank below black belt) promotional system like many other schools that helps us to see our progress, but we don’t use colored belts to physically show our rank. Read more>>

Damion & Natalie Rivera & Brin

At best of Washington we aren’t just foodies we cover a wide variety of things to do on our account such as food but many other things like activities, adventures, places to hike and visit. Museums. Events, concerts, boating, camping, festivals, things in and out of the cities, group activities, fun things for friends and family and many other things, we aren’t just foodies like a lot of what you’ll find people focusing on, we are a hub of ideas and things to experience around Washington state no matter where you are we have content for your area, the group post content on a daily basis and highlights our experiences with local businesses. Read more>>

Ilona Rennert

Charcuterie businesses have become very popular over the past few years and it’s not difficult to find someone to order a charcuterie board or grazing table from. So one of the ways we differentiate ourselves has been by focusing on the overall customer experience; how can we alleviate some of the stresses of putting together an event or the aftermath of one. One way Bits & Bites has done this is by providing staffing before, during and after the event. Read more>>

Courtney Cole

I started Courtney Bakes with an intention to bring inclusivity to the world of baking. As someone who suffers from many food intolerances myself, I understand how hard it can be to find not only something delicious that has been catered to my dietary needs but a place where I AND my kids (who do not have intolerances) can go and get something together. Read more>>

Kate Gardiner

Grey Horse rejects the “pit bull publicist” stereotypes that are rampant in the industry about firms that fiercely protect their perceived territory and growl and occasionally nip at other communications professionals and journalists. We are in an unprecedented era of job cuts in the media industry, and Grey Horse is sensitive to the fact that journalists and communications professionals are doing their best to elevate important ideas and stories in a harsh climate. Read more>>

Emma G. Heikkila

There are so many reasons why my food is different among other food trucks. I make most of my food from scratch, I Read more>>

Dana Hicks

Being a farmer-florist in the floral industry in itself is very different from the industry standard. Read more>>

Nate Beavers

I have an appointment only shop in the Heights. I have another artist named Sedelah that works with me as well. We keep the tattoo experience free from interruptions to give the best experience possible to the clients. No distractions abd a very chill vibe. Read more>>

Kiera Jesslyn

The lines of industry standard are honestly quite blurred in the photography world. Read more>>

Dwinita Mosby Tyler

The Equity Project is an equity, inclusion and diversity consulting firm and we work all over the U.S. Unlike larger organizations and their standards, we tend to meet participants where they are, recognizing there are many points of view and experiences with this topic area. We do our work in rural America and urban centers. We touch lives in large international organizations and small, mission-driven organizations. Read more>>

Mauryell Smith El

At Vessel Spring Water we put what’s best for our customer over our cost of production. At the end of the day Vessel would be making killer profits if we switched over to using plastic bottles but we would also be killing the endocrine system of our customers as well. Plastic chemical BPA makes the human endocrine system become deficient. Read more>>

Chanel Rhodes

Mane Tresse has proudly broken away from the traditional norms of the industry to introduce a revolutionary approach to providing horses with stunning and easy-to-install synthetic wigs. My business’ commitment to offering a unique experience to horse owners sets us apart in several significant ways: Read more>>

Loy Hernandez

I am very detailed oriented and often called a perfectionist, I personally train our staff to make sure that units are 100% impecable before the guest stays in the property. I pay attention to every single detail, from impeccable linens, to karate chopped decorative pillows to enhance my sofas and beds, to paying close attention to what my guests needs and expectations are. Read more>>

DeShawn Wynn

Technological advancements are a wonderful thing. We have all enjoyed the convenience of doing things with the click of a button. However, in many ways that convenience has come at a cost. I sometimes feel that customer service is a lost art. Our systems of click the button, check the box, download the app, has replaced the human connection part of customer service. The focus has turned to being faster. Read more>>

Kerri Voelker

Mission – We are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our clients by providing straight forward financial advice and education that is in their best interest. Read more>>

Gabriel Toma

At our establishment, we hold the belief that fostering genuine human connections is the cornerstone of our service, setting us apart from industry norms. While many businesses focus solely on providing products or services, we prioritize creating an authentic and memorable experience for our guests. Read more>>

Saya Hillman

Easier question to answer is “How are you similar to the industry standard?” Read more>>

Lawrencia Blount

I believe that every bride is unique and special and deserves to have a personalized shopping experience when they shop for their wedding dress. At Lawrencia Bridal Couture, I provide LA’s Best VIP Bridal Shopping Experience where brides get to enjoy the entire Bridal Suite to themselves and their guests as they shop for their gown and celebrate when they “Say Yes to the Dress!” Read more>>

Jess Moon

Mandy and I founded Shadow Spark Publishing from the perspective of being writers ourselves. Transparent contracts and business practices all aimed at helping each of our authors bring their works to the world was and remains extremely important to us. We are small but mighty. Read more>>

Cortney Goodman

Here at Curious Creations Macrame I only use 100% cotton cord that has been ethically sourced and recycled. Most of this cord comes from recycled clothing that would usually end up in a dump. In addition to using recycled cotton cord, I also keep all of my scraps and use them in other projects. My cats also get a great amount of enjoyment from playing with the scraps. Read more>>

Marlana Semenza

Back in 2020, when we all were plunged into captivity, many industries came to a grinding halt. Photography was one of them. (As you know…it’s kind of an in-person experience!). Read more>>

Sara Torpey

One of the things that was really difficult for me (and is difficult for so many small business owners) early in business was sales and selling. I struggled with asking for money, with talking about myself, with feeling like I was trying to talk people into what I had to offer as a coach and and a teacher when all I really wanted to do – all I’ve ever wanted to do – was be useful to them, and be of help. Read more>>

Blu Baker

What we do that makes us different from the industry standard is to create fun themed events that connect unique businesses with unique people. Our events are not centered around the “business side of business”. because we want to remind every business that works with us to “have fun” “Fun” is so important for us as business owners because it reduces stress, prevents “burn out”, boosts productivity, reminds us why we started, and the list goes on. As business owners we need that balance. Read more>>

Kati Cearley

Our brand focuses on hand making the cleanest bath and body care products possible with ingredients that are homegrown, locally sourced, organic and are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Palm Oils, Phthalates & Dyes! The industry standard for most businesses in our sector is to cut cost and labor to get as much product out to the masses and as cheap as possible, which is turn creates shelves upon shelves full of unethically made products, with single use packaging and are packed to the brim with fillers and other synthetic ingredients! Read more>>