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.
Barrett Lais
At Twenty to Scratch, we break away from the traditional mold of public driving ranges, crowded simulators, and disconnected golf services. Our private, membership-only 24/7 golf simulator facility offers an elevated experience that fuses elite training, entertainment, and community—all under one roof. Read more>>
Charlotte Donlon
So much business advice circulating today urges creatives to “find your niche” and stay in one lane. But I’ve always had a constellation of interests and ideas, and I’ve consistently turned away from that advice whenever it’s offered. My work—whether it’s Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Parenting with Art®, Belonging through Art™, or custom retreats and gatherings—centers on helping people explore the deep themes of belonging through art and spirituality. Read more>>
Amber Krystal
Absolutely. While many in the beauty, media, and business industries focus solely on outward success, aesthetics, or achievement, my work is deeply rooted in something greater — Marketplace Ministry. I’ve been uniquely called to this space to bring healing, wholeness, and maturity to places people don’t typically associate with ministry. It’s more than a brand, a book, or a broadcast for me — it’s a God-ordained assigned mission. Read more>>
Grant Swenson
At Mammoth Grip Exchange, customer service is not just a promise—it’s a guarantee. We keep in touch with our customers at every step, from initial inquiry to post-delivery follow-up, ensuring you are 100% satisfied with your purchase. If you’re not completely happy, we offer a full refund with no hassle. Many of our customers mention that our communication, packaging, and willingness to customize far exceed what they’ve experienced elsewhere. Read more>>
Carmen Valencia
Something I do differently from the industry standard is choosing not to give more airtime or space to the very systems that cause harm. In journalism, we’re often taught that holding institutions accountable means giving them equal voice or platform — but in my experience, that can sometimes amplify harmful rhetoric rather than challenge it. I’ve worked on stories early in my career that, in hindsight, I’m not proud of — stories that unintentionally glamorized agencies like Border Patrol instead of pushing back on the harm they’ve caused. Read more>>
Joe Sharpe
1. We take the time to hand sharpen every knife that comes in. We don’t use any hollow grinders, or aggressive abrasives that take off a lot of metal.
2. Fastest turnaround time in the industry. Most companies make you mail them your knives or keep your knives for weeks. We Sharpen same day/next day in most cases. Read more>>
Elliott Jackson
BLAST Media LLC creates opportunities for artists, comedians, movie producers and entertainers to showcase themselves to the world without breaking the bank to do so. The Brands we create BLAST {blastmusic247.com), IndiePulse Music Magazine (indiepulsemusic.com) Blastradio247,com and our BLAST Media Network Podcasts are designed to help independent artists with promotion, showcasing, interviews, airplay and more. Streaming has become both a blessing and a curse, Platforms like Spotify are not really designed for the independent artist. Once their music is on the platform its totally up to the artist to promote it. Read more>>
Antonio Figueroa
Yes, that’s one of the things that defines us at Raken AI Labs — we don’t just follow industry standards, we challenge them when they don’t make sense for our clients or the markets we serve. Read more>>
Lindsay Herkert
Yes — and it’s something I’m wildly passionate about: I market differently, on purpose. As an Austin family photographer, I’ve learned that connection starts long before a client steps in front of my camera. In an industry that often leans hard into social media, I chose to focus my energy elsewhere — on intentional, Google-based marketing that helps me reach the right clients at the right time. Read more>>
Jordan Sarracino
For starters we don’t follow trends. Lagerfeld said the last step after trendy is tacky. Whatever the latest trends are, we usually do the opposite. We love to mix patterns and challenge society. We’re not different, You are all the same. Why blend in when you can stand out. That seems more fun. Read more>>
Ethan Hansen
It was the smell of a rotting animal carcass in 100 degree weather on the side of the highway that made me ask myself what I was doing here. It was the sixth day of shooting for our next feature film. My role on set was Director of Photography. I had spent the last evening planning with Jordan Ros, the director, how we should tackle the next. Read more>>
Maggie McCoy
I feel like my entire practice is rooted in being different than the industry standard-haha. In fact, that is the purpose of TÈRME!! You will discover very quickly that I’m not your average esthetician: I love the sun, hardly ever wear spf, prefer simple skincare regimens, believe skincare starts with food, fascia release is the best form of graceful aging and so on!! Although “Holistic” may be trending right now, I don’t actually see a lot of true holistic esthetic practices. Holistic is defined by “dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just part.” Read more>>
W. Ian Ross
Empathetic Transparency. I don’t know if this is an actual term, but to me, it means giving people enough context to understand why things are the way they are and exactly what they’re agreeing to by signing up to work on your project, especially if it’s low-budget. It’s the foundation of trust, and when it gets lost in the shuffle during prep, it’s hard/impossible to reestablish during production has begun. Read more>>
Jules
We bake from-scratch baked goods sourcing what we can locally. And specialize in allergy friendly items. We want everyone to be able to enjoy a fresh, delicious baked good no matter what their allergies or sensitivities without compromising taste. Read more>>
Jenny Mears
Arvada Barre is a small, one-of-a-kind boutique fitness studio. We’re not like corporate fitness studios. We lead with heart, not hype. Read more>>
Byanca Almeida
We are far above the industry standard, Folha Oasis entire business model was based on evolving an industry. At Folha Oasis, we blend interior design expertise with deep plant care knowledge, we craft intentional, thriving indoor environments. Our design-forward approach ensures that every plant and planter pairing feels seamlessly integrated with your space, both visually and functionally. We hand-select healthy, high-quality plants specifically suited to your lighting and lifestyle, so they don’t just look good—they flourish. Read more>>
Tamara Hill
Many financial programs emphasize radical self-deprivation, or use guilt, as ways to motivate people to change their financial patterns. Additionally, a lot of money guidance focuses on the long-term – 401Ks and investments – and most people can’t use these tools optimally, unless they first have a firm handle on their daily financial habits. I’ve also found that many programs can inadvertently scare you into being frugal to the point where you can’t enjoy your finances, even after you’ve gotten out of debt. Read more>>
Harry Tkalenko
Ostap Pavlovsky—a Lviv architect who designed the Lviv-Arena stadium, UCU (Ukrainian Catholic University), the Arsen supermarket… and many other objects in Lviv. These stained-glass lamps were his hobby. He made them as gifts for friends and family… Then people started ordering them. That’s how this unique art form was born—replicas of houses made of stained glass. Today, in Lviv, there’s the Pavlovsky Lamp Studio, where five craftsmen create stained-glass house lamps based on the Maestro’s designs and unique technology.” Read more>>
Mary Castillo
As a full time boudoir photographer, I’ve had to learn how to stand tall and take pride in my decision to cut all other forms of photography off for me (family, weddings, etc.). Going full force into boudoir was a risk I was taking- especially since some do not agree with what I am doing or feel it is too risque. But I am so happy to educate others that people are not doing this simply to feel “more sexy” or to be desired by others- my clients are doing this to feel good in their own bodies! To love and honor their body in this moment of live and all that it has done for them. Read more>>
Susan X Jane
I started my consulting firm, Navigators Consulting, in 2017 after spending over a decade as a professor of communications and media literacy. As Director of the undergraduate program at Wheelock College, I spent years teaching students to critically engage with race, class, gender, and the cultural narratives that shape our lives. Read more>>