Mom Turned Accidental Entrepreneur (and new Mamalution member)

[Lynn Hasselberger]

Here's a twist to the mom/business story. I quit my 70 hour/week advertising job a year before we adopted our son, Ethan. I never intended to be VP of Client Services... but as the years passed without being able to conceive, that is what happened. Although I went to college and ended up successful, my heart was set on being a mom.

So I gave up my six-figure salary, in my mid 30's, to be at home and get through all of the red tape of adoption (and mend my infertility-pour-myself-into-my-job-to-avoid-the-pain strained marriage). One year later, Ethan was born and joined our family at 2 days old (that's another amazing story).

When Ethan got into school and other activities, I could not believe the over-consumption of bottled water and other waste. Parents with cases of bottled water in the back of their cars to dole out between activities, garage refrigerators stocked full of bottled water and gatorade, as if their children were in training for a triathalon.

It was my son who inspired me to do something about it. I started with an environmental awareness program, which launched at his school in January, and custom designed reusable bottles. Then neighbors and friends started asking my advice about other things and before I knew it, I had a website and our laundry room turned into a stock room with many more eco-friendly products.

I am fortunate to have a husband who believes in me, with logic (and a bit of caution) and the ability to crunch numbers (I'm the creative risk-taker). I started the biz on 0% credit cards and and my husband has a day job so we can at least pay our normal bills.

When I go out with Ethan and talk to people on the streets, he (now 7) speaks up about bottled water, why we say no to plastic bags (just yesterday, he made a purchase and the cashier asked him if he'd like a bag for his ONE item and he laughed... "of course not" and turned to me shrugging and said, "Mom, why'd he ask me that?!) and blurts out our website and phone number! He's been on playdates and forgotten his reusable and my friends admonish me about his refusal to accept bottled water, even when thirsty and nothing else is available on a 90 degree day at the park (I am not kidding). He thinks twice about how to spend his money at Target, although I'm planning an intervention for his and my husband's Lego addiction. I have to tell him not to point at people who carry bottled water or don't bring their reusable shopping bag. I tell him we're not here to judge, we are here to inspire others, to help them transition to an earth-friendlier lifestyle and understand why that is good for the earth and the health and well-being of generations to come.

I would never have dreamed in a billion years that I would have started a business for ANY reason, much less BECAUSE of my child.

I wake up early and work before Ethan wakes up. We have our "cozy" time and the summer has been a challenge, but he's got camp and playdates and sometimes he just plays legos at home. Our times together are that much more special, I believe, but I won't deny that I suffer from guilty-working-mom-syndrome at least once a week (or is it once a day?) A large proportion of the women in our area do not work, and it was a HUGE adjustment for Ethan since he had my attention 99% of the time until he was about 5. Occasionally, he'll still say, "Why did you have to start this business?!" when he gets frustrated about my distraction.

This son of mine has been an inspiration to me to keep going, even on days when those dark cavernous circles under my eyes could swallow up an RV if it got too close. I force myself to look my son in the eye, put my arm around him and smile even though he just interrupted me during the biggest epiphany of my career that I won't remember... because I know he'll say or do something else that very day or maybe a month later that will inspire me about something else I could never have thought of on my own.

I was invited today to be part of this group and I'm excited about the opportunity to share with other moms ideas and what it feels like when you catch another mom (who probably doesn't even recycle) rolling their eyes as you load a cartful of unbagged groceries into your car because you somehow (even as a an enviro-biz owner!) forgot your collection of reusable bags in the other vehicle.

Enjoy the day!
Lynn Hasselberger

[Imani]

Hi Lynn - Thank you for posting your story on The Mamalution! I would love to include it in my upcoming book for inspiration to other moms with your permission!

[ALisa Starkweather]

Lynn, your writing is indeed inspirational. I can see those eyes rolling now. Thanks for your commitment. My partner has been selling Multi - Pure water filters for years and years now. I always love it when my friends invest good filtered water out of the tap as an exceptional way to keep our families from chemicals and our world from plastic bottles.