An Interview with Janine Allis – Founder of Boost Juice

Scaling / May 14, 2012 / Admin

Janine Allis is the founder and CEO of Boost Juice Bars

1. What inspired you to start your own business?

One of the many positives for a working woman to have children is that they have to stop work to have them.  When I had my third child, Riley, and I was on maternity leave from my job at United International Pictures, I decided I wanted everything.  I wanted creative pursuit, flexibly and I wanted to be in control of my own destiny.

2. What was one of the biggest set backs you had to overcome? And what did you learn from it?

Too many to list.  But in general when I look back at the nights that I could not sleep and being so stressed that I could not eat, I am thankful for all the problems, setbacks and mistakes, because it teaches you to be less arrogant, more understanding, tougher on yourself and your business, more tolerant and more self confident.  But most importantly it reminds you that you have to continue to attack yourself and your business to ensure you are always staying ahead of the game.

3. How did you grow your company? In other words, what major factors led to your company’s growth?

Mainly through not knowing what we were doing!  We grew through gut instinct and by solving each problem as it occurred.  Always moving ahead and never looking back and dwelling on your mistakes.

4. How do you balance work with your personal life?

HA!  In the early years, poorly.  Basically I worked 7 days a week 12-16 hour days, and then when I would eventually collapse through stress and exhaustion I went to a health retreat for 5 days then started it all over again.  Now that the business is more mature, I have got an amazing work, life balance.  At 46 I have finally sorted it all out.  Life is like a pendulum, it moves too far one way then the other until you get it right.  And even then it is a moving target.

5.. What are three pieces of advice you would provide to start-ups/small business that are trying to grow their businesses?

1. Surround yourself with great people. Hire slowly and do a lot of research, and fire quickly, when you know it is not working.

2. Know your numbers, when you are starting up a business DO NOT get other people to do you accounts, this is where your business heart is and if you do not understand your numbers and know exactly what your business is doing financially then stop and go learn.

3. Enjoy the journey.  When you are running your business you will be spending more time with your business than you will be with your partner, kids and dog, so pick something you can be passionate about.

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