Companiesandme

Owning my own business comes naturally to me - it’s almost like walking or breathing. As a child I sold vegetables, plants and my artwork at the bottom of my driveway or to neighbors. I frequently inquired about the many aspects of owning a business to my parents and grandparents (who were entrepreneurs – piano teachers, a publisher and a farmer).  

I enjoy the process of creating something from an idea. Ideas are essentially an internal gesture, created from my life’s experiences. There are many different types of ideas –  some examples are a product, manufacturing procedure or a marketing strategy. The process from idea to reality is flowing and not ever following the same path. To be successful I feel that you must listen, be collaborative, not have set expectations to the process and have a clear intention of what you want your customer to experience.  

These ideas come from re-creating an existing product, service or process that has room for improvement and may contribute to the greater good. For example, I started buying organic cotton in 1990 simply because I knew that organic was better for the planet, or using bottles made from recycled plastic versus virgin plastic, or using only pure essential oils versus synthetic fragrances. These “re-created” ideas aren’t unique. What’s special is the process to make them a reality and the intention to make it beneficial to each other and the environment.  

The current definition for business is understood as “making money for share holders and employees”. I believe that this is outdated and must evolve. While making money is absolutely important for the survival of your business, the concept of giving back and the respectful process by which you generate money is just as important.