This week is Administrative Professionals Week and yesterday was Administrative Professionals Day marking its 60th Anniversary!

I have written about my deep appreciation and love for assistants in general. They are the glue that holds an organization together in many cases. Their role is extremely demanding and they are most often the “middle-man”.

For my very first post I wrote The Assistant. In my article, I addressed the importance of the role. I began my career as an assistant and I understand the value that they bring to a company.

In my opinion, an assistant is a modern version of the word secretary and an administrative professional can range depending on the field. In my company, the administrative role comprises of the Sales Administrator, the Purchasing Clerk, the Project Coordinator, the Executive Assistant, the Office Manager and the receptionist to name a few, all of these roles are an essential piece of the administration team.

Here are some cool facts about Administrative Professionals Day:

The day/week was originally organized in 1952 as “National Secretaries Week” by the National Secretaries Association (now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals) in conjunction with public relations executive Harry Klemfuss and a consortium of office product manufacturers. It was established as an effort to recognize secretaries for their contributions in the workplace, and to attract people to secretarial/administrative careers.

The official definition of an administrative professional according to the IAAP is as follows:

“individuals who are responsible for administrative tasks and coordination of information in support of an office-related environment and who are dedicated to furthering their personal and professional growth in their chosen profession.”

According to the IAAP, some popular alternative titles for “secretary” are administrative assistant, office coordinator, administrative specialist (I like that one), executive assistant, and office manager.

Here are some great ways for employers to recognize your Administrative Specialist for a job well done!

• Office/Cubical trinkets
• New coffee mug, water bottle
• Tuition Reimbursement towards college degrees, certifications or online training courses to enhance administrative skills such as computer programs
• Membership to professional organizations (My favorite being the National Association of Professional Women or even a volunteering organization like the Junior League)
• Registration to conferences, seminars or workshops
• Attainment of Professional Certifications such as IAAP’s Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification
• Business Cards (everyone loves to have business cards!)
• Technical Devices such as iPad or laptop
• Monetary Bonus or Gift Certificates to the Spa
• Flowers and Candy
• Card or free e-card
• Lunch
• A simple “Thank You” goes along way!

At my company, we try to offer the above features to our administrative team of professionals. This year, my assistant and I are going to leave work early and enjoy a pilates class (her choice over yoga) to de-stress, relax and bond.

I have recently experienced a challenge with my assistant, she was feeling overwhelmed and bombarded with information, the need for approvals, following up and pulling information from others and was quite frankly on the verge of a mini-meltdown.

To help combat this issue, we now meet twice a day for what I termed the daily “Power Pow-Wow” we quickly discuss the daily tasks my assistant has, any questions, my suggestions and quick tips and we meet again (when possible) to review the day, we focus on accomplishments and any worries looming in the horizon. It has been super beneficial and we keep the pow wow’s under 10 minutes unless we are discussing a focus area. These quick chats are not meant to be long meetings or opportunities for reviews. But to provide an area of comfortable communication that is much needed in today’s high-tech arena.

If you are an administrative professional, request a quick daily get-together with your manager!

• Set a daily time (for my assistant and I, it is within 15 minutes of either her or my arrival), be on time, show up with notepad and pen in hand, have your previous day’s accomplishments at hand and outstanding tasks or questions.
• Take this time to be honest with yourself and your boss about what you are and are not able to accomplish, show that you take your work seriously and that you are conscious of the amount of time each task will require of you.
• Be vocal and communicate with your boss about any concerns or wishes you have at that time.
• Do not use pow wow’s to complain about team members or to complain at all about anything.

Here are some key assets to being a Pink Thinking Administrative Professional!

1. Be Positive! Try to avoid complaining at all costs, always consider the bright side of the situation and be mindful that no one is attracted to a negative talker, thinker or believer. Even if what you are complaining about has a ring of truth to it, most people will avoid being apart of the conversation and will quickly separate themselves from you. If you do have valid issues, come up with solutions. Remember ideas can = solutions. The great part about being a member of the administration is that you most likely have a direct professional relationship with all decision makers. Use your power for good not evil.
2. Comprehension! Knowledge is power and the ability to understand the information you are given is a key essential to being knowledgeable. The only true way to comprehend information is to ask questions and research. Never be afraid to ask questions, request clarity, additional instructions and always research anything you are not 110% sure about, use all resources that are available to you from your boss, your co-workers, your industry and Google (or Bing).
3. Experience! One of the easiest ways to improve your problem solving skills is to have the experience to do so. This does not mean that you need to be on the job for years in order to gain experience. Having the ability to solve problems is in direct correlation to your past and present awareness. If you have ever been on a team or played an instrument, you probably have great patience and communication skills that you are not tapping into. If you volunteer, you probably have the ability to offer exceptional customer service skills. And the list can go on. The important part is using your personal life to add value to your professional life is an easy way to apply your experience to your role.
4. Taking your Career Seriously! Many women are obtaining college degrees and MBA’s at a much more rapid pace than our male-counterparts, yet we are not staying in the work force long-term and we tend to move out of a position too early, not committing to the role. Therefore, many of us are not holding executive or C-level positions. One of my major goals for not only my female co-workers (all of you), but also for myself is to stay dedicated to our careers. It is so easy to give up early or to achieve the desired success and then burn out. Us women, have many roles in our lives and our professional role is just one of them, so make sure to take good care of yourself, be apart of your community, workout, compliment each other and mentor other women, it will invigorate your career and continue to offer you the challenge and growth that you need to sustain the long-haul.

Happy Administrative Professional Day Week!!!

Sincerely,

Bree

“Like” TPB on Facebook! Get all the latest publications updates!!!

Hello Pink Thinkers!

I am so excited to share an inspirational story with you! You may have heard about Liz Murray already from her Lifetime movie ”Homeless to Harvard” or read her book “Breaking Night” but if you are not one of the lucky ones who have already been introduced to Liz, than I am more than happy to introduce you to her story!

I recently watched the movie titled Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story on Lifetime, and after watching it, I literally put on my running shoes and ran 10 miles that day to allow the overwhelming inspiration sink into my mind as it did my heart. The movie was amazing but something told me to download her audio book Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard, she narrated the story which was the main reason why I wanted to hear it rather than read it, I wanted to hear her voice, soak in her words and listen to her inspire me, herself. 

And boy, did she ever!

The book was much more detailed than the movie, it was so well written and she told the story so profoundly, with every word she spoke you could imagine her trials and tribulations as if you were there going through them with her.  

