We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dominic Waters a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dominic, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Watching all the men on my mothers side of the family own and operate thier own companies. i learned without knowing how to be a hard worker. it was instilled in me through what i saw daily.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My Name is Dominic Waters I am a former professional basketball player. i spent 11 years playing Europe. In my 11th season i got a call that lit a fire under me to Crossover into construction. once i started studying for my License as a contractor I’ve never looked back. My company has grown in 3 years from one employee to now 23 total. we have taken off the ball stopped bouncing but the hard-working style hasn’t stopped i just transferred my energy to the sport of construction,
I now serve as the President of Crossover Construction a minority Owned construction management company. I am a general contractor! my company self performs Concrete and finish carpentry. we are special because there aren’t many minorities commercial contractors in my region. so, we have huge opportunities to partner with larger General Contractors on public work or city work. The state of Oregon is giving minority companies a chance to be awarded work in the commercial construction world.
I am currently focused on building relationships and growing our internal systems to be a sustainable company for years to come.
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?
I graduated from Portland state university with a communications degree. My ability to communicate and articulate to gain the trust of our clients is huge to the business development of Crossover. i never thought I’d use my degree, although I didn’t need it to be hired i certainly needed it to understand when to shut my mouth and when to speak up!
leadership is another attribute that helped give me the courage to start my own company. i see myself as a leader of men, which makes my transition from basketball to running a company smoother,
willingness to learn and apply the information I am being taught. I am not afraid to ask questions or re ask. it is very important for me to understand, the information is power I seek new information or challenges daily it’s the only way you grow!
The best way to develop these skills is practice or learning in the field. i don’t believe school is best way to learn i believe learning a trade live as you go is the best education. just have to focus and want to do it and immerse yourself in what it is you’re going after.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
As a business owner and a lifetime learner, you must always be eager to learn and improve. being a ‘boss’ is totally different from an employee and it is not for everyone! it is not for the weak! i look at it as a basketball player, you must train your skills and improve on your skillset each year to be the best. the work as an owner is constant.
I am learning each stage of my business so that I am able to speak to it, i have to know and understand my business in order to adequately run my business. the leader must be the hardest working person on the team, so it never stops.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crossoverpdx.com/
