Venture Anyway Builder Podcast
Venture Anyway Builder Podcast
Elected Official Turned Entrepreneur with Rob Poleki
Join me in listening to Rob share his amazing journey and how he persevered with extreme resilience and passion turning obstacles and challenges into fuel for motivation. Enjoy this episode!
I had an amazing conversation with Rob Poleki. He's the founder of Washie Toilet Seats, you put your hand near a sensor, and it sprays out sanitizing material or sanitizing spray. And then you clean it off with toilet paper, and voila, you have a clean toilet seat. So he's a first generation entrepreneur that was almost on Shark Tank, and he tells us about that story. But all the papers nationwide said he was going to be on Shark Tank, or at least in his region, it was pretty cool. And he talks about that drama and his job change and how he was kind of made to quit his career and yada, yada, yada. It's really cool, inspiring, and I just loved the conversation we had. So someday, we're going to be walking through airports. And we're going to see in the stalls these Washie toilet seats all over the place and know that that is the fruit of Rob's work. And I just I think it's kind of inevitable. I'm really excited to see his to see how this unfolds. And I know that you're going to love the episode.
VA Intro:Welcome to the venture anyway, build your podcast insights from the trenches by those who are busy building. When I finally embraced what I was really good at, kind of felt like an adventure. Yeah, I really would have done a lot differently.
Dale Majors:Hello, hello, Dale Majors here, and welcome to the Venture Anyway Builder Podcast. Today on our show, we have Robert "Rob" Poleki, from Washie Toilet Seats, and Rob's had an amazing journey. I'm really excited to kind of break down what he's gone through. He's in in. He's a few years into his business. So give us a bit more of the history. But I just I love the I love his story. I love where he's come from. It's very, he's he's quite active on LinkedIn, and I think quite vulnerable. And I really love that because it really shows his interest in encouraging and helping others to also maybe think, man, maybe I could do this too. So I'm excited to share a story and to get to know him a bit more. Welcome Rob.
Rob Poleki:Dale, thanks for having me on the show. Excited to be here, my friend.
Dale Majors:Awesome. So if we could just start out, give us maybe a two to three minute. background on what got you here.
Rob Poleki:Yeah. So again, Rob Poleki, founder of Washie, Washie Toilet Seat, I used to be prior to this, I used to be an elected official in South East Idaho - county elected official. And really, one day I was at my desk, and I thought to myself, there's more to life than this job, I could have retired in the job, I could have gone to 65. But, you know, I'd done made a lot of changes. And I knew that there was just something else I couldn't I couldn't sit there and, and, you know, just wait till I retire. So went down the list of ideas. And I had this idea while I was taking my son to the public restroom in the Salt Lake City airport. And, you know, what I decided to take off with the there wasn't any innovation in the restroom space. And no one had thought of this idea. And I thought to myself, you know, let's, let's try this out, let's go and apply for a patent and see what happens. And in 2015, I filed for a patent, and received my first patent in 2018. And, and that's where it all began is me going on this journey, becoming an inventor, quitting my full time job with great benefits the 401k going from nothing to now, you know, the idea that was in my mind and is now reality is now people are actually sitting in, you know, taking a load off on my idea. So, yeah, from that process, it's been quite the journey. And the most fulfilling journey of my life seriously, like, personally and professionally, has made me kind of grew up in a sense and has made me kind of level up in business. So that's kind of the three minute pitch on how I've gotten here.
Dale Majors:I love it. I love it. What's the what was the main hesitation you had? Or you know, and you talk about, you know, benefits and a clear path and security. But what uh, maybe talk a little bit more about that. That decision point on when you decided to do this full time.