The title itself gives you the main idea of what is so inspiring about Liz’s life but it does not do her justice.  What you don’t know about Liz until you hear her story is that she was born into a family of extreme poverty and drug abuse. Her parents, although loving in their own way, put drugs before her and her sister’s well being. Liz and her sister Lisa were resilient and positive throughout their entire upbringing, pushing forward and going with the flow. Throughout their childhood they overcame starvation and neglect and most importantly they managed to cope with their lives without using drugs themselves.  Which I find to be incredible!

Liz reminds me of the boy in the story The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (which is another must-read story based on faith and finding your true calling), Liz seems to listen to an inner-voice and although Liz does not have any mentors or anyone that actually listens to her, she learns to put the puzzle pieces of life together quite instinctively. 

At the age of 15, Liz becomes homeless and alone.  By the time she is 17 she suffers the lost of her Mother and decides to enroll in high school, she completes her entire education in only 2 years and all while remaining secretively homeless.

Liz provides through her own story, what motivated her to complete 10 hours of course work on 4 hours of sleep, how she earned money during her summer breaks to provide some security during the school year.  What even made her want her high school diploma when she could have received her GED.  How she found the strength to believe in herself.  Why she never saw herself as a victim of her circumstances and how she ended up at Harvard. 

Her story is that of true perseverance and dedication.  She is forever in my heart and in my thoughts, her story is what we refer to as the “American Dream”.  She will encourage you to be thankful for your own life even if all you have is the breath you breathe.  She will encourage you to want to be more involved in your community or even better involved globally.  She will encourage you to follow your dreams even when you don’t know what your dreams are, she teaches you that taking one step could lead to a million steps in the right direction.

She is truly amazing because her journey which started so unbelievably at the “bottom” lead her to achieving the unthinkable and she did it all on her own!

Her appreciation of the friends she made and the teachers that inspired her gave her enough hope and courage to fight beyond her wildest dreams. 

I really encourage you to download the audio book on www.Audible.com or on Itunes or order the audio book version from www.Amazon.com.  Watch the movie and encourage your company to have her come and speak at a conference!

Let me know your feelings on the Liz Murray story! Are you as inspired as I am?  

Check out her website http://manifestliving.com

Click Here to watch Liz on YouTube!!!!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bree

www.facebook.com/thepinkbriefcase

Hello Pink Thinkers,

Have you ever needed a day off but did not want to actually miss a day of work?

Maybe you’re saving up time off for a big vacation or you don’t want to miss that important morning meeting or you simply vow to maintain your perfect attendance record (kudos to you by the way, bosses love people like you).

In any event, you need a mental break from grueling work assignments. Well pay close attention to this article, you will learn some easy ways to take a “break” with out missing a day of work.

Whenever I am feeling a little low on energy or I have just completed a big project, I tend to need some time to just breathe, but I realize that missing work is not always the best option so I have come up with some great ways to spend the day mentally relaxing at work.

Don’t fret, these business friendly tips won’t get you handed a pink slip. Just make sure to follow your company’s policy and make sure not to distract others on your “day off”, spending hours chit-chatting at the water cooler or escaping to the bathroom to read the latest novel, will not earn you any brownie points.

Arrive to work a bit early, I know this seems counter-productive, but trust me, the earlier you arrive the more likely you are to not get caught up in a work issue that plagues your entire day.

Pick a great day to “take a day off”, don’t choose the busiest day of the week! For example, Friday’s are typically a great day to enjoy some much needed “time off” by doing the following:

• Organize and clean your office or workspace
• Read, file and delete emails
• Scan or file paperwork and documents
• Sort through your business mail
• Catch up on the company’s social media outlets (newsletters, blogs, and make comments)
• Catch up on the industry’s social media outlets
• Research competitors
• Return phone calls
• Follow up on work you delegated
• Update your planner, calendars and task sheets
• Assess and rewrite notes
• Take a webinar or company e-training course
• Think of new ideas (document them)
• Clean up your desktop and file folders
• Volunteer your time to others in the office by answering questions or lending a helping hand on something you’re an expert at
• Erase your whiteboard
• Remember to say hi to your co-workers since it’s your “day off” you can be more laid back today
• Take an extended lunch today (if you are allowed to do so)

As you can see, you can clear your mind from assignments, get rid of all the crap you’re usually too busy to bother with and still have a much needed mental “day off” from work. I recommend you do this once a month!

One thing to remember is that since you are still at work, you are still held responsible for completing your assignments and helping others, etc. so don’t become deaf and tune out, you’re “day off” could get cut short at any moment so make the best of it and plan a day your boss is taking the day off or a day you’re not short-handed.

If you are in a career that does not allow any flexibility in your daily routine, this article is not for you, maybe you can submit some tips that could help others or maybe you just need a real day off.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bree

www.facebook.com/thepinkbriefcase

Hi Pink Thinkers,

I stumbled across this article today, which was really awesome considering about 4 years ago, I hung it in my office bathroom! 

Are You a Professional?

How you look, talk, write, act and work determines whether you are a professional or an amateur. Society does not emphasize the importance of professionalism, so people tend to believe that amateur work is normal. Many businesses accept less-than-good results.

Schools graduate students who cannot read. You can miss 15% of the driving-test answers and still get a driver license. “Just getting by” is an attitude many people accept. But it is the attitude of amateurs.

“Don’t ever do anything as though you were an amateur.

“Anything you do, do it as a Professional to Professional standards.

“If you have the idea about anything you do that you just dabble in it, you will wind up with a dabble life. There’ll be no satisfaction in it because there will be no real production you can be proud of.

“Develop the frame of mind that whatever you do, you are doing it as a professional and move up to professional standards in it.

“Never let it be said of you that you lived an amateur life.

“Professionals see situations and they handle what they see. They are not amateur dabblers.

“So learn this as a first lesson about life. The only successful beings in any field, including living itself, are those who have a professional viewpoint and make themselves and ARE professionals”

— L. Ron Hubbard

A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible.

A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want.

A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech.

A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area.

A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted.

A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes.

A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work.

A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on top of unfinished work.

A professional remains level-headed and optimistic. An amateur gets upset and assumes the worst.

A professional handles money and accounts very carefully. An amateur is sloppy with money or accounts.

A professional faces up to other people’s upsets and problems. An amateur avoids others’ problems.

A professional uses higher emotional tones: Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, interest, contentment. An amateur uses lower emotional tones: anger, hostility, resentment, fear, victim.

A professional persists until the objective is achieved. An amateur gives up at the first opportunity.

A professional produces more than expected. An amateur produces just enough to get by.

A professional produces a high-quality product or service. An amateur produces a medium-to-low quality product or service.

A professional earns high pay. An amateur earns low pay and feels it’s unfair.

