A Coldstream entrepreneur is further revealing his secrets to success in the hope of helping others.
Jack Borden, 67, Coldstream Meadows owner and Westwood Electric partner, has penned his second book under Self-Counsel Press titled Avoid Small-Business Hell.
“They (publisher) struggled a little bit with the title, with hell being on the cover and flames coming out the side,” said Borden.
“But it really hits the nail on the head on what the book is about.”
Every successful businessperson hits bottom at least once, and Borden admits he has been through the experience on more than one occasion, “and it’s not fun.”
But he hopes his latest book will help others learn from the experiences shared within its pages.
“If I can save one entrepreneur from the trip into small business hell, then I consider my book a success,” said Borden.
The classic example for mature entrepreneurs like Borden is in 1983 when interest rates skyrocketed to more than 20 per cent.
“There was no work and all of a sudden your total business plan and your vision for your business was out the window,” said Borden, who at the time was less than five years into his new business, Westwood Electric.
“I can tell you that there are many businesses that didn’t survive.”
But his did, and through his experiences with Westwood and now Coldstream Meadows, including surviving the 2008 global recession, Borden hopes to help other entrepreneurs succeed.
“After 40 years as a small business entrepreneur, I thought I knew a few things I could share.”
Borden started out as an electrician. He and his wife Elaine then moved from Calgary in 1972 to Vancouver where his electrical career was powered.
The company he was employed by immediately transferred him to Vernon to set up an office and manage projects.
In 1979, he separated from the Vancouver company and he and his partner started Westwood Electric, which today employs 300 people.
“The first office was in the basement of my house.”
A quarter-of-a-century later, Borden and his wife started thinking about retirement, not just for themselves, but others. And so they bought the 46-unit Coldstream Park Lodge, renamed it Coldstream Meadows and have grown it to the 132-unit retirement facility it is today.
“After 25 years at the helm of Westwood, it was time to do something to move my career in a different direction,” said Borden.
He has also helped Paul Nixon develop the Nixon Wenger building and was also involved in land acquisitions with the City of Vernon.
Avoid Small-Business Hell follows Borden’s first book, Faster, Cheaper, Better.
“In the trades, those are the three things the customer wants,” said Borden, who has a third book in the works.
Borden will be signing copies of Avoid Small-Business Hell at Vernon’s Bookland Saturday at 2 p.m. and at Kelowna’s Mosaic Books March 19 at 2 p.m.
