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.

Corwin Cowart

Yes! One of our biggest selling points for our company is the fact that we cook on site- anywhere! As a caterer, it is imperative that we serve high quality cuisine, and one of the keys to success is serving food while it’s still hot. Because caterers do not always have the luxury of having a large kitchen on site, sometimes its hard to deliver quality food due to the fact that some venues simply do not have kitchens at all. Most companies will cook back at their kitchen, which results in food sitting for hours before it is served. Read more>>

Victoria Miller

We not only focus on fostering lasting relationships with our clients but also fostering relationships with vendors and other creatives. Beginning with client education, when necessary. This may sound like a “no-brainer,” but we were shocked by how many times we receive praise from vendors for doing things we merely consider to be part of the job. Read more>>

Elizabeth Hauser

I would say what sets me apart from other designers is my ability to listen and create the designs my client wants, not what I want. I believe this is about them, not me. I have heard many times from my clients that a designer they used did not listen. They had to go back and forth many times to get something close to what they wanted. Also, other places will charge an extra fee anytime the client needs the design, almost like a rental fee. Read more>>

Idara Bassey

When it comes to coaching- especially where lawyers are concerned- the focus tends to revolve around issues like marketing one’s practice, securing more clients…things of this nature. My work concentrates on the “inner life of lawyering” so to speak. With my company JOY Legal LLC we are firm believers that it is possible to be a peaceful, fulfilled individual who loves their lawyer life- the idea being that investments in personal development work yield benefits in the quality of lawyering one can provide. Read more>>

Leslie Tagorda

I explore brand identity and leadership development from an astrology perspective. You can take personality and strengths finding tests and easily fudge the answers you think the test wants to hear, but your astrology natal (birth) chart always tells the truth your innate gifts. Read more>>

Justin & Ashley DeMutiis

I would say three main things set Justin and I apart from other wedding photographers in our industry: 1- We are a husband and wife team and fully understand what couples are going through while wedding planning, and what they want! We know what it’s like to look for a wedding photographer- we were in their shoes just a few years ago! We craved images that looked natural and effortless. Read more>>

Clint Thomas

Yes, in our region there are dozens and dozens of wine tour providers. What makes us truly unique? Our Guides. We are the only tour guides that have grown grapes and made wine in Texas. Combined we have almost 40 years of experience in wine and wine related fields. That history combined with a passion for moving the Texas wine industry forward means we are able to offer genuinely insightful experiences. Read more>>

Jillian Gilbert

For years, photography has been “sit, smile, pose”. Yet when we look back at photographs from decades or even centuries ago, or when we look back at photographs from our own lives, I would argue the ones that mean the most and carry the most emotion are the ones where no one was sitting, smiling, posing and, instead, just living. Most of my clients long for photos that embody who they are and the season of life they are in, but that doesn’t mean giving up smiling and posing for them comes naturally. Read more>>

Stephanie Lailine

Having a “niche” – or rather, not having one at all. Every article I read about growing my small business mentions one thing: find what you’re good at, and stick to it. All of the advice I’ve received has been about appeasing my target audience or consumer group, and to do that you need be consistent in both style & brand. This has always been something I’ve struggled with, because it feels so limiting as a creative! Read more>>

Lindsey Byers

When I first started this company I sought out the blanks to print the bandanas on. I was left uninspired by the available bandana blanks. They all felt stiff and the colors were very generic. I decided that the best way forward was to purchase white bandanas that were made in the USA and dye them myself. I did this for three years. As the company grew, I was sometimes dyeing, washing and ironing 1,000 bandanas per month. Read more>>

Carlos Barboza

Every year, more than 18 million tons of steel from automobiles are recycled by the steel industry. Roughly 12 million cars are recycled each year in the United States, making cars the most recycled consumer product. In fact, 75% of a car could be recycled. 42% of all steel in the United States comes from recycled metal. According to various automobile recycling facts and statistics, the number of vehicles recycled each year provides enough steel to manufacture 13 million new cars. Read more>>

Vivek Patel

Absolutely. OmMuse uniquely solves the critical challenges in the music industry around seamless collaboration, transparent ownership, and equitable benefits. Our platform allows musicians from around the world to co-create music, and thereafter mint and co-own music NFTs—which essentially also serve as ownership tables of those songs. By enabling that condition of transparency, we eliminate the need for up-and-coming artists to rely on record labels for their success. Read more>>