A professional has a promising future. An amateur has an uncertain future.

The first step to making yourself a professional is to decide you ARE a professional.

Are you a professional?

http://www.tipsforsuccess.org/professionalism.htm

Sincerely,

Bree

Hi Pink Thinkers,

I am sad to say that I have posted a few articles that I wanted to share only to discover that they were in fact not posting at all and completely lost. Thanks Tumblr!

So in an effort to move on and not focus on what has been lost, I am doing just that and saving my writings in MS OneNote (which I adore).

My first year in the Junior League is coming to an end, I had intended on writing tons of great things about being a member of the Junior League throughout the year, but as the saying goes, time flies by when you’re having fun…or just plain busy.

I have spent the last few months working on the direction of The Pink Briefcase and I have met with wonderful mentors and advisors about life in general so I am eager to share all of my new insights with you!

I have received 37 questions since December of last year and I am honored to have so many of you emailing and messaging. I have answered almost all the questions I have received after much research and thought and I appreciate your confidence in my opinion on your professional lives. Thank You!

I will be sharing many of your questions and my answers and references with The Pink Briefcase in the coming weeks.

So what have I been up to?

Well for starters, I am training for my second-ever half-marathon, after I ran the marathon last year, I took a much needed hiatus from running but quickly realized that my body was missing the high level of physical activity I had gotten it used to last year, so here I am running yet again and excited to Run for the Zoo, one of my favorite places to visit.

Secondly, my career has been in full swing and this year kicked off with a huge bang, I have been crazy busy with work and adjusting to life as the Executive Veep quite quickly.

Last, but most definitely the most important thing I have been doing, is connecting with my spiritual self.  Last year, I made the transition into vegetarianism, mostly because of the health benefits that I noticed right away but also because of compassionate reasons. It has been a bit of a bumpy road staying faithful to my decision, I enjoy seafood and occasionally meat, but I know my calling is to convert 100% to feel completely whole and fulfilled within myself and my environment. Running seems to coincide with my quest for becoming a veggie girl, so once I pick up the running, I tend to put down the meat. This may or may not be your personal preference and since food is a touchy subject, I want to make my statement and move on. I do not judge those who choose different paths.

But as I was saying, I am focusing on becoming one within myself and the main point of The Pink Briefcase is to provide inspiration through what I refer to as “Pink Thinking”, also known as having positive thoughts. A huge area that has opened my eyes to true spiritual awareness is serving others through community awareness and that is what the Junior League has done for me.

It’s Not About Wearing Your Grandmother’s Pearls

The Junior League is all about women giving back to themselves and the community. It is extremely important to understand that I said “giving back to themselves”. Professional women are busier than ever, not only are women professionals handling demanding careers, we are continuously educating ourselves to better our careers, we are caregivers, mothers, friends, housekeepers, you name it. We are busy!

So joining the Junior League sounds like one more thing to do…

But I can assure you it’s not what you think. What is absolutely great about the League is that you are investing in yourself, you are finding ways to connect to your community in a selfless way, you are learning new things, meeting new people and encouraged to be yourself. It can be a sisterhood if you want it to be.

As I stated, my first year or as the League calls it my provisional year is almost done, which means that next year I will be an active member of the League. I will no longer be a green pea, rookie, little sister, rush…whatever terms you can think of. I will be a member of active committees, able to vote, make decisions and have a louder voice than I did this year. But first I must say that being a provisional is a great experience in itself. I completely enjoyed being apart of the New Member Committee and have made some great friends this year. I learned a ton about the organizations that provide opportunities to give back and what they do for my community. I had a ton of what Oprah calls “ah ha” moments and mostly about myself. I discovered that I have a soft spot in my heart for the Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House, that feeding those who are less fortunate gave me a better appreciation of my ability to be able to simply work, as we are not all able to mentally or physically. I also was able to help our veterans and thank them for their service and I personally was able to contribute money to causes that I am able to experience first-hand.

I have to also point out that my advisors and leaders this year are women of all walks of life, but all shared the same intensity and goodwill that illuminated my own spirit.

This year was truly a win-win!

I am even more excited for next year, which starts this summer, I have been nominated and offered the role as Co-Chair of Social Media and Photography for The Junior League of Albuquerque! I am completely beside myself with excitement. Our League is in desperate need of a makeover in the Social Media department and it is an honor to be a trailblazer in establishing the platform for the League!

I urge you professional women, students, mothers, pink thinkers to join your local chapter, you will not regret it!

As a disclosure, you get out of it - what you put into it. Manifest the opportunity to be involved in a blessed experience and you shall receive.

Thank you again for reading The Pink Briefcase. A Publication dedicated to Pink Thinking Career Women!

Sincerely,

Bree

I have recently started a new job and I quickly noticed that everyone takes their fashion sense seriously.  I am on a budget but would like to start figuring out what I should invest in and not.  Thanks for taking my question!

Although she signed with her name, I will not include it here!  Thank you for asking a question! I love answering questions about making good impressions, rather it’s in regards to wardrobe choices or writing emails.  My love for assistants is inspiring me to write an entire e-book on the subject of putting your best foot forward.  With that said, let’s jump into answering the question at hand!

Starting a new job is nerve racking enough, let’s face it you are learning new processes, you want to make nice and fit in and most importantly you want to establish yourself as a top member of the team.  Clothes are a big part of presentation and those who deny that fact are well, in denial.  I don’t know what industry you’re in, but I can safely assume that a conservative yet stylish wardrobe will be perfect for your organization. 

Being on a budget is something we all can relate to.  Everyone has a budget relative to them, so that is not an issue to be too concerned about.  Know your limits and abide by them.

Below is a list of investment pieces that all professional women should have in their closets!

A great pair of black heels! From Ross and Target to Coach and Ferragamo…purchase a great pair of comfortable and good quality shoes, splurge if you can afford to, this is a great area to invest in. 2 1/2 to 4 inches is the range to shoot for, depending on your height and if you are moving around all day or sitting at a desk.  Closed toed will suit every office and go from Spring to Winter.  Keep them clean and shined at all times and don’t walk around on rough surfaces that will eat away at your heel!

A Tri-Suit! A Black Blazer, A Black Skirt and Black Pants! Express and Banana Republic are a couple of great quality places for the young professional! Keep it dry-cleaned and ready to go! Your blazer should be relaxed and fit your personality and body shape, you want it to look great with either a skirt or slacks and bonus if you can roll up the sleeves and pair it with jeans on the weekends! Your skirt should be knee length, I am a fan of the pencil skirt! Your pants should fit well, not too tight or lose in the wrong places and long enough to wear with heels.  Make sure to buy the same shades of black and either all dry-cleanable or all washable (wash in cold to prevent fading). 

