20 Unusual Entrepreneurs That'll Inspire You3785569
I only took one entrepreneurship class in college (I was a Women's Studies major at Washington University in St. Louis...we will cut THAT storyline for now). In several situations it was a parade of traditional entrepreneurship, although it turned out to be a sound class. As an example, here were common steps heard throughout the term:
Think of an idea.
Research the heck out of the notion, compose a gigantic business plan, raise money, create company.
As your life is your business wave goodbye to family and friends.
Expand company by hiring one zillion folks, after creating business and move into every marketplace in the world.
Following your enormous expansion into a global domination, sell your company for top dollar.
Post-sale, return to step one or retire to your favorite island and wash, rinse, repeat.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this guidance per say. In reality, there was a parade of special guests throughout the term that shared their narrative that fit into those measures one manner or another.
The situation, as I see it, is less in validity of the guidance and instead more in the constraints of it. Meaning, entrepreneurship certainly doesn't have to look like, feel like, be like or follow most of those steps. The only sport covered is baseball, although it is sort of like offering a course on sports.
Fact is, there is a variety of of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose whole aim is to develop a company and sell it for as much as possible or take it public. These are the "enormous exits" we hear about in the tech world.
There are entrepreneurs who create a business to franchise it (the E-Myth philosophy). Examples where I'm from in St. Louis comprise a chain of tanning salons and massage parlors.
There are entrepreneurs that create factories. Maybe the factory makes hats or cups or something of the like.
There are entrepreneurs which can be in more traditional businesses who have no aspirations of selling but instead look to earn a living brick and mortar style. A good example could be the corner bakery or a clothing boutique.
There are Internet entrepreneurs focused on creative passive income by any means required to earn a living (and possibly love life on the shore or something). Example might be someone who sells vitamin nutritional supplements online.
However, there is another group all together that I wager you're part of (I know I 'm). And that is the non-traditional entrepreneurs. Characteristics of this group comprise:
Doing work that matters. Not merely work to earn a dollar (such as selling bizarre vitamin nutritional supplements online..unless you are ridiculously passionate about vitamins, and in that case rock on). Work that you are enthusiastic about. Work that makes a difference. Work that is art. Cash follows fire rather than the other way around.
Challenging the manner it has been done. Doing it your way. Shifting industries which have been stayed for years (or decades or centuries).
Appreciating the fruits of our labor. No, this doesn't conventional entrepreneurs do not work challenging. It merely means we understand and live by the philosophy that there is a lot more to life than just work (fires and hobbies outside of work, friends as well as family, enjoying life the manner in which you would like to).
Does this mean as an unusual entrepreneur that your company can't be sold by you or hire a group of folks? Not in any way. It just means that you aren't conforming to the bounds of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I've had the incredible chance to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of all sizes and shapes. Conventional and non-traditional. Huge companies and solopreneurs. People that have sold 50 businesses among others that have started one. But I'd have to say, if I had been hard-pressed, my favorite ones will be the non-traditional ones (and that's where most interviews will drop in the immediate future). Tommy Caufmann This is a listing of 20 of them, in no specific order, that I bet you'll pick up inspiration, thoughts and insights from. Appreciate!
- 1: Andrew Warner - Mixergy.com
Why? Successful not yet fulfilled from his previous endeavor, Andrew has made it his life's mission.
Interview with Andrew
- 2: Ishita Gupta - panic.less
Why? Who says magazines must be in print? Always a disrupter, Ishita is changing the publishing world through her unique magazine panic.less.
Interview with Ishita
- 3: Tucker Max - TuckerMax.com
Why? Rejected by everyone in the publishing world, Tucker didn't give up. Instead, he took his crazy, hilarious stories to the Net and results have been astounding.
Interview with Tucker
Why? Leader and the quintessential disrupter, Seth Godin is throwing a wrench to the publishing business with all The Domino Project.
- 5: Neil Strauss - NeilStrauss.com
Why? Is it possible to earn an income by infiltrating and learning in the secret world of celebs, pick up multiple and artists -passport world travelers that are sneaky? Neil has done it.
Interview with Neil
Why? Being an expert writer in less than one year? Inspiring others to not live conventional lives? Check, check and check.
Interview with Chris
- 7: Matthew Inman - TheOatmeal.com
Why? By doing it his way, Matt has established an empire from his hilarious and unique comics.
- 8: Rob and Kim Murgatroyd - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created among the coolest jobs ever Traveling to the poshest areas in the world and writing unique, insider guidebooks. Sweet.
Interview with Kim and Rob
- 9: Jason Sadler - IWearYourShirt.com
Why? Exactly what does Jason get to do all day? He's paid to wear shirts and create all kinds of fun videos as well as other goodies online. Sweet.
- 10: Tim Ferriss - FourHourWorkWeek.com
Why? Yes, all of US know Tim has inspired an incredible quantity of people to work less, live more (and more lately, get in great shape), but there is a great deal to understand from how Tim has created his own company and lifestyle. He is a walking model of entrepreneurship that is non-traditional.
Interview with Tim
- 11: Scott Ginsberg - HelloMyNameIsScott.com
Why? The guy that has built an empire around counting and wearing a name tag everyday for the past 10 years. You have to see it to believe it.
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Dollar
Why? Michael took a love and turned it into his dream profession. His show, Exactly What The Buck, is among YouTube's most popular
Interview with Michael
- 13: Adam Baker - Guy Vs. Debt
Why? Can the action of getting yourself and sharing the insights become a company? Leave Adam Baker to turn it with it.
Interview with Adam
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Business Lifestyle
Why? The walk walks and talks the talk. As I type this, his business is probably running from a shore somewhere.
Interview with Chris
- 15: Gregory Ng - Freezer Burns
Why? Two words: Frozen food. That's just the subject matter of the unusual entrepreneur's net show.
Interview with Greg
- 16: Elizabeth Marshall - Writer Telesminars
Why? She turned it into an incredible career and found her passion for books. The best part might be she gets the pick of the litter as it pertains to her customers.
Interview with Elizabeth
- 17: Vanessa Van Petten - RadicalParenting.com
Why? Vanessa didn't wait to be picked. She wrote a parenting publication from a teenager's view when she was a teen. Her empire has unbelievable grown since then and she gets to do what she loves every day.
Interview with Vanessa
- 18: Jonathan Coulton - JonathanCoulton.com
Why? The entrepreneurial musician. His business model allows him to create (and earn money from) the music he wants without the bounds of a label.
Interview with Jonathan
Why? The guy who is redefining the world of cartooning. And he's doing it on his terms.
Interview with Scott Kurtz
- 20: Kai Hasson and Nate Houghteling - White Collar Brawler
Why? Quitting their day jobs create movement and a web-based web series and to become amateur fighters? This items is just amazing.
