Flying. The ancient Greeks wrote myths about it, Leonardo da Vinci sketched machines to do it, and the Wright brothers finally made it a reality. Through the ages, people have dreamed of the freedom, the exhilaration, the personal power of flight.

Herbalife Founder Mark Hughes was a visionary, but when he opened the trunk of his car to sell the first bottles of Formula 1, he probably had no idea that the company would grow to be one of the best-known direct selling companies in the industry, conducting business in 72 countries worldwide.

Grace’s story is similar to so many others Gold Canyon Founders Curt and Karen Waisath have heard: It starts with a happy family. Mom and Dad are working. The kids are healthy. Then, suddenly, a child falls ill. Tests are conducted. A diagnosis is returned. Lives are changed forever.

Throughout the varying stages of our careers, as practicing dermatologists, product developers, entrepreneurs and businesswomen, time and again, we have experienced our greatest successes when we allowed ourselves to be guided by our passion, particularly when that meant “doing it better by thinking outside the box.”

One hundred and forty billion gallons. According to the U.S. Energy Administration’s most recent numbers, that’s how much gasoline Americans use annually. Aside from the huge costs to consumers, this staggering number also affects the environment. As consumption continues to rise, more and more harmful chemicals are emitted into the atmosphere.

When the unique little company from Idaho burst onto the direct selling scene in July 2004, who could have predicted that Scentsy’s far-from-spectacular start would almost instantly transform into such a scent-illating story? Certainly not its founders.