White Button Up Blouses/Shirts!!! The more the merrier! White is classic and will look great with the suit combinations! I love Express for fitted button ups!

Accessories! I am a pearl girl, so I love a string of pearls and earrings to compliment any outfit! Pair tasteful accessories with your basic outfits above and you will jazz it up a ton rather it’s a dash of color in your necklace or earrings.  I would stay away from bangle-style bracelets and large hoop earrings.

All About Hair, Make-up and Nails! Stay current with your hair style, cut and color! Do your hair everyday! Nothings worse than a quick bun or ponytail that if done correctly could look very put together, take the extra time. With makeup, less is definitely more, especially in the lipstick department! And nails should be as natural as possible and tasteful!

Once you have established some baseline items, add more blazers, skirts, pants and colors into the mix, make a point to buy a new clothing item every month until you have built a great wardrobe. 

Refrain from buying what I call subject pieces, where everyone remembers that dress because it’s royal purple and plaid. If you buy only memorable outfits, everyone will remember each and every time you wear it.  It’s nice to have those special outfits for office parties or meeting with new clients. So I suggest you keep it basic so you can get more bang for the buck.  Add those subject pieces as you go and only wear them once or twice a month. 

Lastly, remember when you were a kid and your Mom made you change from your school clothes to you play clothes? Keep that concept as a professional.  You should have a mostly separate wardrobe for work and for play.  Nothings worse than seeing someone attempt to convert a “Friday Night” outfit into Monday morning meeting attire.  Not only that, your business wardrobe will last much longer and dry-cleaning will cost much less!

One final quick tip:  Watch the cleavage! No matter your bra size, keep your girls under-wraps. No exceptions!

The rest is all about attitude! A positive outlook and demeanor is your best asset.

There is so much more I could say about office attire, wardrobe and first impressions but I want to specifically answer your question! 

Check out this former post from The Pink Briefcase, You Are Your Business Card

Thank you for asking such a wonderful question and good luck in your new role!

I recommend these wonderful blogs dedicated to fashion WhatIWore and 9to5 Chic

Sincerely,

Bree

*All advice is based on professional experiences, feel free to get a second or even third opinion!

This morning I read an article in AccountantsWorld Daily News courtesy of Mashable.com The article was an interview with Mark Zuckerberg in regards to any advice he may have been given by the late genius, Steve Jobs. You can read the article here

The reason why I wanted to review the article on The Pink Briefcase was because at the closing of the article Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, ends the interview with a strong message for women. 

I have admired Sheryl Sandberg for quite some time and when I initially read the article, I was unsure about this comment and honestly a bit offended mostly because all I heard was that women had less ambition than men which I strongly begged to differ, with that said, I doubted that the comments were taken in full context and I was right.  What Sandberg said was in greater detail as illustrated in the article re-posted by Women 2.0 where it was clear that Sheryl Sandberg’s account of women’s lack of ambition is in the field of technology here is an exerpt from the interview with Charlie Rose:

But, tonight, during a conversation with Charlie Rose, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was asked exactly that: If the tech industry is today a place where women can find the level of opportunity that she, as a top executive at one of the world’s most well-known companies, would like them to be able to find.

Sandberg holds that women have made  an incredible amount of progress in both higher education and management, gaining a larger share (if not taking the lead from men) in college and graduate degrees and leadership roles. But the glass ceiling refuses to crack completely.

“Over the last ten years”, Sandberg tells Rose, “women have stalled out at the top”. She continues:

“A lot of reasons, but I really think we need more women to lean into their careers and to be really dedicated to staying in the work force. I think the achievement gap is caused by a lot of things. It’s caused by institutional barriers and all kinds of stuff.

But there’s also a really big ambition gap. If you survey men and women in college today in this country, the men are more ambitious than the women. And until women are as ambitious as men, they’re not going to achieve as much as men…”

Being a women in the world of technology myself, I do in fact understand the big gap in this industry for women.  I have specifically noticed that women will not negotiate their starting salary as often or assertively as men.  The majority of men will actively discuss their achievements and put value to them, whereas, women will wait for us to give them recognition and value their assets for them.  I have been very vocal in my company to women to work hard and be proud of their achievements.  But yes, there is a lack of what is perceived as ambition.  I know for myself, when I was aware that the role of Executive VP was opening, I immediately made myself a contender.  For about two years leading up to the departure of the former EVP, I petitioned my appointment to the Board of Directors and yes, I had some hoops to go through but I made it.  My point being, is that Ms. Sandberg is on to something that has been an issue in many industries, yet us women are making strides and making incredible progress beginning with graduating undergrad and graduate programs at a much higher rate than our male-counterparts. 

My favorite response that she gave during her interview was:

“A lot of reasons, but I really think we need more women to lean into their careers and to be really dedicated to staying in the work force.”

Wow, that really hit home with me personally and professionally.  At some point, women especially begin to have a sort of tug-a-war with the ideal that we can put in our number of years and then “semi-retire” to raise our families. Nothings wrong with this thought process, but can we really make a lasting impact with that mindset? Ms. Sandberg challenges that viewpoint. At the same time, being single and/or with out children doesn’t suggest you have a competitive advantage or does it?

I read another article, this time by Anna Feis of the Harvard Business Review it is in greater detail of the ambitions of women as young girls, where the differences between girls and boys at early ages are a non-issue.  Each had big audacious dreams.  Furthermore, it discussed how women perform and compete very differently with other women opposed to how they perform and compete with men suggesting in my opinion, that our lack of consistency is in itself a competitive disadvantage in the workplace. 

Lastly, I want to leave you all with another link to another article.  Top 20 Career Lies to Stop Telling in 2012 by Lisa Gates The article has some insight on women CEOs and those in Government roles, it also has this dandy list of DO NOTS (which is not proper English, but I love to say it anyway) so check it out!

1. I never have an opportunity to negotiate.
2. Negotiation is for politicians, CEOs, cigar smokers and bourbon drinkers (that’s probably redundant).
3. If I consistently over-deliver and out-perform I won’t have to negotiate.
4. I just have to do one or two more projects before I ask for a raise.
5. I need more training/better credentials before I ask for a promotion.
6. I need an MBA if I want my leadership to be taken seriously.
7. If I sing my own praises they’ll think I’m arrogant.
8. I have to be a bitch if I want to take on a leadership role.
9. Women shouldn’t be bitchy if they want to succeed as leaders.
10. I want to have a life so I can’t get on the leadership track.
11. If I want to move into leadership I have to sacrifice my personal life.
12. Women will never make parity because of the baby thing.
13. Women over 50 should not have long hair.
14. It’s all my mother’s fault.
15. It’s all your mother’s fault.
16. If I don’t make it by 30, I never will.
17. I don’t really want a leadership position.
18. I don’t have any choice.
19. There’s nothing I can do about it (the all-time favorite).
20. A woman will never be president (I put that one in so I could update the list in two years).

