Beauty From Chaos

I have used this phrase for as long as I can remember. Those of you that have worked with me over the years have heard it a million times. These three words mean a lot to me and they can signify many different things.

When you hear the word chaos what comes to mind? Disaster? Confusion? Disorganization? I am sure you are imagining so many things and guess what? You’re right. Just the word itself screams at you. Beauty on the other hand paints a distinctly different picture. Maybe it’s a mountain view or a painting where just the colors themselves stand out. Maybe it’s fashion and everything that it represents or a poem you just read where the words leave you feeling better inside. To me, you can’t have beauty without chaos. Think about it. Think about how that relates to everything you have done, seen or experienced.

Now how does this relate to business? I started using the phrase when I was a visual merchandise manager years ago. My team and I would strip the walls of our store clean, putting clothes and product on tables, racks other fixtures and sometimes the floor (sorry it happens) just to see a blank space and wall. It would be just insane in the store during that time. Stuff everywhere…chaotic. We would then start fresh by merchandising new product first then add the old. When the wall and fixtures were where we wanted them to be, we would stand back in awe appreciating our work…Beauty. So, I started saying it. Even though there was a HUGE mess, we would make it beautiful. Meaning…don’t stress about the process. Know that in the end it will be amazing. I have taken that with me and have used it for many situations.

Now that I am out of stores and focusing on the “why” I started Managing With Purpose and the “how” I will make it successful, I find it even more meaningful. I‘ve observed it in all of you out there working your butts off to make your stores and businesses successful. I especially notice chaos in new boutiques opening all over the city. The walls are adorned with incredible merchandise and layout and design are inspiring. Customers are loving the location and the product you are offering, but something seems to always be missing. It always seems a bit off kilter.

I find it hard to fathom “out to lunch” signs on a busy Saturday during peak times or sales people acting like they own the place, but can’t answer any questions or a lack of customer service while the stores’ Instagram is incredible. Why did you open a boutique? In-this-day-and-age where stores are closing left and right, shouldn’t your business be the best it can be? Wouldn’t you like to stay open for a while and gain a positive reputation? Or if you work for a major retailer don’t you want a positive review on Glassdoor or Yelp for a change? The answer is, I hope, yes. You just need to learn process. Let me help you get to beautiful.