Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Valadez.
Hi Gabriel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I fell in love with cooking when I was a preteen, but the Youtube experience only began as a consequence of COVID and the lockdown! Truth be told: I love attention. I always have even as a child. But whereas I think it’s bit more acceptable to be obnoxious like that as a child, as a 30-something year old adult, it feels less so…. So! With the youtube channel, I feel like I can scratch a lot of itches all at once! I can do my best to be creative. I get to have fun with a passion of mine. And lastly, I can justify wanting attention. It’s the perfect crime!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely burned myself out pretty early. I did my best to shoot for one video a week those first six months. But I just couldn’t maintain that pace. Years later and now I try to get at least one out every month or so. This probably isn’t a pace that Youtube likes, but it works best for me. Consistency is easily my weakest link. This is a wonderful hobby for me that I am grateful for. But I know that if/when I really want this channel to grow, I’m gonna have to lock in and learn to love those long nights of editing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a data analyst by day. I did Geology in school and it feels apropos, because much as the rocks on the Earth will, those student loans will outlive me! But I thoroughly enjoy my day-job. I work for a wonderful company that provides me with everything I need to be able to pursue Cafe Gabe in a way that works for me. It provides me the capital to buy new equipment/ingredients. It affords me the flexibility to work on creating new content. And just the security of knowing I am safe and secure. I can’t imagine ever leaving my day job, even if Cafe Gabe ever blew up.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I don’t do the best at networking specifically as a “creative”. What I will say though is: you never know how someone you simply stand with on the elevator everyday at work may affect your life. What the odds are that you have a lot in common, or ways to help each other in ways outside of work. So! Just have the small talk. Make the polite conversation. 99% of the time, worst case scenario it’s a boring conversation and you don’t ever have to do it again. But hey! All our best friends were strangers to us at some point. So who knows!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Youtube.com/CafeGabe
- Instagram: @CafeGabeGourmet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/CafeGabe