Rob Poleki:Dale, I think just like everybody else, I was scared. I was scared of losing everything that have worked for with my 9-5, but I had no idea what I was about to gain going out on my own, right, the going to University. I graduated from Idaho State University with a four year degree. And, you know, the time that I've been working as an entrepreneur on my own, I've learned way more than I could ever learn in school. So me being scared of taking the leap. You know, I had a family of five as well. So, you know, the health benefits, I was always worried about the health benefits everyone always worried about, if I go off on my own and start my business. What about health care? I was worried about retirement, you know, and eventually, I cashed in my retirement, I cashed in my 401k to start my business about 100$100,000 worth. In I went all in, but um, I was, I was fortunate. And funny. I was, I was, I applied for Shark Tank, the show Shark Tank, and I made it all the way to the end. And I was forced to quit my job. So I actually didn't really jump on my own, I was forced to quit, because, you know, they told me I couldn't go on Shark Tank, as an elected official on this network, while running for office, and that year, I was running for office. So they gave me an ultimatum to quit my job. And, you know, me thinking that I was this fresh entrepreneur, like I had a patent Shark Tank wanted me I was going to be this instant millionaire. That's what I thought. And it was, it was the opposite. And two weeks before I was about to go down and go on the show, they gave me a call in in a minute, they cut me - they said, sorry, Rob, it's reality TV, we found a company that's in the restroom space has a better product, I have revenue, you know, I just have a patent in idea and I had no prototypes, and they cut me and that's where it all began. I was forced to quit my job, but it was at the time. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But looking back, it was the best thing that could have ever happened because I went full time with with my idea.
Dale Majors:Love it. So who was who was gonna force you to quit the job? Was that your job or Shark Tank saying you can't do that? Probably your job. The city?
Rob Poleki:No, no Shark Tank. So So on the first page? Yeah, on the first page of your application with Shark Tank. It says you cannot be running for office while trying out for the show. And I lied. I didn't think I went down to Vegas. And I took a look at the application. Now I was like, crap, I I drove down all the way to Vegas, from Boise, Idaho with my product. And now the first thing on the application says you cannot be running for elected office while running on the on coming on the show. So I was like, You know what, I'm just gonna check the box, whatever. I don't even know if I'm gonna make it that far. Right? And so be it. I freaking make it to the end. Right? And, and they found out and they said, Rob, you're you told us you weren't elected, you weren't in running. And so they said you either quit your job, or we can't come on the show. So I quit my job. And then weeks later, right for about to go on the show. They cut me.
Dale Majors:I love it. You know, it's funny. Yeah, those things that, uh, that force our hand a bit. So you kind of look back. And I was actually just this morning, I was reading an old BYU discourse from like, the 70s from Brigham Young University, and it was a guy that was was going to be getting a higher rank in the military and he was kind of shut down. Because he was Mormon. And, and he talked about well, you know, my life turned out way different and way better because of that, instead of this other path, but a lot of times it's really hard in the moment to to stomach that kind of stuff.
Rob Poleki:Oh, a blessing in disguise. I I couldn't have you know, looking back, if I would have never quit my job. This toilet seat idea would always have been a side gig. Because I made it a side gig. I was always scared to leave my job. But Shark Tank forced me to leave my job. And then all the doors that that I ever wanted to, you know, for me to open, open because I quit my job. You know, it was all over the newspaper from Seattle to St. George that elected official quits his job to go on Shark Tank for toilet seat run. I mean, all over the newspapers and because of that, the the company Squatty Potty sees me, you know, and they invite me down to talk. So, you know, just those are just one one of the things you know, good things that happens. We just put stuff out there and take a leap.
Dale Majors:That's so cool. That is so cool. What? And from a PR angle? Did you? How did all those papers pick you up?
Rob Poleki:Um, I think the local newspaper did a story on why I quit my job, okay. And they found out somehow they found out that I was going on Shark Tank. So they, they hit big headlines in the local newspaper in southeast Idaho. And then once other newspaper papers found out about it, they started, you know, printing it as well. So it just caught on. And no one knew, you know, while these stories were going out there, and no one knew that I'd actually been cut and the embarrassment for me for like, you know, three or four months that this newspaper article and tons of people were like, wow, we can't wait to see you on Shark Tank. Rob, congratulations. And I, I kept my mouth shut. I, I wasn't allowed to say anything. And it was the most embarrassing thing because I knew inside that I was cut from Shark Tank, but it was going all over the newspaper that that I was going going on the show. Yeah, one of the hardest things, but you know, it all happen for a reason everything happens for a reason.
Dale Majors:Yeah. And I love that well, good work responding so positively all those things. So if you could go back, so your patent was issued in 2018. If you could go back and you had, you know, two minutes to give yourself like a pep talk or hey, look at this, look for that, you know, like, any advice that you could give yourself, you know, three and a half, four years ago? What what kinds of things would you would you say?
