20 Unconventional Entrepreneurs Which Will Inspire You7866045
I just 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 many situations it was a parade of traditional entrepreneurship, although it was a sound class. For example, here were common steps heard throughout the semester:
Think of an idea.
Research the heck out of the thought, compose a business plan that is huge, raise money, create company.
Wave goodbye to family and friends as now your life is your business.
Expand business by hiring one zillion people, after creating company and move into every market on the planet.
Following your enormous expansion into a worldwide domination, sell your company 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 particular guidance per say. The truth is, there was a parade of special guests through the term 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 guidance and instead more in the constraints of it. Significance, entrepreneurship certainly does not have to look like, feel like, be like or follow most of those steps. It is like offering a class on sports, but the only real sport covered is baseball.
Fact is, there are many kinds of entrepreneurs.
There are entrepreneurs whose entire aim would be to build a business and sell it for as much as possible or take it public. All 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 am from in St. Louis contain 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 that are in more traditional businesses who have no aspirations of selling but rather look to make a living brick and mortar design. An example may be the corner bakery or a clothing boutique.
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.
But, there is another group all together that I wager you are part of (I understand I am). And that's the non-traditional entrepreneurs. Characteristics of the group include:
Doing work that questions. Not merely work to earn a dollar (such as selling unusual vitamin nutritional supplements online..unless you are ridiculously enthusiastic about vitamins, and in that case stone on). Work that you are passionate about. Work that makes a difference. Work which is art. Cash follows passion and not the other way around.
Challenging the manner it has always been done. Altering industries which have been stuck for years (or decades or centuries).
Appreciating the fruits of our work. No, this does not mean non-traditional entrepreneurs do not work difficult. It only means we understand and live by the doctrine that there surely is more to life than just work (passions and hobbies outside work, friends and family, enjoying life the way you would like to).
Does this mean as an unconventional entrepreneur that your business can't be sold by you or hire a bunch of people? Not at all. It only ensures that you aren't conforming to the bounds of traditional entrepreneurs.
Since 2008, I've had the unbelievable opportunity to interview over 300 entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. Conventional and non-conventional. Tremendous companies and solopreneurs. People that have sold others among 50 companies that have started one. But I Had need to mention, if I was hard pressed, my favorite ones are the unconventional ones (and that's where most interviews will drop in the immediate future). Mr Thomas Caufmann Here is listing of them, in no special order, that I wager you will pick up thoughts insights and inspiration from. Enjoy!
Why? Successful not yet fulfilled from his previous venture, Andrew has made it his life's mission to inspire and help startups.
Interview with Andrew
- 2: Ishita Gupta - panic.less
Why? Who says magazines must be in print? Consistently a disrupter, Ishita is changing the publishing world through her unique magazine panic.less.
- 3: Tucker Max - TuckerMax.com
Why? Rejected by everyone in the publishing world, Tucker did not give up. Rather, he took his crazy, hilarious stories to the World Wide Web and results have been astounding.
- 4: Seth Godin - SethGodin.com
Why? Leader and the quintessential disrupter, Seth Godin is throwing a wrench to the publishing business with The Domino Project.
Why? Is it feasible to make a living by infiltrating and learning from the secret world of stars, pick up multiple and artists -passport world travelers that are sneaky? It has been done by Neil.
Interview with Neil
- 6: Chris Guillebeau - ChrisGuillebeau.com
Why? Being an expert writer in 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 created an empire from his hilarious and unique comic strips.
- 8: Rob and Kim Murgatroyd - JetSetLife.TV
Why? They created one of the greatest jobs ever for themselves: composing unique, insider guidebooks and Traveling to the poshest places in the world. Sweet.
Interview with Rob and Kim
Why? Exactly what does Jason get to do all day? He's paid to wear tops and create all kinds of other goodies as well as enjoyable videos online. Sweet.
Interview with Jason
Why? Yes, we all understand Tim has inspired an amazing quantity of people to work less, live more (and more lately, get in great shape), however there's a great deal to understand from how Tim has created his own company and lifestyle. He's a walking version of entrepreneurship that is unconventional.
- 11: Scott Ginsberg - HelloMyNameIsScott.com
Why? The guy who has built an empire around wearing a name tag regular for the previous 10 years and counting. You need to see it to believe it.
- 12: Michael Buckley - What The Buck
Why? Michael turned it into his dream profession and took a love for pop culture. His show, What The Buck, is one of YouTube's most popular
- 13: Adam Baker - Man Vs. Debt
Why? Can the act of sharing the insights become a company and getting yourself out of debt? Leave Adam Baker to turn it into one with it.
Interview with Adam
- 14: Chris Ducker - Virtual Business Lifestyle
Why? Chris walks the walk and talks the talk. He is likely running his business from a shore somewhere, as I type this.
Interview with Chris
- 15: Gregory Ng - Freezer Burns
Why? Two words: Frozen food. That's the subject matter of this non-traditional entrepreneur's internet show.
- 16: Elizabeth Marshall - Author Telesminars
Why? She turned it into a fantastic profession and found her passion for novels. The very best part might be she gets the pick of the litter when it comes 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 expanded 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 needs without the limits 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.
Interview with Scott Kurtz
- 20: Nate Houghteling and Kai Hasson - White Collar Brawler
Why? Quitting their day jobs to become recreational boxers and create a web-based web series and movement? This items is simply wonderful.
