Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre LuJan.
Hi Andre, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Every kid loves dinosaurs, and I’m no different, just a little bit older now. It’s a lifelong passion that started at an early age and shows no sign of slowing down. With so few jobs in paleontology, I had to create my own by starting my company PaleoTex, LLC. It has allowed me to pursue my dream and make a living doing it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Taking the leap of faith to start a small business is no joke! I can’t imagine doing anything else now, but I would be lying if I said I never had doubts it would all work out. In the end, having gone through some of the toughest challenges of my life has made it so much more worth it. My field isn’t exactly a booming industry despite what you see in the headlines of dinosaurs selling for eyewatering amounts of money. It’s tough sometimes to get good contracts for professional services preparing fossils or creating exhibits for museums. The hardest thing I have faced in business was surviving the pandemic and not letting any employees go no matter how bad it financially hurt.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
PaleoTex is a full-service commercial paleontology company, meaning we do all the things that happen to fossils before the public sees them on display. Like carefully extracting them from the rocks and soils they are found in and meticulously restoring them when they are damaged or incomplete. We have had our preparatory work featured in prestigious science journals such as “Nature,” and examples of our restorative work is on display in museums around the world. PaleoTex is unique in this space because we cover the entire spectrum of services, from finding and excavating fossils to designing and installing exhibits. We utilize new and emerging technologies like advanced imaging and rapid prototyping to help us stay ahead of the rest.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think one of the keys to my success is my approach to problem-solving. I find that when trying new ideas, it’s best to start at the most extreme and unlikely solutions and work your way back. Don’t start at the most logical answer; you’ll end up there anyway. But if you don’t think radically in the beginning, you will never end up there at all.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paleotex.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real.andrelujan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paleotexllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-lujan-322b09145
