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Ready to turbocharge your productivity as an Executive Assistant? Yep, me too! Let's check out some of my favorite AI tools that I'm currently loving. This November 2023 edition highlights three phenomenal picks - DALL-E, SessionLab, and Talk Notes. As a bonus, I am sharing my latest YouTube video, where I give you 5 AI Prompts that Executive Assistants and Administrative Professionals can use to build business acumen. Whether you're an AI newbie or a seasoned techie, buckle up and embrace the future that is revolutionizing the landscape of the administrative industry. Change is good, but transformation? Now that’s truly exciting! From AI-generated illustrative graphics, to strategizing interactive workshops + offsites, to transforming messy thoughts into actionable notes, to prompts to level up your business acumen - I've got you covered. Recently, in my AI Tools I'm Loving session, I shared these 3 AI tools, and we had an absolute blast. There were A LOT of mindblown emojis and OMG! moments. So let's dive in together and get started. Session Lab: Effortless AI for Executive Assistants Session Lab, without a doubt, is a revolutionary tool that has completely transformed the way we plan and strategize interactive sessions, workshops, offsites, and all-day events. This innovative tool provides a platform where you can not only design your sessions but also collaborate with others and share your plans effortlessly. It's an indispensable resource for any Executive Assistant who values efficiency and organization. The days of struggling to manually figure out event timing, coming up with new and innovative workshop ideas, and planning in Excel are finally over. You can bid farewell to the chaos and confusion that once dominated the workshop planning process and embrace the streamlined efficiency and order that Session Lab brings to the table. Pros: Streamlines planning, fosters collaboration, saves a ton of time. Cons: Takes a few minutes to master all the features (not really a con though). Case Use: Imagine planning an offsite that wows your boss without breaking a sweat. That's Session Lab for you. Dive deeper at Session Lab! DALL-E: Unleash Your Inner Artist Let me introduce you to DALL-E, an AI-powered tool that can generate unique images based on text descriptions. With DALL-E, you can easily create illustrative images for your presentations or reports without the need for any graphic design skills. It's like having your own personal illustrator at your fingertips! But DALL-E isn’t just a standalone product; it’s versatile. For those who love working in ChatGPT, DALL-E brings its magic directly to your conversation through an easy to use plugin. Plus, if you're crafting designs in Canva, DALL-E is there too, as an integrated app, making it easier than ever to spice up your creations with unique, AI-generated images. DALL-E in ChatGPT: Seamlessly generate images without leaving your chat. It’s like having a creative assistant on standby as you type. DALL-E in Canva: Elevate your Canva designs. Directly use Dall-E within the app to create images that make your designs stand out. Pros: User-friendly, sparks creativity, supports your visual content. Cons: Might get too addictive as you watch your ideas come to life! Case Use: Need to impress in a presentation or event graphic? Let Dall-E do the heavy lifting. Take a look at some of the amazing pictures we created with Dall-E. So, we might have been on an animal kick, but don't judge. We were having a blast! 😂 Try it out and experience the magic at DALL-E. Talk Notes: From Chaos to Clarity Moving on, we have Talk Notes, an AI tool that turns your messy thoughts into actionable notes that you can actually use. This tool is perfect for anyone who is an external processor, enjoys brain dumping, or in brainstorming sessions where ideas are flying around. With Talk Notes, you can concentrate on expressing your thoughts, while the AI assists you in creating lists, social media posts, emails, and more with a single click. This one had the crowd screaming! Pros: Supercharge your ideas, thoughts, and let AI worry about the structure. Cons: The longer the content the longer it takes to process - but SO worth the wait. Case Use: Capturing rapid-fire ideas in a strategy session? Talk Notes is your new bestie. Run, don't walk, and check out www.talknotes.io ➕ Bonus Tip: AI Prompts to Elevate Your Business Acumen Finally, don't forget to check out my latest YouTube video where I share 5 AI Prompts for Assistants. These prompts are designed to help you build your business acumen and stay ahead of the curve. 5 AI Prompts for Assistants Ready to Transform Your Career? If you've felt that spark of inspiration, join our membership program where the learning never stops.

