Today we’d like to introduce you to David Mills
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started working in residential construction as a teenager and always dreamed about being a business owner. Doing hard labor in the Texas heat and not earning enough to make a decent living was not fun, but I was fascinated by construction and seeing projects come to life. This experience and my passion for building projects drove me towards getting a college education. After finishing my degree in Construction Science at Texas A&M University – Commerce, my career in construction management started when I got my first job as an assistant project manager working for a home-building company. After several years of gaining experience and making great connections in the industry, things were really going well up until 2008 when the housing market collapsed and the company I was working for went bankrupt. Nobody was hiring construction managers, the industry was in shambles, and I was forced to make a decision to either start my own business or watch my life savings disappear while waiting for an opportunity. I decided to put my fate in my own hands and bet on myself. Fifteen years later I’m looking back on it realizing what a blessing it has been. We have grown the company each year and have become one of the premier companies in the region for our industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying if I said it was easy. It’s never easy starting a business, especially from scratch with very little capital. Our family had to sacrifice a lot to get here and there have been times where I thought about giving up, times where I wondered if I was going to make it, and times where I felt that the struggles weren’t worth it. When we started hiring employees, I had to learn an entirely new skillset. I knew how to sell and manage projects, but that can only take you so far. What I didn’t know, was how to build a multi-million dollar business and the importance of hiring the right people, and the skills required to lead a company to grow the right way. Sometimes it feels like you are taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back, other times it feels like you are spinning your wheels. I’ve made mistakes that I’ve learned from, the hard way, but I’ve always looked at it as an opportunity to learn and grow from it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Magnolia Patio and Pool?
We have grown to become the highest-rated outdoor living company in our region and one of the premier companies in our industry. Designing and building custom backyards is ours specialty. Whether it’s building a custom pool, outdoor kitchen, or a covered patio roof extension, our mission is to improve the quality of life for our clients and their friends/family. We take the time to get to know the individual, what their goals are, and why. What sets us apart is that no matter what we are doing, we do it a the highest level possible. When it comes to design, service, communication, quality of workmanship, professional project management, warranty, or any other aspect of the process, we strive to be the best at what we do but above all, we do it with integrity and take full responsibility for the outcome. What I’m most proud of is how we have been able to grow and improve each year despite market conditions or the economy, and still maintain the highest rating possible and win awards every year for what we do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
You have to take risks if you want to do something big. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward potential is. I literally put my life savings on the line, and if it didn’t work out I would have been bankrupt. There have been other times along the way where I made decisions that were risky but they have paid off tremendously. My view on risk is that you only get one shot at life so you might as well make the most of the opportunities you have. Commit first, and then figure it out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coveredpatiosmagnoliatx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliapatioandpool/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnoliapatiocovers/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MagnoliaPatioandPool
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/magnolia-patio-and-pool-spring?osq=magnolia+patio+and+pool
