The Pinning Culture: Can You ACTUALLY DIY?

We’re living in a DIY world. After the creation of Pinterest, ideas and pictures of of things that you could easily do yourself at home spread from computer to computer faster than you can say sparkles. Brides, stay-at-home moms, broke college students and everyone in-between started trying to make their homes the poster child of Pottery Barn. 

However, if you look hard enough, you can find the “Pinterest Fail” boards as well. Yes it’s fun to to try out new ideas and crafts in a way so when the product does not look like Martha Stewart’s own handiwork, it’s all right. However, when it comes to big things, sometimes it’s best to not go it completely on your own.   

Attempting to actually build something that will have to support weight? If so, think about your materials. The instructions might call for a cheap, easy alternative but if you want your creation to last, think about using a more supportive and long-lasting material. This might be more expensive, but worth it in the long run. Or, if you don't feel comfortable working with higher quality materials, search for pre-built basic shapes or items. That way you can worry about the fun part--decorating. 

Often DIY projects require intricate materials or decoration. Instead of trying to etch metal by hand, screen print onto fabric without a screen-printer, solder small things or anything that requires a lot of technical skill, search for an already made object that you could easily attach. Also, if the technique that is called for is somewhat dangerous, it's probably best to find a pre-made alternative.

The more the merrier! Try getting a group of friends together to try out all your Pinterest ideas. It will be more fun when you have people around to bounce ideas off of, share materials and a good laugh.  

Getting Everyone Together

Ever feel like everyone is not onboard with something? When all team members are not motivated to stay on the same page, it can be the most frustrating thing for employers or team leaders. Here are some tips and tricks to convince everyone to "buy in" to the same idea.


1. Practice Makes Perfect: If you're trying to implement a system or set of actions, remember to continually demonstrate the preferred way. Having everyone practice the correct way of something will ingrain best practices.


2. Show, don't Tell: Have supervisors, team leaders and those leading others be models of good behavior. It's important that everyone participates, not just entry-level employees. 

3. Communication is a Two-Way Street: Remember to keep open channels of communication. If a team member is doing something wrong, remind them of end goals or best practices in a professional manner. On the flip side, keep an open mind when it comes to critiques of the system. If an employee approaches you with a concern or a different way of doing things, don't take offense. Take it into consideration

Whether you're trying to implement new safety systems, ways of maintaining records or a new office culture, it's important to follow through. Don't launch a new system and fail to maintain it.

Increase Your Overall Productivity

If you own your own business, you know it's important to always be working towards increased productivity. One great way to help the overall business is by starting with your workers. Take a look at these tips on how to improve your overall business by starting with individuals.

1. Is there a career plan or path for employees? It's important for employees to know where their careers are headed and how to develop their skills. Think of developing career paths for employees of the same skill set.

2. Everyone conducts interviews when they're hiring, but exit interviews are just as important. The employee can provide the supervisors with some much-needed feedback on the company and its practices and policies.

3. Do you provide employees with training sessions? If not, then start developing training sessions that focus on the most important skills that they need. These sessions might focus on new technology, how to better use current equipment or other relevant topics.

4. Keep your employees in the loop when it comes to performance. Employee performance indicators or quarterly evaluations will help keep everyone on track. It will also help employees succeed, since they'll know where they'll need to improve their workplace skills.

Check out sites like this one that provide your company with best practices and how to improve workplace productivity.

Keeping Your Office Organized

Looking around your office, what do you see?

No, we're not talking about desks and chairs and computers. We're talking about storage. Does your office have storage lockers, boxes or cabinets? Are there rows and rows of file cabinets? Or is everything in piles, haphazardly moved off of the floor?

It's important for businesses to keep organized. Even if it's a small business, important contacts, papers and items can get lost in a shuffle, and fast. If just one person is able to make a mess, just think of  how big a mess a group of five, ten or even a hundred people could make. Here's a couple tips to keep your business organized:

1. Create a filling or organizational system, and stick to it. Decide where memos, contact information, office supplies, etc. should go. There's nothing worse than having multiple piles or folders for the same thing. When all of one item is in one place, it saves time, extra money and unnecessary frustration for those employees who come looking for it.

2. Even though it might cost money, invest in some sort of storage. It doesn't have to be modern or improve the office decor, but any kind of storage unit is better than nothing. Make sure that whatever storage you get is enough to hold all your current items, plus a little more.

3. Maybe your company or workplace already has storage units, but they are all over the place, unorganized and unrecognizable. Yes, it sounds redundant and unnecessary, but  your organizers need organizing too. If you don't like the idea of stickers, think about metal nameplates like the ones pictured below. Metal signage can come in a variety of styles and colors to meet your needs. Also think of using an alpha-numeric code to further organize cabinets or boxes.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Name Plate Etching Comapany, www.dnpe.com

There's no 'standard' system for organizing  your office. Each company or business is different and needs a different organizational plan. Whatever you choose, make sure that it's understandable and logical. Also, let fellow employees know, so that everyone can work together to keep your shared workplace organized.

LCD revolution

Are you ready for the LCD display revolution?