Another year has passed…

 The twenties are officially long gone and thirty was a great year.  I set the bar high for myself and now I have a lot to live up to or better yet surpass in this new year.  Like it or not, it’s happening, I’m getting older.  The real question is am I getting any wiser?

This year, I have continued to learn very valuable lessons, mostly from what I call People University.  You know, the lessons, those of which you have no control because they are all about the emotions and actions of others.  What I learned was in order to continue to grow as a person and more specifically as a woman, I need to be upfront and honest.  I need to master the art of candor.  Yes, it’s an art.  Candor is one of the most awkward personality traits to adopt.  Mostly because we have been trained since birth to be polite.  But being frank is not rude, it’s stating the facts, acknowledging the elephant in the room.  It reminds me of that very famous line from the movie, A Few Good Men, where Jack Nicholson yells “You can’t handle the truth”.  But I have learned that holding back, is always the bad way to go.  Not only does it put you on the defensive in the long run but it completely stops the learning process for the person whose feelings you are sparing by not being completely honest. 

Thirty was also the year of the sisterhood discovery.  What I mean is that I became much more conscience of how important it is for women to be more accepting of one another, to encourage and congratulate each other.  Not to undermine, or make one feel inadequate or to judge and question one’s life.  I have come to realize that us women, find it hard to really support one another, genuinely.  I know in business, women have learned through many years of media and experience how to “work” with men.  How to use our many layers of emotion to play the game.  When working with women, all those layers become obsolete, so we tend to attack one another.  A sad but true fact.  We ask each other questions we would not dare ask a man.  Questions that challenge who we are rather than questions that challenge how we think.  I have made it a point to observe reality shows that are centered around women and every show has backstabbing, gossip and fighting.  It’s so disappointing! In my personal life, I have in the last couple of years experienced women-on-women bashing myself.  I’m not a victim by any means, my lack of candor and directness has lead to much of the pain that I have experienced by my fellow sisters. 

Which is why thirty-one for me, has to be the year of the beginning of the Sisterhood Revolution! That is a huge reason why I wanted to start The Pink Briefcase. I felt it was important to help young women learn how to mentor other women especially in business where there is a lack of sponsorship.  When women are successful in their careers, outsiders tend to look for reasons of why instead of reasons of how.  Women are asked why they are not married, why they don’t have kids, are they really happy, what does her significant other think about this or that. We should ask how she got where she is, learn her story and accept the reasons she is providing us.  Have you noticed we never ask a women why she left her career to care for her children, we just assume that is what is normal.  When in fact, there is no such thing as normal, there is only what we know and what we still have yet to learn. 

I think it is so important for women to join organizations that specialize in Sisterhood.  Rather through business, church, volunteering or parenting. It is extremely important to be in a room full of women who are full of ideas and support one another fully.  As you may know, I am a huge advocate for the Girl Scouts and Big Sister programs, because I truly believe young girls should create sisterhoods as early as possible.  Now that I am involved in the Junior League and the (NAPW) National Association of Professional Women organizations that have local chapters in most cities in America, I have come to really depend on the support of other women that have similar values and beliefs as I do in creating and nurturing a true sisterhood. 

So to sum it all up, I am extremely excited and blessed to begin life as a 31 year old!  Another opportunity to learn and grow and I am excited to be challenged by getting older and hopefully wiser.

How about you, what do you do to reflect on the year that is passing and new year that is approaching?

Sincerely,

Bree

To learn more about The Pink Briefcase please visit www.thepinkbriefcase.org

(Source: goodbythirty)

To: www.thepinkbriefcase.org

I have recently been promoted to department manager for a team of eight.  I work in the auto sales industry, where it is a very casual environment.  I am 28 years old and prior to being promoted I frequently hung out with my co-workers.  Now that I am their manager, I am having a hard time getting them to follow through on tasks.  I think it is because of our relationships outside of work.  How do I change their perception of me? 

First of all thank you for asking me a question and congratulations on your promotion! This is a great question and happens frequently and especially in casual work environments. 

My advice is easy and has great results. 

Just stop being casual and start being more professional. 

You need to lead by example, walk the walk and talk the talk.  The best way to show everyone that you take your new role seriously is to work harder than anyone else.  You will need to be a top performer and you most likely already are, hence your promotion.  If you need to be the first to arrive and the last to leave, then do whatever it takes.  Your team will give you the respect that you wish to receive if you gain their trust and approval first.  Be very careful not to “boss” them around, that will do nothing more than cause a quick case of resentment.  Hold daily 5-10 minute meetings to start the day, go over the schedule and tasks, delegate and review the previous day’s unfinished business.  Congratulate them for a job well done.  Create a routine and a system and be very organized and consistent.  Remember a title can only buy you time.  Be smart about your professional friendships, it is wise to listen much more than talk when dealing with work relationships.  Never participate in negative conversation about anything.  Always be a cheerleader for your organization.  Positive energy does two things.  It is contagious and it is a repellent.  It attracts the like and repels those who love misery. 

I recommend a great book and even better audio book First, Break All The Rules (What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently) by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

There are many great books dedicated to managing and leadership, start reading, learning and growing.  To be a great manager takes discipline and requires a great understanding of your surroundings not to mention a natural inherent gift. 

Thank you for reading and asking the question! Keep me updated!

If you have a question or comment see the above links!

Sincerely,

Bree

Today I watched the highlights from one of the best marathon races one could wish to be apart of, the ING Marathon in New York City.  It was so inspiring to watch a women win against all expectations, she shot up from behind to claim victory and her life will forever be changed.  Watching her and many others cross that finish line took me back to fourteen days ago when I ran the Duke City Marathon.  It too, changed my life forever.  I will always remember that day and really all the days and months that lead to me running my first marathon. 

I started running only a little over one year ago.  I remember running in old shoes, no iPOD, no fancy Dri Fit or compression clothes. I just started running, or more like jogging…slowly.  I remember just listening to the birds chirping, clearing my head from a week of work, it was so nice.  Gradually, I begin picking up the pace and running almost everyday.  I recall the feeling that running gave me, I was addicted. 

