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Juan Hernandez: A Fast Learner

By Matt Solis, Editor

Juan Hernandez wasn’t exactly well-versed in painting when he first entered the trade as a young man, but he soon found out that his natural aptitude was more than enough to lead him toward success. “I was invited to work at a painting company by a friend, even though I’d never done any painting before,” he remembers. “When I started, the owner asked if I had any painting experience and I pretended that I did. My friend backed me up, but eventually, the truth came out. The owner took me aside and said, ‘OK, I’m going to teach you, but I’m not going to repeat myself so you’d better learn fast.’ From that point on, he became my mentor. He taught me everything about painting and I’ll always remember the valuable lessons that I learned from him.”

After spending 10-plus years absorbing the ins and outs of professional painting, Juan decided to strike out on his own. “My wife actually encouraged me to start my own business,” he points out. “She said, ‘You’ve already been doing this work for so long, so why not give it a try? What’s the worst that can happen?’ So, I decided to get my license and complete the required schooling, and in 2016, I opened Unique Painting Services.”

Today, Juan says his favorite part of his job is the excitement that comes with painting people’s homes and businesses. “I don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘Oh no, I have to paint’…I actually like what I do and it makes me happy. It’s even better when customers appreciate my work and tell me that I did a good job. It feels great when they’re satisfied and say they’ll recommend me to their friends and family.”

Originally from Los Angeles, Juan moved to the Bay Area when he was 18 years old and currently resides in Novato with his wife and six children. He says his favorite parts of life in Northern California are the temperate weather and local camaraderie. “Novato is a really close-knit community, so it’s easy to stay involved in my kids’ school and sports activities because everyone is supportive of each other.”

Outside of work, Juan unsurprisingly spends most of his time with his sizable family. “With six kids, we stay pretty busy with everything going on in their lives, but we’re a very close family so we love it,” he says. “One of our favorite things to do is go camping. We have an RV, so we try to spend a lot of time outdoors when the weather is nice.”

In regard to a personal or professional philosophy, Juan advocates for maintaining a positive mental attitude in all aspects of life. “Every morning, I ask my kids, ‘Who are we?’ because I want them to be kind, smart and friendly all the time,” he says. “It’s a good way to start the day because it reminds us of how to treat others.”

When asked what his life would look like if he retired tomorrow, Juan says his first priority would be spending more time with his children. “I love being with my kids and it feels like they’re growing up so fast, so if I could retire tomorrow, I would definitely spend more quality time with them.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The Las Vegas Raiders.

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?

A: A dog person. I’m actually allergic to cats.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Hawaii. My kids have been asking to go and we’re just waiting for the twins to grow up a bit more.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A: Relax in bed and watch movies.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?

A: I’m Latino, so we have a lot of superstitions. When I was growing up, my mom would press an egg on my body to get rid of bad vibes, so to this day, if my wife is feeling bad, I’ll say, “You need the egg!”