Monday, October 29, 2012

Four Factors That Will Destroy A Business' Foundation

Small problems can grow quickly as a company grows. It;s always a very tricky situation for many business owners as they try to grow their company. There are many factors that must be considered as you lead a company and here several that are known to plague even the best of teams.

We see four common pitfalls occur as businesses grow from small to medium and into large businesses. Left unchecked, they can do serious damage.

1. Unclear Vision
One of the most problematic dysfunctions is when the company’s strategic vision and mission is unclear, or constantly changing. Oftentimes, due to high turnover and/or misaligned incentives at the executive level, organizations can become shortsighted. When executives are operating to meet short-term goals, the organization may suffer. Alternatively, the vision might be clear, but if management’s actions do not line up with the stated objectives and mission, employees are highly demotivated due to the mixed signals they are receiving. This will very quickly lead to a frustrated and ineffective team.

2. Poor Leadership
Similar to having an unclear vision, a lack of strategic alignment amongst management can be highly damaging to an organization. If each executive has differing (and possibly conflicting) objectives and insights, investments of time, money, and resources can be counterproductive. Complex strategies are not necessary to running a successful business, but efficient management is essential. Management teams need to organize, plan, align and motivate employees to lead the organization in an effective way. And while it is important for management to align themselves, it is equally important for management to align with the other team members. After all, they are still apart of a larger team.

3. Change-Averse Culture
Employees generally have a desire to feel as though their contributions make a difference and their opinions make a difference; however, many organizations can be viewed as change averse. This can be a result of management teams that view people who disagree with the strategy as a nuisance or not a team player. To avoid this problem, management needs to put their trust in the people they’ve hired and empower them through true ownership.

4. Bureaucracy
Many companies are structured with too many organizational layers, which makes it difficult to get things done. Time is wasted navigating the organizational layers rather than creating results. This leads to attrition of highly motivated employees and decreases productivity.

While we’ve seen these dysfunctions in large organizations, it is critical for growing businesses to recognize these operational warning signs as the company grows. Businesses become dysfunctional over time, so management needs to be proactive in resolving problems as they arise. Take some time to assess the health of your company and adjust accordingly. Don’t let dysfunction creep into your team.

*****article originally posted via INC Magazine***

Monday, October 08, 2012

DIY Monday: Pom Pom Love!

Over the weekend there was quite a lot of pom-pom making happening. With the bursts of color and unusual ball of fluffiness, pom-poms are now one of the favorite things on the list. Dahlialike pom-poms appear to float in the air; but in reality they are hung from the ceiling with monofilament. Want to ring in the holidays in the pom-pom cheer? Then try the vibrant hanging puffs, pom-pom napkin rings in citrus shades adorn each place setting. Try using any sort of tissue paper you love and you will be sure to be on your way to a grand statement.

classically chic life and pom-pons-martha stewart wedding

you can use them in wedding design...

classically chic life and pom-pons-martha stewart wedding

or just for a social gathering...

classically chic life and pom-pons-martha stewart wedding

or if you'd like to make a chandelier inside...



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Easy Bites: Tomato and Mozzarella Salad


These last few months have been like a fog, with the days flying by and the nights rolling into the mornings in just a blink, it seems. With long work hours, comes cravings for all sorts of weird combinations but there is something that I have absolutely always enjoyed snacking on - a crispy tomato basil salad. I came across this recipe on Savory Sweet Life and I love it. Today, I want to share with you an amazing recipe for your food files.

Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad 

Recipe type: Side Dish Serves: 4-6

Ingredients
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
8 ounces fresh “mini” mozzerella pearls
4 tablespoons olive oil
18 basil leaves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper




Instructions
Simply add the cherry tomatoes and mozzerella cheese to a medium bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes and mozzerella. Add the basil, salt, and pepper, and gently toss all the ingredients. 


images via

Monday, September 24, 2012

A Whole New Ball of Candy..and Blog Too!

A while back, I wrote a blog called the Business of Blogging highlighting why blogging is a business and the steps for ensuring your blog can be structured like any other business. About a week and a half ago, I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the Houston Bloggers Symposium and it was a great event. There are a lot of wonderful bloggers here in Houston with so much to learn from. Well, that made me think - what is the purpose of this blog? To be honest, I haven't been using my own advice and so it feels very hypocritical. After much soul searching (or brain racking, depending on who you ask), I have realized that this blog should be a resource for readers..


A resource for the happenings in Houston (or elsewhere depending on my travels), for helping small business owners and entrepreneurs grow their business through marketing and branding, for sharing stories, recipes, creative DIYs, fashion and paper goods.


A place where you can read about the fun and informative things...


And, my newest hobby, Reviews


Reviews you may ask, what sort of reviews? Well, I found that I love many things and a few of those things are vintage, handmade goods which I am sure there are a lot of vintage aficionados out there. So, every week I will review purchases and goods that I've run across or bought that are vintage and handmade. I'll give you my scoop in hopes that it may be beneficial to you. And who knows, it may just be loads of fun to share. Well, at least I hope so.

until next time..


Saturday, September 22, 2012

A Whirlwind of a Week!!

It's been a whirlwind sort of week. With the launch of the Koby and Kylie Co. line and the announcement of the ModMade Goods pop-up shop, we've been busy bees. In other news, we are redesigning this blog to make it much more informative and interactive to accompany the growth of all my endeavors. I hope you will stay along for the ride.


until next time...

Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday's Quote of the Week!




until next time...

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

This and That Wednesday!

While I have been busy with my head buried in the books, figuratively, New York Fashion Week will literally end in a New York minute and I have yet to get a glimpse of all the great pieces on the runway. Yesterday I spotted a few pieces from the DVF show and loved them. How can you not love Diane von Furstenberg? Council of Fashion Designers of America president and grande dame of New York Fashion Week, she showed her collection on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Center and here are two pieces I adored!



until next time...