It was October of 2010, I purchased a great pair of Nike’s (which I wore all the way through marathon training, until I had no choice but to purchase a new pair for race day), I finally bought an iPOD and invested in some great runner’s gear and when I say invested, I mean invested.  I had not only invested my time, energy and now money, I was going to sign up for my first race in January, a 5K cross-country run to benefit Breast Cancer Research.  I had yet to run three miles straight when I signed up in December, but I knew I could do it and I did.  I ran my first race in 29 minutes.  Did I mention it was cross-country? 

My second race, was a 10K just four weeks later, which I forfeited because of an ankle injury.  Then, a 10 mile race after that, where I ran a consistent 10 minute per mile pace.  I scheduled a race every month leading to The Albuquerque Half-Marathon in April.  By the end of the half, I wasn’t sure I was going to ever run more than 13.1 miles.  I couldn’t even imagine that distance.  I remember taking a full two months off from running or training of any kind.  I was exhausted.  But I knew I wanted to push myself, I had to do it. 

I was going to run The Marathon!

By this point, I had read almost every piece of literature, listened to all available pod-casts and subscribed to all runner’s magazines.  I had a pretty good idea of how to train. I considered joining a local training group or running with friends, but something told me that I had to do it on my own.  This was my test, for me to to see how determined I really was.  Could I motivate myself?

Running in general came naturally to me for the most part.  What I mean is that I feel at home when I’m running.  Not like I’m competing or working out.  I mean let’s face it, I can run on a treadmill for 10 miles, like a hamster on his wheel. 

By mile 16 of my marathon training, I answered the question “Can I motivate myself?” 

My next question was can I challenge myself? 

I must admit, I haven’t answered this question yet, even after completing the marathon two weeks ago and becoming a vegetarian during the process.  I know that sounds silly or maybe even ridiculous, but I know that every long run I ran, I was having maybe too much fun.  Sure there were those times where I thought my legs were going to fall off, or that one Saturday when I needed a ride because I had hit that proverbial wall.  Which by the way, caused a ton of stress on my mental state leading up to the Big Day.  But I mostly remember, the group of happy cows I once saw and stopped and took tons of pictures of, or the baby foxes and pack of coyotes that I scared and equally scared me.  Or the absolutely stupid time, I ran a tad bit too late and the sun quickly went down as the rainy clouds moved in and all the runners around me disappeared leaving me alone to fend for myself for another four miles in the dark, pretending to be on my cell phone so that the bogeyman wouldn’t jump out and kidnap me not to mention the car that was “following” me that turned out to be a patrol car. 

In any event, my two and a half months of training was unforgettable and that doesn’t even include the best 5 hours and 35 minutes of my life. 

On that special day, I remember running with a smile on my face almost the entire time, well until a few injuries crept up on me, but more on that in a moment.  Elite runners most likely training for the People’s Olympics, the Boston Marathon waved at me and gave me thumbs up.  They could feel my energy and I definitely could feel theirs.  My first 24 miles were truly amazing.  Sure there were rough spots, mostly for other runners that I tried desperately to cheer on and drag along with me around mile 14 and again around mile 20.  But after mile 21, it was just me it seemed.  I was fatigued mentally.  My body at that point was doing surprisingly great, my two days of strategic (or trial and error) carbo loading had worked.  That is most of the battle, I must say.  But unfortunately by mile 24 I was in bad shape, both of my knees were null in void and to top it off, my ankle was shooting pains up my leg.  It was nearly unbearable for me to run.  I had to start walking, my personal nightmare.  My running style is not to walk-run-walk-run.  I am like an old Ford, once warmed up, I need to keep moving.  My now goal time of 5 hours was looking like a dream.  The pacer’s flag was rapidly moving into the distance and once that flag turned the corner, it was out of sight and never to be seen again.  I was now hobbling, even the police manning the race, offered to haul me in.  How dare they? At mile 24, really? Quit? I don’t think so.  I wasn’t bleeding.  So on I pushed.  I actually found a way to move my foot in a swinging motion propelling me forward. 

Than it was mile 26, I had .2 to go, the crowd was cheering me on, I wanted to cry, not cause of the pain, I was used to that at that point, but because I could taste the end.  It was bittersweet.  I was anxious for it to be over, but sad that it would all be done.  All that time and preparation would come to an end in only .2 miles.  I ran through the end and before I could even celebrate, look at my time, get my finisher’s medal, they whisked me away to the medical tent.  I sat down and started to cry.  It of course freaked out the medics, I remember through my tears, assuring them that I was not crying because of my injuries, i was crying because I had did it.  I had ran my first ever marathon. Those were the best 5 hours and 35 minutes of my life.  I am proud of myself for being my own motivator. 

Now, I’m ready to answer my second question “Can I challenge myself?  Guess, I will see on my next marathon.  The Caldera Marathon, a true trail run in the mountains and of course another shot to set a PR at The Duke City Marathon…or maybe if I’m lucky The Walt Disney Marathon!

The reason why I wanted to write this, my personal story on The Pink Briefcase. is because, we should always seek to understand our true motivation and attempt to challenge ourselves.  It is essential to our career and our lives as women to push forward and grow!

Thanks for reading!

The Spartan Reporter

(Source: DCMARATHON)

I learned this very truthful statement from my mentor.

What does it mean?

For me, it has been a daily reminder of my own professionalism. I always ask myself what am I trying to achieve? It is important to first understand what your mission statement is, I will follow this post up with a great way to discover your mission thanks to the Franklin Covey system.

A few years ago, a very intelligent and talented engineer who had an alter ego as a rock star of sorts, was out with his family during the weekend and he was dressed in his usual (outside of business hours) rocker attire. While out, he ran into a potential client, a deal that the firm had been working on for weeks if not months. The client was by nature a very conservative person and although our firm is viewed as a youthful and a think out of the box place of business, the engineer’s appearance was over the top. The following Monday, the engineer came to me to inform me that he had bumped into the potential client and the client had made some, not so gracious remarks in response to the engineer’s capabilities based on his appearance. As it turned out, we had to keep our most qualified engineer in the background to ensure that we as a firm upheld our reputation as being an honest and trustworthy performance driven vendor. The engineer learned a valuable lesson, that he was his own business card.

Some of you are thinking that conforming to these standards of thinking are not acceptable in the sense that you may not be expressing your individuality. That is fine, but do not expect professional results in corporate America with that attitude. Honestly and trust are synonymous with what makes an individual comfortable about another individual. If your industry allows exceptions to the rule, than great. But more than likely, presenting yourself in whatever manner your industry demands is what will be needed to grow in your career of choice. Notice I used the word choice we all have a choice.

