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.

Rachal Montgomery

Often in the photography industry there are businesses that offer less in terms of quantity for the price they set a session. For example, someone can charge over $200 but as a client you don’t recieve much materials back or you’d be upcharged for more. My philosphy is this, these pictures are my client’s memories… who am I to hold onto those memories and not share ALL of them to my client (aside from blurry photos). Instead, my business approach is to give my clients all their memories (photos) digitally and printed. They will recieve a flash drive with all original and edited photos as well as printed pictures of their edits. I value giving clients a great deal for the price they pay! Does it add more work for me, sure, but anything you love and are passionate about requires effort and work. I’ve been a photographer for 11 years now and I have enjoyed meeting new people and being inducted into so many families for my down to earth personality. So as far as being different from the photography industry I would sum it up to say I value people over the money. Read more>>

Colette Francel

My mission in my business is to create an environment that says “welcome to my living room” The studio is quite large and I am fortunate enough to be able to work by myself. Being that I’m the only stylist in there it provides an environment for people to openly share their celebrations, their disappointments and sadness in life without any disturbance from anybody else listening or making comments about what they’ve said, not too many stylist have that availability . My services include a comprehensive two page consultation, which I acquired from my masters degree a few years ago with Vivienne Makinder in New York. It was an intensive year long training and absolutely no stylist in my area conduct this fantastic consultation! Read more>>

Lindsay Theken

Ethical manufacturing. In the headwear industry, I’d venture to say many companies source manufacturing overseas and mass produce their gear. HeadPeace is different because we support an amazing company in Nepal who’s passion is to help the most marginalized in society to fresh starts and fulfilled lives. Trafficking and slavery is a huge problem in Nepal and India, and Purnaa strives to make the world a better place. They do so by offering a great job environment that is free from discrimination and abuse, paying above living wages, and offering education and scholarships for adults and their families. HeadPeace is honored to be a part of this amazing mission. Read more>>

Kiden Smith

With my extensive experience in photography, I have frequently encountered the pursuit of perfection. Although this topic may seem over-discussed, it remains relevant until a serious shift occurs. I deeply admire artists who emphasize imperfections and the authentic nuances of the human form, as I have always been drawn to this approach. I do not find beauty in perfection; I believe our flaws shape our identities. I focus on highlighting elements that are often edited out or removed from images. Additionally, I utilize mixed media to bring out different subjects in my work. Read more>>

Brianna Bellamy

Crumbl cookies offer a lot of options however they don’t offer Vegan options , I have a permanent Vegan option list available on my Instagram and it can be requested on my website to give inclusiveness to those with allergies and dietary restrictions. Read more>>

Alan Lewinger

Our company was mostly virtual before virtual was “cool”. We prioritize hiring exceptional talent over being tied to a physical location. This approach has allowed us to build a stellar team that is not only passionate about their roles but also deeply committed to delivering an outstanding customer experience. Read more>>

Emily Cappelen

One of the primary ways I diverge from the industry standard at Evergreen Photo Co. is through my emphasis on a docutorial shooting style in both digital and film formats. I focus on intimate, authentic moments, capturing the candid beauty of my client’s big day while encouraging them to be fully present in each moment. Rather than sticking to just the polished, posed shots that are often expected in wedding photography, I aim to capture the raw, authentic moments of a couple’s day—the candid laughs, the teary eyes, and everything in between. This documentary-style storytelling feels more personal and real, and I find that clients connect more deeply with their photos because of it. My clients still get their stunning portraits during specific parts of the day, but this difference matters because it aligns with their desire for a more personalized and authentic experience on their wedding day. Read more>>

Hanna Marcus

The big beige background–as much as we might say we don’t want to blend in, we’re all kind of blending in when we write words that sound like everyone else. The truth of the matter is, as business owners, we work in saturated industries. On one hand, that’s amazing–it means there are thousands of talented people out there occupying space. On the other hand, though, that means if we’re not careful, we can get lost–blending right in with how every other person in our industry sounds.  Read more>>

Beatrice Van

As an esthetician, esthetic educator, solo esthetician, and founder of Beauty by Bea, LCC Glow by Bea Skincare, one thing I do differently from the industry standard is how I prioritize education, inclusivity, and personalized care. I take a holistic approach, focusing not only on treatments but also on empowering my clients with knowledge about their skin and how to care for it between visits. Read more>>

Cynthia Muir

I am a Peruvian chef and in Peru we cook everything from scratch with fresh ingredients since Peru is one of the countries that has the best gastronomy and variety of ingredients in the world. When I arrived in Florida and initially worked in some restaurants, I was surprised to find that many of the ingredients they use are packaged, pre-cooked, and even canned vegetables. Read more>>

