Meet Juan Paniagua

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Juan Paniagua. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Juan below.

Juan, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I would have to credit both my parents for my resilience. Both my parents immigrated to the US. They both had to learn and adjust to a new life. Being an immigrant myself and seeing their journey helped build up the resilience I count on now to help me push through the hard times.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I moved to AZ from CA in 2003. I came here for school, got my associates degree in UTI for Air conditioning and electrical. Worked in AC for a year but quickly realized that Air Conditioning was not the path for me. I left the company I worked for and for the next 14 years I sold cars for various dealerships around the valley, mostly new cars. In 2018 is when I decided to leave a successful automobile sales career to start my own business.

The birth of Yoyo’s Signs. I specialize in hand painting signs for businesses store fronts. As the company grows it has evolved into more of a mixed media marketing firm. Where I get to mix both the business and artistic side of marketing. Our services have evolved from simple vintage style hand painted signs to offering various forms of advertising. From graphic design, wide format printing, vehicle wraps, electrical channel letters and most recently commercial photography and videography allowing us to offer ad-style videos, commercials and product photography services.

I picked up a camera as a hobby to get me through my divorce. I’m grateful for my camera it kept me focused during one of the darkest and hardest moments in my life. And now it has quickly become a passion of mine.
I’ve learned to blend the traditional art techniques with the exploding modern digital media, which again, it helps me offer a comprehensive range of services to my clients.

A TRUE Juan-stop-shop approach, providing clients with a seamless experience for all their media needs, whether it’s a storefront sign or a digital marketing campaign, customers can expect a blend of vintage charm and modern flair from me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

As I mentioned, I started my business just offering hand painted signs. As the business grows and evolves so have I.
I’ve had to learn new the general knowledge of graphic designing and video editing. Those new set of skills has been the most impactful part of my journey.
It has allowed me to expand my radar, giving me more options to help solve a clients problem. Remember we never stop learning, continuing your education is a never ending journey. Whether a small course on editing, actual schooling or even the now popular “YouTube University” always keep sharpening yourself. You never know when a new skill can become a career.

Time Management is also a key. Having to manage multiple projects all with a mixture of different media forms, time management is imperative. I have had to learn this the hard way. My advice is to make this skill a priority, have a basic plan for the next day with tasks ready to go before you go to bed.

Another quality that I’m currently trying to improve on, finding a good balance with work life and my personal life. As entrepreneurs we wear multiple hats, deal with all aspects of the business as needed. Which in turn it puts us in this tunnel vision energy where we ignore other parts of life that are crucial to the success we’re busy searching for, but have nothing to do with work. Family time, Self-care, hobbies, memory building overall time for yourself is important. Time to rest, not only physically but emotionally will make a significant difference. Can’t win a race with a tired horse!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The one obstacle that immediately comes to mind is overloading myself with projects. To be busy with work is definitely a good problem to have, I’m grateful to be able to even say that, but when the team consists of only one person, it becomes an over-promise and under-deliver situation.
At some point either quality or quantity will have to be compromised. I refuse to compromise on either so I’m learning to delegate better.
Finding capable and trust worthy people that are serious about getting work done is what should help elevate the company into the next level.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: juanshot11
• Facebook: Yoyos Signs
• Linkedin: Juan Paniagua
• Youtube: JuanShot Media