Are you ready to shake things up and live your most fantabulous life ever? Um, yes, please! Here's the secret sauce: Embrace the concept of daring to disrupt and unleash your inner curiosity to drive change. Whether it's your work life or personal life, being brave enough to spot gaps and fix them is the key to living a life that's more fulfilling than a double scoop of ice cream on a scorching hot summer's day here in Texas. Change can be as uncomfortable, but daring to disrupt the norms and being curious enough to innovate can positively impact your whole life. So, let's dive into it! Unleash Your Inner Disruptor and Cultivate Curiosity: When you dare to disrupt as an Executive Assistant, you're like a fearless explorer, questioning the way things have always been done and seeking out new and more effective alternatives. That insatiable curiosity and the willingness to challenge the status quo is what propels you to discover new ideas, learn from life's rollercoaster of experiences, and find those game-changing solutions that can turn your world upside down (in the best possible way!). By giving yourself permission to be curious and challenging the norms, you create room for growth, learning, and personal development. This curiosity mindset can lead to a life that's more satisfying than sinking into new pajamas and clean sheets after a long day as you embrace fresh challenges and opportunities to evolve and make a difference... a real difference. Curiosity Mindset = Innovation for Executive Assistants: Challenging the status quo is essential for some pretty fabulous reasons: 🌱 Personal growth: When you step out of your comfort zone and begin to open the door to the possibility of change, it's like opening a treasure chest of new perspectives and learning experiences that can help you revolutionize your whole life. 💡 Innovation: Curiosity and the courage to disrupt can spark breakthroughs in your work and personal life. When you're open to fresh ideas and approaches, you can find creative solutions to problems that will reduce stress and create better outcomes. 🌊 Adaptability: In our ever-changing world, being able to ride the wave of change is crucial. By welcoming disruption and flexing your adaptability muscles, you can conquer life's ups and downs and thrive in any situation. How to Adopt Curiosity as a Mindset: Here are some of my favorite tips to help you dare to disrupt and cultivate curiosity in your life: Embrace change: Recognize that change often leads to growth and improvement. Be open to new experiences and learn from them, even when they feel as awkward. Ask why: Hone your WHY reflex and dig for those elusive answers. This habit can help you uncover the root causes of challenges and empower you to find new innovative strategies. Be a lifelong learner: Pledge to keep learning and expanding your knowledge, whether it's through formal education, devouring books like a hungry bookworm, or leveling up your professional skills. Surround yourself with diverse perspectives: Connect with people who have different backgrounds, ways of working, and experiences. They'll help you broaden your horizons and inspire you to think in new and exciting ways. So, there you have it! By daring to disrupt and embracing curiosity, you can transform your mindset and truly become an innovation powerhouse in your role as an Executive Assistant. Remember, fortune favors the bold, and it's those who challenge the status quo and constantly seek improvement who end up making waves in their careers. So, take a leap of faith, step out of your comfort zone, and start paving the way for a more fulfilling and impactful professional journey. Cheers to curiosity and innovation! I'm cheering you on every step of the way. Punching fear in the face together, Melissa Looking for more content? Our membership program is on sale through April! Click below for all the deets.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword for a few years now, and it’s no surprise that it’s starting to penetrate the world of executive assistants. Executive Assistants are often at the forefront of new technology and trends, and AI is no different. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common questions about AI, including what it is, how it differs from automation, and how it can be used to improve our lives as administrative professionals What is AI? Let's break it down. AI stands for artificial intelligence, which refers to machines that can learn and perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as language processing or problem-solving. From Siri to self-driving cars, AI is everywhere, and it's changing the way we live and work. So, how can we use AI to make our lives as executive assistants easier? There are plenty of practical applications, like chatbots, that can handle scheduling or transcribing software that can save you hours of work by capturing actions and decisions in meetings. And with more