On a Personal Note...

Yesterday, I wrote an article for Zen Habits entitled, "How to Be Your Own Executive Assistant in 3 Easy Steps". It's a nice post about organizing your day. It was intended to help people who are self employed (and can't afford to hire an assistant) boost their productivity. Towards the end of the day, I read a response to that article that made me consider exactly what I had said and what I actually believe. As a result, I decided to write my feelings here and ask for more input from you readers.

Let me start by saying this: I think being an Executive Assistant is an awesome job. Yep, I said it. I'm proud of it. I enjoy doing well and striving to do even better. I love supporting a person I find inspirational and wise. Every day, I work to make his life easier and more rewarding. I keep my mind open, ask questions and try to learn as much as I can when I'm in his presence. I started this site as a way of gathering my own thoughts on productivity and also as a way to communicate and share ideas with others in my same (or a similar) position.

I do not believe, nor have I ever said, that being an Executive Assistant is only about organizing. I have never intended for my writing or my website to encourage people to "limit" themselves. Yes, I think being a "good" E.A. is something to take pride in. I don't think it makes you lazy and I don't think it is counterproductive. Personally, I am not a hungry, climb-the-corporate ladder type of person. I went through that phase earlier in my life and didn't like where it got me. If I was still that person, I wouldn't have gotten the job I have now. My boss doesn't want someone who is just looking to get on his good side or grab his ear for a minute to rattle on about their big idea. He gets enough of that. He wants a confidant and someone who truly cares about making his life easier, not just getting promoted.

Yes, being an E.A. is a huge opportunity to get in good with "the boss". Your ideas can get heard. You can really make a name for yourself. You can get noticed and get promoted. These things are all true. But if you love what you do, and you do it well, being an E.A. can, and should, be seen as a job to take enormous pride in - not just a stepping stone to something bigger. You can still take advantage of all the wisdom you stand to gain working beside "the boss", but don't feel that if you are focused on being a good E.A. you are limiting your potential.

The fact of the matter is this: we all have different goals. The person who wrote the post that got me so wound up obviously has a different idea of "success." He wanted to get moved up and out of the E.A. position. Apparently, he worked hard and did it. I respect that. But that's not currently my goal. Maybe that will change in the future. For now, in a way, I consider being an E.A. a goal I've achieved - my reward for working hard and being loyal even when times were tough. If your goal isn't to be a corporate climber, don't let anyone make you feel like you're lazy or not trying hard enough. Maybe it will be your goal in the future. Or maybe you'll be happy being the assistant to an amazing executive for the next ten years. It's your choice.