What was the best piece of business advice you received when you were first starting out?

The best piece of business advice I received after I started Green Girl Recycling was from a woman I admire greatly, Anita Comer (founder of Waste-Not-Recycling). She said, “Bridget, be very careful about what you ask for in business, as it always comes to you.” I’ve now lived this truth and agreed 100%. When I’ve asked for growth as an example, it came and so did having to become the woman who could accept the challenges of MORE. More employees, customers, revenue, and equipment. It’s been a wild ride and now I’m way more specific for what I want to come into my life and business!

A second piece of advice I love came from my Grandma Turner, and that is: “It is always easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” I would not be in business today if I had waited for permission to launch my company, that’s a fact.

What quotation inspires you and motivates you to be yourself and do what you love?

I LOVE the quote from Gandhi when he said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” That has motivated me for over 26 years to offer more services to the community, to help, and to be a resource. I actually LOVE recycling. I know that seems odd, but it’s in my blood. I was that little kid who would go to my neighbor's homes and collect cans in upstate NY to sell for money. It’s how I bought my first 10-speed bike. Still to this day, I get excited thinking about all the material we are helping people divert on a daily basis. Last year alone we helped save 30,000 tons from the landfill. To put those savings into a visual, we diverted over 60 feet of recyclables that would fill a regulation-sized football field!

Success requires preparation and readiness. It's like planting seeds and watering them every day. People often perceive success as an overnight achievement, but the truth is, it takes a significant amount of time to build a successful company. Zig Ziglar put it best when he said, “There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.”

What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day at work?

My favorite thing to come home to each day is my amazing husband and boys. I consider myself extremely lucky to have married my best friend, Matt. He is a pillar I can lean on when times get tough and an amazing sounding board. He has been the quiet behind-the-scenes guy keeping our house in order when I work long hours and he is absolutely the best dad ever! I have two outstanding sons; Gavin (17 and Turner (13). Both boys play extremely competitive lacrosse, ski, white water raft, ride 4-wheelers, bike, and love all things outdoors. We get to play together a lot and there is absolutely never a dull moment. I feel so blessed to have such great kids who are so loving and have compassion. I’ve started every morning with them saying “Happy, happy, happy!” It definitely gets everyone off to a great day! Lastly, we have the cutest little black lab puppy named Zea who makes us laugh all the time and is the glue that gets us outside even in blizzards to play, play, play.

Do you have any professional achievements that you’re particularly proud of?

I’ve been so blessed. I’ve received many accolades over the years but there are a few big ones that really stand out.

1. Winner of the Titan Hall of Fame Award in 2024: This prestigious award is given to only 12 business leaders annually who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. My recognition in this esteemed group highlights my outstanding contributions and impact on the business community and environment.

2. I’ve been acknowledged for 37 years of ski patrolling on the East Coast and in the Rocky Mountain region (Keystone, Berthoud Pass & Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol). I currently hold the Award Advisor 'Award Enthusiast' role so that I can help recognize other patrollers for their excellence.

3. Green Girl's 25th anniversary: I am so happy to have been helping my community and the front range of Colorado create greener solutions, divert more recyclables from the landfills, and assist others in hard-to-reach areas with recycling programs.

Has experiencing a mistake ever led you to success?

Learning from mistakes always makes me a better business owner! I've learned to fail fast, it is when you mess up that is when you learn the most. I can honestly say that every time I've had a serious road-block in my business or someone told me 'NO' or "You'll never be able to do it".. I've gotten super creative and ultimately found better solutions to problems faster and ultimately been more efficient in the process. I'm the first person to admit if I've made a mistake, explain how I will make it right and run non-stop until I get it correct. I reward employees for pointing out how we can be a better company, how we can be more efficient. We've grown year over year for 25 years straight using this growth framework.

What rituals could you not live without in your workday?

I can't live without starting my day by drinking a glass of water first, stretching/working out and filling in my Growth Day journal. It is my morning gratitude and planning. Getting myself right, first thing each day, is my secret to success.

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Bridget Johnson is the founder and CEO of Green Girl Recycling, serving Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties with front-door style single-stream recycling pickups, paper shredding services, and full electronics recycling. They’ve been helping customers make greener choices for over 25 years! greengirlrecyling.com

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