Author: Raja Haria

After two decades in the trenches of construction (battling leaks-cracks-rains, site politics, delays, and decisions that can’t afford to go wrong) I’ve come to one clear conclusion:

You don’t lead a waterproofing business just by solving leaks or being technically right.
You lead by staying grounded when others drift.
You grow by being clear when chaos clouds the room.
And above all, You lead by holding yourself to a standard, even when no one’s watching.

At this stage, I’m not chasing scale. Or spotlight. Or LinkedIn applause.

That’s why I no longer introduce myself as a President or Managing Director.
I introduce myself as a man on a mission.
(Does it matter~ May be not to you; but yes the most to me!)

A mission to protect what others overlook.
To uplift those who’ve trusted us.
And to stop watching mediocrity pass as work.

Because what I’m building isn’t printed on a visiting card.
It’s experienced — when you solve a leak no one could.
It’s earned — when a client calls you back 10 years later, still dry.
It’s built — when you lead not by shouting, but by showing.

Let me share what I’ve learned…not from seminars or books…
but from scaffolds to solutions, basements to meeting rooms, conflicts to conclusions, and tough calls to tough actions.

🔑 12 Leadership Truths I Now Live By — The Hard Way, But the Right Way

1. Stop Waiting for the “Right Time” — It’s a Myth
   I’ve waited. Then I stopped.
   The shift came when I realised:
   No one is coming — not the rescuer, not the client, not the ideal day.
   If it matters, move. That’s real leadership.
   
2. Staying Silent Isn’t Weakness — It’s Power
   You don’t need to speak to lead.
   Silence, when chosen well, speaks louder than noise.
   I’ve learned to listen deeper, and let results do the rest.
   
3. Don’t Confuse Learning with Action
   Reading about leadership is easy. Living it? That’s a different league.
   Growth doesn’t come from knowing — it comes from doing, again and again, especially when no one’s clapping.
   
4. Hire Those Who Push You to Think Bigger
   My strongest growth came from those who didn’t just agree — they made me rethink.
   If everyone in the room nods, your vision isn’t evolving.
   Hire friction. Hire ambition.
   
5. Your Circle Should Be Builders, Not Bystanders
   I used to explain my mission to people who just didn’t get it.
   Now, I build with those who act, own, and deliver — not just benefit from the ride.
   
6. One Genuine Ally Beats 100 Shallow Supporters
   I’ve had handshakes that looked solid — until pressure came.
   I now measure people by what they do when you’re not in the room.
   Loyalty is quiet. Real. And rare.
   
7. Cut the Drama — From People and Process
   Drama is emotional leakage.
   And in waterproofing, leakage costs — time, trust, and peace.
   I don’t let it sit. I isolate the issue and move.
   
8. Your Job Won’t Love You Back — So Anchor Deeper
   I’ve poured years into results no one remembers.
   That’s why I stopped working for applause.
   I now work for something more enduring — impact.
   
9. The Family You Build Matters More Than the One You’re Born Into
   I respect my roots. But I don’t hide behind them.
   The team I’ve built, the values we hold — that is my real family in this mission.
   Legacy is built — not inherited.
   
10. Stop Taking Advice from People Who’ve Never Built Anything
    Opinions are free. Experience is not.
    I now filter advice through a simple lens:
    Have they ever walked through fire? And did they come out building?
    
11. Blame Never Built Anything
    I’ve had my fair share of excuses.
    But the day I stopped narrating my past and started owning my future — that’s when things changed.
    Blame delays. Ownership builds.
    
12. Most People Are Drifting. You Don’t Have To.
    Wake up. Work. React. Repeat.
    That’s the default.
    But I chose direction — with clarity, intention, and conviction.
    That’s how you build what truly lasts.

One Final Truth.
Deep, Uncomfortable, and Liberating:

You won’t breakthrough until you break your pattern...

I’ve broken mine, inch by inch, belief by belief..
And now I help others break theirs.

We’re not just in the waterproofing business.
We’re in the business of Preserving peace, Protecting trust, and Preventing failure before it happens.

And I lead this organisation with one unshakable belief:

👉 Leadership is not about the spotlight. It’s about the standard.

So, if you’re done drifting…
If you’re ready to lead from a place of truth, not title…
If you’re ready to build something that outlasts you —

Then say YES.
Not to me — to yourself.

Because I do.
Every single day.

—
Raja Haria

“Do it Right First Time. And Always Have.”

“You’re the luckiest guy, Raja.”

A friend said that to me one quiet evening over chai.
His tone wasn’t envious, it was genuine, maybe even admiring.

