20 Unconventional Entrepreneurs Which Will Inspire You6674785
I only took one entrepreneurship class in school (I was a Women's Studies major at Washington University in St. Louis...we will cut THAT narrative for now). In several cases it was a parade of traditional entrepreneurship, although it turned out to be a class that is strong. For instance, here were common steps heard throughout the semester:
Come up with an idea.
Research the heck from the notion, compose a business plan that is substantial, raise money, create business.
Wave goodbye to friends and family as now your life is your company.
Expand company by hiring one zillion folks, after creating business and move into every marketplace on earth.
Following your huge growth into a worldwide domination, sell your company for top dollar.
Post-sale, return to step one or retire to your own chosen island and wash, rinse, repeat.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this guidance per say. Actually, there was a parade of special guests through the term that shared their narrative that fit into those measures one way or another.
The issue, as I see it, is less instead more and in cogency of the advice in the limits of it. Meaning, feel like entrepreneurship certainly doesn't have to look like, be like or follow most of those measures. The only real sport is baseball, although it's sort of like offering a course on sports.
Fact is, there is a variety of of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose whole goal will be to establish a company and sell it for as much as you can or take it public. These are the "huge way outs" we hear about in the technology world.
There are entrepreneurs who create a business to franchise it (the E-Myth philosophy). Examples where I'm from in St. Louis contain a chain of tanning salons and massage parlors.
There are. Perhaps the factory makes hats or cups or something of the like.
There are entrepreneurs which can be in more traditional sectors that have no aspirations of selling but instead look to make a living brick and mortar design. An example might be a clothes boutique or the corner bakery.
There are Internet entrepreneurs focused on creative passive income by any means necessary to earn a living (and maybe appreciate life on the seashore or something). Example might be someone who sells vitamin supplements online.
However, there's another group all together that I wager you are part of (I understand I 'm). And that's the entrepreneurs that are non-traditional. Characteristics of this group include:
Doing work that matters. Not only work to make a dollar (such as selling odd vitamin nutritional supplements online..unless you're ridiculously passionate about vitamins, and in that case rock on). Work that you're passionate about. Work that makes a difference. Work that's artwork. Money follows passion and not the other way around.
Challenging the way it has been done. Doing it your way. Changing industries that have been stayed for years (or decades or centuries). Creative disrupters.
Appreciating the fruits of our labor. No, this doesn't mean non-traditional entrepreneurs do not work hard. It merely means we understand and live by the philosophy that there is a lot more to life than just work (passions and hobbies beyond work, friends and family, enjoying life the manner in which you want to).
Does this mean as an unusual entrepreneur that you hire a group of folks or can not sell your company? Not at all. It just means that you aren't conforming to the confines of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I Have had the unbelievable opportunity to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of sizes and shapes. Traditional and non-traditional. Enormous businesses and solopreneurs. People who have sold 50 businesses and others which have started one. But I'd have to mention, if I had been hard pressed, my favourite ones will be the unconventional ones (and that is where most interviews will fall in the immediate future). Thomas Caufmann Here is a list of 20 of them, in no special order, that I bet you'll pick up inspiration, thoughts and insights from. Enjoy!
- 1: Andrew Warner - Mixergy.com
Why? Successful not yet fulfilled from his previous venture, Andrew has made it his life's mission.
- 2: Ishita Gupta - anxiety.less
Why? Who says magazines need to be in print? Consistently a disrupter, Ishita is changing the publishing world through her exceptional magazine anxiety.less.
- 3: Tucker Max - TuckerMax.com
Why? Rejected by everybody in the publishing world, Tucker did not give up. Rather, he took his crazy, hilarious stories to the Internet and results have been astounding.
Interview with Tucker
- 4: Seth Godin - SethGodin.com
Why? The quintessential disrupter and leader, Seth Godin is throwing a wrench to the publishing business with The Domino Project.
Why? Is it feasible to earn an income by learning and infiltrating from the secret world of stars, pick up multiple and artists -passport world travelers that are sneaky? Neil has done it.
Why? Being a specialist writer in significantly 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 created an empire from his unique and hilarious comics.
- 8: Kim Murgatroyd and Rob - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created among the greatest jobs ever Traveling to the world's poshest areas and composing unique, insider guidebooks. Sweet.
Interview with Rob and Kim
- 9: Jason Sadler - IWearYourShirt.com
Why? Exactly what does all day, Jason get to do? He's paid to wear shirts and create a variety of other goodies as well as entertaining videos online. Sweet.
Interview with Jason
- 10: Tim Ferriss - FourHourWorkWeek.com
Why? Yes, all of US understand Tim has inspired an amazing amount of people to work less, live more (and more lately, get in great shape), however there is a great deal to understand from how Tim has created his own business and lifestyle. He is a walking version of unusual entrepreneurship.
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 must see it to believe it.
Interview with Scott
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Dollar
Why? Michael turned it into his dream career and took a love for pop culture. His show, What The Buck, is certainly one of YouTube's most popular
- 13: Adam Baker - Man Vs. Debt
Why? Can the action of sharing the insights become a company and getting yourself? Leave Adam Baker to turn it with it.
Interview with Adam
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Company Lifestyle
Why? Chris walks the walk and talks the talk. As I type this, his company is likely running from a shore somewhere.
Interview with Chris
- 15: Gregory Ng - Freezer Burns
Why? That is the subject matter of the unusual entrepreneur's internet show.
- 16: Elizabeth Marshall - Author Telesminars
Why? She turned it into an amazing career and found her passion for novels. The best part might be she gets the pick of the litter in regards to her customers.
Interview with Elizabeth
- 17: Vanessa Van Petten - RadicalParenting.com
Why? Vanessa didn't wait to be decided. A parenting book was written by her from a teen's perspective when she was a teen. Her empire has unbelievable grown since then and she gets to do every day what she loves.
Interview with Vanessa
- 18: Jonathan Coulton - JonathanCoulton.com
Why? The entrepreneurial musician. His business model permits him to create (and generate profits from) the music he desires without the bounds of a label.
Interview with Jonathan
- 19: Scott Kurtz - PvP
Why? The guy who is redefining the world of cartooning. And it is being done by him .
- 20: Kai Hasson and Nate Houghteling - White Collar Brawler
Why? Quitting their day jobs make a web-based web series and movement and to become recreational fighters? This stuff is simply amazing.
