ALL STYLE AND NO SUBSTANCE IS RUIN
I have bought enough clothing over the years to fill an entire department store and thankfully, I have been able to establish some incredible business and personal relationships. I spend my time helping individuals and companies turn fashion into something more than clothes and colors. I have learned that companies, like people, get all dressed up and present their best image to the public. There is always a problem when the image does not match the reality of the person or the business. I call this SUBSTANCE. You can be all dressed up and have on right colors, but if your personal beliefs lack character and integrity then the clothes can hide the person but so long. Eventually, no matter how great you look on the outside, the inside is going to leak through. The final picture, fashion statement or as I say personal brand is going to ruin the entire outfit. Just like an apple – it can look absolutely beautiful on the outside, but be rotten and have a worm on the inside – typically you find out AFTER you have taken a bite.
Companies are the same way. No matter how many great words they use or expensive commercials they produce, no matter how well we can DRESS THEM UP – if the management and the employees of the company do not care about value, quality, integrity and service, the company will eventually fail. The government has a saying for businesses that is truly incorrect and shows that our leaders do not understand the capitalist entrepreneurial system that builds a great business. Uncle Sam has come up with a term TOO BIG TO FAIL, and quite honestly we have learned that any company, no matter how big it may be or become, can fail! Failure is not because of the company itself, but better reflects that the company management lacks SUBSTANCE.
The company may have crystal towers and the world’s most innovative websites, but if the inside does not complement the fashion on the outside and does not have some substance, that company can and will eventually fail. Their customers begin to notice that the company is all flash and no promise! Just like a dressed up professional or an athlete that can’t perform, if the company has no SUBSTANCE it will fail. Substance is not created; it is not something that amazing marketing and PR produces. Substance is the character of the company. It is the management and people that reflect Truth, Honesty, Great Service, Real Quality and Superior Value. When the buying public knows that the flash and marketing actually is backed up by Substance, we will spend our hard earned dollars turning that company into a profitable organization that can create jobs, grow in size and sales and give them our vote of confidence by sending our friends and family there to do business.
So when you are starting a business, or looking to dress one up, remember that the Style is only important when it is backed up by substance! Management can turn around a business or create a new one that will succeed, all they need to do is provide great STYLE and INNOVATION and back it up with SUBSTANCE. Growing companies, just like improved relationships, are built on the value of relationships, quality of product, integrity, truth and a desire to serve!!!
Success is planned and it is when Style and Substance come together and create a winning combination! The opposite is true as well If you have incredible substance but lack the outside that says you do; many people will never have the honor of working with you because they may not believe, simply from the outside, that you can do the job you say you can do. First impressions are everything if you have the substance, let’s work on the outside together to create a winning combination!
Photo courtesy of www.istockphoto.com
Image | Brand | Fashion
Mila@modaimageconsulting.com | www.ModaImageConsulting.com
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