Rob Poleki:Um, I'd definitely tell myself not to quit, you know, there's, there's been some times some very low times that, that I've almost quit, but I have had support from my family support from my wife, and from my investors, friends and family that have given me some, you know, their hard earned money. And that allowed me to keep the journey going. So just some words of encouragement not to, not to quit. But I think the most important thing is that I would just keep everything has is alright, I would just say, just keep going. Because all the things that have happened along this journey happened for a reason, they made me stronger. The things you know, that I've done, I, one of the stories is that I went down to, you know, an airport, huge airport in California and had my first pilot, and everything went wrong. I installed the seats in the next day, they said the seats aren't working, come get them out. They were prototypes, everything you could imagine, you know, what went terribly wrong. And it was one of the worst times another punch in the gut right on this journey. But that had to happen for me to fix my product, for me to go back and say what was wrong with the what did they complain about? What was so wrong, the hinge was weak, I need to make the plastic stronger, the sensors went out all of that stuff that happened, happened for a reason. And because, you know, I had hard times made me stronger as an entrepreneur made me you know, fix my product, make sure that I have a good product. So you know, I'd go back and tell myself, you know, just keep going, it's gonna be, it's gonna be fine, just keep going.
Dale Majors:I love that. It kind of reminds me a little bit of, so I'm, I'm in another group on the app called Volley, that it's a video chat app, kind of like Marco Polo founded in Utah, and the founder of Volley kind of gave a, like a seven minute presentation last week on enjoying the journey. And a lot of it was about, you know, you say, hey, just keep going, just keep up. Don't worry about and you said, and I don't know if you meant like this, but you said, things don't need to be too different. You just got to keep going. And, and because through all those different struggles and challenges you learn and you grow. I think a lot of times we want a simple, easy path. But I think most of the learning and growth comes in those speed bumps. And I think one of the keys to being an entrepreneur that doesn't, you know, die of a heart attack and have to deal with high blood pressure is realizing every day that that it's going to be a bumpy journey. And that that everything you know will eventually kind of keep progressing and move up as long as you day in day out, put your head down and keep working and not to wish for too much more than you have even.
Rob Poleki:Yeah, I am. You know, just to add to that, I definitely have had to sit down and be patient, and tell myself this, and this is gonna take time, listening to a lot of podcasts and meeting other entrepreneurs that have made products from scratch and done manufacturing, things have taken time, and I really wanted this toilet seat company to explode. And, you know, this is my seventh year, you know, four years as part time and three years as, as going full time, and things have taken time to get things going. And so being patient is one of them and, and not always looking for the end result. The you know, me selling this company and exiting and making you know, something for millions of dollars, that is the dream, but it's not coming tomorrow, it's not coming in a few months, it's not coming in a year, it's gonna still take some time, but I'm kind of enjoying the process on the way and learning and building myself, my character, you know, business wise, those things have become more important for me than the end goal. You know, I've loved the end goal eventually, but the journey and enjoying those phases of the journey has become what's most important.
Dale Majors:Awesome. I love that. What is what is your and we talked a little bit about this before the call, but what would you say your main motivation is your driver to keep you going with Washie.
Rob Poleki:You know, the, the main motivation has always been my family and to give a better life to my kids that that I've ever had, wow, that I've never had, you know, I, I grew up in a large family, we come from humble beginnings. But, you know, my parents gave me everything that I needed to survive and to learn and to live. But, you know, my, my why, and my goal keeps me going is my kids, right? You know, give them the, this dream that I never had. It's this life that I never had. But also along with that is that I have asked for money from my friends and family and they have believed in this ever since the beginning. Now now I have a responsibility to make this work and, and to return their money times, you know, five or 10 X. So, so making sure that the people have believed in me and given me their hard earned money is one of the things that pushed me to win. And just the last thing is my idea, right? This idea that I had in 2015 i It's alive in people are actually using it and loving it in the market. That that for me when I first sent out my first seed and got our first review of how they loved it. That that's a feeling moment for me was is like, it's like having a kid. It's like, you know, you just had your firstborn child. You know, I couldn't believe I actually invented, such product. And now people are using it. So yeah, it's fulfilling for sure.
