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

Hi Andre, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risk is an essential part of everything in life. Without risk, great advances in art, culture & discovery would have never been made. There is a quote that I often share, “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso. This has really become a mantra for me, risk sometimes IS the reward. It’s where the journey towards your dreams is the most tangible evidence of you making them come true.

When I left my career in Environmental Science 6 years ago to start my own business in paleontology, PaleoTex, it was the biggest risk I had ever taken. I have spent my whole life conditioning myself to leap farther and farther into the unknown to find my calling.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business PaleoTex is a professional services company that serves the paleontology industry. If it’s a job in paleontology, we do it. From fossil preparation to casting and mounting of dinosaurs ready for exhibit. We also provide professional services in the field, often excavating the bones from the discovery site in remote places around the country. Our work has been published in prestigious journals like Nature, and we have examples of our work in museums around the world. One of the things I’m most proud of is our accomplishment in the discovery of brand new dinosaurs! In 2018 I discovered the first Ankylosaur, (armored dinosaur with a clubbed tail) ever found in Texas. The find was the result of years of research, field work and the acquisition of property that I suspected had what I was looking for. It all paid off and I found a new dinosaur, something not many companies can say. In addition to the find, I donated it to science so that generations of fossil enthusiasts and scientists alike can have access to this amazing discovery.

Building a brand new company from scratch in an industry that pretty much doesn’t exist has been an uphill climb for sure. However I am not a quitter and know how to tighten the belt and sacrifice to get to the next stage.
One of the things I’ve learned in this journey of business ownership has been to never ignore a good idea. A good idea, even if it’s not needed in the moment is a seed that should be planted and could indeed bear fruit. We have sown many of these “good idea seeds” and some are finally bearing fruit, even though it took some time for them to mature. I would want to encourage people to dare to dream, don’t be afraid to fail, and if there isn’t a job out there for you- make it for yourself. I like to think that my company PaleoTex is proof that the American Dream is alive and well for anyone that is willing to chase it. And….. we definitely haven’t found all the dinosaurs yet!!!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well anyone visiting us here in Hillsboro gets a pretty standard tour.

-Stay at one of our cute historic Air bnb’s
-Eat at two of our favorite restaurants, Frenkies Italian and R&K Cafe
-Get your morning coffee fix and a light bite to eat at Overflow Coffee
-Tour our incredible historic courthouse.
If you love history- you’re in luck, Hillsboro has got it!
-Museum tour-
-Texas Heritage Museum @ Hill College
-Texas Through Time in the historic Grimes Garage
-Roadside America Museum on Elm Street
-The Hill County Cell Block museum
-Fishing and recreation at Parsons Marina on Lake Whitney with a fun place to eat and drink on the water at “Shooky’s on the Lake” Sunset lake cruise on their 48ft yacht with more drinks and live music
-Shoot some pool and have drinks at Wranglers Cafe on Elm st.
-Or catch a concert at “Music on the Green” outdoor music venue downtown. A short drive to Dinosaur Valley State Park will finish off a fun filled week in the “gateway to the hill country”.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give my “shout out” to my wife for recognizing my passion and desire to pursue paleontology, and risking everything with me and our children to chase this dream. She has certainly sacrificed as much or more than me to help achieve this goal. When I started my company, we literally sold our farm and everything we could live without and moved our family of 6 into a 28ft camper for two years! We lived 6 months behind the museum the we founded, and had to shower in the building when our little 2.5 gallon water heat went out. She has always been behind me pushing, encouraging and listening when I feel like I have made the wrong choice. We jumped together into the unknown and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her love and support.

Website: Www.Texasthroughtime.org

Instagram: @real.andrelujan

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/andre-lujan-322b09145

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paleotexllc/

Image Credits
Doug Cunningham Bryant Sanderson

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