Exactly one year ago, I was blessed with my first baby.

But the truth is, it was really six years ago where I had my real first baby, when I started my company. No, I am not getting into a political debate here how I am comparing an actual child to a company, but anyone who owns a company knows exactly what I mean. For those of you who don’t know what I mean, having your own company, is investing everything you are and know into this one entity. All your money, time, effort, sleepless nights, and conversations you have are just now dedicated into this thing that is now your life. And you put all of these efforts in the hope that one day, it will become something successful. Sounds like being a parent, doesn’t it? It is. 

I started my company when I was 23 years old. It all started when I was in college and a good friend asked me if I wanted a job doing demos. “What the hell is a demo” I asked her? “You would basically go into CVS giving out samples and selling a protein bar. It’s good money and you would be good at it, trust me.” So I did. 

Within a short period of time, I was well known as the demo girl of Simply Bar for CVS in Manhattan. Every manager and store knew me and was glad for me to come in and sell. And I wouldn’t sell just one or two bars, I would sell cases. Within a year, this brand became the top selling protein bar in Manhattan CVS stores. Thankfully, my success with demos was well acknowledged by corporate CVS, the distributors, and especially the brand themselves. I was told many times “open up a demo company, and we will support you.” So I did that too. 

My father always taught me, no matter what field you want to go into, you must always be a business (wo)man first, then your career.

I figured if I would ever open up a company, this was my time. So at 23 years old, without knowing a thing about running a business, I took one of the biggest risks of my life and opened up a company, Golani Demos. What do we do? We help brands increase sales and brand awareness by mostly conducting in store food demonstrations and giving out samples. (Think Costco style but without the hair nets). 

Fast forward to about seven years later, after years of constant growing pains, I say with confidence that my company is one of the best Demo Company in the Tri-State area, recommended by (almost) every large retailer and distributor in the area.

 Most important things I learned? I learned the Food Industry is super risky as more than 80% of the brands that we take in, never actually make it. I learned that personal relationships will get you farther than anything else. I also learned that I must work harder at the gym if I want to be able to eat all these samples. Most importantly, I learned that being a mother and running a company is super hard, and one that is something that is barely spoken about. 

So when do you go back to work?

 I almost laugh at that question every time someone asks it. I went into labor two and a half weeks early. As someone who openly admits that I am a control freak and a major planner, I know this was God’s way of reminding me that I cannot be in control of everything. I had a food show, calls, meetings, and everything set up for that week, which I thought would be my last real week at work before things get crazy busy with the baby. And of course, that weekend, I went into labor and we welcomed a beautiful baby boy on November 4, 2018. 

While in the hospital, I tried to move around all of the work that I had planned for that week, but some things were urgent and need to be done. My cousin when she came to visit me jokingly made a bet with her husband and said “20 bucks says when we visit Rachel, she will be on her laptop working.” Yup, I was. There I was in the hospital on my laptop, barely being able to move, but answering emails and yes, I even took one major call that day with an important client. Call me crazy, but like motherhood, running a company is a 24-hour job. And yes, even with help. 

I say that the bad news is that I never got maternity leave. I never got to “bum out” at home to take care of my child and let my body fully heal and recover. Take a nap while your baby naps? Yeah, that never happened. I had to work instead. The good news? I didn’t have to go back physically into an office and can work from home. Instead, I learned up how to up my multitasking skills and truly master being a mother and owner of a company at the same time.

Breastfeeding a baby or even changing a diaper became the norm while on a call with my clients. I of course would always apologize in advance for any background noise. Food shows across the country? You bet I brought my little one with me. While my husband watched my little one, I hustled at the shows, while taking breaks to pump in whatever room they had. Oh did I mention the daily struggle I had with breastfeeding and pumping? It was hell, but worth it. 

So what did I learn?

Running a company is hard. Motherhood is hard. Even being a wife is hard. Add all those three things together, and you wonder how you’re still alive. I often tell my husband, “I am not superwoman.” You cannot expect me to cook, clean, do the laundry, buy the groceries, do the dishes, take care of the baby, oh and run a company.” Yet, one way or another, that is EXACTLY what I am doing, all with my husband’s help and support of course. (I couldn’t do it without him, so husband, thank you!!!) 

Hard? Yes. Impossible? No. To all the working mommas out there- we can do this. You can run a company, or even work in general and run the house too (if you want to of course). Trust me, if I can do it, you can too. Maybe we really are superwomen after all.