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.

Scott Knutson

As a leadership coach with a foundation in servant leadership, I worked with clients from that perspective. But in 2021 my entire world crashed in around me when my wife passed away unexpectedly. All of the sudden, I had to deal with grief in a way that I never had before, as well as help our then 6-year-old daughter grieve for the loss of her mom. Grief doesn’t knock politely. It crashes through the door and upends everything in its path. Dealing with that mess, and trying to figure out how to help my daughter forced me to reflect quite a bit. A statement by a friend – “What if your wife died so that you could experience love on a more expansive level?” – also caused me to reflect on a deeper level. Read more>>

Alena Babiy

When we decided to purchase our A-frame cabin in Washington and rent it out, we felt something was missing from many rentals in the area. While there are plenty of beautiful cabins with stunning views, we chose to go against the grain—and the advice of many—to treat our property as more than just an investment. We wanted to pour our hearts into it, prioritizing the details over cutting corners to make the numbers work. We invested in floor-to-ceiling glass, high-end furniture, premium finishes, and top-tier lighting, aiming to create a luxury experience that felt like a personal resort, not a typical rental. Read more>>

Tiana Heggins

What makes my business different isn’t just the concept—it’s the heart behind it. Blunts & Brunch With A Twist LA/OCnwas born out of pain and a desire to create an experience that blends soulful food, vibrant art, and culture in a beautifully styled, 420-friendly space. While there are other brunch and paint-and-sip concepts out there, few offer this level of intimacy, inclusivity, and elevated design for communities that are often overlooked in luxury spaces—especially creatives, young professionals, and those who seek joy and healing in unconventional ways. Read more>>

Armin Korsos

Filmmaker Friday Chicago stands out because it fills a gap in the Chicago film community that I saw firsthand—there was no consistent, well-structured event series that brought together filmmakers in a way that felt both professional and welcoming. I started Filmmaker Friday because I was unsatisfied with the scattered, often exclusive nature of other film gatherings in the city. I knew there could be something better—something that wasn’t just another industry mixer, but a space where students, working professionals, and established filmmakers could connect without barriers. The formula is simple: we don’t overcomplicate sign-ups, we keep events concise at three hours, and we rotate between networking and panel discussion formats. Read more>>

Alejandro Saucedo

In the commercial cleaning industry, the standard approach is to specialize in one service — creating a niche and capitalizing on it. But we’ve seen firsthand how this leaves businesses juggling multiple providers for their various cleaning needs — from carpets and windows to floor care, pressure washing, and routine janitorial services. Read more>>

Eric Wind

Two of the challenges when I was searching for vintage watches to add to my collection was the lack of images that depicted the condition of the watch as well as an authoritative description about the watch’s watches. I have been interested in trying to find unpolished watches since my early days as I prefer the cases with original finish and with the beveled edges that many Rolex sports models and other company’s sport models had when new back in the approximately 1950s to 1980s era. It took me many years to find the unpolished watches that I wanted to find and it was more luck than anything. Our website offers awesome vintage watches and many are unpolished. I am thrilled with the quality of the watches that we are offering and selling! Read more>>

Joette Trinh

Most lawyers fall into their area of practice based on the first job they obtain out of law school. I specifically went to law school to practice real estate law. I have now been in practice for 12 years, but I do not just focus on general real estate transactions like purchases, sales, or refinances. My focus is on Creative Finance, which there are very few attorneys who offer these services in my area. Creative Finance involves how to buy and sell real estate creatively, while using as little of your own money as possible. This focus has kept my firm busy while other general real estate practitioners in my market struggle for business. Read more>>

David Stickle

As a stand up comedian, at 34 I am late to begin my journey. Most comics I am interacting with started or are starting in their early 20’s. I have seen fast success and recognition because the 10 delay I’ve had with stand up comedy, I spent running small businesses. I believe as someone who is promoting themselves as a professional individual, this business background has given me a proper education on networking, and fundamental discipline of running what has become my own small business. By the time my peers are my age, they will have accumulated over a decade of stage time; however little to no experience (with exceptions) in business management roles. Read more>>

Jack

Owning a pressure washing business, I provide service in an industry full of people from all walks of life. I don’t know about you, but when I think about a pressure washing company, I think about one or two gentlemen pulling up in a pick up truck that have a very southern drawl. It is an industry known for having people that are “rough around the edges.” Read more>>

