Meet Janet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janet, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk-taking is only scary if you let it be. Most people would agree that you have to take some risks to keep moving forward towards achieving your goals. The key is to 1) have a clear vision of your goals, 2) know your limits, and 3) take only “calculated” risks, if you can.

I think of risk-taking using the 4-Quadrant Matrix of Risk & Reward. Where my idea lands determines whether I move forward and how much planning and effort I put into it. High risk, low reward – no go… High risk, high reward – pursue, but with LOTS of planning to minimize known risks. With this framework, I have abandoned ideas that seemed cool but just didn’t make sense, and successfully achieved things that seemed scary but actually were not, with planning.

I recently listened to a Freakonomics podcast called “How to Succeed at Failing”. One of the comments that most stuck with me was the importance of considering if you were to fail, why would that be? We are all really good at planning for success, but do we spend enough time considering all the factors that could make us fail? Do we take the time to step back and say: let’s fast-forward and assume this project was a flop; what *might have happened? After all, most risk lies within something we forgot about. If we knew about it, we likely planned for it!

Using this philosophy throughout my life and career is definitely what has allowed me to see and experience so much in the world, to keep pushing myself to learn and grow, and ultimately to feel knowledgeable and prepared enough to start my own business with something I feel passionate about.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business, Calendula Botanicals, offers a variety of all-natural, hand-made soap products. Handmade soap is definitely a saturated market with a lot of competition! I founded my business with several core values and principles that I believe set me apart: 1) all-natural ingredients; 2) a focus on environmental impact; 3) integrating herbalism; and 4) affordable prices.

To expand on that: I use only natural ingredients – no fragrance oils, no artificial coloring. I want people to know what they are putting on their skin without having to look up the ingredients to understand what they are. And honestly, I geek out over trying to figure out how to achieve beautiful colors and designs using only botanicals, foods, and natural cosmetic clays. I have a persistent focus on environmental impact. My labels and packaging are either recyclable (paper) or compostable – no plastic, ever! This is extremely important to me. I incorporate skin-loving botanicals where I can, with Calendula- no surprise- being my favorite. Many of my soaps feature oil- or liquid- infusions of this and other beneficial herbs. And finally, I am committed to offering products that are affordable to more people. Hand-crafted bars aren’t very economical to make and 10-pack bars at the grocery store will always be cheaper; but I am focused on offering a few basic, no-frills bars to enable more people to try natural bars should they desire to do so.

I am most proud of my growing line of “Colorado Proud” products, which use a majority of ingredients sourced locally in Colorado. It has been a challenge to craft recipes that use primarily tallow, sunflower oil, and beeswax as core ingredients, but I am committed to supporting Local business and agriculture. Side note, if you know a Colorado producer of nut/vegetable/fruit oils, or bulk essential oils, please send them my way.

My business is still small, but growing. I have learned a lot along the way. Without a doubt, knowing and listening to your customers is key. I have made so many bars I thought were amazing, only to learn people didn’t actually buy or use them. So many times I have heard: “but it’s so pretty, I would not want to use it!” Well, that doesn’t do a lot for repeat business. I have had to learn to balance my “emotional” disappointment with my customers not loving the product I invested my heart and soul into, with a pragmatic view of what actually sells. Combining this valuable customer feedback with my own pragmatic financial and operations background is what has allowed me to be successful. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m definitely a nature person, so we would spend more time in the mountains than we would in the City. In Colorado, we are so fortunate to have so many beautiful places to visit! I love taking visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park. In the opposite direction, the Sand Dunes are also spectacular. For the road less traveled, I really like the La Veta / Spanish Peaks area. If we wanted to stay closer to town, I would for sure visit the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Museum of Nature & Science, maybe followed by dinner at the Cherry Cricket – an old fave.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my running friends and coach in my running group – Runner’s Edge of the Rockies (based in Denver). Over miles of running trails for several years now, my friends have heard all about my trials in soap-making, tested my products, gave feedback, and supported me with positive affirmation the entire way. Our Coach Alex has been fantastic in encouraging me to “set up shop” at the end of our runs – which allowed me to get some small wins early on and build my confidence that I could turn my dreams into reality. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to actually launch my little business without the support of this amazing community.

Website: https://www.CalendulaBotanicals.com

Instagram: CalendulaSoapDenver

Image Credits
These are all my photos