Magdalena Silva

There are many consignment businesses out there today. Being a small business I provide my clients with a personal experience they need. I can be easily reached via email or text. When dealing with priced possessions of my clients, I think it is important to always answer questions, treat everyone with respect and act professional at any time. Read more>>

Juan & David

PRISMATIC is a studio that is inspired by vital resources and uses art to bring comfort, wellbeing and motivation in order to be better people and more human every day. We believe in the value of spaces as an engine of creativity and balance. We do things differently because we use Biophilic design. Biophilic Design is the practice of creating a closer connection with nature through the ways we design and construct buildings and landscapes. Read more>>

Ashley Vega-Hicks (formerly Jaimes)

I truly do love serving the community. I believe this is what sets me apart from a lot of others in my profession. I would like to think that my passion to serve, make people happy and life easier for them shows in my notary and officiant work. I always tell my wedding couples.that when I meet them at the altar on their weeding day ,I want them to feel like they are standing next to a friend. I want them to be relaxed and comfortable,so that they can really enjoy the best day of their life ,and not think about me as a stranger. Read more>>

Kyra Albarracin

Part of my mission is to educate people on plant care, particularly around succulents and cacti that are semi-arid plants that need some adaptation to the wet and humid environments of Miami. In addition to selling beautiful arrangements and styled plants, I have a fascination with home decor — particularly pieces that are handcrafted, unique and stylish. Read more>>

Vida

Along with professionally decorating residences and businesses for the holidays, my holiday decor services include custom designed “mannequin/ dress form” Christmas trees, wreaths, garland, floral arrangements, teardrop/swags, and more. Although I did not invent the “mannequin/dress form” Christmas tree, I have perfected how to custom-make them with quality precision skills. My very first “mannequin/dress form” Christmas tree was for a client’s home I was decorating for Christmas 2019 and the client was very adamant about having this type of tree. Read more>>

Sukie Jefferson

In many ways I’m not a good business woman. ⁣”Best practices” of the industry say I should be emailing customers weekly, posting daily, running Facebook ads, Tik Tok-ing and even SMS messaging customers with new product & promos. But the truth is, none of that noise feels authentic to my personal belief values. ⁣ Read more>>

Shannan E. Johnson

In the entertainment industry, there are companies that offer what we call script coverage for screenwriters. Script coverage is an evaluation of the marketability of a screenplay. Script coverage is most beneficial to buyers – executives at networks and studios, producers, managers, and agents. However, script coverage companies advertise to screenwriters as their target audience for several reasons: Read more>>

Camaleisha Spencer

One thing a photographer has been told is to find a niche and stick with it. I do not have a niche per-se, but I do know what I enjoy taking photos of. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph some of everything in the last five years and have narrowed down what I enjoy the most. I am much too adventurous to take photos of the same thing over and over and may not be the photographer for everyone. From the beginning of this great photography journey, capturing meaningful moments has been important to me. Read more>>

Walker Whited

In the film industry, often times you come across people in various roles that seem to be doing their job simply for the money. Don’t get me wrong, of course it’s all a job and money is important, but story is also important. As an editor, co-owner of W Squared Media post production and a director, I’m always putting story first. How is the story being served, is it being served justifiably and is the story “working.” If money is the the only concern, story is often going to be let down and put on the back burner. Read more>>

Allison Van Houten

The field of Interior Design has long been regarded as a luxury only available to those with expansive estates and budgets in the hundreds of thousands. If you are unable to afford top of the line furnishings, artwork, and accessories, you are typically expected to piece together a space with a combination of lower quality items or make do with what you have been given by well meaning family members. Read more>>

Cindy Valdez

Working with strobes and other types of artificial light. It’s not really an industry standard, but with the large number of “natural light photographers” flooding the field these days, it’s definitely less common. Being able to create any type of light I want and at any time that I want is incredibly freeing; my ability to work is never affected by the weather or the time of day, and is only limited by my own imagination. Read more>>

Jessie Burner

Most recording studios/producers will get you in the door with lower recording costs but higher production costs when the artists want to have a finished sound. I like to include this process while recording for the same rate. This is how I like to be treated when I am in the artists seat. Read more>>