From Heavy Equipment to Building a Water Filtration Company | Eric Kurbanov

*How one entrepreneur turned a personal problem with drinking water into a business built through persistence, education, and more than two decades in the water treatment industry.* Sometimes a business idea doesn't begin with a business plan. It begins with noticing a problem you can no longer ignore. In this episode of the Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi sits down with Eric Kurbanov, CEO of RKIN Water Systems, to discuss how an unexpected experience with home water filtration led Eric into the water treatment industry and eventually into building his own company. From leaving a steady job during one of the most difficult economic periods in recent history to developing filtration solutions for homeowners and renters, Eric's story is a lesson in persistence, adaptability, and believing in an idea when the evidence seems stacked against you.  What You'll Hear: Eric's introduction to water filtration happened almost by accident. In his early twenties, he purchased a home with a private well and an under-sink reverse osmosis system. He quickly became accustomed to the drinking water it produced. When he later moved to a home on municipal water and suddenly found himself buying bottled water, he began researching what had been different about his previous home. That curiosity introduced him to reverse osmosis and eventually changed the direction of his career. At the time, Eric was working at a quarry in Southwest Florida. He started as a laborer before moving into heavy equipment operation, where long hours alone gave him plenty of time to listen to audiobooks. A coworker introduced him to *Rich Dad Poor Dad*, which sparked years of listening to books about entrepreneurship, sales, motivation, and personal development. Eventually, the idea of owning a business stopped being something Eric simply thought about and became something he was determined to pursue.  Eric explains how the earliest version of his water business began by installing filtration systems for himself and his coworkers before opening an online store. Then, with his first child on the way, he made the decision to put in his two-week notice and go all in. The timing couldn't have been much harder. He was starting a new company, carrying a mortgage, preparing for a newborn, and entering entrepreneurship around the financial crisis. Eric describes the following years as anything but easy, but those difficult years produced one of the biggest lessons of his entrepreneurial journey: you have to keep the dream alive when nobody else can see what you see. That persistence eventually helped RKIN evolve its products around problems customers were actually experiencing. One major challenge was installation. Traditional under-sink reverse osmosis systems weren't practical for everyone, especially renters who couldn't modify plumbing or countertops. RKIN eventually developed its Zero Installation Purifier, a countertop reverse osmosis system designed to operate without permanent plumbing modifications. Eric explains how the system functions more like a countertop appliance: users add water, the system purifies it, and clean drinking water is collected for use. This makes reverse osmosis accessible to renters and others who may not be able to install a traditional system. The conversation also turns into a practical Water 101 discussion. Eric explains the distinction between water softening and filtration, two terms that consumers often treat as interchangeable. Water softening primarily addresses hardness and mineral buildup that can affect plumbing, appliances, shower doors, and fixtures. Filtration, meanwhile, is designed to address other substances in the water. Eric also discusses bottled water, microplastics, whole-home filtration, reverse osmosis, PFAS or "forever chemicals," and why understanding what's actually in your local water supply is an important first step before choosing a treatment system. For entrepreneurs, though, one of the strongest lessons has little to do with water. Eric's journey demonstrates what happens when someone continues learning, adapts to what customers need, and survives the difficult seasons that inevitably come with building a company. More than 20 years after first becoming interested in water treatment, he is still learning and evolving alongside the industry. episode26\_reel\_subtitles As one of Eric's early mentors told him during the difficult years: "The night is the darkest before the dawn."  Connect with RKIN Water Systems 🌐 Website: https://rkin.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkin\_us/ Learn more about RKIN's drinking water and whole-home filtration systems, water education, and available treatment options through their website and social channels.