Meet Nick Hauk | Entrepreneur & Watershape Designer

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

Hi Nick, what role has risk played in your life or career?
During my adolescence, I was an accident prone child. Since an early age, I found that I thrive in a risk oriented environment. From being bitten by a snake (twice), to sinking my boat in a hurricane, to being attacked by a stray dog, multiple bike accidents, to 3rd degree burns from a backwoods bonfire, to leaving my father’s pool company to start my own venture……risk has always been a crucial part of my growth. The hardest thing that I have ever done was leaving my father’s pool company to start my own venture, however, I knew the risks and recognized the reward. I strongly believe that traditional or compliant entrepreneurs never leave a legacy. A successful business requires ethics, drive, and a bit of insanity. Embrace the chaos because one day, you will reflect on your life and realize how far you have come.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

What sets Pure Design apart from other pool companies is our mantra…..”No Compromises”.

Every project I build and design utilizes the finest materials and the most advanced technology available to the consumer. We do not compromise materials or construction methods to hit a budget figure or win a contract. We do not cut corners, hence our mantra….”No Compromises”

Just like a fine timepiece or exotic sports car, our projects are hand crafted and designed with each client in mind. My clients have the choice to purchase a basic or production pool design from other firms that do not care about the customer experience. There are roughly 300 swimming pool construction companies in DFW. Out of my 300 competitors, only (4) of us are competitors in the luxury swimming pool market. Building a swimming pool should be a personal experience that brings families and friends closer together.   I think of my firm as a “construction concierge”, not a “pool  company”.

My journey to business ownership was wild. In 2016 I left my father’s pool company. At the time, I had no desire to continue my career in pool design and construction. In fact, my aspiration was to live in the mountains and become a hunting guide. After I left my father’s firm, my personal house flooded and I did not have enough cash to repair my home. So I did what any young entrepreneur would do…..I packed my life into a RV and traveled the country with my dog, Frank. My stint with “Van Life” was wonderful and it was the perfect time to reflect and recharge.  I saw the country, visited numerous national parks, and spent time in the field hunting with my co-captain, Frank.

While on the road, many hours were spent plotting, planning and developing my next financial move.  I knew that whatever I decided to do, it needed to be a big move.  Everything was on the line for me and I knew that I needed to make a calculated entrepreneurial move.  After 6 months of living in the RV, I ran out of money and options for a career. I had an old client that reached out and asked me to design and build a pool on their new lake property in North Texas. I thought to myself, “Well…I can make a few bucks building a pool for an old client and hopefully fund the repair of the flood damage at my home.  I might as well head back to Texas and build this pool, so I can calculate my next move and purchase more time to financially fund my next move.”

Needless to say, I realized that I had a passion for entrepreneurship. Once I started to believe in myself I found out quickly that I needed steady cash flow to support a start up business. I finally finished the repairs from the house flood and I was able to sell my RV.  The sale of these two items bought me the most valuable commodity that money can buy…..time. I was able to have enough financial breathing room to focus on my new swimming pool design business and hone my entrepreneurship skills.

Since my primary residence and my RV were sold, I had nowhere to live.  So I did what any entrepreneur would do….I moved in with my mother to save cash and continue to grow my business.

Just as I was becoming comfortable running my own business, my business partner approached me about joining the firm.  I was reluctant at first, but it ended up being the smartest move that I have ever made.  Peter keeps me motivated and helps me execute the fine details that all entrepreneurs desperately need executed.  Shortly after Peter joined the firm, we learned the news about COVID-19.  I was terrified that COVID would ruin our new business venture.  Thankfully, the government deemed pool companies as essential workers.  It was business as usual at Pure Design and COVID forced my clientele to stay at home and not take vacations.  Therefore, everyone wanted a swimming pool and our  business boomed overnight.

One of the last things my grandfather said to me, when he was on his deathbed was “Son, be thankful for the trials.”

I am thankful for the days of living in a RV.  I am thankful for not knowing where my next paycheck would be coming from.  I am thankful for my house flooding.  I am thankful for my first client.  I am thankful for COVID.  I am thankful for being bitten by a snake.  I am thankful for sinking my boat in hurricane Harvey.

I believe that trials and hard times will elevate a natural entrepreneur.  People that do not have the entrepreneurial gene, run away from the trials and tribulations.  Great entrepreneurs embrace adversity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Dallas, I would take them to lunch at ParkHouse in Highland Park Village, then we would make our way over to AT&T stadium to watch the Dallas Cowboys play a game!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My business partner, Peter Jackson is a crucial component to my success. Peter has a passion for design and a unique ability to execute fine construction details that I tend to overlook. When I left my father’s pool construction firm, I was told by many people that “partners are bad” or “partners never work out”. Fortunately for my business, this is not the case. As a serial entrepreneur, my field of vision tends to live at a 5,000 foot overhead view and in many ways, the 5,000 foot overhead view is what fuels my success.

My business partner, Peter, is a specialist at executing the small details that breathe life into our pool designs and business ventures/adventures.

My parents, siblings, and grandparents were crucial to my success.  I am blessed to have (2) loving parents who allowed me to find my own path through this crazy world.  Thankfully, my parents let me go through the trials.  My parents had a choice to shield their son from the harsh reality of this world.  I am thankful  that my parents allowed me to find my own path to success.

Website: https://puredesign.life/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick___hauk/?hl=en

Other: Company Instagram Links Pure Design – https://www.instagram.com/puredesign_life/?hl=en

Elemental Acrylic – https://www.instagram.com/elementalacrylic/?hl=en

Company Website Links: Pure Design – https://puredesign.life/

Elemental Acrylic – https://elementalacrylic.com/

Personal Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nick___hauk/?hl=en

Image Credits
Image Credit- Briana Wolman | Misfit Brands