I will always remember heading a panel interview with several applicants, all vying for the same position. There was this one person, who was the most quiet of the bunch. He listened, answered questions. He did not particularly stand out from the crowd, until the very end. I asked the group if they had a portfolio or equivalent. He was the only person who did, it was organized and expressed more than in spoken words what he had to offer. He was offered the position.

Do you have a portfolio?

When you apply for a job, you send your resume. But what else are you doing to separate yourself from the masses of resumes that a company is receiving?

Have you ever thought about starting a blog or writing and self-publishing a book dedicated to your expertise?

Rather you are an assistant or a consultant, having a basis for what you do and how well you do it is a must. When you consider yourself to be your own business card, you will automatically treat yourself like you are the CEO of ME, INC. You will become an enterprise and increase your marketable value tenfold.

Obviously, writing and publishing your own book is more time consuming than creating a blog, so start by creating a blog.

Here are some tips to create a blog style portfolio:

• Stay on topic! If you are a marketing rep, make sure to discuss your qualities that are associated marketing, your expertise, educational background and experience. Your aspirations, your hopes and dreams. Be clear and concise, not abstract in your wishes. If your dream is to start your own marketing company only include this information if you are consulting as an independent contractor.
• Be careful not to burn bridges! Bad mouthing anyone or anything is a no-no. Rather it’s the industry, the last company you worked for, the clientele, the economy, whatever it may be. Think twice. For one, never mention any names on your blog. Always, include a statement that your potential employer can request references. You may have signed a non-disclosure or something similar preventing you from discussing your client base rather positively or definitely in a negative nature. Don’t use names! If you successfully worked for a local politician or a Fortune 500 company, state it in an inconspicuous manner.
• Include your charitable side! If you volunteer, say so! Most organizations love hiring applicants that are involved in their community in a positive manner. Large organizations encourage participation. Just be careful not to disclose your religious beliefs or political views in such a way that it ostracises you or your professionalism.
• Brag, truthfully! If you brought your last company millions of dollars in sales, or you prevented a loss, or retained a customer or won an award. Say so! These are hard facts, include details (excluding names!), how you accomplished what you did, be honest and truthful, if you are not telling the exact truth it will come back to hunt you. You may be hired based on falsification of information and miss out on learning what you said you already knew, you will be humiliated in the end and your reputation as ME, INC. will be tainted. The more examples the better! I suggest you include everything that got you to where you are today, if it started in high school, go back there. Just remember this one tip: The further in the past, the less details, the more recent, the more details you shall include.
• Include a picture, if you want! Although pictures are very personal, a nice professional head-shot is a great way for an organization to recognize you and remember you. It can be, a discriminatory factor unfortunately as well. But the key is, if you have other social networking sites or any Internet pictures that can be Googled, than you should include a head-shot, give them the picture you want them to see, or they may go looking for you out in cyberspace.
• Add some hobbies and interests! This is a fun way to express yourself. Be sincere, if you love golfing, add some information about your love of the sport. If you are a writer, elaborate. You never know when your own personal hobbies and passions may open a door for a more fulfilling career opportunity or position.
• Include contact information! A simple email is enough! Add your location or the location for which you are hoping to work. If you will relocate include that information, but be careful to suggest relocation and expect an expense paid move. Only include what you, yourself are willing to invest into your career. Remember you are the CEO of ME, INC.
• Remember to include your blog address on your resume, under your name in bold letters!

What not to include! A quick reminder!

• Personal addresses!
• Any information that you wish to keep private!
• Past employers or clients names!
• Negative comments!
• Contradictory information!
• False information!
• Profanity!
• Salary requirements unless you are an consultant or vendor with rates.
• Confidential information of any kind!
• Anything that you think twice about including, better safe than sorry.

Don’t worry if your blog is a quick read. If you have included what makes you become a person rather than another resume, than you most likely set yourself apart from the crowd. Remember, that your industry can be expressed through your blog, from artsy, to conservative. You can create more than one blog if needed. Fo example, if you are a freelance writer, your blog would look very different from your regular profession as an investment banker.

Be innovative!

If a blog is not your style, you can use Linkedin www.linkedin.com an online resume that manages your professional identity! A great source of networking. Or you can create a nicely written and organized portfolio, I actually recommend that everyone has a portfolio in general, with letters of reference, awards, training certificates, transcripts, etc. This portfolio should always be duplicated and given to the potential employer or client to keep and listed on your resume or letter of intent.

Lastly, for those who have volumes of expertise and a special niche, can write a book, self-publish it and present it to local newspapers and magazines, send a copy to the CEO or potential clients. This may seem out of the ordinary or even a bit crazy, but think about it, if you are an interior designer, you have a specialty that could be expressed through a process or steps that you may be willing to share with others, maybe not your secret sauce but an expert manual of sorts. Check out what’s already on the market if you’re interested in taking your professional career to this level. Sun Tzu, the high ranking military general and author of The Art of War an ancient Chinese military treatise, wrote this book and presented it as a resume of sorts so that he could become a general.

In closing, it is important to remember that you are your business card - period, you are the CEO of YOU, INC. You must take your professional career seriously if you have serious goals and aspirations. You cannot expect someone else to represent you. Stand out from the crowd in a positive way, be the change you wish to see, my tribute to Gandhi. But it is true. Take a chance on yourself! You are your best bet.

Do you have any stories or ideas that are in line with this article post? If so, message them through ASK or CONTACT ME! I am eager to learn what you think!

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take some time to talk about the Junior League.  This weekend, I participated in the Special Olympics of New Mexico Bowling Tournament.  I want to first off all say that the event was amazing! The Special Olympics organization is so inspiring and encouraging.  The organizers have an energy that is contagious and you get the feeling that they truly believe in the mission.  After three hours of volunteering, I too, was bit by the “bug”. 

The women of the Junior League were amazing, we all jumped in and formed our teams with the athletes.  I was assigned to Team Rocket, from Rio Rancho High School.  Team Rocket was a group of extraordinary girls.  I am forever touched by this experience with those girls. They were fun, funny and very intelligent. They thought in ways that were more instinctual more authentic.  They were really awesome.  

A week ago, I ran my first marathon, The Duke City Marathon.  It was a great experience for me to challenge myself in this manner.  I started running for a physical challenge, but running the marathon or even training for it is actually more of a mental challenge. I had one moment in particular where I was questioning myself, could I really do it? I didn’t want to fail.  The anxiety was almost overwhelming.  But with a great support system, I pushed myself and now I have no regrets and am planning my next marathon.  I wish I had met the Special Olympic Athletes before my marathon, what motivation that would have been.   

