We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Juan Barcenas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Juan, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

This is a question that resonates with me because it’s a thought that crosses my mind every single day. When I decided to pursue an engineering career, it was because I always envisioned myself working for a big company, making a significant impact—companies like FPL, Schneider Electric, ABB, or other multinational corporations.

However, when I started this business (with only one year of experience in a completely different industry), I quickly realized a few key points that were hard to grasp at first:

You have to start from scratch. This often means doing things you never imagined yourself doing, tasks that can take a lot out of you. It also means you might not see any immediate rewards.
No one will tell you what to do or how to do it. Unlike a corporate environment where guidance is often provided, in your own business, you have to figure it all out yourself.
Networking is a long and challenging process. Building a network from scratch takes time and significant effort.
Resource management is crucial. Your resources are limited, so it’s essential to choose wisely how you allocate them.
These are key aspects you don’t typically worry about when working for a large company. That structure and stability make it easy to hesitate and question whether you should continue your entrepreneurial journey or return to a traditional job.

But to any business owner out there who is struggling with these challenges, just know that it’s normal. Keep working hard and stay focused on your vision, because the effort you’re putting in now will be worth it. Success takes time, but the rewards—when they come—will far exceed anything you could imagine.

Juan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have an Electrical Engineering background with experience in the oil and gas industry in Venezuela. Currently, we offer electrical and electronics engineering solutions for yachts and superyachts. Our specialties include alarm and monitoring systems, navigation systems, complex lighting systems, and sound systems.

I entered the yachting industry by chance. A childhood friend of mine, who was (and still is) a yacht captain, introduced me to the field. From there, I worked my way into the industry, earning certifications and building the expertise needed to provide the services we offer today.

What sets us apart is our attention to detail and the close relationships we build with our customers. We deliver projects to the highest standards, combining exceptional engineering with proper documentation, ensuring that your project exceeds expectations and becomes a true success.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

This is a family business, so my business partners are my sister and my best friend from high school. My dad is also part of the business.

Understanding that the business needs to be separate from family relationships has been crucial to making this work. I’m fortunate to have such a professional and capable team. I was confident from the start that they would help me build our vision together.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When you’re confident in your work and what you do, stick to that. Stay true to your core, your values, and your principles. Focus on improving every day and always believe in the power of learning—knowledge will always be rewarded.

Sometimes it might feel like you’re losing, whether it’s money or time. But in the end, good intentions always prevail. Always have faith in God; He will guide you and show you the right path.

Be responsive and kind. Never hide yourself from a bad experience or job. Always be content and try to improve and bring solutions to your costumer.

That’s the way to build your reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://royalmarineprojects.com
• Instagram: royal_marine_fl
• Facebook: Royal Marine
• Linkedin: Royal Marine Electric & Services

Image Credits

Ricardo Bozza
Tricia Almeida