• Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
At our small, home-based business in northeast Illinois, we’re more than just a team of five—we’re a family, dedicated to helping you rest better. Since 2017, we’ve been crafting and shipping , designed to create the perfect dark environment for your sleep. Whether you’re a day sleeper, a new parent, dealing with migraines, or setting up the ultimate media room, we’re here to make sure no pesky slivers of light interrupt your peace. From our home to yours, we’re proud to help you find the deep, relaxing sleep you deserve.
• Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
My name is Robert Ikhtiari, I’m 67 years old and happily married for 44 years to my soul mate and business partner. Together, we’ve built a beautiful family with 3 children and 5 amazing grandchildren who keep us on our toes!
I earned a degree in Business Administration and spent most of my career working in sales and retail. To help support my family, I started doing window treatment installations part-time at night, and in 2020, I decided to take the leap and pursue it full-time as an independent contractor. I specialized in installing all types of window treatments—drapes, blinds, shades, and shutters.
One of the highlights of my career came in 2014 when I was honored to be named Installer of the Year. It’s an achievement I’m incredibly proud of, and it reminds me how much I love what I do.
• What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
As an installer, I kept running into the same issue—customers were disappointed after I installed room-darkening shades in their bedrooms. Light would still seep in along the sides, and while salespeople promised the shades would block all light, they didn’t explain the limitations. There wasn’t a real solution, and the industry wasn’t addressing it. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and came up with a fix—that’s how Sleepy Time Tracks was born.
• What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
If you have a passion for it, it’s worth going after. Believe in your vision and trust yourself—act on those inspirations. They’re there for a reason! Also patent your invention.
• What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
I believe the skills you need come from how you see things. Trust your vision and stay focused—don’t let circumstances throw you off course. When you stay true to your plan, what you need will come to you.
• How many hours do you work a day on average?
However many it takes! Sometimes it’s 5, sometimes it’s 15. When you own your own business you can set your own hours.
• To what do you most attribute your success?
It’s a combination of things. First, it’s having a product people genuinely want and need—and they’re thankful it exists. Persistence, passion, and staying true to my vision have also been key. Plus, our team makes a huge difference. Finding good people and treating them with respect has been essential.
• How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
We’ve mostly relied on SEO—finding targeted keywords, writing articles, and some social media posting. We’ve tried ads on Facebook and Pinterest but didn’t see much success there. SEO has been the most effective for us.
• Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?
How did you obtain investors for your venture? We used all our own funds and reinvested our profits back into our business.
• What is the best way to achieve businesslong-term success?
It starts with a strong foundation—a product that’s in demand, a supportive team, and a vision you truly believe in.
• Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Right now, we work out of our home. It’s nice to grab a cup of coffee, head downstairs in comfy clothes, and start the day. But we’re quickly running out of space and will need a bigger workspace soon—I think it’s just around the corner!
• How important have good employees been to your success?
They make a huge difference! Their support allows me to focus on growing the business, and we wouldn’t have grown as quickly without them. Plus, I really enjoy working with them—they’ve contributed great ideas to improve our manufacturing process.
• How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
I stick with it until I consistently start losing money. That’s usually the sign it’s time to move on.
• What motivates you?
Different things motivate me. I’m driven by the challenge of seeing a need and coming up with creative ideas and solutions to address it. Setting goals with a clear timeframe also keeps me motivated—it gives me something tangible to work toward
• How do you generate new ideas?
New ideas usually come out of necessity. Once I understand the need, the ideas start flowing. From there, it’s all about creating prototype after prototype until we’re ready to test.
• How do you define success?
I’m not sure I can fully define success because I don’t feel like I’ve completely achieved it yet. But I do know I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. We’ve been in business for 8 years, and every year, our sales and profits have grown. That steady progress means a lot to me, and I see it as a step toward the success I’m working toward.
• How do you build a successful customer base?
I believe honesty and communication are key. I’m always upfront with our customers and make it a priority to answer their messages quickly. I also take the time to work with them to find the best solutions for their specific needs. Building that trust and understanding goes a long way in creating a positive experience and people keep coming back.
• What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
My favorite part is the freedom it gives me to set my own schedule. If I need to handle a family matter in the middle of the day, I can. If I want to take some time off, I have that flexibility. Beyond that, being an entrepreneur gives me the opportunity to earn more and challenges me to grow as a person. It pushes me to keep learning, adapting, and improving, both professionally and personally.
• What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The most satisfying moments come every time we receive a review from a customer thanking us for developing our product and sharing how it has helped them. Knowing that something we created is making a real difference in people’s lives is incredibly rewarding and reminds me why I do what I do.
• What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
I think it comes down to a difference in mindset. I’ve been on both sides, and as an entrepreneur, I’m much happier. Entrepreneurs take on a lot more risk compared to collecting a steady paycheck, but if those risks are calculated, the rewards can far outweigh what you’d earn working for someone else. It’s about being comfortable with uncertainty and believing in youbusinessr ability to create something meaningful.
• What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
We have a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere where everyone works with us, not for us. I trust my team to know what they’re doing and give them the freedom to work with little guidance. Once I understand their strengths, I assign tasks that play to those strengths. To keep things on track, I review the day’s goals with them and ask if they think they can achieve them. Once they feel the goals are realistic, they get to work—faster and smarter. It creates a sense of ownership and keeps everyone motivated.
• In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur. Growth
• If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Start earlier!
• How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Being an entrepreneur has made me a better, happier, and spiritually richer person. It’s given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose that positively impacts how I show up for my family.
• What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
I have all kinds of fears but I deal with them by not giving them attention, if your not paying attention it is easy to get caught up in them. Focusing on them only holds me back.
• How did you decide on the location for your business?
What area in my house has the most room to work in.
• Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
I’m not sure what the entire formula might look like, but I do believe the first step is to trust in your thoughts and ideas. If you don’t believe in them, it’s hard to take the risks or put in the effort needed to turn them into something successful.
• If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
King Solomon
• Who has been your greatest inspiration?
God
• What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
7 habits for highly effective people
• What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Not starting my journey earlier.
• How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Organization plus check and double check and hold people accountable. Be honest and upfront.
• What are your hobbies?
I love woodworking.
• What do you do in your non-work time?
Spending time with my kids and grandkids. Doing things with my wife.
• What makes you happy?
My family
For more Information Visit us at : https://sleepytimetracks.com/