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

Hi Paz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I came up with the idea for my business while I was working as a bartender at a pizzeria. I was having a lot of heath issues and a family friend of mine offered me the job because they were short staffed and needed an extra hand. Despite the problems with my health, I accepted the job. The pizzeria had chalkboards everywhere that they used for their menus and information, but customers always had a hard time reading them, and honestly so did I. While I would wait for customers to come in, I imagined how I could recreate the signs and use my marketing degree to my advantage. The other workers usually did the signs, but on a night shift my boss asked, “Paz, how good is your handwriting? Do you think you could do this one sign for me?” I responded, “Sure thing!” As I was completing the sign, my boss came to check on me every so often and was super impressed when I finished. He eventually gave me the gig to redo all of the chalkboards in the restaurant. I’ve always had a creative thumb and a passion for art so of course I accepted the offer. I no longer work as a bartender and I’m excited to say I now have the opportunity to create as a freelance artist. My unique style has given this pizzeria a whole new look. I drew my first picture of Mike from Monsters Inc when I was 3 years old and I haven’t stopped drawing and creating since. What can I say it’s in my DNA.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started in my industry when I realized a normal job would never satisfy me. I’m in a lot of pain nowadays, so it’s important to me to work in something that makes me want to get up in the morning. I was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. It affects the right side of my body and I’m right handed, so it can be a challenge for me to create sometimes. In December 2022, I had to get my right scalene muscle, my right first rib, and a significant amount of scar tissue removed because my nerves were getting crushed. Creating keeps me sane, so I push through the pain regardless of everything. I like to consider myself a versatile artist. I have learned and continue to learn many different forms of art through trial and error. The main goal of my business is to make my clients’ vision come to life. I take the time for my clients to describe to me what they want, I sketch it to see how they like it, then if any changes need to be made I make them. I’m different than others because I take the time to communicate and follow through with my clients ideas, even if it’s something that’s not my favorite. As long as my clients are happy I’m happy. I hope to create my own original art to sell to potential clients as well.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was studying to get my marketing degree, I thought I was going to help my dad with his car business. I was very passionate about cars and I really thought I could learn and take over the business for the rest of my life. My dad created a business where he believed good people deserve great deals, so he would sell used cars at a price people couldn’t refuse. However, the car market crashed and everything became untouchable, so he had to close his business down. That’s when I started working as a bartender and eventually became a freelance artist.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Art has always been a side hustle for me. When I was 12 years old, I made duct tape wallets, purses, and pens and I would sell them to my grandmother’s customers. As the years went by, I continued my art and I always knew I wanted to pursue it as a full time career. When I finally had the opportunity, I took it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: pazncrafts
• Other: Email: pazncrafts@gmail.com

Image Credits
Paz Aboujaoude