Hey friends! You ever feel like you're juggling too many balls at once? Well, try building a company, raising two beautiful daughters, and managing full-time careers alongside your partner. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, late nights, and pure hustle. But here we are, and the journey is as rewarding as it is challenging. Recently, my wife Yalda and I had the incredible opportunity to talk about this on Connecticut East This Week with the amazing Brian Scott-Smith, and man, was it a ride!

The Interview That Made Us Reflect

First off, let me tell you: doing a live interview is one thing, but doing it while running on four hours of sleep after managing the chaos of family life is a whole different beast! During the interview, we talked about how NOWATA—our waterless soap brand—was born from a place of necessity. It wasn’t just an idea that hit us one day; it was the product of navigating a pandemic, caring for our newborn, and the realization that the sanitizers we were all overusing just didn’t cut it anymore.

The real challenge, though? Trying to build this company while working full-time—me as a dentist, Yalda as a professor—and raising our two daughters. Balancing professional and family life is hard enough, but throw a startup into the mix, and suddenly you’re trying to figure out how to squeeze 30 hours into a 24-hour day.

The Challenges: Time, Energy, and Staying Sane

You ever feel like you’re sprinting in quicksand? That's what it felt like trying to manage it all. Full-time careers meant our days were packed, leaving only nights and weekends for NOWATA. And those late nights? Let’s just say coffee became our best friend. Our kids, bless their little hearts, kept us grounded in all the chaos. It’s crazy how they can bring you back to the present with just a smile, even when you’re neck-deep in product development and marketing plans.

We also faced the daunting task of creating something entirely new: a waterless soap that’s eco-friendly, effective, and convenient. This wasn’t just a side hustle for us—it became a passion project that we poured our hearts into. But finding time to bring this idea to life while managing school pickups and dental appointments? That’s where the real juggling act came in.

Why We Did It Anyway

So why do it at all? Why take on a project this big when life’s already busy enough? Because when you have an idea that you truly believe in, you can’t just sit on it. Our goal wasn’t just to create a product, but to bring a solution to people who care about sustainability as much as we do. We saw a need, we had the know-how, and more importantly, we couldn’t stop thinking, “What if?”

The interview was a chance to share our story—our struggles, our triumphs—and to show people that, yes, you can build something incredible even with a full plate. It’s not easy, but it’s worth every sleepless night.

Final Thoughts

Starting a business while raising a family and keeping up with full-time careers? It’s a wild ride, but here’s the thing: if you believe in what you’re doing, you’ll find a way. NOWATA is our way of contributing to a more sustainable world, and we’re so excited to finally share it with you all.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a parent, or someone just trying to make it through the daily grind, know this: you’ve got this! Just keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Oh, and if you haven’t checked out our interview yet, head over to the Connecticut East This Week podcast to catch the full conversation. It’s real, raw, and hopefully, a little bit inspiring.

Stay adventurous, stay eco-conscious, and keep chasing your dreams. 🌍