It may be an offshoot of my own personal resistance to authority in the workplace, but I have never really subscribed to an especially hierarchical structure in our company. In my pre-C.E.O. days, I was always trying to position myself as independently as possible, making my own hours, avoiding time slots where I would be subjected to a lot of management meetings, even talking myself into a pretty comfortable “work-from-home” schedule at one point. This may sound incredibly clever and lazy, but in truth, I just wasn’t a big fan of hierarchies that were designed to squeeze as many productive hours out of its employees as possible, with the assumption I, the employee, needed that structure to be productive. At the end of the day, despite my little rebellions, I was able to get all of my work done–possibly more than I would have otherwise.

So when I found my way into entrepreneurship, I wasn’t especially surprised when the schedule and flexibility suited me very well. Now that I am the big boss lady of course I adhere to the 9-5 + schedule, because honestly if I didn’t I’d never catch up. Outside of my being the overarching “boss” however, I try to avoid burdening our staff with unnecessary bureaucracy within the company itself.

At a recent meeting with prospective clients, I was asked about our company structure. While we have members of the team who I would call “key players” namely due to their experience and long-term knowledge of the company, we are each masters of our domain in many respects, which is precisely how I answered the question. Our “hierarchy” is based on knowledge of what we do, and together, those who know more or less about a particular subject do not represent a stereotypical “ladder.” At least in our cozy Salem office, our varied skills and expertise represent degrees of knowledge in many fields of this industry. (more…)

Valentine’s Day conjures a lot of different feelings for different people, from love to resentment to indifference. This year, happily married, I find that it means more to me than simply having a significant other versus being alone, or even getting the usual trinkets, chocolates, flowers, etc. This year Valentine’s day is a celebration of the many amazing relationships that I have in my life. I am partial to my husband of course… I did get some beautiful flowers and a brand new kitchen after all! I’m sure I get some points from him too, for bearing his children and what not.

We spent this weekend with our family, as we often do. Today I was again reminded of how lucky I am to be a part of my husband’s especially large and welcoming family, who I hope I will never take for granted. We spent the morning with “Mamama & Papapa,” my husband’s grandparents. Even at their advanced age, you can find moments of intimacy between them. A hug they thought we didn’t see, or the silent understanding between them as they go about their morning. This all exists between the hearing-challenged bickering of course, which I cannot help but find cute. As we left, both gave me a big hug and kiss and told me that they loved me. I know they say it not out of habit or obligation, but because they mean it.

And of course there are our parents, cousins and siblings, who since our move from Florida have become so integral to our daily lives. I’ve maintained friendships from across the globe, having moved so frequently, but having a tight-knit community and our best friends essentially in our backyard is priceless. They care about our children, our successes and supporting each other when we need it most. You know you’re in the “crew” if you have low ball glasses dedicated to you in our liquor cabinet. (more…)