If you are new to Cedar & Rush, Work Smarter, Not Harder (WSNH) is a weekly column showcasing Chicago’s leading ladies – think CEO’s, entrepreneurs, and everyday women making a difference – and how they work smarter, not harder. I decided upon Monday so we can kick off the week as productive and as motivated as possible. If you love a particular piece of advice or have any tips of your own, please share by tagging #WSNH2015 on Instagram and Twitter.
Jaclyn Duffield, the owner and lead planner for JDetailed Events, is someone I have had the upmost pleasure working with personally. It is such an honor to have her on Cedar & Rush today! A true go getter, Jaclyn built an incredible reputation and dream team in such a short amount of time. As you’ll soon see, her work speaks for itself and has taken the Chicago wedding industry by storm. I would include her on a “people to watch list” given her tremendous attention to detail and success. Not to mention I am obsessed with her style. If you are getting ready to plan an event, wedding or party, be sure to give Jaclyn a ring. Or check out her blog for some serious eye candy and inspiration. Now that I have hyped her up, I will let her share how she got to where she is today!
Jaclyn, can you please explain your job and any other networks, projects, etc. you participate in on a regular basis? I am the owner and lead planner for JDetailed Events, Inc., a full service event and wedding planning company in Chicago. In addition to planning weddings, we attend several industry events and venue openings each week/month to make sure we’re up to speed on the latest and greatest of Chicago’s wedding scene.
How did you get to your current position? I began working in the event-planning industry nine years ago and gained a wide range of experience in catering, sales, hotels, venues, etc. but my true passion was starting my own wedding planning business. It takes time to get your name out and build a clientele. I was so lucky that several friends gave me the opportunity to plan their weddings and gain the proper experience to venture off on my own. After lots of hard work, building a brand and website, networking, prospecting and 7-day work weeks, I started JDetailed Events, Inc. and haven’t looked back! We pride ourselves on truly getting to know our bride and grooms and their vision for their wedding day. From there, we aim to provide a completely stress-free (and fun!) planning experience while creating the wedding day that they have always dreamed of!
What time do you typically get up in the morning? I am up around 6:30 AM, sometimes earlier during peak wedding season. ☺
How do you take your coffee and what do you typically eat for breakfast? I generally head to the local Starbucks to get my day started with a grande blonde with skim milk and cinnamon. For breakfast, it’s usually fresh fruit and Greek yogurt with granola. I work from home, so it’s crucial to get up and ready before diving into emails and meetings.
Quickly walk us through your morning routine: Typically, I grab coffee – likely checking social media on the way, turn on GMA, and get right into my inbox. I spend the first few hours of my day getting organized and responding to emails. From there, I’m usually out and about in vendor and client meetings for tastings, decor samples, one-on-ones with the bride, etc.
What is the best way to get your foot in the door of your dream job? I think it’s first important to truly discover your passion. If you love something, go for it with the intention of working extremely hard to get where you want to be. Connections and networking are very beneficial, but I strongly believe in consistency and follow up as well. A combination of both is usually ideal. Start with internships at your favorite company. As long as you show them how passionate you are, show up early, stay late, ask for feedback from your managers or boss so you can constantly be improving, I have no doubt that you can move up quickly and land your dream job.
What resources do you use to stay organized and remember tasks? Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar and Google Drive. I have a folder for each one of our clients, keeping all email correspondence, contracts, and any other information pertaining to that event. We also create monthly planning timelines for our clients and constantly keep tabs on these. This process ensures no task is left behind or pushed too close to an event that can cause last-minute stress on our clients or vendors.
What mistake do you see people constantly make that they should be aware of? I think response time is extremely important. We strive to respond to all inquiries, clients and vendors within 24 hours. If we have an unusually busy day and need a bit more time, let them know you received their email or call and you’re working on getting an answer to them as soon possible. Or give a specific date and time you will have that information to them. I think this builds trust and reliability, creating a more seamless planning process for all.
How do you conquer your inbox? I have an email folder for each client, venue, vendor, and event. I only keep emails in my inbox that need a response or a follow up. The rest are moved into their appropriate folder so I don’t get too overwhelmed. I also highlight emails based on importance – red for urgent matters and yellow for emails that need to be taken care of within the week. When responding to new incoming emails, I go from bottom to top so that they are responded to in the order they were received.
How do you format your emails? I try to start with a one to two sentence welcome/friendly note unrelated to wedding/event planning. Then dive straight to the point. If a client or vendor has a list of questions, I answer in a different color or bold font directly below each question. This ensures I answer all of their questions. I will wrap emails up with a next step so everyone is on the same page.
How do you make time for working out and staying healthy? Working out and staying healthy are extremely important to me and enhances my ability to be efficient all day. I work out five or six days a week at Barre Code, generally in the early morning or during my lunch break. I also walk to as many meetings as possible in the city.
I am always thinking of the day ahead and taking that into consideration when at certain events. It’s generally a two drink limit. ☺
What are your favorite tips for keeping an organized workspace? Organizing electronically. This limits the amount of paper and clutter on your desk and creates a cleaner workspace so you can think clearer. My desk includes my computer, a notepad, and a lit candle only. ☺
Favorites:
* Favorite Apps: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Calendar, My Fitness Pal, ProCamera Photo Editor.
* Favorite Books: Lean In and Setting the Table
* Favorite Websites: Style Me Pretty, Pinterest, 100 Layer Cake, The Perfect Palette, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Goop.
* Favorite Gadget: Iphone
Jaclyn, so fun having you today and I had to admit, I clung on to every word! Congratulations on all you success. I cannot wait to see what this year will bring you. Or should I say, what YOU will bring to this year!
Up Next? Elaina Vazquez of Boutique Bites – AKA the cutest and chicest caterer in all the land! She was also just selected as one of Rent The Runway’s featured women for Chicago, The Real Runway! I cannot wait to share her advice and insight next week. Be there or be square!
Want more? You can find all Work Smarter Not Harder posts right here.
I love Jaclyn’s process for answering emails. I’ve been going the LIFO route far too often these days and I need to start doing this asap! I’m also an avid MyFitnessPal user 😉 Another great interview, Nicole!