Ashley Nusrala

There is so much I could say here about the industry standard of doing hair extensions. The first thing that comes to mind is being “a hair extension specialist” versus someone who “offers hair extensions as one of their many service menu options.” There is a big client-facing misconception that hair extensions “rip your hair out” and damage your natural hair. Modern hair extensions have come a LONG way from what they were in the past, and in my humble opinion, the only reason they’d destroy your natural hair is an improper install. There’s several ways to define an improper install — lack of knowledge, too much hair applied, sloppy foundational work, poor placement — the list goes on… Read more>>

Alena Kim

I have been working since I was 17 in various types of businesses—ranging from video production, including organizing shoots, filming, and editing, to launching offline franchising projects with unique products. I have also worked at an international branding agency with globally recognized brands and have launched and developed unique restaurant concepts. Within each field, I have handled completely different aspects of the business. Read more>>

Alexandra Osudoh

One of the ways Essentielle Studio stands out from the industry standard is how we approach brand design as a collaborative and intuitive experience. A lot of agencies focus on fast turnarounds, pre-made templates, or visuals that follow trends, but for us, it’s deeper than that. We’re not just creating a logo or a color palette — we’re helping people reconnect with their story and build a brand that actually feels like them. Read more>>

Tracy Ann Moore-Grant

The Amicable Divorce Network is the only organization in the world of its kind in several key areas. First, we are the only organization vetting divorce industry professionals prior to membership for experience, resolution focus and engaging in fair billing practices. Second, we have an out of court process that streamlines divorce focusing attention on the resolution of disputed issues. Last, our process is guided by a sophisticated technology platform that assessed financial data and allows seamless collaboration in the cloud with all professionals in a case. Read more>>

Asia Williamson

The beauty industry has taken a turn for the worst over the last few years. Social media especially, has allowed many opinions to be voiced when it comes to our careers which has created a shift as fas as the standard. Speaking for myself and my brand, i continue to stay true to core values and the overall customer experience. What i do differently is keep the client involved in what I’m doing during their service, that creates trust. We consult and discuss hair goals so that we know what to work towards collectively. I am also very punctual. I show up on time for my clients always, my chair is always open for them to be seated at their time of service. I never double book or overbook. Read more>>

David Leta

Why I Don’t Follow Standard Marketing Rules — And Why That’s Good News for My Clients

I’d like to share what I’ve learned after working with so many small business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and professionals like attorneys and financial advisors:

Standard marketing is safe… but it’s also invisible.

And if you’re invisible, it doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do—people won’t remember you, and they definitely won’t refer you. Read more>>

Bianna Nikdel

I came into advertising in a very conventional way. I graduated with a degree in Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology. I worked in labs and at the Sacramento Zoo before ultimately finding my way into advertising. I was lucky enough to be chosen for Wieden+Kennedy’s The Kennedys, a creative residency for people with untraditional backgrounds. Read more>>

Eric Freitchen

We are a community store. I like to say that we focus on the 3 C’s: Comics, Collectibles and Community. What does that mean? In everything we do, we believe we are more than a business. We are a mom and pop shop; my wife and I have backgrounds in education and deep ties to the community. At the heart of what we do is advocate for kids, for youth, community programs, and advancing literacy. For every kid who comes in our store, everyday is Free Comic Book Day. Every day we give out comics to kids in an effort to encourage reading. We are proud to sponsor school events and contests to promote literacy. We make a significant effort to help under-resourced and opportunity youth.. Read more>>

Katherine Cundiff

Our breastmilk jewelry redefines the standard by eliminating tinted powders and evaporation methods. Instead, we use each client’s actual milk to color their piece naturally, ensuring a truly personal and authentic keepsake.

