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.

Homebody MN

When I started building Homebody MN, I realized that I had never seen the phrase “trans-owned business”. That quickly became a central part of our identity. Read more>>

Juliana Rosero

Hi, My name is Juliana Rosero, and I serve SouthFlorida as Juliana Rosero Photography. As a mother of two and with 11 years of working for Corporate America. Read more>>

Terry Guido

Barbering became so popular, and one thing that started to happen is rich business people starting barbershops instead of actual barbers. Read more>>

Chelsea McBee

When I started my little boutique skin spa, Wholelistic Esthetics, in 2018 I knew I wanted to avoid conventional/mainstream ideology and products. Read more>>

Brynne Henderson

I believe we live in a world where many companies want to get things done “fast” and focus on quantity. While i understand the efficiency and growth in that, I felt it was important to make each event feel custom and important. Read more>>

Shauna Brown

The cornerstones of Teach for the Culture, LLC, include; authenticity, community, culture, and JOY. These 4 elements are inherent in all of our programming and are built-in to the very essence of everything that we do! Read more>>

Leah Morrett

Most comic book stores are run by white, middle aged men and cater to that demographic. I grew up enjoying comics and going with my dad to pick up his weeklies, but stopped when I hit puberty and began feeling very unwelcome in these spaces. Read more>>

Mathilda Tennysdotter

Being in the celebrity talent space working with marketing celebrities, most representatives get caught on the money part. Though the paycheck is a huge part of the business, both for the celebrity and the representative what I learned as a different approach is the importance of the relationship with my client. Read more>>

Melissa Carpenter

One of the primary motivations for starting Weddings by MLC was to forge unforgettable personal experiences with a deep level of care and consideration. Read more>>

Nicole & Sheila Hulsey

Three years ago, we founded Gemini Group with a mission to transform the landscape of social media management and influencer relations, moving away from the industry’s stereotypes and standards. Read more>>

Brittany Kinoshita

I try to be different than the industry standards by creating a product people haven’t seen before. I try to carry flowers that people want to ask questions about and want to learn more about. Read more>>

Tiffany H

Our journey began with a deep understanding of the struggles families face when dealing with sensitive skin issues. As a mom navigating these challenges firsthand, I know the frustration and guilt that can come with feeling like you can’t find the right solution for your child. Read more>>

Zeke Freeman

At the Root Team we provide both architecture and real estate services. We pride ourselves on our unique approach that diverges from the industry standard. Read more>>

Nelson Rith

As the proud owner of Denver Pro Pet Sitting, I’ve always believed that pet care should exceed expectations. In an industry where mediocrity often prevails, our journey has been about setting a higher standard – one pet sitter at a time. Read more>>

Karima Gulick

The legal industry is a very conservative industry and most attorneys do not want to deviate much from the norm. For Intellectual Property (IP) specifically, we have taken a wholesome and different approach than most other firms. Read more>>

Madeleine Strasburg

Unlike mainstream financial coaches and advisors, who often focus on leveraging debt, acquiring loans, and managing credit, my approach significantly differs by emphasizing debt avoidance and fostering a comprehensive understanding of personal finance. Read more>>

Linda Shirley

We differ from other daycares (early childhood education centres) and most other educational models because we believe that the arts play a huge role in successful learning. Read more>>

Glam Up

The industry standard focuses majorly on bridal in Nashville. Glam Up takes pride in all the unique and personalized services we offer. We focus on the live culture, tourism, and bachelorette scene in Music City. Read more>>

Jennifer Waller

My industry, the “beauty biz” can be summed up in four words: smoke, mirrors, (white) lies and hope. The industry standard is: Make a woman feel shame about what she looks like, magnify every flaw and then sell her something to fix it (hopefully without breaking the bank). Read more>>

Elizabeth Welborn

My passion for the intersection of design, business and sustainability has guided me since the inception of my brand. Supporting the development and advancement of sustainable textiles and practices and fostering opportunities for craftsmen and artisans are foundations of Stick & Ball. Read more>>

Jasmine Somers

My brand is built around standing out from the industry standard. In today’s photography industry, most photographers are after the newest and most technologically-forward camera lenses to create images as close to perfection as they can get. Read more>>

Melissa Heuser

Coffee really means community. Our shop serves premium ingredients and dozens of local products. Unlike the industry giants who are looking for margins and mass produced ingredients. Read more>>

Steve Westenra

Working independently in a creative industry is its own beast. I think there’s this very pristine quality that we attribute to artistic industries, whether that’s visual art, film and television, or literature. Read more>>

Mireya Fouche

“This is a space of intention. It’s my first time here and I can feel it.” These were the words from a warm-hearted individual who attended the launch of Monarch Luxe, our 300 SqFt eclectic luxe boutique created inside of our 4,000 Sq Ft retail store. Read more>>

Adam Taubenfligel

Customers have come to expect stretch in their jeans. What this means is that every pair of stretch jeans that have ever existed, to date, have been made from crude oil based plastic fibers. Read more>>

Aeryn O’Halloran

Well, for starters, I take my clients seriously. It’s disturbing how many people get dismissed and even gaslit by doctors who don’t understand the conditions that I help with. Read more>>

Jessica Walsh

At &Walsh, when we on-board our clients for branding work, we take them through a “brand therapy” phase to help them discover their brand personality and voice. Read more>>

Anthony and Christina Johnson

Covid 19 changed many aspects of the publishing industry. Bookstore closures, supply chain interruptions, and the masses of people working from home, influenced how people prioritize their time, finances, and overall well-being. Read more>>

Samera Sharpe

At Quick Tip LLC, we differentiate ourselves from the industry standard by providing concierge service and guiding our clients through every step of their process. Read more>>

Meredith Brace

Our flexibility and knowledge of the area sets us apart. We want our customers to feel that they have choices, even after they have booked a specific tour, depending on their passions and interests. Read more>>

Chantal Branscomb

Not always, but often times in the Dance world it’s common for teachers to use negative reinforcement when instructing. To be critical of the students’ bodies, intelligence, and natural abilities. Read more>>

Chesco Sanchez

One of the aspects we cherish most about Panamera, and a key differentiator from the industry standard, is our deep-rooted belief in the power of storytelling and personalized branding strategies. Read more>>

Melinda Wilder and Maggie Wilder

As a small, independent organic market garden, we employ many production methods that differ significantly from large organic farming operations. Read more>>

Sabrina K. Garba

As a strategic communications firm focused on global and cross-cultural communications, our team spends a lot of our time turning culturally conscious data and sentiments into strategies, initiatives, and messages that address critical communications, engagement, and societal challenges. Read more>>

Susan L Petrella

I’ve had a very ecletic career and have varied interests (art, fashion, design, beauty, tech etc.), and with my Aquarian vision, sounds hokey but I see things differently so I bring that uniqueness to my founders, small business clients… Read more>>

Sharlyssa Duncan

Ooh, most definitely. I am constantly trying to be different than the “big dogs.” We foster an environment for our team to feel safe and transparent. Read more>>

Titeanya Rodríguez

My brand WOMXNOGRAPHY ENTERTAINMENT and all our divisions do everything different. For starters not only are we women of color owned and operated (with many of us also being queer), we ensure that the representation that’s reflected within our organizations also is reflected in the stories and brands we work with. Read more>>