Meet Jeff Wilson | Queer entrepreneur, SEO/Social Media Manager

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

Hi Jeff, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
My business, GayDenver.com, is partnered with 40+ local business owners. Without fail every one of them feels the weight of what they are doing, what they are trying to accomplish. It can feel heavy, and sh*t*y. It can feel at times like there is no real goal, no reward just a lifetime of building. I feel it too, I feel it often enough that it’s hard to come up with an honest answer to how often I think about quitting. I don’t know anyone that’s immune to that feeling of ‘What the heck am I doing?’. Only you can decide if it’s time to throw in the towel. Only you experienced the feelings and history that culminated in the decision to start a project, write a book, or open a business. You are the only person who can answer with surety if you have done your best and can walk away without regret or shame.
I recently had a crisis of faith as I like to call it. It seemed like everything I had set out to do seemed unachievable. I asked myself if I would be better off doing something else or waiting for the economy to improve. I asked whether I was on track to achieve the core goals that I had set out to achieve. Some goals I had completed while others were still waiting to be checked off. Freedom was and is the biggest goal I ever wanted. Freedom to choose who I work with, freedom of time and location so I could chase my personal dreams and freedom from outside influences. After thinking about why I was creating my business I felt better, still tired, and had no additional solutions but I felt that passion again. The passion that made me bold enough to quit my job and pursue my dreams full-time. That passion is necessary and required for life and business.
So if you are considering quitting your current venture, think back to the vision you had when you started. Consider the possibilities and give yourself permission to quit. It doesn’t mean that you have to quit that second. But for me, it feels great to imagine a future or alternative to the present where I am doing something else. To remind myself that this venture is not the entirety of me or my future or worth.
I can’t always pull myself out of this funk by myself. I turn to other professionals and entrepreneurs in times like that. I find that talking to people struggling with the joys and burdens of self-employment empathizes more readily and dispenses more actionable advice. Having people to turn to really goes a long way in helping clarify what a person would do. If nothing else the venting helps clear the mind!
Before you quit, just realize that the feeling is natural, it happens to every writer, artist, performer, shop owner, and coach I know. It’s not a bad thing, how we deal with those feelings is what can turn it from a crisis to ah ha moment. Don’t be afraid to reach out and if the first person doesn’t help find another!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets GayDenver and myself apart is that we don’t operate like an advertisement company or a basic directory. I take ownership of any partnership wherever we can. What I mean by that is I will always take the time to get to know a business intimately. I look at them as what they really are, a vehicle for someone’s dream. I will do everything I can on my side of our interaction to make sure that however GayDenver is working with you, is working for you. To date, no company has left GayDenver’s business directory. This isn’t because everything is and has been perfect. It’s because I take every business that signs up with us seriously. I listen to where they are struggling and where they need help and then pivot GayDenver’s part to better suit them. If our strategy doesn’t work for someone’s business, I want to figure out why and create a more robust system.
We also vett businesses before they join us. We look at reviews for patterns of misogyny, racism, and anti LGBT+ behaviour. This has bought us a lot of credibility within the LGBT+ community.
I feel that my love of small businesses is what really makes the partnerships we have so special and profitable. We are looking to HELP small businesses not nickel and dime them. When a company signs up for GayDenver.com or asks us to manage their social media, they gain a partner in that venture. Not some drone ticking boxes or mega entity that doesn’t care or listen.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, first I would look at GayDenver’s event page to see if there’s anything new that popped up. Anyone can put an event on there for free!

My go-to’s would be the BYOB Bring Your Own Board Game night at Bad Habits Denver. Its always a ton of fun, there are so many different board games there and everyone is willing to teach and participate. I’ve always found it to be really enjoyable.
If there’s a movie being shown by Rainbow Cult, I tey to make it to as many of those as I can. Rainbow Cult shows cult classics around town with an interactive drag element related to the movie. I like being able to watch movies like Clue and Death Becomes Her with friends, not worrying about being loud or having fun.

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’d like to give a shout-out to the Westword and OutFront Magazine. They were the inspirations for GayDenver. I saw how they featured elements throughout Denver and the queer community and wanted to make something parallel to that. One day I hope, GayDenver will also be able to make a real and sustained difference in the communities that we are a part of.

Also my mother, a Korean immigrant who demonstrated what courage and persistence could achieve. I learned a lot from watching her as I was growing up. Seeing her struggle, succeed and fail was made me realize how precious small businesses are and that they should be protected at all cost.

Website: https://gaydenver.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaydenver303/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaydenver/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaydenver303