20 Non-Traditional Entrepreneurs That'll Inspire You4227311
I just took one entrepreneurship course in school (I was a Women's Studies major at Washington University in St. Louis...we will cut THAT storyline for now). In lots of cases it was a parade of traditional entrepreneurship, although it turned out to be a class that is sound. For example, here were common measures heard throughout the term:
Develop an idea.
Research the heck out from the idea, write a gigantic business plan, raise money, create company.
Tide farewell to family and friends as now your life is the business.
Expand company by hiring one zillion folks after creating company and move into every market on the planet.
Following your gigantic growth into a domination that is worldwide, sell your company for top dollar.
Post-sale, retire to your chosen island or go back to step one and wash, rinse, repeat.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this guidance per say. Actually, there was a parade of special guests throughout the session that shared their narrative that fit into those steps one manner or another.
The issue, as I see it, is less in cogency of the advice and instead more in the constraints of it. Meaning, be like, feel like, entrepreneurship definitely does not have to look like or follow most of those measures. It's sort of like offering a class on sports, but the only sport covered is baseball.
Fact is, there are many types of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose entire goal is really to develop a business and sell it for as much as possible or take it public. These are the "large way outs" we hear about in the technology world.
There are entrepreneurs who create a company to franchise it (the E-Myth philosophy). Examples where I'm from in St. Louis include a chain of tanning salons and massage parlors.
There are. Possibly the factory makes cups or hats or something of the like.
There are entrepreneurs which can be in more traditional businesses that 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 essential to make a living (and perhaps love life on the seashore or something). Example might be someone who sells vitamin supplements online.
But, there is an alternative group all together that I wager you're part of (I know I am). And that is the entrepreneurs that are non-traditional. Characteristics of this group comprise:
Doing work that questions. Not merely work to earn a dollar (such as selling odd vitamin nutritional supplements online..unless you are ridiculously passionate about vitamins, and in that case rock on). Work that you're enthusiastic about. Work that makes a difference. Work which is art. Cash follows fire rather than the other way around.
Challenging the manner it has always been done. Doing it your way. Changing businesses that have been stuck for years (or decades or centuries). Creative disrupters.
Appreciating the fruits of our labor. No, this does not mean non-traditional entrepreneurs do not work challenging. It simply means we understand and live by the doctrine that there is more to life than just work (fires and hobbies outside of work, friends as well as family, enjoying life the way you desire to).
Does this mean as an unconventional entrepreneur which you hire a group of folks or can not sell your company? Not in any way. It simply ensures that you aren't conforming to the limits of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I Have had the unbelievable opportunity to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of shapes and sizes. Conventional and non-traditional. Tremendous businesses and solopreneurs. People that have sold 50 companies and others that have started one. But I'd have to say, if I was hard-pressed, my favourite ones are the unconventional ones (and that's where most interviews will fall in the immediate future). Tommy Caufmann Here is a listing of 20 of them, in no specific order, that I wager you'll pick up thoughts, insights and inspiration from. Love!
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 altering the publishing world through her unique magazine fear.less.
Interview with Ishita
Why? Rejected by everybody in the publishing world, Tucker did not give up. Rather, he took his outrageous, hilarious stories to the World Wide Web and results have been astounding.
- 4: Seth Godin - SethGodin.com
Why? The quintessential disrupter and leader, Seth Godin is throwing a wrench into the publishing industry with The Domino Project.
Interview with Seth
- 5: Neil Strauss - NeilStrauss.com
Why? Is it feasible to make a living by learning and infiltrating in the secret world of celebs, pick up multiple and artists -passport world travelers that are sneaky? Neil has done it.
Why? Moving to Africa? Becoming a professional writer in significantly less than one year? Inspiring others to not live conventional lives?
Interview with Chris
- 7: Matthew Inman - TheOatmeal.com
Why? By doing it his way, Matt has established an empire from his unique and hilarious comics.
- 8: Rob and Kim Murgatroyd - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created one of the coolest jobs ever Traveling to the world's poshest areas and writing unique, insider guidebooks. Sweet.
Interview with Rob and Kim
Why? Exactly what does Jason get to do? He's paid to wear shirts and create all kinds of entertaining videos as well as other goodies online. Sweet.
Why? Yes, we all know Tim has inspired an amazing amount of visitors to work less, live more (and more lately, get in great shape), but there is a great deal to learn from how Tim has created his own company and lifestyle. He is a walking version of entrepreneurship that is unusual.
- 11: Scott Ginsberg - HelloMyNameIsScott.com
Why? The guy who has built an empire around counting and wearing a name tag everyday for the previous 10 years. You need to see it to believe it.
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Buck
Why? Michael took a love and turned it into his dream career. His show, What The Dollar, is one of YouTube's most popular
Interview with Michael
- 13: Adam Baker - Guy Vs. Debt
Why? Can the act of getting yourself and sharing the insights become a business? Leave Adam Baker to turn it into one with it.
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Company Lifestyle
Why? The walk walks and talks the talk. His company is probably running from a shore somewhere as I type this.
- 15: Gregory Ng - Deep Freezer Burns
Why? That's the subject matter of the unusual entrepreneur's internet show.
- 16: Elizabeth Marshall - Writer Telesminars
Why? She found her passion for books and turned it into a fantastic career. The very best part might be she gets the pick of the litter as it pertains to her customers.
Interview with Elizabeth
Why? Vanessa did not wait to be decided. When she was a teenager she composed a parenting book from a teen's perspective. Her empire has unbelievable grown since then and she gets to do every day, what she loves.
Interview with Vanessa
Why? The musician that is entrepreneurial. His business model permits him to create (and make money from) the music he wants without the confines of a label.
Interview with Jonathan
Why? The man who's redefining the world of cartooning. And it is being done by him on his terms.
- 20: Kai Hasson and Nate Houghteling - White Collar Brawler
Why? Leaving their day jobs create movement and an online web series and to become recreational boxers? This items is just awesome.