advanced AI, we can even analyze data to make better decisions or predict future trends. So, as an executive assistant, it's essential to understand how AI can assist us in our work and help us be more productive. How does AI differ from Automation? AI and automation are often used interchangeably, but they are two different things. Automation refers to the use of technology to automate repetitive or manual tasks. For example, automating your email inbox or scheduling appointments. AI, on the other hand, involves machines that can learn, reason, and make decisions based on data. In other words, AI goes beyond automating tasks and involves machines that can think and act like humans. Why should I embrace AI + Automation? As an executive assistant, you have a multitude of tasks to manage every day, and it's easy to get bogged down in routine tasks. However, by tapping into the power of AI and automation, you can increase your bandwidth and free up more time to focus on strategic and weighty parts of the business. With the help of AI, routine and time-consuming tasks can be automated, allowing you to focus your mental energy on more high-level responsibilities that require creativity, critical thinking, and strategic planning. By leveraging AI, you can become more efficient and effective in your work, which will ultimately lead to more success for both you and your organization. What are some of the practical applications of AI for assistants? Meeting Scheduling: AI-powered scheduling tools can help EAs save time by automating the scheduling process. These tools can analyze schedules and preferences to find the best meeting times for everyone involved. Travel planning: AI-powered travel planning tools can help EAs save time and find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals. These tools can analyze travel patterns and preferences to find the best options for each traveler. Email management: AI-powered email management tools can help EAs manage their inboxes more efficiently by prioritizing emails and automating responses. Note-taking: AI-powered note-taking tools can help EAs take notes during meetings or presentations. These tools can transcribe speech into text in real time, making it easier for EAs to capture important information. How can AI be used to improve our lives as executive assistants? Increased efficiency: AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for EAs to focus on more strategic tasks. Improved accuracy: AI-powered tools can analyze data more accurately and quickly than humans, reducing the risk of errors. Better decision-making: AI can help EAs make more informed decisions by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns. Enhanced productivity: By automating tasks and improving efficiency, AI can help EAs accomplish more in less time, increasing overall productivity. AI is rapidly becoming a part of the everyday lives of executive assistants across the globe. Understanding what AI is, how it differs from automation, and how it can be applied to practical tasks can help EAs stay ahead of the curve and improve their overall efficiency and productivity. AI has the potential to change the way we work, and EAs who are willing to embrace this technology will be better equipped to succeed in a constantly evolving workplace. Embrace the power of AI and automation to streamline your workflow, increase your efficiency, and free up your time to focus on high-level tasks. To learn more about how AI can benefit you as an executive assistant, head over to our YouTube channel, where we provide valuable insights and resources to help you stay ahead of the game. We've got your back!

If you're like most of us, you've tried time and time again to build positive habits and break negative ones, only to find yourself back where you started. Don't worry; you're not alone. Habit formation is a difficult process, but it's not impossible. In this blog, we will delve into the concept of productivity habits and how they can help streamline your work, reduce stress, and increase overall satisfaction and accomplishment. We'll start by defining what a productivity habit is and then guide you through a four-step plan to master one habit over the next 90 days. By committing to change, asking hard questions, and developing a plan that works, you'll be well on your way to building a foundation of positive habits that will support your productivity and success. So join us on this journey to a more productive, fulfilled life! We can't change our habits overnight, but we can change them one at a time. Personal productivity is not a short game... you are in it for the long haul. Whether you are trying to control the chaos in your inbox, find ways to actually work on your to-do list, or learn to set healthy boundaries at work ... change doesn't happen overnight. Healthy productivity habits take time to develop and even more time to break bad ones. But that's okay because