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.

Meghan White

I think when most people think of embroidery, the first thing that comes to mind is either extremely small-scale hand-stitched embroidery, or some massive unreachable online embroidery company. With Nerdhouse, our goal was to build a company that first and foremost people recognize as being collaborative and communicative. A lot of people (myself included) have had a bad experience with the large-scale online embroidery ordering process, and the frustrations that go along with that process, i.e.: products being delivered that don’t look much like your original design, questions sent to online chatbots that never really get answered, etc. So when a client comes to us we want to ensure they’re feeling 100% listened to and comfortable before we start production on their project. Read more>>

Monica Pineda

At Avance, we’ve deliberately chosen to diverge from the traditional mental health and wellness industry standard in a significant way: we believe mental fitness should be as accessible and normalized as physical fitness, which is why we’ve pioneered the concept of mental health workouts. While most mental health services focus on crisis intervention or therapy, we’ve created a proactive, strength-building approach that integrates mind-body awareness. The impact of this difference is best illustrated through the experience of one of our members: Read more>>

Kaaryn Nailor

While most leadership coaching follows a traditional playbook of fixing what’s “wrong,” I’ve flipped the script with a neuroscience-backed approach that puts your natural talents in the spotlight. Instead of dwelling on weaknesses, I amplify what a client already great at and strategically bring in resources to handle the rest. This isn’t just about faster growth – it’s about working smarter, not harder. I’ve seen this make all the difference for entrepreneurs who want to stop being trapped in the day-to-day of their business and start having their business fuel their creative vision. As we navigate this fascinating era where AI and human creativity intersect, this approach helps visionaries craft concrete strategies to reclaim their time and design a life that matches their ambitions. Because let’s face it – no one starts a business to be chained to a desk. Read more>>

Katterine Anaya

My focus is the health of the nails rather than the be beautification of these, within the Industry there are what for me are bad practices, all with the intention of making money at all costs and without concern for the health of the client, because yes! our nails need to be taken care of maintain their proper health, at the end of the day clients value this and come back when they see that a true professional is providing the service. Read more>>

Jeff Mahoney

There are several things that NEFT Vodka does that do not conform to what’s standard in the spirits industry. To begin, the NEFT management team is composed of talent from a variety of industries. The team includes those with deep experience in the spirits industry and those who bring a multitude of experience from other industries. The result is a solid understanding of tried-and-true industry practices AND a fresh look at an approach to industry innovation and addressing challenges. Read more>>

Eric Akines

One of the things that set myself and my team apart from the industry is the Duty of Care we deliver to each and every client whether they are first-time home buyers or buying a $30M property. In doing such, I believe every person deserves honesty and I promise that honesty will be at the core of every communication I have with my clients. I elevate my clients’ best interest over any self-interest. I go above and beyond to advise at every possible opportunity and to educate so my clients understand every angle of a transaction. When a buyer or seller hires me to represent them, I like to treat my clients’ home as though it were our own and put the care and attention into it as I would my own house. My relationships go well beyond the initial deal I do with my clients and, in fact, I remain in their lives for anything they need that enhances their joy and convenience in their home for years to come. And, at the end of the, I promise to be real and authentic for my clients. They need to know I will support them without a doubt in one of the most important purchases or sales they will ever make during their lifetime. Read more>>

Ikyo Bailey

This may not seem like a huge thing from the outside, but I am one of few photographers who share all of their raw images. To me, that is the art. Not the edit or effects added after, but the image itself. I love seeing the excitement on my clients faces when they see how amazing they look on camera. And it show me how far I have come with controlling and balancing the light and colors of the natural image and scenery. Read more>>