Meet Jillian Dara | Journalist and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Dara and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I never set out to start my own business. In college, I majored in journalism and anticipated working for a newspaper or magazine—print was my preference but as in-house publishing and editorial teams scaled, I embraced digital platforms. After working as an editor for two years, I decided to try freelancing. I was still relatively a newbie to the industry, despite my previous managerial positions, but I felt like this was the only way to control the type of content I wanted to produce. I jumped in pretty blindly, got comfortable with being uncomfortable and marinated in it until I finally started seeing results from countless hours of hardwork.

I learned that in order to succeed in this industry, I needed inexcusable discipline; I was my own boss, marketer, accountant, and more, all wrapped into one. That’s when I realized as a freelancer, I was my business. I began referring to myself as an entrepreneur, because not only was I writing content for magazines, but I was ghostwriting, copyediting and copywriting for individual clients; I created my own network and name to operate under, again, I was, and still am, my business.

So although there was no initial thought process behind starting my own business, it became very clear when I dove into it. There are days when I look at a 9 to 5 job with envy but those days are few and far between; there’s something inherently rewarding and exhilarating about carving your own path, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Boston, Massachusetts, so the first thing my friends always request when they visit is a lobster roll. For a rustic, outdoor vibe, my go-to is Barking Crab and for a more elevated experience (or perhaps a warmer venue during our chilly winters), I love Row 34, which also serves a fantastic selection of local oysters.

You can’t visit Boston without strolling around the brownstones of South End and Back Bay. The neighborhoods are brimming with boutiques, restaurants, and bars so that one can easily spend an entire day there. In Back Bay, my favorite haunts are Krasi Meze and Wine Bar, La Voile, Puro and Parish Cafe. In the South End, you’ll find me at Barcelona Wine Bar, Aquitaine or The Butcher Shop. Lastly, Boston’s newest hotspot is the Seaport District; here, I love Sportello and Woods Hill Pier 4. The Seaport is also home to the Institute of Contemporary Art, which is worth spending an afternoon at to admire their rotating exhibitions.

Website: Www.jilliandara.com

Instagram: @jilliandara

Image Credits
Liam Noonan – for photo with wine No additional photo credits