Doing things differently often leads to outsized results and so we connected with some of the most inspiring leaders and trailblazers we know and asked them to go into detail about what they do differently relative to others in their industry.

Emma Musto

There are tons of vacation rentals in the Smoky Mountains, many of which are owned by large rental companies or groups of investors looking to maximize profits with minimal effort. Read more>>

Bertram Lyons

In 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asked us to solve a pressing issue for them and others in the law enforcement community: proving or disproving the authenticity of digital video evidence. Read more>>

Autumn Jordan

When I dove headfirst into wedding photography back in 2022, it was with a promise to stay committed to my true north: documenting the world around me in an authentic and tender way, to celebrate the small moments with the same grandeur as the big ones, and always prioritize shooting on film. Read more>>

Amelia Hruby

I work in the marketing industry where social media is at the core of everyone’s strategy. But our work at Softer Sounds & Off the Grid stands out, because we don’t use social media at all! Read more>>

Erica Sewell

As a talent consultant, I try to align myself with partners and clients who are equally invested in advocating for creatives from less represented backgrounds. Read more>>

John Burke

I’m John Burke, and I’m at the helm of a remote audio mixing & mastering business called Vibe Studios Mixing, as well as the driving force behind Perfect Vocals Academy, an online source for vocal mixing. Read more>>

Snails on a Bike

Yes! Snails on a Bike is a Chicago-based theatre collective that specializes in performing plays in site-specific and found spaces. Our most recent show, How to Defend Yourself by Liliana Padilla, was performed at Cheetah Gym in Andersonville, Chicago, after hours. Read more>>

Shayna OCallaghan

I think everyone is so used to being kept in this cooking cutter box of what “industry standard” is. Iv been breaking the norm in my area for a couple of years now. Why be boring when you can be creative? Read more>>

Justin Cole, Billy Jack, and Kara Myers

Sparrow Street Films, an environmental horror film company in Denver, Colorado, has chosen to be the voice of our planet from an environmental perspective. Read more>>

Krystal McRae

When “Scenes From the Underground” started in July 2017, I had two very important ethos that I hold dear to my heart. 1. “Good Bands, Good People,” and why that matters is I personally don’t care how popular a band is, Read more>>

Renee Beauregard Lute

A lot of writers write every single day. Kate DiCamillo (one of my favorites) famously writes at least two pages a day. I think that works for many writers, but it doesn’t work for me. Read more>>

Lyn Pacificar

Herbalaria stands out in the wellness industry because our brand is deeply rooted in Filipino healing traditions and animistic practices passed down through generations. Read more>>

GENEVIEVE DE LA CRUZ

Beyond White Tablecloths: Why Events by Genevieve Does Weddings Differently The wedding industry thrives on tradition. But at Events by Genevieve, we believe your love story deserves a celebration that reflects you, not just the trends. Read more>> 

Julie Forster

Typically, the embroidery industry operates on a model that emphasizes bulk orders and in-house apparel selections. Most embroidery businesses require a minimum order quantity to ensure profitability and efficiency in the production process. Read more>>

Lissa Chandler

Hey My name’s Lissa Chandler and I’m a long time professional photographer who branched into digital collage design in 2022. As a photographer and artist, I absolutely love color. Read more>>

Lane Smith

Working in music, even with all the changes over the years, it’s extremely easy to get caught up in the traditional ways of working a record and work culture. From my experience, a lot of this stems from an unhealthy work environment. Read more>>

Farhod Cigarchi

Alot of producers are just about the money. So they will re sell the same beat to hundreds of different artists for say a low cost of fifty bucks. Read more>>

Rochelle Daniel

We pride ourselves in a culture that emphasizes family and connection both within our internal team as well as in how we make our guests feel. Read more>>

Tricia DellAnno

The competition is fierce as a children’s book author. Today, anyone can self-publish a book, and sell it on Amazon and other online retailers. Read more>>

Caitlin Cooper

One thing I do differently is I find all the stones for my jewelry. Every single one of the stones I use come from long hours of hiking through the deserts, mountains and coasts with my dog, Carlin, and packing out heavy bags full of, hopefully, amazing rocks. Read more>>

Ashley Tufte

I often hear from clients is that I am easy to talk to, and that I take the time to answer all their questions. From what my clients have said, not a lot of others in the industry are willing to take time to talk and some are even rude. Read more>>

Rachel Villaverde

When I work with someone, I want to hear the details of their business’ origin story. I hunker down with my client for a deep dive call (matcha in hand) and I record everything and take notes. Read more>>

Ovni Michaels

I’ve worked for ghostwriting firms. They pay their writers nothing and give them ridiculous timelines in circumstances underwhich they must produce high-quality content, and it just doesn’t work. Read more>>

Chetachi Egwu

When it comes to OTT/digital networks, people tend to think about it as linear television. Essentially, they put programming up for people to watch, but there is no interaction and it’s not transactional. Read more>>

Jacqueline Mundy

Oh, absolutely! At Strategic Cardinal Marketing, we believe marketing should be fun and understandable, not just a bunch of jargon and trends that leave you scratching your head. Read more>>

Gretchen Territo

Our approach at Team Territo is all about redefining the real estate experience. Here’s how we set ourselves apart from the industry standard: Exceptional Concierge-Level Services Read more>>

Keron Rose

In Trinidad and Tobago, where I reside, the reluctance towards adopting technology has historically been a barrier to progress. Recognizing this, I drew on my experiences from working in Sales & customer education at major tech companies in Toronto, Canada, such as Telus and Apple, where technology education is ingrained in the customer experience. Read more>>

William Hill

Well, over at Irish Iron, we take a lot of pride in keeping things personal and hands-on, something you don’t always get with the bigger outfits. We don’t just pump out gates and fences like a factory line. Every piece we make is custom-crafted to fit the exact needs and tastes of our clients. Read more>>