Leore Oren

When we started The Ceremony Club, our goal was to bring a youthful, modern aesthetic to the wedding space. For years, the industry had been stuck in the same traditional styles, and we wanted to stand out by introducing something fresh. One key difference in our approach is our casual, online-only experience. While many wedding vendors work closely with couples in person—which certainly adds value—we wanted to keep things simple and aligned with today’s digital age. Read more>>

Kristen O’neall

At Mirage Media, our “We Fix Ugly Brands” initiative sets us apart. The phrase “don’t call the client’s baby ugly” is common in this industry, but we believe the opposite. If something isn’t working, we will tell you, even if it’s uncomfortable or something we don’t handle. Most agencies would stay quiet to avoid rocking the boat, but we’d rather lose a client for being honest than stay silent and let their campaigns underperform. Read more>>

Jolene Sage

Before I was behind the camera, I was in front of it. When I first moved to Chicago, I picked up modeling for extra cash. It was a fun side hustle, and I knew I wasn’t going to make a huge future out of it so I stayed independent (no agency representation). One of the biggest things I noticed about what made a photo turn out looking good or not was my comfort level. I worked with photographers of all different skill levels, and it was shocking how many of them were using top of the line gear but somehow managing to get terrible photos of me. I knew that it wasn’t just me, other photographers were taking absolutely gorgeous photos that were the whole reason why I had a modeling career in the first place. After enough photoshoots, I realized so much of it came down to my comfort level with the photographer. Read more>>

Allie Shane

Bottle Service is proud to have a team of all woman bartenders! The bar industry is definitely male dominated, so to be woman owned and have an all female staff is special. We have had a lot of success since we changed our business model in this way. We also love to represent and serve the LGBTQ+ community and we aim to promote inclusivity, empowerment and overall good vibes! I think that smart consumers want to put their money where their heart is. Supporting small businesses, supporting woman and minority owned businesses. When planning something very expensive, like a wedding, clients have a choice to hire vendors that represent them and their beliefs, and I think there is a lot of power in that. Read more>>

Ariel Lowell

The beauty industry is wildly underrated and to me, feels like an incredible jackpot to land in. The beauty industry offers those who delve in it the ability to surround themselves with likeminded individuals, choosing from an array of services such as waxing – which can bring a very relaxing, chatty, and fun atmosphere, to facials – which can bring a soothing, calming, and relaxing atmosphere. The spa industry has the ability to create an experience, and take a customer on a true in person journey in as little as 30 min. A service as little as 30 min. A month can change a client’s life for the better, enhance their life experience, create more comfort, ease, and promote a sense of self love. The beauty industry has the power to rewrite a client’s inner story. Read more>>

Leonidas Jaramillo

After 19 years in the professional image making, I’ve seen and experienced quite a bit from my work in both film production and photography. Using both traditional techniques of filmmaking and vfx, as well as new techniques using AI as well as virtual production, Unreal Engine and LED walls, I’ve been able to navigate fully the myriad of past and new applications to do the main thing of telling the story that script needs but still within the confines of the purse strings of the producers. Although I consider my different disciplines to be mainstream in their own right, being able to do all of them, most times at the same time can be considered a rarity. I feel like this can be a platform of setting me apart. Read more>>

Rachel Jedynak

I grew up in Poland, which always shocks people. I don’t have that thick Slavic accent, especially when I add that I immigrated to the U.S. at 19 years old. When I started my business, I immediately incorporated the Polish work ethic because that’s all I knew. Read more>>

Tailinh Le

At City Nail Bar, we strive to offer more than just nail services – we provide a memorable experience. What sets us apart from other salons is our focus on creating a warm and inviting environment where clients not only receive high-quality nail work from talented artists but also enjoy wholesome conversations and a sense of connection. We take the time to get to know our clients, ensuring they never feel rushed. Whether it’s chatting about the latest trends or sharing fun gossip, every visit feels like catching up with friends, all while leaving with beautiful nails. It’s about the personal touch as much as the professional one. Read more>>

Abbigail Graupner

A hard but true fact is that coffee is an extractive, colonialistic crop. It would not exist without the access of cheap (cough*cough* stolen *cough*cough) land that allowed for mostly foreign producers to grow large quantities on a base of cheap labor (cough*cough* indentured servants, if not straight up slavery *cough*cough*). While some historical practices that make the stomach nauseous have faded out, the structure of the coffee industry remains nearly the same as it was 200 years ago. Even today, coffee is almost always exported from producing countries as raw seeds and sent to consuming countries where they are processed into a usable form through roasting. This transformation from a raw seed to a consumable product is where the price jumps from around $1.91 per pound of green bean to, on average, $30, which means that bulk of the value generated from coffee sales never returns to the country of origin. Read more>>