mother of all things intelligently green
By annemarie on April 19, 2010 | Filed Under biz tips, eco friendly, faces & places
Here’s the full q&a of our conversation with Lisa Borden of Borden Communications + Design from a recent Mamas Rock profile. Lisa has so much passion that we just had to reprint our interview in full!
What inspired Borden Communications?
Having developed basic teaching and communication skills as a waterski instructor for seven summers for kids and having honed my design and marketing skills working for two years launching product lines for a major retailer, I realized that I could work on my own, and make a difference. There was clearly a niche for servicing small businesses and teaching others how to start a small business in 1994. There was also a need for businesses to operate morally and ethically. So, Borden Communications + Design Inc. was born in November of 1994 in the corner of my one bedroom apartment, when I was 22 years old. No money, no partner, no business plan…just a goal – to over deliver on every promise while maintaining a passion for the work at hand.
I married my Summer Camp Sweetheart, Rob. I became a mother to Ryan, Joey and Andy. These four people became, one by one, my everyday inspiration to continually seek out more innovative, more creative or simply better ways at doing the same thing. I am a self-declared Workaholic/Blackberry Addict/Chocoholic, who values Family Life as the most important part of life. Life is my challenge, but my life is worth it.
What gave you the confidence to take it from idea to reality?
Confidence? I don’t think I can credit starting my business to having confidence. I was 22 years old and had no clue what I was good at except that I took great pride in going over and above on everything, and seemed to have common sense as one of my strongest traits (no graduate degree though). I would have loved to have confidence, but, my family wasn’t overly understanding or supportive, the internet didn’t exist so it was impossible to immediately verify or research anything (can you imagine?! And no social networking or email either!), couriers would not deliver to residential addresses (I started in the corner of my one bedroom apt), banks didn’t accept small businesses the way they now do and sales reps wouldn’t even open accounts for me or book meetings. I think the challenge of it all inspired me to take each idea and find a solution that was efficient and affordable, and turn it into reality. It was always about little steps, doing better and turning ideas into reality with hard work.
Why is it important to you to raise awareness about dangerous chemicals in homes, schools and offices?
Far too often, I was having what I term “How-the-hell-didn’t-I-know-that!? Moments”. I personally cannot understand that as a reasonably educated, urban consumer and modern mom, I could have made such poor decisions – like using formula in BPA laden bottles even though I breastfed and made all of my own organic baby food, such as purchasing the “best” mattress for my unborn first child chock full of flame retardants, like slathering on Triclosan and ingesting toxins to keep my family “healthy” and “clean”, such as pre-dosing my baby with medicine containing food colouring and propylene glycol to numb the pain of vaccinations on my doctor’s suggestion. . .and I really thought I was doing right, really right!
Now, more than a decade and a half later with two more children (who were more privileged early on, as my life and business evolved), the good news is that we can always do better (and that’s the bad news too, in a way) and each little thing does add up. I love seeing progress and being a motivating factor behind the change!
Then, the day my eldest asked me, “Mommy, how come the store can sell it if it’s so bad for us?”, I realized even more that I needed to take action. His question was a good one. And, the answer is complex and challenging to explain to a nine year old without depressing everyone! “Um, let’s see, our government sucks at protecting us, companies don’t care as long as they are making money and too many listen to them rather than to their own common sense?” We can do better for our kids. Our children depend on us in every way. As parents, we can give them all they deserve – pure food, clear, non-toxic information, meaningful love and complete appreciation for all that they are. So, I try my best everyday. As a consulant, and my official title of “Idea Girl”, my clients depend on me and they too deserve the best. So, I try to empower and inspire them everyday also. Relentless in the pursuit of change, it seems counter intuitive to not constantly strive to do better for myself and everyone around me.
How did your working life change once you had kids?
Everything changes when we have kids – do you know of a parent that wouldn’t do better or more for their kids than they would for themselves?! Maybe it’s just that life became more intense – there was more to fear and worry about, less time in a day, but so much more to treasure and enjoy.
Do you run your business from home, or do you have an office?
I have an office in the basement of my home. . .complete with a separate entrance (read: work is without kids). . .very eco commute included.
How do you organize your workday? What kind of childcare arrangements do you have in place?
It took me nearly 10 years, but I learned NOT to organize my workday. I just work every moment that I can (lucky that I love it), and sometimes between work and the kids, I have to give up “me” time – things like, um, a pee break! My family is fortunate to have a wonderful live-in caregiver, and even though my husband and I pack the kids lunches, eat breakfast as a family, take the kids to school (two different ones) and pick them up, she is integral to our day to day life.
I know you have an office, but when you do work at home how to manage to carve out some space for yourself – both physically and in the sense of establishing distance from your kids?
Space for myself? Is that a real life concept?!? As mentioned, my office is my entire basement and I have a team that works with me, a separate entrance, a bathroom, a kitchenette and of course, our office space. It’s always been that way, so it’s never been difficult to physically separate work and home in that regard.
What are the rewards of having your own business?
You get to choose the rewards you want. . .which is, in my opinion, the greatest reward in itself. As a mother, I am so proud of my work, my contributions and the example that I set for my kids. Professionally, nothing feels better than being able to give and contribute to others’ successes every day. I adore making my own decisions and not having to bother with the politics so many need to deal with on a daily basis at work.
Do you miss anything about working for someone else?
Um. . .maternity leave, sick days and I hear there is such thing as real holidays too!
Do you have any tips for other entrepreneurial mamas?
Give up looking for balance. . .it doesn’t exist! But that’s okay, because, if you love what you do as a mother and for your work, just do the best you can everyday. I guarantee success. I live and work by this African Proverb: “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.“
I’ve worked with Lisa on naturebag and she is terrific! She is so much fun and really does care about our children’s future, about giving them intelligent alternatives to the status quo. Real moms making a real difference, it’s great to see her story on Yoyomama!
I have only three words:
Wow. Inspirational. Wow.
What a fantastic interview and Lisa, your personality and enthusiasm jumped off the page. I hung on every word and found so much inspiration.
Thank you for doing what you do … OK, that was more than 3 words but anyone who knows me, knows how long winded I am!
Sue
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Sue Sinclair, Chief Executive Mom, Raspberry Kids
Thanks for this interview! Coming from the corporate world (HR more specifically) we always talk about work/life balance and I think after several years in this environment I finally managed to *somewhat* achieve it (although I admit I am a blackberry addict as well!).
Now that I am a new entrepreneur, many of my friends and even my husband tells me I need to carve some time for myself– with a new business and a 4 month old, it doesn’t happen. But I don’t care– I am so excited about my new venture, my new baby that I don’t mind. I thought maaaaybe balance would come later on, and maybe it will. But I loved how Lisa boldly says it doesn’t exist (no one is bold enough to say that in the corporate world!) and I will take her advice… as long as I am loving what I do, I will give up looking for balance!
Thanks again,
Sarah
http://www.thebabyfootprint.com