Dale Majors:That's so cool. That is awesome. Well, thanks for sharing this thus far, Rob? What? So moving on to maybe what makes you special? Like, what do you think? If you had maybe a superpower, right? Like if, if there's something that that and I think everybody has things that they that they do quite naturally they come naturally. And a lot of times, I think it's really key as entrepreneurs to learn sooner than later what, what those things are that we do maybe better than average. So we can so we can leverage them. And it's also good to explore the backside of that to say, you know, what are those things that I that I do and that I tolerate doing but I really ought to replace myself with that just don't come naturally. But on that. On that more positive side though, like what are the things that maybe come naturally to you that you've done really well that have helped you in your business, whether it's an attribute or a certain skill, anything come to mind?
Rob Poleki:Oh, three, three things come to mind. So I was lucky enough that my my parents gave me two of their skills. My dad natural born leader, he he leant lead our Sunday school as a church leader. I've always seen him in leadership positions and he gave me that that attribute is is I can lead I can get a group of people and I can lead them you know to victory. That's what that's what my previous jobs were as elected official. I was good with leadership. My mom gave me the talent to shine she is the, when there's a party, she is the center of attention, and she loves it, make people laugh and loves to gather people and make sure people are getting you know, comfortable and having a good time. So I also learned that from my mom is that, you know, when people are around, I make sure people are okay and comfortable and have a good time. So I, I'm very, I can network really well, that, that, that is one of the positive things of being a CEO, you must be able to go and network and talk to people and connect with people. And that's what my mom taught me to do. And, and growing up. The last thing is, is I am very creative, because I was poor, we had to be creative. When we grew up, you know, my wife says, Man, you, you can cook anything with leftovers, and I am like a magician in the kitchen, when it comes to leftovers, I can cook some, you know, five course meal if I have leftovers in that, you know, being creative, and not having you know, tons of things when I grew up, as made me a creative leader. And, and actually, you know, is what I want to do in life. I, I've told, you know, my partner, you know, I could be the CEO of this company, but it's not really what I want to do. I want to be a creator, I have tons and tons of ideas that I want to see out in the market and make and produce. But, you know, for the time being, I'm going to be the CEO of this company. So yeah, being creative leadership, and then you know, being the center of attention and making sure that I can network and and gather people together and make them feel comfortable and things like that.
Dale Majors:Awesome. The I think you've leveraged LinkedIn really well, in that, you know, as you take your natural talent of, of being the life of the party and some natural leadership, and using a platform like LinkedIn, yeah, it's no surprise that you have done so well there. And you know, I was at lunch a couple weeks ago with Spencer Arntsen, Arntsen, who I think he presented at midday, connect a few a few weeks ago about the Lean Startup model, I believe. And he mentioned, you came up in the conversation, and he said, you know, that guy, everybody just wants him to be successful, and is really rooting and pulling for him. And I think that gets you. It really just magnifies and accelerates any and all PR efforts that you're already putting out there. So that's, it's really cool to see your, your natural strengths be augmented by, you know, pairing that with a really cool strategy like LinkedIn.
Rob Poleki:Yeah.