“You’ve got a legacy. A business platform. A name that’s already built. Most people spend their whole lives trying to create something like that.”

I heard him. I understood what he meant.
But I also felt the weight behind those words—the part no one sees.

I didn’t answer immediately. Just smiled, gently.
Not out of pride, but out of knowing.

Knowing that what looks like a head start…
Often comes with expectations you never asked for…but are now entrusted to carry, gracefully.

So I told him, softly but truthfully:

“Yes, I have a legacy.
But the legacy I’ve inherited… and the one I want to build—
They’re not the same.”

He tilted his head slightly—not in disagreement, just in curiosity.

So I leaned in.

“From the outside, it looks seamless.
One generation passes the baton to the next.
But on the inside?
It feels like I’m running a relay where the track has changed,
the baton is heavier,
and the finish line isn’t even in the same place anymore.”

He fell quiet.That kind of quiet where reflection settles in.

---

When Strategy Meets Sentiment

In a legacy business, you don’t just inherit processes or profits.
You inherit a philosophy, a rhythm, a way of life.

What’s rarely spoken about is how hard it is to challenge that.
Because legacy doesn’t come with a manual—it comes with unspoken expectations.

“Do it the way we did it.”
“Don’t fix what worked.”
“Follow the system.”

And here’s the hard truth:
The tension doesn’t end at the boardroom.
It starts there—and follows you all the way to the dinner table.

Because when business and blood co-exist, you don’t just navigate strategy—you navigate emotion.
A disagreement at desk, can turn into silence at dinner table.

You’re not just questioning a method—
You’re touching someone’s pride.
Their memories.
Their version of what worked, what succeeded, what mattered.

---

A Story in Three Generations of Phones

Let me share something that captures this shift.

My grandfather believed in letters.
Handwritten. Thoughtful. Permanent.
He used to say, “Ink carries intention.”
He had a trunk full of them—letters of commitment, faith, and accountability.

My father was a landline man.
“You know where someone is if they pick up,” he’d tell me.
“That’s real accountability.
No ‘Hello-hello-can-you-hear-me’ drama. Just direct, present, and clear.”

And today?

Today, my clients prefer WhatsApps/emails.
Not because they don’t want to talk—
But because they want everything documented.
Every commitment. Every nuance. Every word—traceable.

And here’s the irony:

My father proudly says, “We did business on verbal trust—and defaults were rare.”
But today?
You hesitate to move ahead without a signed agreement—even if it’s with your own sibling.

That’s not betrayal.
That’s the evolution of trust.

---

Rewriting Without Disrespect

So what do you do when the world you’re living in no longer matches the world that built your legacy?

You don’t discard the past.
And you don’t blindly obey it either.

You reinterpret it.

You keep the soul—but adapt the skin.
You hold onto the values, but upgrade the systems.
You modernize the delivery.
You digitize the handshake.

Legacy isn’t about doing things the way they were.
It’s about doing things the way they’re meant to be now—without losing the essence.

That’s the tightrope:
You’re rebuilding a structure…while still standing on it.

And believe me, that’s far harder than starting from scratch.

---

To My Fellow Legacy Holders

If you’ve inherited something—a business, a reputation, a philosophy—
And you’re navigating the constant push and pull between honouring the old and embracing the new…

I see you.

You’re not just continuing a legacy.
You’re redefining it, without letting it lose its identity.

You’re not being disrespectful when you question what was.
You’re being responsible—to ensure it still makes sense today.

This isn’t just about succession.
It’s about stewardship.

You’re not preserving a statue.
You’re nurturing a living organism—keeping it relevant, credible, and deeply human.

And if that’s your story too—
You have my utmost respect.

We often imagine capes, superpowers, and dramatic rescues when we think about superheroes. But what if I told you there’s a real-life hero who doesn’t wear a cape but saves homes, buildings, and infrastructure from one of the most persistent villains out there—water leaks? That hero is a waterproofer.

And here’s the secret to their superpower:

“A true waterproofer never gives up!
They either fix the leak and figure out why it happened—and ensure they learn something new every time!”
— Raja Haria

This simple yet profound philosophy captures what it means to be not just a waterproofer but a problem-solver, a learner, and a guardian of structures that matter to us.

Never Giving Up: The First Rule of a True Waterproofer

Leaks are sneaky and shady.

Leaks don’t announce themselves with fanfare—they creep in silently, causing damage long before anyone notices. A true waterproofer knows this all too well. Their job isn’t just about sealing cracks; it’s about persistence, patience, and an unwavering commitment to getting the job done right, a commitment that inspires determination in all of us.