change is a journey, not a destination. And the best way to embark on this journey is by focusing on one small change at a time. Let's define it: What is a productivity habit anyway? A productivity habit is a behavior or routine that helps you more efficiently and effectively accomplish your tasks and goals. It's a habit you form deliberately and consistently practice over time to improve your productivity and effectiveness. Examples of productivity habits include creating to-do lists that actually work, time-blocking your day, setting deadlines for tasks, using a specific method for staying organized, or monotasking. By developing productive habits, you can streamline your work, reduce stress, and increase your overall satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. 1️⃣ Master one productivity habit over the next 90 days Over the next 90 days, you'll be challenged to establish a productive habit that will set the stage for further growth and success. The goal of this challenge is to develop a habit that will stick, so you can move forward with confidence and take on the next challenge. By the end of these 90 days, you'll be amazed at the progress you've made and the habits you've formed. Not only will you have established a strong foundation for your productivity, but you'll also have gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to make a habit stick. ⭐ Let's start by identifying the things draining your time, attention, and focus. Set a timer for 2 minutes and write down everything that comes to mind. ⭐ Next, pick one thing that is your highest priority or is a building block for the rest of your list. Start there and focus on changing this one habit. 2️⃣ Commit and change your perspective ⭐ Write out a simple statement that will positively reinforce the commitment you are making to yourself. Here are some examples to get you started: ❌ I want to have better control of my inbox. ✔️ I am committed to reclaiming control of my inbox and using it as an effective tool for communication rather than allowing it to dictate my to-do list. ❌ I want more time to focus on things that are meaningful at work and less time focused on tactical items. ✔️ I am dedicated to allocating more time towards meaningful tasks at work and reducing the amount of time spent on less important, tactical items. ❌ I don't want to be reactive at work. ✔️ I am determined to shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset at work, proactively managing my tasks and priorities to increase my productivity. ❌ I don't want to feel overwhelmed and unproductive. ✔️ I am focused on creating a work environment that supports my productivity and allows me to make the most of my time and energy to focus on what truly matters. 3️⃣ Ask the hard questions I firmly believe that if you don't make a plan, then you plan to fail. Take some time to consider the challenges you will need to overcome in building your new habit. What roadblocks will be in your way, and how will you get around them? What are the current habits or behaviors preventing me from forming this new habit? How can I anticipate potential distractions or obstacles that may come up during my efforts to form this new habit? What are the most common reasons I have failed to maintain similar habits in the past? What resources or tools can I utilize to help me stay motivated and on track when developing this new habit? How can I reward myself for successfully integrating this new habit into my daily routine? Are there any limiting beliefs or negative self-talk that may hinder my progress in developing this new habit? How can I track my progress and measure the success of this new habit over time? 4️⃣ Tips for developing a plan that works ✅ Identify the habit you want to change and why it is important to you ✅ Write a focus statement to help you stay on track ✅ Create goals for your new habit and put them someplace you will see every day 💡I keep mine on my desktop wallpaper ✅ Schedule weekly check-ins and keep them ✅ Master the habit in 90 days ✅ Move on to the next habit you want to build Happy Habit Building The power of momentum can't be overstated when it comes to habit formation. So when trying to create lasting change in any area--whether through forming new habits or breaking old ones--it's important that we develop a plan to help us stay on track. Developing a productivity plan can seem daunting at first, but it's well worth the effort. By taking the time to identify the habits you want to change and why they are important to you, writing a statement to keep yourself focused, setting goals, and scheduling time to check in on your progress, you can master any habit over a period of 90 days. By following these steps, you'll be on your way to becoming more productive and reaching your goals in no time! Remember, every great journey starts with a single step, so don't be afraid to get started and take control of your life. Happy habit-building!