Signs are dead. That right. They’re done. People want more interactivity from their environment.

The problem with traditional signs is that they offer a “one size fits all” approach to content. Everybody who looks at a sign will see the same information. The problem is that not everyone wants the same information. By using LCDs for your marketing, your brand can focus its efforts on more specific niches.

A simple example of this is restaurants: it used to be the some restaurants would have a glass case outside of the building with a copy of their menu. While that worked well enough, it had its limitations. Menus often didn’t inlcude specials and they were kind of boring. This company has been helping restaurants by creating digital displays that they can display outside of their building. Now they can have graphics and animations when people walk by.

This technology can be adapted in a number of ways. Looking for a way to promote your event? Just grab an LCD display, set it up outside your building and have it run a simple animation displaying your content.  You can even set it up to show different copy during different times of day.

5 Popular Aftermarket Auto Parts

Next to your home, your car is the biggest investment you have. Besides the usual upkeep of rotating the tires, getting the oil changed and the occasional vacuuming there are other ways to keep up the look of your favorite auto. It's an extension of yourself and with a little TLC you can add on to it and make your car go a long way.   

• Tire and Rims. Stuck with the same old stock tires that you got when you first purchased your vehicle? Kick it up a notch the next time your reach 25,000 miles. Yeah, that about how long you should ride them. Pick up some performance tires and grip the road. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll drive but you'll also save on fuel.  
• Taillights and Headlamps. Equip your car with the least technology so that you can see and others can see you. Headlamps have come a long way and now with the newest LEDs. Aftermarket part stores offer headlamps for all makes and models. They are very easy to install and you'll be seeing farther at night and in bad weather in a snap. Also, new headlamps (and taillights) give your car that new look that is very appealing. Well worth the money if you drive at night a lot. 
• Boot Shifters. If you drive a Manual transmission then you know just how easy it is for your boot around your stick to wear out. That's because auto manufactures ship low quality boot shifters to lower the cost of the vehicle. This is one of the most popular parts to be replaced. Higher quality leather and reinforced stitching is used. Also, in most cases, the consumer can choose between a variety of colors to better suit the vehicle. 
• Brakes. Probably the most important part on you car is the brakes, Just think about how many times and at what pressure you apply your brakes in a given ride to the grocery store. But you probably didn't know that brake shoes and pads come in a variety of choices to customize your car. This is important because every car is different. When it comes to replacing your brakes after 30,000 miles go to an aftermarket supplier and get the right ones that will suit your needs. Remember you get what you pay for - cheap brakes are cheap brakes. And when you are driving in the rain with a van full of kids you'll want peace of mind knowing that you'll be able to stop when you need to. 
• Ignition Systems. In this day and age of technology it only makes sense that you should be able to warm up you car in the cold winter before you get in it. Having a remote start is becoming more and more common these days. Even companies like Verizon Wireless are getting into this type of tech. With their remote system you can start you car from your smartphone. And it doesn't stop there; remember that you can use it to cool down your car by starting the A/C on those hot summer days. 

Simple solutions to keep you car running a looking good year round. Now go out and enjoy the open road!

Membership Has It's Privileges

Groucho Marx once said, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member". That's nearly impossible to do today. Everywhere you go businesses are in your face, in your mail, on your phone and on your computer asking you to become a member of one thing or another. How do you know what are the best for your money? Surprisingly, there are a select few that may be worth your investment. 

Museums and Zoo Memberships

Do you have kids? Nothing is more educational to a child (or yourself) then getting them to experience life and culture with their own eyes and ears. Museums are not only affordable but you can get parking passes and behind the scene tours of the best exhibits. When limited engagement are displayed, members can get a special preview before the non-member public. Many zoos and museums also have reciprocal agreements with other venues around the country. It's also a great way too get exercise.

Gym Memberships

Need to get a little more healthy? A gym is only good if you use it but if you do, you can take advantage of lower renewal costs. Paying for a membership also gives you the motivation to work out. It can be a bother to some in our daily lives to get up and get out the door, but for most of us that is exactly what we need. Gym memberships have tiered pricing so be aware of what you're signing up for and if you pay for the extra Spinning or Zumba class, be sure to attend so you don't waste your money. Ultimately the membership is an investment in yourself and a very important one at that.

Dining Memberships

Have favorite restaurant? Then a membership of any sort is the right idea. From getting a punch card at the sandwich shop to having a full on Dining Club membership, these small signups can save you lots of money. You may not think so but 10% off of a carryout or 25% off a birthday or anniversary dinner can go along way. Some dining clubs have even more offers like preferred seating and advanced reservations for holiday's like Valentine's Day dinner or Mother's Day brunch!

Amazon Prime Membership

Do you do any sort of shopping in the internet? Then this membership is a must. Amazon sells more then just books and movies - much more. The Prime membership is only $79 per year and is chock full of benefits and will pay for itself in just a handful of purchases. Some of the privileges are free two-day Shipping, no minimum order size, unlimited instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with Prime Instant Videos and probably the best and most convent feature: members-only 1-click buttons on product pages.

With a little planning with your budget in the short term you can save money long term. 

What other memberships are good to join?