Meet Garrett Waterman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Garrett Waterman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Garrett with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic was instilled in me from a young age by the friends and family I grew up with. It had to of started with sports because the earliest thing I remember was being told I need to work hard if I plan to be better than I was the year before. Then school became my focus because I needed good grades if I wanted to go to college. Once I graduated college, proficiency in my career became the next target which is where I am at today.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Let’s start with my day job. I work as a design engineer for a water pump manufacturer that builds and installs water pumps for various construction/de-watering projects. I really enjoy the position I’m in currently in my career, however 5 years ago I started getting into blacksmithing as a hobby and have been obsessed with it ever since. 3 years ago I started taking it more seriously and created a small business under the name Waterman Ironworks. I sell knives and handmade goods under this name and host blacksmithing workshops and knife making classes in my free time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first thing I will say is don’t get discouraged easily. The first time you try to forge something, it will not be pretty and that’s ok. Be proud of the first things you make, even if they don’t turn out right. Be proud that you’re exposing yourself to a knew experience. Next, don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance. I’ve come across so many people that were more than willing to teach me or show me how to do things I’ve never done before. Lastly, always wear your personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, etc), it’s boring I know but it is important.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

My largest struggle right now is working out of a very small garage and trying to upgrade to a larger workspace. If I am to be efficient and produce things faster than I do now, I need to upgrade my tools and equipment which means I’ll also need more space. My eventual goal is to build a pole barn that will be suitable for my needs. Until then I will have to deal with tripping over power cords and constantly moving things around when they’re in the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @watermanironworks
• Facebook: Waterman Ironworks
• Other: Tiktok
  @watermanironworks

Image Credits

Brian Craig Photography on Facebook