We are proud to introduce our resin-free breastmilk and keepsake jewelry, a seamless blend of elegance and resilience. No more worrying about taking off your treasured piece before bathing, washing dishes, swimming, or using hand sanitizer. Our innovative jewelry is designed to withstand daily life, offering superior hardness, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. Read more>>

Meg Eplett

Like many people – COVID introduced new hobbies – specifically collage (not sourdough!) For the first time in a long time, I had the space to make things by hand and revel in the inherent mistakes and imperfections. This practice has informed my brand thinking and allowed me to create work that I find more original and outside the norms of modern design trends. It has helped me create a unique design footprint (that I am still figuring out – it’s a process!) Read more>>

Colette Forsyth

Figuring out how to price yourself within an industry is always a challenge, and I think it’s particularly hard for artists. But I find it even more difficult when you *really* love what you do – because no matter what, you just want the best possible final product. That’s why I’ve set up my pricing structure a little different than most in the industry I’m in. For weddings, instead of splitting up package choices by the number of hours I’ll be shooting – I just offer one, all day, price. I don’t want folks having to choose between the fun, chaos moments of getting ready in the morning, or their first dances being photographed. I want to be there to capture all the important moments as much as you do – to tell the FULL story of the day. Read more>>

Carissa Photopoulos

I like to think of my brand as a fun, playful alternative to the traditional, posed photography experience. While many photographers focus on creating polished, formal portraits, with perfect outfits and perfect smiles directly at the camera, I focus on capturing real, joyful moments. My family photography sessions are full of energy, movement, and laughter- and I always encourage parents to get in on the fun- after all, kids crave connection with their parents more than anything. When we give them what they need to feel like themselves, they actually enjoy getting their pictures taken. I don’t believe in stiff poses or forced smiles; I want my clients to genuinely enjoy their session. Read more>>

Reagan Mendez

While I can’t say we are the only ones that do this, I do believe we are in the minority of agents who take the time to watch every client’s audition before sending it on to casting. We watch not only to make sure that it’s solid but also that it’s the best work we know the client can do. If we feel it can be better, we give notes to have them retape. We don’t always know what casting wants so we don’t give notes just to make every audition the same but always want something that we can send forward so that no matter what happens, it will make a good impression. Ever since the pandemic when auditions switched from in person to self-tapes, we feel we have the ability to be in the casting room and have been able to guide clients in a much more personal and specific way when it comes to their auditions. Read more>>

Odis James

In the real estate investing education space, most companies offer the same services and follow the same cookie-cutter model. That’s why so many people walk away from those programs feeling disappointed or skeptical. At 4 Data Points Academy, we set out to build something different—something real, something lasting, and something with the real estate investor in mind. Read more>>

Angela Ryan

My experience in the branding, marketing and advertising industries has shown that creative work tends to be viewed as either a simple transactional service designed to meet client demands or an indispensable tool capable of changing entire businesses or communities. I have felt that there is no in-between; however, it seems that we’re approaching a major transformation period for the industry. Creative thinking and human-centric design must be at the forefront. Read more>>

Erika Demshar

One of the biggest ways Erika Demshar Design differs from the traditional interior design industry is in how I make design feel accessible, attainable, and approachable for everyday people. Having my experience in home staging and not in traditional interior design, I bring a fresh take on what design is.

The design industry often focuses on luxury projects with high budgets, making it seem like great design is only for those doing full-scale renovations. But I believe beautiful, functional spaces should be within reach for anyone, no matter their budget or style confidence. Read more>>

Gracie Spangler

I think something that I do differently than a lot of photographers is that I prioritize natural moments instead of trying to manufacture them. Rather than staging interactions or overly directing couples, I allow my clients to just be themselves. I say a lot “just be”. I think you should feel like you on your wedding day so I don’t force any moments and let the day unfold naturally. I focus on capturing the in-between moments—the quiet, unscripted emotions that truly tell the story of the day. Read more>>

Jamie Reyes

We give quality interior design services done virtually. In my experience, people have not heard about virtual interior design options or have only heard of services that are super quick and lack that quality experience that in-person design can give. We decided to change that and bridge that gap for people needing quality, hands-on interior design experience but also needing the process done virtually. In fact, most of our clients are high earners who are busy and need an expert to come in and design their space without all the in-person design meetings. We cast a vision for our clients that’s personalized to their needs, as well as make sure that their contractors know exactly what’s going on. Read more>>

Tura Sugden

In our studio we make everything by hand, one at a time. We don’t mass produce, or cast in multiples – each piece is completely hand-fabricated, meticulously crafted, and finished individually. Nothing leaves the premises; it’s all made from start to finish in our studio.

Our industry often focuses on cost rather than quality and sustainability. With every factor considered in a jewelry purchase, cost always seems to rise to the top of the list. And with that comes cost-cutting shortcuts, like mass production, CAD design, outsourcing, casting. Read more>>