Tools of the Trade is an AgencySpy feature to help highlight the many tools that help make advertising and marketing folks successful. The tools can be anything that helps you perform at your top form, from your favorite drafting table to your best software program to a lucky pen, a vintage typewriter or a pair of headphones.
Next up is Jolene Delisle, founder and head of creative at branding and creative agency The Working Assembly.
Jolene Delisle goes old school with a black leather planner for daily planning.
What is the name of the one tool you use all the time at work, and how does it inspire your work?
I recently got into analog planning and got a full-focus black leather planner. It’s a 90-day planner designed so that you can set priorities in clear view and focus on what matters every day. There are weekly and quarterly templates, along with daily task lists so you can get granular and big picture. I used to use Notion, Notes and Google docs and it was easy for stuff to just get lost in all these various digital sheets and docs. I love the accountability that a paper planner holds me to.
Why is it your favorite?
I love that I have the planner with me all the time and can keep it by my bed as well—so if I think of something, it’s easy to jot things down first or last thing.
How did you acquire your tool or hear about it for the first time?
I heard about this tool from my friend Jeanelle Teves, GM of Bugaboo, who is my role model in all things planning. I learn so much from her and all the tools she uses to manage her life, family and career.
How does it help you be successful?
I think it’s a perfect tool for anyone whose goal is to be more focused and intentional in the new year, especially if you have big lofty goals you don’t want to have on the back burner.
Do you think your tool could go TikTok viral?
I really think it could—it’s kind of old school in form but kind of new and relevant and part of the cultural zeitgeist around manifesting and goal setting.
We want to know what tools you use to make you successful. If you’d like to contribute or know someone who would want to be featured in Tools of the Trade, contact kyle.obrien@adweek.com and fill out our survey.