Dale Majors:So good work. How do you when you go to one thing that I found with entrepreneurs and business people is we all say, like, hey, we want to, we want to? And I don't know the answer. So I'm not like seating this, and I'm gonna give you the answer. I don't, I still don't know the answer completely. But we all want to make the lives of our families better, right? Oh, I want to give them more than I had a yada yada, yada. Oh, and then, but a lot of times, how do we do that? Because your creativity came from necessity, right? Maybe some natural, maybe some necessity? How do you how do you go and find success with Washie? Right, and I see Washie being very successful, right? You You go in, you have a product that can go to could really have some mass distribution, at least you have the potential for this to be really big, which is so cool. For you and all your investors, right? That's super cool. And then you're going to be successful, you'll have all the financial resources, how do you then create a lifestyle for your kids that lets them benefit from some of those same things? That helped you become the person you are? Have you ever thought much
Rob Poleki:Um, okay, so I get to two answers. The first answer about that? is for your LinkedIn part for LinkedIn, and I have to say this is because I want other people to share their stories and not be afraid of putting yourself out there. The reason that I have done well on LinkedIn, and I have a small following, I don't have 1000s and 1000s of followers, but the reason I've done well is because I never sell, I never sell my product on LinkedIn. I never ever say, you know, I got the seats or 99 bucks, but I always tell my journey, and I tell the truth. I tell the truth to never leave anything out. I don't just, you know, post pictures of like on Facebook where everybody is winning all the time. I post everything. I post the ups and downs and so, one of the things if you want to get connect with people on LinkedIn, go and tell your story never sell I hate people who come in my inbox and try to sell. You tell your story, they'll connect with you. And then and then you'll create a little following. So that's the first, the first, you know, answer to the second one for my kids, I've made sure that they've joined me on this journey. So a lot of the commercials that I made, in the beginning of you know, what had my wife and him had my my little daughter, they've been a part of Washie ever since 2015. And they've seen me struggle, they've seen me, you know, even this move, I'm, we were living in Pocatello, Idaho, and we moved to Utah and launched the company. And we sat them down, and we talked to them about why we're moving and why this is important for us, and important for dad to, to make the jump. And this is what you may have to do in your life, when you grow up is to make, you know, take a leap of faith in yourself and believe in yourself. And so I've made sure that, you know, they have seen everything, even the bad times, they've seen the bad times. And I needed to see the bad times when I grew up as a kid with my mom and dad. And I helped out, you know, I went door to door and sold things sold food to help out. And so I have to make sure my kids see me going through this journey. So they know they know what it what it takes to go off on your own and do do this. So yeah, I worry about when I do sell the company and you know, becoming, you know, wealthy and I don't want spoiled brats and you know, just buying him all kinds of things. Because you know, money I, I am the opposite of that. I come from nothing. Right. And I'm not going to do that. So I don't know the answer to that. But I have, you know, let them join the journey with me.
Dale Majors:Yeah, I love that. Cool. Yeah. Thanks. That's, that's cool. Okay, so what does your as you continue to grow? What's your next hire? Like? What is your next perfect hire look like?
Rob Poleki:You know, that's that that has been the question of the last two months, we had, we have been a three man, man and woman team. For the last year or so the last year and a half with my product, you know, distribution is everything to us, we are talking to some major distribution companies globally as well. And so when we go distribution route, really, you know, we need marketing, we need sales, and then we need someone to organize, you know, our inventory going out to these distribution companies. So, so we're kind of in the the mix of all of that going on right now. So sales has been important. But you know, if we go a distribution route, they have their own sales teams, they have their own marketing teams. So you know, we've been thinking about that, but that's probably who we will hire next. Sales and marketing.
Dale Majors:Sales and marketing. Awesome.
Rob Poleki:Yeah. Into this to this point of the company. You know, myself and my Co Co founder and the one employee we have, we do everything ourselves, we do sales, marketing, manufacturing, installation, everything you know, I'm I'm in a hospital at two o'clock in the morning installing disgusting, you know, uninstalling disgusting toilet seats and putting hours on so you know, we do everything but as we grow bigger sales and marketing is probably next.
Dale Majors:Okay, awesome. What does your co founder do?
Rob Poleki:So co founder is Dane Simmons. See, he is another entrepreneur that has you know, tons and tons of going on in his life. He he has his own orthopedic distribution company, they do. southeast Idaho and Utah surgery with orthopedics and then also does you know, a lot of real estate. And then he's a co founder with me on this company, and he he does sales, right. So we go out and sell and, you know, get big contracts we've talked to airports has been our number one goal because if people see our product in airport, though, they'll go back to their facility and say, we saw this cool thing at the airport. We need it right. But um, you know, we've had some big big discussions with SeaTac Dallas Fort Worth International, some huge airports in California and in Utah. So He does basically sales and marketing.
Dale Majors:Love it. So if anybody out there has contacts in the purchasing department for these airports or facilities department, I guess that would be like the perfect lead for you.
Rob Poleki:Yep. Yep. We want to talk to facility managers or the VP of Operations. Just five minutes of CRC.
Dale Majors:Yeah. Yeah, I love it. Awesome. So what, uh, as we wrap up, what what does it look like for you to arrive? Rob? With with Washie? Or even just personally?
