Jennifer Yelverton has made a business helping others with their business. As an event planner, she handles everything from start to finish. Keep reading to find out more about this savvy business woman, the obstacles she had to overcome, and what keeps her motivated!

1) Are you living your dreams?

Yes. I am pleased to say, Y-E-S, I am living my dreams. I always wanted a career that allowed me to help people, be creative, and a business woman all at the same time. Event Planning is the answer to all my prayers!

I get to help clients tell their stories and create experiences with events, from invitation to “swag bag,” in an effort to engage their guests in their brand, company, mission, or ”cause,” making it all come to life and become more relevant!

Working with all kinds of people, managing their budgets, and making their visions reality is a career dream come true. I am fortunate to be a professional in a field that is growing and becoming more relevant in business models and marketing campaigns. I truly am blessed to live such a charmed life!

2) Are your career goals in line with your personal goals?

Yes. As an Entrepreneur, your career goals are your personal goals because you take your career…personally. I am always striving to learn more, do more, improve in all aspects of my life —health, finances, time management, etc. — this is especially true as an entrepreneur event planner as I am my brand and I always want and need to know “what’s next?” ”what’s new?” and “how have needs/expectations changed?”

Event planning is an ever-changing, ever-evolving profession. There is a wealth of knowledge and information available, and I want to make sure I have it! So, setting goals to improve in one area of my personal life directly affects my business because as I accomplish goals or try new things on a personal level, I can bring that knowledge to my business and develop professionally.

3) Tell us about your company.

Buje Concepts, Inc. is an established and informative event consulting firm. We are a team of innovative, creative, and professional event consultants with years of experience in planning and creating mobile tours, corporate events, festivals, promotional events, sponsorships, fundraisers, special events, and private events. We actively develop new ways of event design, from conception to execution (and all things in between).

4) Has there been an event/person that has greatly influenced you to be the person you are today?

Yes! Hands down, my mother has taught me so much throughout my life and has greatly influenced the woman I am still becoming. She taught me the importance of self-importance (taking care of yourself and being responsible and accountable for your actions). She taught me the importance of treating others with the standards I expect to be treated with, to believe in myself, as my talents are God-given, and that I am blessed and I should try to be a blessing to others!

The one event that influenced my life was winning the Harlem Home Makeover contest. I was the recipient of a prize package of gift certificates to partake in services and products provided by Harlem-based business owners. It was that time, meeting other women entrepreneurs, that I was filled with such great inspiration to pursue my own thing. In particular, I was interviewed by a woman who worked for a major print publication that gave me such sound advice. She said, “you should only work hard for you! You are the only person that appreciates your talents.” She then began to explain how she worked for a major corporation for many years, sacrificed her personal life tremendously, and then was laid-off because she was too costly for the operational budget of the company. That reality check changed my way of thinking about success and how I pursue and define it.

5) How do you empower yourself? What keeps you motivated and staying on course to reach your goals?

I am a planner by nature and I work to decide what my next step should be. Whether it be a training/professional development course, a certification, or a workshop, I stay empowered by keeping busy and keeping it moving! However, my biggest motivator is my faith!

There are days that I just feel overwhelmed or doubtful. Then, I remember that God placed my dream in my heart and blessed me with talents and gifts to fulfill these dreams; my gifts will make room for me as God has already prepared it to be. So… then I relax, get in my zone, focus, and get back to work!

I also stay motivated by surrounding myself with other entrepreneurial, like-minded women. Working in a group of others to achieve goals, you find motivation, comfort, a tremendous think tank, accountability, and friendship.

6) What types of obstacles did you have to overcome?

A major obstacle was managing an events business during a recession where companies and personal clients were restructuring priorities and budgets, putting more emphasis on promotional e-marketing campaigns and customer retention, as opposed to marketing campaigns that encompassed events. My partner and I really had to exercise our brains in different ways to manage our client’s expectations and needs, and work with stricter budgets.

7) What have you learned about yourself through this journey?

I learned that I had a tendency to get in my own way. I would start to doubt my own instincts. However, I learned to trust my initial gut feeling about something, as well as to trust the decisions I make, even if there is error, because, as a result, there is opportunity to learn and perfect my craft.

8 ) Who/what keeps you grounded?

Making mistakes, admitting to them, and learning from them.

9) Has your personal life changed as a result of your career achievements?

My personal life hasn’t changed a great deal. I am a little busier than before, but I still make time for my family, friends, and doctor’s appointments. Occasionally, I like to take myself out on a date, too! Also, among my friends, I am so supported and loved and have become the go-to guru of events and I kind of love the pseudo-celebrity status.

10) How do you embody guts, glamour, and grace? (Must answer)

Guts- I feel the fear and do it anyway! I learned that “can’t” never did nothing for me. When I say I can’t do it, I’ll never know if I could. I always think Nike: “Jen, just do it! What do you have to lose?”

Glamour -I remain simply stated. You can say a lot without saying  much at all. “Less is more” is my style and professional mantra!

Grace- Living by the three C’s: calm, cool, collected. You are how you react to your situations. Your plan will only work if you work your plan! There is always a solution to every challenge, just use your head and your heart and you are already a winner!

11) Who/what are your favorites (pick 5):

a)      Charity- Make A Wish Foundation

b)      City(ies)- Philadelphia

c)      Color- Blue (cool blue, that is)

d)     Movie- Pretty Woman

e)      Season- Fall

12) With your success, do you think money can buy you happiness?

Absolutely not! All the money in the world can’t buy you anything worth having! I’ve seen some very unhappy wealthy people and I couldn’t imagine living my life not appreciating experiences or gifts because they came too easy.

13) What advice can you give to other people on the rise?

Believe in your dreams, as God has instilled that dream in your heart and has established all things necessary for you to be successful! However, dreams only get you so far. You have to put in the work to accomplish them.

Do some research in your particular field of interest, talk to an established professional in that field, interview them, shadow them, and learn what steps they took to get where they are.

After you have done your research, it’s time to make a plan and then work your plan. Set goals with firm deadlines; share your goals with people that will hold you accountable! Keep a journal or log book on what work you have done to accomplish your goals for future reference.

One rule of thumb I stuck to is that when something doesn’t work, evaluate the situation, decipher what you have learned and you can only be sad about it for one day. When that day is over, get right back to work.  Don’t lose momentum!

Simply… keep pushing on!!!

14) What’s up next? Projects, trips, next big splurge…

With great anticipation, I’m looking forward to new projects on the horizon for Buje as we enter our new fiscal year! I am looking forward to a big international trip to Rio with my girls in 2011; and then I have the pleasure of being my best friend’s Maid of Honor… that’s the best gift a friend can give another- letting them know how much they mean to you! I can’t wait to tell her story!

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2. Lindsey Holmes: Social Media Entrepreneur
3. Lauren Farnham

Tags: Career Advice, Person of the Week, Striving for Success