Meet Deryk Garrett | Business Owner & Welder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deryk Garrett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deryk, how do you think about risk?
In our business there are two different ways we look at risk. From a personal safety point of view, we are constantly trying to minimize risk in our profession and our day to day. We do this by increasing training and awareness of potential hazards related to the job, increasing personal protective equipment for team members, and mostly through job planning and systems. Oppositely, when looking at risk through the lens of business growth and development, we are constantly evaluation the maximum amount of risk we can take. Personally, I am not a risky person, nor do I gamble with money or assets, but when it comes to business, I believe the only way to keep a competitive edge in the market and secure financial security for the future is by taking necessary risks.

Plenty of times since starting the business we have had failures due to lack of planning or risks that were miscalculated. Each one of those failures pale in comparison to the number of times we have done something that appeared risky or uncomfortable but, in fact, was very well calculated and necessary for the reward we sought for the investment. We have hired people before we needed them, bought equipment we couldn’t use for weeks or months, and invested in tools and training that we weren’t sure would pay out. Although no honest business person can say they never fail, I believe the failures we see in our business are controllable and can easily be overcome due to our understanding that they are simply part of the process when taking risks and constantly reaching to new levels of achievement.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Hot Shot Specialty Welding is a welding and fabrication company out of Dallas, Texas. We erect structural steel, build and install piping for utility and mechanical systems, and weld stainless steel in the food/beverage market.

Although we are diverse, our ‘specialty’ is adaptation to individualized customer needs. I believe what sets us apart is the ability of our team members to adapt to wildly different markets and job duties in a matter of seconds, responding to calls from customers needing emergency steam repairs on boiler systems, to erecting a structural steel building the next day. Finding people that have the right attitude for these constantly changing landscapes and the ability to respond to them with professionalism is no easy task, but as we continue to grow the company we see that only people with this special trait survive on our team. It seems that the company has evolved, especially in the last year or two, to a group of guys that value each other, help one another, and understand that the only way we can continue to succeed and prosper is not on an individual level but as a united team. Watching that growth from a management perspective has been one of the greatest rewards for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had someone visiting DFW for the first time I would definitely do all the cheesy touristy stops. Since I was not born and raised here, I think back to my first trip in the 1990s that was full of all the major stops. On my list would be Texas State Fair, Fort Worth Stockyards and Rodeo, Lunch at the top of Reunion Tower, Dallas Zoo, and Top Golf. I am not very adventurous, nor do I have much free time so usually when I venture out to find fun things for a guest, it is the first time experiencing it myself as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success at any stage in life is a direct reflection of the people in my corner at that time. Right now, it is my wife, parents and my team members at Hot Shot that deserve the credit for the company success and my personal growth. When I reflect on previous benchmarks, it was my instructors and mentors guiding me or lending their knowledge to propel me to success, most notably Dan Crookham- Welding instructor and Ag Director at EUHS, Mike Fontes- Welding Program Director at Cuesta College, and Greg Dunn- Absolute Badass and model father of 3 badass sons!

Website: www.hotshotspecialtywelding.com

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