Rob Poleki:Yeah. What does it look like? For me to arrive? That's a good question. I am. For me to arrive, I haven't really thought about it. But for me winning. And for me to be in a place where I can say, I've made it is probably when I exit from the company, or when we when we get a big distribution deal signed? And hopefully, that's in the next month or two. But um, yeah, for me to arrive is I need to be successful with this company, I need to have this, you know, this product in the market, all over the United States, globally, recognized globally. To know that, you know, we have done a good job and getting our product out there. So, but I really haven't thought about it. Oh, that's something that I need to think about.
Dale Majors:You know, I, I try to ask that to everyone that comes on the show. And my favorite answer that surprised me the most is well, and for me, too. I always, I think one of the things that's hard about being in business is you look at those next milestones and say, Oh, it'll be great to be there. But the problem with being there is you'll have even better perspective, even higher sights, and you'll see even more things that you want. So it's this like, never ending treadmill of oh, it'll be great when this happens. There are real milestones, though, right? Like, I'm sure that when you get this main distribution agreement that that's going to be really healthy and good for you. Right? Would probably for your family for, for cash flow, everything else, right. So we have all these things. And the Josh little, a couple weeks ago, shared, I asked him this question, and it really caught me by surprise, his answer to was, you know, I think I will have a well, no, I've kind of he basically said, I've already arrived kind of, and I don't want that to be, you know, presumptuous or whatever. But, you know, his, you know, he really feels his life calling is to create beautiful things. And this is the fourth tech company, he started and, and he's realized that he wants to be day in day out, creating, you know, day in day out spending time with his family, and those he cares about day in, day out, you know, taking care of himself physically. And, and I get a sense from our conversation, that you are, you know, very similar in that way of like, you need to create beautiful things you need to build and lead people and, you know, in our conversation before this call, you know, your desire to help other entrepreneurs and to, to give back that. Yeah, I can definitely see you doing that indefinitely.
Rob Poleki:Yeah, no, that's a great answer. I should steal that answer. Actually.
Dale Majors:Tell it I'm already stealing totally. I like, it shaped me when I heard it. I'm like, Oh, my goodness, that's like, I didn't have Yeah, I didn't put that together in my own mind. But when I heard his and like, I'm kind of into that.
Rob Poleki:Yeah, I'm definitely into that. Especially, you know, after I create this first product and see many ideas come to life. That's kind of that's kind of when I know yeah, I've arrived i and, and spending time with my family and my kids, especially coaching their, their sports teams and being involved more in what they do. Like I'm, I'm, I'm glad I have my wife that takes care of the home life, you know, so. Yeah, I definitely need to steal that answer.
Dale Majors:No, I love it. I I definitely stole it too. I'll stop referencing him after I tell him to say it like 25 times probably. But yeah, he's, he's, he's a really sharp guy. Okay, so how can people you know, first how can people connect with you but also how, how can we help you?
Rob Poleki:Yeah, so definitely connect with me on LinkedIn. Again, Rob Poleki, pretty easy to find. I sell toilet seats, so pretty unique. And then, you know, helping me if anyone out there does have you know, a facility or connections to facility managers or you know big high traffic restrooms you know leads warm introductions to those places are also great but um yeah just connect with me and and kind of following the journey on LinkedIn is great too so you can also find more information about our product at washietoiletseat.com.
Dale Majors:Love it. Well, I am closing on a little office building in Bountiful - we're going to create a co working center and part of it, so I need to talk to you about having some Washie toilet seats in there.
Rob Poleki:Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Dale Majors:Okay, well it's been so good Rob to learn more about your story and hear your enthusiasm and and that's awesome. I'm definitely rooting for you. I'm now on Team Rob as well. We will Yeah. And I hope that anybody out there listening if you do have some of those contacts for Rob definitely let him know the world does need more clean toilet seats and those crinkly things that flushed down the toilet the line the seat with and flush down before you get a chance to sit down definitely need to be out and washing needs to be in Yeah, so any any parting thoughts Rob that I didn't get from you before this call that you think any any other entrepreneurs out there people that are thinking about starting something anything else you want to leave with them before we close up?
Rob Poleki:Yep, my my tagline and I always leave on post is can't stop won't stop. So if you are ready to leave, just have that mentality of you know, I can't stop. I can't ever stop and I won't stop until I went, so, yep, can't stop won't stop.
Dale Majors:I love that. Awesome. Well, thank you for being with us today. And that's it. Appreciate it. And we'll see you on the next episode.
