The time is near, friends. It's almost that one special week of the year when OrgOrg'ers around the world receive recognition and rewards for doing such epic work. Ok, maybe that's a little overblown. But it is almost Admin Appreciation Week, and the folks at OfficeNinjas want to make sure you get the recognition you deserve.

For the last 4 years, we've partnered with OfficeNinjas to help celebrate you in all your glory, with events and prizes and ways to recognize each other and prizes and fun content and did I mention prizes?

This year's Bash is going to be sweet...you don't want to miss out! We're giving away TWO tickets to the event...comment below and tell us the thing you love (or love to hate) most about your job and enter to win! We'll be picking a winner on Monday, April 10. Tickets must be purchased (for free) by April 14.

Phew, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s talk about why it matters.

The desire for balance is one of the most common topics brought up in coaching sessions, particularly for/by my female clients. As a former Joyologist (OM + EA + people opps + event planner extraordinaire) myself, I understand what it means to wear a number of hats at any given time. I also understand how the demands of this work often empty the ol’ energy tank rather quickly, as caring for an office full of people in any capacity can leave a person zapped of the necessary fuel to meaningfully tend to their personal lives.

Through hours of coaching I have learned very clearly: Without accountability, there can be no balance. And without balance, reaching our goals becomes far less enjoyable work.

A bit of food for thought…..

Don’t be ashamed to use the tools you need. There is no script to what we “should” be utilizing, or what we “should” be capable of on our own. Clients will sometimes express their embarrassment over the tricks they’ve implemented to aid them with accountability, but I love even the most MacGyver’d strategies.  “If I don’t tape a note to the door, I will never remember to bring my gym sneakers to work, and it makes bailing on the gym way easier.”  One client wanted so badly to make flossing a habitual part of her larger self care routine, she ended up buying a cool piece of art to hang in her bathroom that simply said “Floss!” in beautiful writing. Set calendar reminders. Pay in advance for things with no refunds, or cancellation fees. Loop in friends who have similar goals, or who just generally want you to succeed in your own. Speaking of….

Find your tribe. As the African Proverb tells us, if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. While we would never (hopefully) think it was OK to bail on a meeting with our supervisor, it often seems difficult to commit to our own goals with the same non-negotiable attitude. This is where other people come in handy. Even just a single partner in crime can make a world of a difference. As I found myself struggling to keep up with my gratitude journaling, a practice I knew was paramount to holding a positive, more balanced daily perspective, I was recruited by a dear friend and fellow coach to help her with the same. Each day for the past year and a half we have exchanged gratitude emails; we’ve reminded, encouraged, and held space for the other. This practice has been life changing, and so much more fun to do with a person I deeply care for. As dear ol’ Jacky J sings, it’s always better when we’re together.

Define your why, then hold it close. Let’s spitball this a little: Yes, we want to work out to feel healthy & strong. But why, exactly? Go deeper. What is the value behind feeling strong in our bodies? Perhaps because feeling this way makes us better mothers or partners, friends or teammates. Yes, we want to keep a travel blog to share our adventures. But why? You might be surprised to find it’s more about meaningful connection than anything else. The point is this: short term “why” has its place, but soulful, going-the-distance “why” find its strength in partnership with our core values. This is where the real magic happens.

Commit to progress over perfection. Balance is a constant act of practice, not a permanent destination we arrive at. As our lives continue to shift, so will our definitions of balance, and so will our goals. What needs a little TLC on Monday will differ from what feels lacking on Friday. Truthfully, we won’t always get it right. And that’s OK! The important part is realizing that these are our precious lives, and we are worthy of the efforts to make the most of them.


Do Good, Be Well,

Trish​

Starting and growing a business today means managing multiple time zones, locations and cultures, with a 24/7 sense of urgency. To cope, executives must rely heavily (more so than decades before) on their Executive Assistant (EA) to be their closest ally. EAs have the arduous job of responding to emails/correspondence and requests at all hours of the day (or night), planning and organizing chaotic (and ever-changing) travel schedules, and holding down the fort in their boss’ absence.
 
While these responsibilities have broadly been a requirement for any EA, today, the need for an EA to add “strategic business partner” to their job description is not only essential but critical. With this higher level of responsibility, including decision-making power, the EA needs to be able to quickly respond and adapt to change by finding tools that help them stay one-step-ahead of their boss.
 
To assist, we compiled this list of useful tips and tools to empower today’s EAs to be on top of their game:

1. EA Challenge: Too many side projects
Tip: Save time by outsourcing everyday tasks
Tool: ZeroCater. ZeroCater makes food simple for companies of all sizes by partnering with over 500 local restaurants, caterers and food trucks to offer family-style meals, approved by even the most critical foodie. ZeroCater’s hands-on catering consultants learn your company’s food tastes, dietary restrictions and delivery logistics to ensure every step of the process, from order to clean up, runs flawlessly. Outsourcing your catering needs saves you hours of time, so you can focus your time on your more strategic responsibilities.

2. EA Challenge: Not enough time
Solution: Gain efficiencies by prioritizing tasks
Tool: Asana. Asana is a useful tool to help you (and your boss) be more productive by organizing everything from the most immediate details to the big picture. With Asana, each person knows what they should be doing and why. This clarity, transparency, and focus lets you operate with less friction and produce great results.
 
3. EA Challenge: Too many ways forms of communicate
Solution: Consolidate informal communication into one platform
Tool: Slack. Slack lets you organize your team conversations in open channels. Make a channel for a project, a topic, a team, or anything—everyone has a transparent view of all that’s going on. For sensitive information, create private channels and invite one or few team members. Take your conversations with you on the go with apps for iOS and android.