20 Unconventional Entrepreneurs That'll Inspire You4145845
I only took one entrepreneurship course in college (I was a Women's Studies major at Washington University in St. Louis...we will miss THAT storyline for now). In lots of situations it was a parade of traditional entrepreneurship, although it turned out to be a solid class. As an example, here were common measures heard throughout the term:
Develop an idea.
Research the heck out of the idea, write a huge business plan, raise money, create business.
As your life is the company tide good-bye to family and friends.
After creating business, expand business by hiring one zillion folks and move into every market in the world.
Following your gigantic growth into a domination that is worldwide, sell your company for top dollar.
Post-sale, retire to your preferred island or go back to step one and wash, rinse, repeat.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this guidance per say. The truth is, there was a parade of special guests through the semester that shared their story that fit into those steps one manner or another.
The situation, as I see it, is less in cogency of the advice and instead more in the limits of it. Meaning, entrepreneurship definitely does not have to look like, feel like, be like or follow most of those steps. The one sport is baseball, although it's like offering a class on sports.
Fact is, there are lots of types of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose entire goal is to establish a business and sell it for as much as you can or take it public. These are the "huge exits" we hear about in the technology world.
There are entrepreneurs who create a company to franchise it (the E-Myth doctrine). Examples where I'm from in St. Louis include a chain of tanning salons and massage parlors.
There are. Maybe the factory makes hats or cups or something of the like.
There are entrepreneurs that are in more traditional industries that have no aspirations of selling but rather look to make a living brick and mortar design. An example might function as the corner bakery or a clothing boutique.
There are Internet entrepreneurs focused on creative passive income by any means necessary to make a living (and possibly appreciate life on the shore or something). Example might be someone who sells vitamin supplements online.
But, there is another group all together that I wager you're a part of (I understand I 'm). And that is the entrepreneurs that are non-traditional. Features of the group include:
Doing work that questions. Not only work to make a dollar (such as selling odd vitamin nutritional supplements online..unless you are ridiculously enthusiastic about vitamins, and in that case rock on). Work that you are enthusiastic about. Work that makes a difference. Work that is artwork. Cash follows passion rather than the other way around.
Challenging the way it's been done. Altering industries that have been stayed for years (or decades or centuries). Creative disrupters.
Appreciating the fruits of our labor. No, this does not mean non-traditional entrepreneurs don't work challenging. It only means we understand and live by the philosophy that there surely is a lot more to life than just work (fires and hobbies beyond work, friends and family, enjoying life the way you desire to).
Does this mean as an unconventional entrepreneur which you hire a bunch of folks or can not sell your business? Not in any way. It only implies that you aren't conforming to the confines of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I Have had the incredible opportunity to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of all sizes and shapes. Traditional and non-conventional. Tremendous businesses and solopreneurs. People that have sold 50 businesses among others that have started one. But I'd need to mention, if I was hard-pressed, my favorite ones are the non-traditional ones (and that's where most interviews will fall in the immediate future). Mr Thomas Caufmann This is set of them, in no special order, that I wager you will pick up thoughts insights and inspiration from. Appreciate!
- 1: Andrew Warner - Mixergy.com
Why? Successful yet unfulfilled from his previous venture, Andrew has made it his life's mission.
- 2: Ishita Gupta - panic.less
Why? Who says magazines have to be in print? Always a disrupter, Ishita is changing the publishing world through her exceptional magazine fear.less.
Why? Rejected by everyone in the publishing world, Tucker did not give up. Rather, he took his wild, hilarious stories to the Internet and results have been astounding.
Interview with Tucker
- 4: Seth Godin - SethGodin.com
Why? Leader and the quintessential disrupter, Seth Godin is throwing a wrench into the publishing industry together with The Domino Project.
Interview with Seth
- 5: Neil Strauss - NeilStrauss.com
Why? How is it possible to earn a living by learning and infiltrating from the secret world of celebrities, pick up artists and multiple -passport sneaky world travelers? Neil has done it.
Interview with Neil
- 6: Chris Guillebeau - ChrisGuillebeau.com
Why? Being an expert writer in less than one year? Inspiring others to live unusual lives?
Interview with Chris
- 7: Matthew Inman - TheOatmeal.com
Why? By doing it his way, Matt has generated an empire from his hilarious and unique comics.
- 8: Rob and Kim Murgatroyd - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created among the greatest jobs ever Traveling to the poshest places in the world and composing unique, insider guidebooks. Sweet.
Interview with Rob and Kim
- 9: Jason Sadler - IWearYourShirt.com
Why? What does Jason get to do? He's paid to wear shirts and create a variety of entertaining videos and other goodies online. Sweet.
Interview with Jason
- 10: Tim Ferriss - FourHourWorkWeek.com
Why? Yes, we all know Tim has inspired an incredible number of people to work less, live more (and more recently, get in great shape), however there is a lot to learn from how Tim has created his own business and lifestyle. He's a walking version of unconventional entrepreneurship.
Why? The guy who has built an empire around counting and wearing a name tag everyday for the previous 10 years. You must see it to believe it.
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Buck
Why? Michael turned it into his dream career and took a love. His show, What The Dollar, is one among YouTube's most popular
- 13: Adam Baker - Guy Vs. Debt
Why? Can the act of getting yourself and sharing the insights become a company? Leave Adam Baker to turn it into one with it.
Interview with Adam
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Company Lifestyle
Why? The walk walks and talks the talk. His business is probably running from a shore somewhere, as I type this.
Interview with Chris
- 15: Gregory Ng - Deep Freezer Burns
Why? That is exactly the subject matter of this unconventional entrepreneur's web show.
Interview with Greg
- 16: Elizabeth Marshall - Writer Telesminars
Why? She found her passion for books and turned it into an incredible profession. The very best part might be she gets the pick of the litter in regards to her clients.
Interview with Elizabeth
Why? Vanessa didn't wait to be decided. When she was a teenager she composed a parenting book from a teenager's perspective. Her empire has incredible grown since then and she gets to do every day what she loves.
Interview with Vanessa
Why? The entrepreneurial musician. His business model allows him to create (and generate income from) the music he wants without the limits of a label.
Interview with Jonathan
- 19: Scott Kurtz - PvP
Why? The guy who is redefining the world of cartooning. And he's doing it on his terms.
- 20: Nate Houghteling and Kai Hasson - White Collar Brawler
Why? Quitting their day jobs create movement and an online web series and to become recreational fighters? This items is just amazing.
