Meet Melly Diaz | Founder & Editor in Chief of Just Begin Magazine

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

Hi Melly, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When it comes to risk I have a very straightforward view— Just Begin.

I know it sounds a little cheesy since the name of my business is Just Begin Magazine but I feel strongly about taking risks.

The name of my business came to be simply because I had taken too long to start and when I was brainstorming ideas for a name “Just Begin” came to me. From then on I knew it was time to launch and then adjust.

Before taking the chance on starting my digital magazine so many thoughts ran through my mind…

-Who would read your magazine?

-There are already so many magazines out there that the market is too saturated.

-You have never worked in editorial before can you even take this on?

So many negative thoughts instantly came to mind and it is in that moment that you need to stop yourself and remember that life is all about taking risks. The most successful entrepreneurs started their businesses simply out of risk-taking.

I’m not saying that starting a business is easy but if you have the passion and drive behind it, anything is possible. And if you don’t take the risk, you will never know what could have been. After all, as they say, “fortune favors the brave.”

To circle back to the beginning, when it comes to risk-taking, don’t be afraid to dream big. I truly believe that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and the only way to find out is to take the risk. So what are you waiting for? Just Begin.

What should our readers know about your business?
I launched Just Begin in June of 2020 with my sister and mom during the pandemic and I felt that it was the right time to launch because I knew I wanted Just begin to be an outlet for small businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives, and writers the opportunity to get real and share their stories.

We are so proud to have shared the stories of over 200 small businesses and creatives in our 2 years.

We believe in the power of community, and we want to create a safe space for people to share their work and learn from each other. We feature everything from interviews with business owners to poetry, and essays.

By our magazine being digital, we are reducing waste and helping those around us become more eco-conscious as sustainability is one of the topics we discuss in our publication.

It certainly has been a learning process for us and we are still continuously evolving to become our very best.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ahhh this is a great question as I am so proud to be from Miami and I love my city. However, I am definitely more of a chill, nice dinners, shopping and beach walks Miami girl. My ideal itinerary would look something like this:

-Sunrise walk at Key Biscayne to kick off the day

-Brunch at l’artisane bakery in Coral Gables for croissants and coffee.

-A tour of the Vizcaya gardens for some photos and history.

-A walk down Miracle Mile for some shopping and other photo opportunities.

-Go to dinner in Coconut Grove at Planta Queen for some yummy food and amazing drinks!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shoutout to my parents who have been business owners since I was six years old. They have taught me everything I know when it comes to being a leader, risk-taker, and business owner myself. I am so grateful to have parents that truly believe in me and make me feel like I can accomplish anything.

Website: Www.justbeginmag.com

Instagram: @mellyjustbegins & @justbeginmag

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadiaz22/

Image Credits
Photos by @dorianash