Meet Joe Diaz | Owner & Creative Director

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

Hi Joe, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When I started my business in 2020, it was right after I got fired from my second job out of college. I knew I didn’t want to jump into another job that made me hate waking up every day. Plus, I had this golden opportunity—no major obligations, no kids, no mortgage—so I had this rare chance to take a risk without too much on the line.

I grew up in a household where my parents ran a business together, so I think that kind of life makes you less scared of the risks other people might see. With that experience, I knew I wanted to start something of my own. After a couple of ‘real jobs,’ I also figured out that I wasn’t exactly a stellar employee. At the time, my only real skills were coming up with marketing strategies and making videos, so I decided to dive in and make it happen!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Gaze Productions, is a digital marketing agency focused on helping Colorado-based restaurants and bars enhance their digital presence and grow their sales. We offer a range of services, including social media management, web design, graphic design, content creation, media buying, and more.

I developed a passion for video production in college while promoting concerts and events. After graduation, I worked as a client manager at a marketing agency for about a year. These two experiences combined to give me the skills and inspiration to create the business I run today.

When I started in 2020, I thought it would be relatively easy, but I quickly learned that everything took about twice as long as I expected. I naively believed I could bring on a team and secure a bunch of clients within a year or two, but it’s only in the last year and a half that I’ve begun realizing my original vision. Starting my own business has taught me a lot about patience and perseverance—two of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Now, after four years, I’m incredibly proud to have an amazing roster of clients and several talented team members who help us deliver top-notch products and services. It’s also a huge point of pride that I can provide opportunities for my team to get paid for doing work they love!

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.
I would defiantly start by hitting some of my favorite restaurants in Denver like La diabla, Bacon Social, Honey Basil, Ni Tuyo…

Then we would hit a couple concerts. We would definitely had to hit a couple concerts. If they were from out of town Red Rocks is a must just because it is iconic, and then the Gothic or Hi-Dive because I think they have a better vibe and are more fun.

If they were here at the start of the month I would try to make a point to hit up First Friday on Santa Fe!

I could keep going on, but I think that covers a decent amount of things!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As cliché as it might sound, my biggest mentors and support have absolutely been my parents. While they didn’t directly teach me the specific skills I use today, they laid the foundation by showing me the hard work and sacrifices it takes to run a business or pursue something on your own.

I don’t think I would have had the courage to go out on my own if I hadn’t had them as examples.

Website: https://gazeproductions.com

Instagram: @joediaz_sux

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-diaz-8196bb318/

Image Credits
All images are owned by me