At some point, Executive Assistants might have considered writing "Tetris Master" as their profession in your LinkedIn profile. Let's face it: As an Executive Assistant, sometimes calendar management can feel like a nightmare. Oh yes, we have all been there! But the truth is that there are keys to unlocking the power of a strategic calendar. Once I found them, I never looked back, and I can’t wait to share some of them with you. Calendar management can be tough. There are endless variables that go into successful calendar management. It's a bit like the movie Inception; you have to go deep to find the root of the problem — all while trying to match business objectives with the calendar. You are constantly slotting your days to fit in the most critical meetings and tasks — only to have them change on a dime when your executive throws you a curve ball. "Help is on the way, dear!" We want you to be a champion for your executive team, starting with calendar management. We train executive assistants worldwide to stop the calendar chaos and build an intentional structure. A structure that limits the number of calendar fires and helps you plan your executive's time with purpose and intention. Here are 4 actions you can take TODAY to make you an expert strategic scheduler. Be Proactive and Get the Calendar Data Data matters when you start becoming intentional with your executive's calendar. You cannot quantify your work or clearly understand how they spend their time until you focus on getting the calendar data and start analyzing it. This is an incredibly powerful asset that you can use to make better decisions and become more efficient with your executive's time. What trends and patterns do you see in your executive's calendar? What do you need to rearrange or align? How do these trends and patterns affect how you manage their time, projects, and deliverables? How do you ensure tasks, projects, and meetings have a clear goal and definition so that it isn't open-ended? Understand Your Executive's Top Priorities Do you know what are the top priorities for your executive this year? If not, it is hard to align their calendar with their goals and priorities. How can you use their calendar efficiently if you don't know their top priorities? How can you allocate your time and resources wisely if you don't know what the most important things are for them? Understand their top priorities for the year. Do they have time in the calendar to accomplish their goals and priorities? If not, what can you rearrange to make it happen? Schedule Meetings Strategically It is critical that you understand meeting lifecycles for the meetings that your executive is involved with. Trust me when I say that it will make your life much easier as you implement strategic calendar planning. Your goal is to ensure that your executive's meetings are productive and that they focus on what's business critical. 7 Things You Need Before You Schedule Any Meeting. Meeting Type: Brainstorming, Decision, Project Update, 1:1, etc. Meeting Purpose: 1-2 sentences about why the meeting is being held. 💡And no, it can't be the name of the meeting. Expected Outcome | Next Steps: What is the desired outcome or what needs to happen after this meeting? Agenda: If the meeting is over 30 minutes, I require a detailed agenda. Pre-read: Is there a pre-read to the meeting? Facilitator: Who is facilitating the meeting? You need to know who to go to for meeting minutes, action items for your exec, etc. Expectations for my EBP: What is their role in the meeting? Do they need to come ready to make a decision? Is there any prep or simply a project update? Creating a strategic calendar will help keep your executive's priorities front and center. Strategic calendar planning is a powerful tool for you to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Don't forget that you are the secret sauce to this whole process. Your empathy and emotional intelligence will help you create a thoughtful and intentional calendar that will keep productivity humming. Be proud of your expertise, and know that what you do is critical to organizational success. Want to Learn More? Do you want to elevate your calendar management to the next level? Just imagine you could gain more respect, reduce calendar fires, and become a trusted advisor with just one project. Oh yes, you can! I've helped Executive Assistants worldwide learn how to create a strategic calendar that changes how they work. Some of my clients include The New York Times, Dell, Microsoft, Google, Adobe, PGA, and more. If you want to stop the calendar chaos and finally take control of the calendar, then click here to learn more about our upcoming live workshop!

