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.

Jaimi Alexander

What I love about entrepreneurship most is the creative ability to make my offerings my own. Read more>>

Lisa Nieto

Realizing that every client in desiring to host a party has different needs and requests, ideas and surroundings to their line up of establishing the big day and gathering. NO matter how many guests attend or what the situation is, I am available to accommodate all the requests and needs they have in mind. I go above and beyond the level of offering what they are dreaming to happen. Read more>>

Daria Kruchinina

The beauty industry itself is indeed an intriguing and complex realm where there is no definitive “right” or “wrong” approach. It’s a dynamic field where both corporations and small businesses play a significant role in shaping the landscape. As the owner of KRUCHININA New York and someone deeply passionate about exploring beauty services worldwide, I’d like to shed light on a couple of significant distinctions that set my small business apart. Read more>>

Andrew Bernauer

So in the alcohol industry, the majority of brands are owned by multi-million or even billion dollar corporations that have endless capital to perform extensive marketing research, funding for huge product launches, national PR, and so on. Read more>>

David Trahan

Covering all digital mediums is almost par for the course these days. To maintain our position I run a networking website, a blog, a podcast, and a Youtube channel. But my company differs from others in that it implements these methods in the most personal way possible. There are many platforms available for bands. Read more>>

Vanessa Arochi

What sets us apart is our dedication to authenticity and our holistic approach to business. We are not just selling meals; we are sharing a piece of our heritage and building a movement that challenges the status quo. We stand as proof that a business can thrive on the principles of mutual support and community, especially in a world that sometimes feels like it’s lacking in both. Read more>>

Erin Fennell

Refined Boutique is a vintage home decor/design store in historic Smithville, Tennessee. Read more>>

Erin Fay

Well… within the industry of local photographers I’ve found everything is pretty much done the same way.. packages are pre purchased for each event and the photographers then shoot looking for the consumers who paid for “slots” to get some guaranteed photos….. Now this leaves a whole track of riders that don’t get guaranteed images…. Read more>>

Josie Garcia

Cocoon Art Space is an art gallery and artisan goods shop but is unlike any gallery you have ever experienced. Many contemporary galleries have a focus on 2D and 3D visual art, but Cocoon also includes handcrafted and low-volume artisan goods. Quite often, artisan goods are overlooked and considered “crafts” or completely discounted by galleries as unworthy of precious space. Read more>>

Cynthia Lee Chan

One of the main differences between Classical feng shui and other schools of feng shui is its ability to help on a very specific level. Using the 5-elemental theory, mathematical formulas, time cycles, compass readings, and your floorplan, I can help reduce situations that are unfavorable and boost up your effectiveness in creating favorable outcomes. Read more>>

Melissa Vogel

As a health and fitness professional, my approach diverges significantly from the industry standard, placing a primary emphasis on the often-neglected yet crucial element of mindset. While many trainers focus solely on physical training regimens and nutritional plans, I’ve dedicated my practice to instilling a fundamental understanding of the profound connection between mindset and achieving fitness goals. Read more>>

Christopher Drukker

Offer musicians in the industry a wide and solid level of service and experience, with the relatable understanding of the history and mechanics of being a creative individual Read more>>

Jodanna Knabe

I have seen the organizing industry change and grow a lot since I started almost 14 years ago, in January 2010. When I felt led to start my business, I was only able to find three organizers within an hour radius to Knoxville. Just a few years ago there were two organizers in my own neighborhood! I feel it safe to say that I was one of the pioneers of the Organizing industry here in Knoxville. Read more>>

Maxim Furek

As a paranormal researcher, I focus on science-based theories, not the boilerplate philosophies of the science fiction zealots. I consider myself a scientist, an academic, looking for the truth. Read more>>

Dominque Robbins

Something that we started that is a bit different from the industry is that we have developed a new mentorship program named AMP RISING STARS where I as an artist help artists in my area in rural Colorado build a foundation for themselves. The Internet of course is full of classes, tutorials and so on, but not a lot of people are able to use those or even understand what is being taught. Read more>>

J Marshall Schoonover

I am an innovator and pioneer in the field of real estate exam prep. I have made an important change in the usual way of teaching real estate exam prep! I have replaced the traditional way of teaching it with a new, different and improved way of teaching it! Read more>>

Katrina Urton

Being an esthetician and running a small business dyeing textiles puts me in the unique position to really curate the experience of my treatment room and the overall vibe of the service. When you come in for a facial I have you put on one of my hand dyed robes and that in itself I think elevates the service from a regular service to something more spa-like. Read more>>

Finnegan Shepard

We reinvented a fit system that actually works for AFAB, masc presenting people. Serving this community isn’t about merch or branding, it’s about product innovation. Read more>>

Nova Levante

The court system, as a whole, is very slow to change on most matters. Given this, many attorneys, myself included, were surprised when they transitioned to Zoom hearings during COVID – surprised, but pleased. It was a major step in modernizing the court and increasing its efficiency. At Leo Law, we understand that technology is the key to streamlining the legal process, and may well prove to be future of court hearings. Read more>>

Anthony Papastrat

Too often I leave the cinema, finish a show or wrap up my consumption of really any type of media and find myself wondering “when did entertainment stop being entertaining?” Perhaps it’s due to the advent of streaming and that so many projects are greenlit without even the slightest hint of a revision or constructive criticism, but all too often the general consensus is that we have more to watch than ever, but suffer paralysis not by analysis, but by lack of originality. Read more>>

Julia Evans

Buff City Soap stands out from its competitors through its strong emphasis on handmade, plant-based products and its connection with the local community. Through Buff City Soap’s unique franchised structure, each location in the system makes their product collection inside their local Soap Makery. This differentiator allows full transparency on the prouction process and ingredients used in each product. Read more>>

Jennifer Meers

Seeing the world is so important to me, and making sure others get to see it as well is something I’m quite passionate about. I think many travel agents would tell you they love to travel, but most do it all from a cabin on a large cruise ship. Ports of call for 4-6 hours is the bulk of travel they experience. Read more>>

Veralyn Wen

As a business owner and curator, a lot of my business practice comes from learning from my community and that’s not any different from others but in the sense of art and art theory, implementing ways for art to become viable career paths is super necessary for the future. I lean a lot into my friends and what they’re creating, I pay attention to art theory and philosophies that occur and reoccur. Read more>>

Rachel Ibrahim

The backbone of this country was built by the hands of small business owners and I think it’s imperative that small businesses have the same opportunity of brand exposure and digital presence as large corporate organizations, despite their budget. I started Sleepy Mango by first focusing on helping small businesses grow their brand through digital and traditional marketing. I then realized there was a disconnect between outdated websites, old school logos, or even business owners finding the time to manage all the platforms that they could possibly be on. Read more>>

Victoria Ivy Embers

In life, we’re often told that we need to choose one career path and stick to it. Growing up, I was constantly shut down when I spoke up about wanting to pursue more than one thing in the future. Oftentimes, many people who choose to pursue their creative hobbies don’t pursue an education or a more typical career path and visa versa. Read more>>