After volunteering at the Special Olympics, I came to really understand that everything is about our will.  Those athletes were no different than any other athlete.  Except maybe more determined because they are so-called disadvantaged, but are they really? Or are we the disadvantaged ones, because we think we have the advantage…

Join your local Junior League ladies!!! Experience your community!  I know for me, I will become an active volunteer of the Special Olympics thanks to my introduction through the League!

My newest obsession is all books written by Marcus Buckingham, which I must admit, I was first introduced to his work several years ago with his book titled: Now, Discover your strengths.

At the time, I was finishing college and soul searching. A friend of mine gave me the book and I spent hours reading and assessing. A couple of years ago, I listened to the audio-book titled First, Break All The Rules. A wonderful book about management and furthermore great management styles and who is really meant to be a manager. I most recently have listened to The One Thing You Need To Know and Find Your Strongest Life.

I challenged my team to view Marcus Buckingham’s online workshop and then follow it up with the Strong Life Test. My hope is that they will discover their strengths, seek out what gives them strength and therefore, I can help fuel those needs if possible and make a better manager in the end.

I was so overwhelmingly drawn to this workshop that I want to also share it with you! I hope you find what makes you feel strong (not necessarily what you are great at) and distance yourself from what weakens you!

P.S. I recommend all the above mentioned books and the newest book Standout…which I have not read or listened to yet, but I will and I will report back to you!

Take some time and watch or listen to the Online Workshop! Take the Strong Life Test and for more a in depth look into your roles, read Find Your Strongest Life!

Online Workshop

Strong Life Test

Thank you everyone for sending me your questions! I am excited to answer them and I appreciate the opportunity to share some of my knowledge with you!

So let’s jump right in…

Question:

I like your post about being an assistant, I am an assistant in a publishing office for about a year and it seems that no matter what I do, I am never recognized for my hard work.  I feel that my manager is constantly on my case.  Recently, I was tasked to prepare the meeting room for a group of twenty people, I had to organize the space, order lunch, update the presentation with the edits, etc.  I did it flawlessly and my boss barely told me thank you.  I am losing my hope in sticking around even though I like my job.  What do you suggest?  Thanks for your feedback! 

First of all, you stated that you like your job.  So that is a great start! That is half the battle.  You have been in your current role for about a year, which is long enough to have a general idea of the environment and expectations of the company or your department. 

With that said, a year is not a very long time.  I always tell my team to treat their position in a company the same way they would if they were in a traditional four-year university program.  The first year is your freshman year and so on, it takes the average person about four years to master their role in an organization.  Of course, that may be a longer time than necessary and it depends on the position you are in, your responsibilities and the size of the organization, but it puts into perspective what it could take and how you should approach your career in an industry. 

Secondly, your manager may not be in the running to be your mentor.  I understand that supervisors, managers, team leaders, etc. are “supposed” to be frontline advisors and encouragers, but often managers are not synonymous with being leaders or mentors.  My suggestion is to make sure you understand what is required of you, be prepared at all times, cross your T’s and dot your I’s, don’t give your manager any reason to negatively acknowledge you.  If your manager is in line with the company’s vision and mission, they may be testing you or they may require you to earn their respect overtime.  If your manager does not have good intentions you will either outshine him or her and be recognized by their boss, or eventually you will have to make a tough decision to possibly leave the company. 

However, I do not recommend you give up easily.  Keep a journal of your accomplishments, include what you feel you succeed at and what you are working to get better at.  Know your job description and make sure you are in line or surpassing what is expected of you.  Don’t make mistakes and if you do, be the first to point them out and take responsibility for your actions, provide a solution and most importantly minimize the possibility of it happening again.  Make sure you are following all company policies with perfection. 

Lastly, don’t miss work.  A manager appreciates consistency and showing up on time or better yet 10 minutes early everyday speaks volumes, especially as an Assistant!

If you are still experiencing problems and you feel you have given 110%, contact your Human Resources Department, present your journal, your HR Department is required to mediate all issues brought to them. 

Being an assistant is a very demanding role and others will “dump” their work onto the assistant, especially if they are overwhelmed and overworked as well and in this economy that is the norm.  I recommend you find a mentor who you trust and who understands the industry and culture you work in.  Try not to only complain about your manager, but seek out real tips on what you could be doing better or differently, someone who will observe your role and offer constructive criticism or who may even be a witness to your experience with your manager. 

My best advice is for you to do everything listed above, treat your position like a business you own for the next 60 days, be proactive not reactive, stay positive and do your absolute best.  You will gain valuable insight!

I wish you well, keep me updated! If you have any questions along the way feel free to ask!

I wanted to start my first personal business blog by discussing a very worthy topic, most offices have them and most executives have one.  Maybe you are one.

The Assistant.  The Pink Briefcase is dedicated to Assistants everywhere. 

I would like to begin by noting that twelve years ago, I was an assistant to an Executive Assistant, eventually promoted to the Office Assistant, than to an Administrative Assistant, so I have had my fair share as an assistant of some sorts and I appreciate the amount of effort it takes to be not only good but great. 

Assistants are required to be happy, available, persistent, knowledgeable…basically on top of everything at all times.  There is never a dull moment in the life of an assistant and a great assistant is in the inner circle and knows just about everything about everything. 

The importance of a great assistant is essential to the success of an office environment and more specifically an executive. 

I have met assistants that have made a career of it and earned great money doing so.  Trust me, no executive wants to move from assistant to assistant, a good one is hard to find and can be even harder to keep.

I have seen executives change companies and take their assistants with them.

If you are an assistant thank you for working so hard! This blog is a great place to see inside of your boss’s head and impress her or him even more than you currently are. 

I have been on all sides of the fence, so I have a great perspective of how I used to think and how I currently think and how my boss thinks.  So I understand the different aspects of being a professional and what it takes to get the job done and right the first time. 

To all the assistants out there.  Become an expert.

Ask yourself the 5 W’s, 1 H Who, What, Where, When, Why and How (Remember that wonderful way of learning from elementary…works even better in business). If you practice this you will become the best researcher and most informed. 

Triple check your work! As an accounting gal, I have the habit of checking my work over and over and over again and sometimes over again.  It never fails.

Research, Research, Research! Thanks to the Internet, you can find almost anything online.  I have to say my claim to fame is being able to answer 90% of my own questions by just reading, listening and taking notes. 

Be Professional.  What I truly mean is treat your role as an assistant as a career.  It may not be your long-term goal of a career but you mind as well be the best at it and see where it leads you.  I have promoted assistants to many other departments and roles in the organization including management.  Being an assistant puts you right in the middle of the executive team, that was the hard part.  The easy part is doing an exceptional job and being rewarded for it. 

Thank You and Good Luck!