Imagine being called to a home where water has seeped through the walls, ruining paint, damaging furniture, and leaving the owners frustrated. A lesser professional might throw in the towel after a failed quick fix. But not a true waterproofer. They think deeper and beyond, stay longer, and keep trying until the problem is solved because giving up is not an option.

Fixing the Leak and Figuring Out Why It Happened

Here’s where the magic happens and experienced. A true waterproofer doesn’t stop at just stopping the leak; they go beyond—Diagnosis. If the issue can’t be resolved permanently, they roll up their sleeves and ask the critical question: Why did this happen?

This step is crucial because it transforms a reactive solution into a proactive one. Understanding the root cause —poor construction, poor waterproofing system design, material failure, flaws in application, or environmental factors—prevents future problems. It’s like solving a mystery, piecing together clues until the complete picture emerges.

For example, if a roof leak keeps recurring despite repeated repairs, a true waterproofer won’t settle for another temporary patch. Instead, they’ll investigate whether the underlying issue lies in the structure, system design, product, drainage system, or even climate conditions. This dedication ensures that the structure remains safe and dry for years to come.

Learning Something New Every Time

Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. Whether discovering a new technique, testing innovative materials, or refining their approach, a true waterproofer views every assignment as a chance to expand their resource bank.

Think about it: no two leaks are exactly alike. Each one presents unique circumstances, requiring persistence, creativity and adaptability. Over time, these experiences add up, turning a good waterproofer into a great one. And when they share these lessons with others—through books, workshops, or mentorship—they elevate the entire industry.

I, Raja Haria, a second-generation structural waterproofing consultant and author of “Do It Right the First Time” ,embodies this principle. My work isn’t just about fixing leaks; it’s about educating people on how to prevent them in the first place. Through my expertise, I empower homeowners, builders, and fellow professionals to build smarter, stronger, and more resilient structures.

Why This Matters Beyond Waterproofing

The mindset of a true waterproofer extends far beyond their specific field. It’s a blueprint for success in any area of life:

1. Persistence : Life throws challenges our way, but giving up should never be an option.
2. Curiosity : Understanding the “why” behind problems helps us address them more effectively.
3. Growth : Every experience teaches us something valuable if we’re willing to learn.

Whether you’re a student tackling tough subjects, a parent navigating parenting challenges, or a professional striving for excellence, the principles of a true waterproofer can guide you toward success.

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes

Next time you walk into a building that’s safe, dry, and free from leaks, take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes behind the scenes—the true waterproofers. They embody resilience, curiosity, and a relentless pursuit of improvement.

So, let’s celebrate their spirit and adopt their philosophy in our own lives:

“Never give up. Fix the problem or find its cause—and always learn something new along the way.”

Because in the end, it’s not just about stopping leaks—it’s about building a better, stronger, and more sustainable future for everyone.

A Dream Come True Moment!!
I’m beyond excited to share a special moment in my journey with you all!

On 27th September 2024, at the National Waterproofers Conference 2024 at LeMeridian, Gurgaon, we officially launched the cover of my book,
“𝗗𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 ~ 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵’𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨.” This book is the result of many years of hard work, hands-on experience, and passion for improving the waterproofing industry.

After over four decades of experience through Raja & Raja® – Waterproofing Solutions, one thing stands out: true quality lies in getting it right the first time. This book is my humble attempt to provide a practical guide for professionals, engineers, and enthusiasts who want to master waterproofing and deliver lasting, reliable solutions—without the need for costly rework.”

I want to take a moment to thank my father, R K Haria, for mentoring me with his invaluable practical knowledge and the unsaid wisdom of waterproofing. His guidance has been a constant source of strength, lighting my way at every step of this journey.

A big shoutout to my Raja & Raja® – Waterproofing Solutions team, our clients, partners, associates, and vendors — your support has always been my backbone. None of this would have been possible without your trust and belief in our work.

It was a truly special launch moment, and I was honored to have the support of two industry giants, Samir Surlaker and Paulo Henrique Tsingos who revealed the book cover. who revealed the book cover. Their presence and encouragement meant the world to me. It’s not every day you get to share such a moment with those you admire, alongside my peers from the Waterproofers Associations of India (WAI).

Standing on that stage, surrounded by so many industry leaders, friends, and mentors, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful and proud of how far we’ve come together as a community.

This is just the beginning of a bigger journey, and I can’t wait for you all to read the book which is launching on 13th November 2024.

Let’s continue to raise the bar for waterproofing standards, ensuring we always get it right—the first time!

check the Glimpse of the events:

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