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

Hi Desirae, thanks for joining us today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

I went into college with big dreams. But by the time I was 20-years old, I was as hormonally volatile as I was at 16, twice as confused about life, and partying like only the children of strict parents can. I was in the midst of a year-long mental health leave when Annette Johnson, Editor-In-Chief of Hers Magazine, gave me an Editorial Internship. Annette owned a successful publishing company, and Hers was her passion project. I respected and admired her accomplishments, and I felt a kindred spirit between us. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I easily fell in love with what she and her magazine stood for. She gave me the tools to effectively interview and photograph people who shaped the landscape of what it means to be a modern woman, to be an artist, and to be a passionate human being. I got to spend time with the first female NFL coach, Jen Welter; Paul Stanley of KISS; and Jordan Ewing, the 25-year-old sole proprietor of Zuri Bridal.

From April to August of 2018, Hers Magazine rebuilt my confidence when depression had robbed me of it. Annette treated me with respect and fueled my creative fire with a complete, hands-on education about the publishing process. From organizing our CRM and drafting email newsletters to coordinating with our authors and graphic designers to becoming an author for the main Summer issue- I earned the namesake of editorial assistant by the end of my internship. She definitely perpetuated the stereotype of the eccentric editor, and we had highs and lows throughout our close working relationship, but I feel blessed and grateful that she saw a light in me during one of my darker times. After I completed the internship with Annette and Hers, I returned from medical leave for my Fall semester at the University of Alabama. I transferred from the College of Business to the Liberal Arts College, and I began to lead my life with the mindfulness and the passion that fuels me.

Our early twenties are both exciting and terrifying. When you begin to understand your autonomy, the vastness of your own life can feel like a security blanket or a noose depending on the day. A lot of us go into college with this idea that we need to figure out what we want to do for the rest of our life, and that’s a lot of pressure on someone whose frontal lobe hasn’t even closed yet. My internship gave me a lot of peace because everyone I met had succeeded in a million ways and failed in a million others, but the common thread among all of them was that they were focused and enthusiastic in the midst of change. The stories I heard that summer inspired me, and the fact I was trusted to retell those stories rebuilt the trust I had in myself. My experiences in this role helped me replace defeat with determination, replace frustration with patience. I am 25-years-old now, and I am proud to say that I feel proud of who I am.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello hello! My name is Desirae Diaz, and I am a creator by nature and by education. I am a published author, freelance photographer/graphic designer, and a recent college graduate. I have a degree in Cinema and Media Arts Production, and I love to make connections with other artists in the metro Atlanta area. From begging my parents to read to me as a kid, to memorizing my library card number, to reading an essay I wrote at my local town hall- storytelling and communication have been integral to my development.

Now, I am looking to pivot into helping other creatives find success in their passion. I have worn the hat of a background actor, a poet, a graphic designer, a studio coordinator, a photographer, and an illustrator. These experiences have taught me about the basic mechanics of breaking into varied creative industries, and I want to help other young people navigate the world of artistic work. Gig work requires diligence, networking, and organization. I would like my potential clients to know that they have a support system in me to break into the field that they feel called to.

I am in the process of developing my personal brand now, but I am always looking to connect my friends and acquaintances with those who can help them with their development. I am most proud of my work on finding a publisher, illustrating my own cover art, editing my book, and organizing my own book signings. So, I would particularly love to work with other writers.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I find most of my clients by in-person networking and attending social events. I love going to galleries, concerts, and parks. When I go, I tend to strike up conversations with people that become accidental business exchanges. My extraversion is a tool that I like to use to my advantage in this regard, because natural connections tend to lead to trusting and continuous business relationships.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I recently read Atomic Habits by James Clear, and it has been incredibly lucrative for my productivity. Life tends to alternate between periods of persistence and progress, and it is easy to allow the “motions” to overwhelm mindfulness. However, there are ways to set yourself up for success, like through habit stacking, so that even when you find yourself going through the motions- you are still on a positive trajectory. James Clear described habit stacking as the process of setting up your habits in tandem so that once you begin one positive behavior, you are more inclined to do another after. So, for example, if every morning I wake up, brush my teeth, wash my face, and then go on a walk, I might lay out my athletic wear in the bathroom close to my toothbrush and face wash. This way, I know that when my hygiene is taken care of, I can easily change into the clothes that are conducive for activity. Similarly, I usually keep my laptop by my coffee pot, so when I start to brew my coffee, it becomes second nature to open it up and see what I would like to do for the day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://daemade.co
• Instagram: instagram.com/desirae.pdf
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desirae-diaz-50338117b/

Image Credits
DESIRAE DIAZ