Today we’d like to introduce you to Melly Diaz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am originally from Miami, FL but my parents moved my family to suburban Port St. Lucie, FL. From there, I eventually found my way back to Miami to study at Barry University. I graduated from Barry University in December 2017 with my Bachelors degree in English with a specialization in Professional writing. After I graduated, I took on a role in the family business, which is a marketing firm. However, I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit and decided to open an event planning business with my sister.
We were very successful and the business operated for four years. Until I hit a breaking point with the business and found myself not inspired and burned out. But I believe everything happens for a reason and I needed to go down that road to eventually lead me to where I am now. If I would have not started that business I would have never had to learn graphic design, team management, social media marketing, and so many other skills that I still utilize to this day. Fast forward to present day and I am now the Editor in Chief for Just Begin Magazine. Our mission is to inspire our readers to JUST BEGIN on whatever makes them happy. Just Begin Magazine celebrates creatives, entrepreneurs, and people who are making a change in the world. We are very proud to have our magazine digital. By doing so, we are reducing waste and helping those around us become more eco-conscious. We launched in June of 2020. We didn’t know what was going to happen or where it would lead us but what we did know is that we needed to JUST BEGIN. Just Begin is an outlet for me to express my thoughts, ideas and share stories. It’s become an outlet for not only our team but the many contributors we have now for every edition. I believe Just Begin was created during the perfect time because we all needed some light. Now we are in the process of making our 10th edition!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe if it would have been a smooth road for me, I wouldn’t have made it this far. I like a challenge and life has presented many to me as well as me creating them for myself. My sister and I started an event planning business and we invested a lot of money into it and when it was time to call it quits it definitely impacted us both because we eliminated a big part of our income. However, since we decided to close the business, we both blossomed into our true selves and creating the life we really want to live. My sister, Samantha, is now the Head of Design and Photography for Just Begin Magazine.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Like any business, Just Begin Magazine has gone through many phases. The idea first began back in 2011 when my mother (Miriela Diaz) began her In Touch Awards in her industry and In Touch with Today’s Workers’ Compensation Magazine. The magazine eventually faded away but the In Touch brand remained and Miriela asked our colleague Anailis Diaz and I to begin working on the relaunch of the magazine in 2018. Over the next two years, we went through many different phases of what we want to convey, the branding, what is our goal for the magazine. We knew we wanted it to be intentional and not just like any other magazine. While the magazine was evolving so we were as people. Miriela had put her health first and went back to school to become an herbalist. Anailis pursued her dream and opened her event planning business.
A year prior I had graduated from college with a degree in English with a specialization in professional writing and needed an outlet to share my passion. Each of us believe that everything happens for a reason and timing is everything. Back in 2018 we were not all ready to embark in a magazine like Just Begin because we weren’t practicing what we preach. In 2019 we spoke again about the magazine and we realized we need to stop waiting. We need to get the magazine off the ground and out to the world. We all asked ourselves what should we name it? I said “Just Begin” and it was as if we all realized at the same time that it was the perfect name. We didn’t want to wait anymore for our dreams, it was time for us to make them a reality. You can say we just began and now we are in 2021 on our 10th edition. Sometimes you need to take the leap of faith and JUST BEGIN.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If my story brings you any happiness or inspiration, I ask you to please visit our website www.justbeginmag.com and follow us on our social media handles!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@justbeginmag.com
- Website: www.justbeginmag.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justbeginmag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justbeginmag
Image Credits
Photos by Dorian Ash Instagram: @dorianseye Website: www.shotbydorian.darkroom.tech
What to check out next:
Aleasha Bahr is a sales & marketing strategist known for showing introverts and ambiverts the Secret Art of Subtle Selling. She personally sold millions in revenue while discovering introverts are usually top sales people – as soon as they stop trying to act like extroverts. We’ve partnered with her to produce Introverted Entrepreneur Success Stories. Check out episode 1 below:
