20 Non-Traditional Entrepreneurs That Will Inspire You6991213
I only 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 strong. As an example, here were common measures heard throughout the semester:
Think of an idea.
Research the heck out from the idea, write a business plan that is gigantic, raise money, create business.
Wave good-bye to family and friends as your life is the company.
Expand business by hiring one zillion folks, after creating company and move into every market on earth.
Following your massive expansion into a worldwide domination, sell your business for top dollar.
Post-sale, return to step one or retire to your own favorite island and wash, rinse, repeat.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this advice per say. In reality, there was a parade of special guests through the semester that shared their story that fit into those steps one way or another.
There are entrepreneurs who create a company to franchise it (the E-Myth philosophy). Examples where I am from in St. Louis include a chain of tanning salons and massage parlors.
There are entrepreneurs that create factories. Possibly the factory makes cups or hats 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 make a living brick and mortar design. A good example may 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 maybe appreciate life on the shore or something). Example might be someone who sells vitamin nutritional supplements online.
But, there's an alternative group all together that I wager you're a part of (I understand I am). And that's the unconventional entrepreneurs. Characteristics of this group comprise:
Doing work that matters. Not merely work to earn a dollar (such as selling unusual vitamin supplements online..unless you're ridiculously passionate about vitamins, and in that case rock on). Work that you are enthusiastic about. Work that's artwork. Money follows passion rather than the other way around.
Challenging the way it has ever been done. Doing it your way. Altering businesses which were stayed for years (or decades or centuries).
Enjoying the fruits of our labour. No, this doesn't conventional entrepreneurs don't work hard. It only 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 and family, enjoying life just how you need to).
Does this mean as an unconventional entrepreneur which you hire a group of people or can not sell your business? Not at all. It merely implies that you aren't conforming to the confines of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I've had the incredible chance to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of sizes and shapes. Traditional and non-traditional. Companies that are enormous and solopreneurs. People who have sold others and 50 businesses which have started one. But I'd need to mention, if I had been hard-pressed, my favourite ones are the non-traditional ones (and that's where most interviews will fall in the immediate future).
The situation, as I see it, is less in validity of the advice and instead more in the limitations of it. Significance, feel like entrepreneurship surely does not have to look like, be like or follow most of those measures. It is like offering a class but the one sport is baseball.
Fact is, there are many types of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose entire aim would be to build a company and sell it for as much as possible or take it public. These are the "big way outs" we hear about in the technology world. Mr Thomas Caufmann This is list of them, in no specific order, that I wager you will pick up inspiration, thoughts and insights from. Enjoy!
Why? Successful not yet fulfilled from his previous venture, Andrew has made it his life's mission.
Interview with Andrew
- 2: Ishita Gupta - anxiety.less
Why? Who says magazines must be in print? Consistently a disrupter, Ishita is changing the publishing world through her exceptional magazine panic.less.
Interview with Ishita
Why? Rejected by everybody in the publishing world, Tucker did not give up. Instead, he took his outrageous, hilarious stories to the Net and results have been astounding.
Why? Leader and the quintessential disrupter, 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 earn an income by infiltrating and learning from the secret world of stars, pick up artists and multiple -passport world travelers that are sneaky? It has been done by Neil.
- 6: Chris Guillebeau - ChrisGuillebeau.com
Why? Moving to Africa? Becoming a specialist 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.
Interview with Matt
- 8: Kim Murgatroyd and Rob - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created one of the coolest jobs ever writing unique, insider guidebooks and Traveling to the poshest areas in the world. Sweet.
Interview with Kim and Rob
- 9: Jason Sadler - IWearYourShirt.com
Why? Exactly what does Jason get to do? He is paid to wear tops and create all kinds of other goodies and enjoyable videos online. Sweet.
Interview with Jason
- 10: Tim Ferriss - FourHourWorkWeek.com
Why? Yes, all of US know Tim has inspired an amazing number of men and women to work less, live more (and more recently, get in great shape), however there's a great deal to understand from how Tim has created his own company and lifestyle. He is a walking version of unconventional entrepreneurship.
Interview with Tim
- 11: Scott Ginsberg - HelloMyNameIsScott.com
Why? The guy who has built an empire around counting and wearing a name tag regular for the previous 10 years. You must see it to believe it.
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Dollar
Why? Michael took a love and turned it into his dream career. His show, What The Buck, is among YouTube's most popular
Interview with Michael
- 13: Adam Baker - Man Vs. Debt
Why? Can the act of getting yourself out of debt and sharing the insights become a business? Leave Adam Baker to turn it with it.
Interview with Adam
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Business Lifestyle
Why? Chris walks the walk and talks the talk. His company is likely running from a shore somewhere, as I type this.
- 15: Gregory Ng - Freezer Burns
Why? That is just the subject matter of the unusual entrepreneur's web 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 clients.
Interview with Elizabeth
Why? Vanessa did not wait to be decided. A parenting book was written by her from a teenager's view when she was a teen. Her empire has incredible expanded 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 earn money from) the music he desires without the limits of a label.
Interview with Jonathan
- 19: Scott Kurtz - PvP
Why? The guy who's redefining the world of cartooning. And he's doing it on his terms.
- 20: Kai Hasson and Nate Houghteling - White Collar Brawler
Why? Quitting their day jobs to become recreational boxers and make a web-based web series and movement? This items is simply wonderful.