Did you know that you can create rules for your out-of-office replies in Outlook? This is a fantastic way to keep control of your inbox while you are disconnected and on vacation. It's important to prepare for your vacation time at work so that you can truly relax and enjoy your time away. By properly preparing in advance, you can automate tasks, set up systems and processes, and plan ahead to make sure that you don't have to worry about anything when you get back. One of the best ways to prepare for vacation is to automate your emails before you head out. For example, set up a Bookings calendar so internal and external connections can schedule time with your executive business partner while you are out (just like Calendly), set up rules for your out-of-office replies, and automate your emails before you ever leave your desk. This way, you don't have to worry about coming back to a pile of work. We all feel the intense pressure to check our inbox and respond to this one pressing email, and then we are tempted to check our emails when we are supposed to be running on the beach with our boo. It is a no-win situation ... unless you prepare ahead of time by creating a plan to manage your emails, so you are fully present for every moment. Use Rules to Reply to Your Emails Automatically If you're not already using rules, now is the time. Rules allow you to respond automatically to emails based on specific criteria. For example, if a message comes from a specific contact or if it contains a certain keyword, then automatically reply with a template. You can also set up rules that forward messages to other people so they can respond on your behalf while you're gone. Setting up rules for your out-of-office replies is next-level productivity. Click on file Click on automatic replies Create your out-of-office message Select rules in the bottom left of the box Click on add rule Edit rule Move Your Emails to a Vacation Folder Personally, I like to create a rule that will filter all of my messages out of my inbox and move them to a temporary folder (usually titled 🌴Vacation Emails). This way, I am not constantly getting pulled into the inbox drama, and I am not tempted to check my emails while on vacation. If I do choose to look at my emails, then it is intentional and not just because I see 300 unread messages on my notifications. This also gives me peace of mind knowing that emails won't get lost in a sea of messages. When I get back, I quickly filter out the fluff in my vacation folder and triage the emails that I need to respond to or need my attention. I follow a specific process for catching up on my vacation emails. You can click on the button below to check out the how-to. Determining the rules for your out-of-office reply takes a little time, but it's worth the effort! By automating certain tasks and creating systems and processes, you can make sure that your workload is taken care of before you leave. Consider automating your out-of-office replies in Microsoft Outlook to make sure there's no stress when you come back. Now go off and plan your next vacay or mental health day so you can put this into practice.

Building a professional development plan can be a game-changer. Or at least, it was for me. My PDP allowed me to explore what I truly wanted in my career. I spent time considering what kind of role I was interested in, the type of partnerships that I was willing to invest in, and what my boundaries should be going forward. Through this process, I am continually re-assessing my goals, career objectives and prioritizing my professional growth and aspirations. There is not a one size fits all version of success. Reaching the pinnacle of your career might mean something very different from one person to another. To me, that is the beauty of life - each of us chasing after our own dreams, supporting one another, and cheering each other on. I hope you spend some quality time with yourself and make the determination to take control of your career and start developing it with intent. Check out my most recent collaboration with the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP) and check out my video and then download the template below to get started on developing your own PDP.

I am so excited to have Vanessa Nieman, my dear friend, and fellow EA Advocate, join us as a guest blogger! When I met Vanessa in 2019 we immediately clicked and I have had the pleasure of watching her grow and expand in her career. She has so much to say to the Administrative community and I am over the moon that I can share her first article with you. If you haven't done so yet, follow her on LinkedIn! You are welcome! xo, Melissa I very recently made the decision to leave a role without another one lined up. [Reasons for doing so will be explored in future articles - stay tuned!] Being a 'doer' who takes great pride in my work as an administrative professional, with very few gaps in my work history, you can imagine what life has been like for me since making that leap. After giving notice, and thinking now that it wasn't perhaps the best time for clarity or objectivity, I dusted off my resume, added my now former role, and began applying to likely-sounding prospects. Bear in mind, I had been recruited or referred into my past couple of roles, so my resume hadn't been top of mind for a while. And boy was this a huge mistake on my part! Initially, I did receive a few responses, asking me to provide video-pre-screens [not my favorite thing to do, I'm discovering] or to participate in phone pre-screens, which I giddily did, with zero results. I was most likely drafting on the fumes of my copiously-listed work experience and then dying at the gate [pardon any mixed metaphors, they are kind of a thing with me]. After this blow to my professional ego, as I mentioned, the response was zero, crickets. But then, at the end of that first week, I received a call, seemingly from the job search Universe. The gentleman on the call introduced himself as a consultant with a well-known local staffing agency who had reviewed the resume I had uploaded to the organization's website. He asked me if I was open to hearing his recommendations on how to tighten the resume up so it would be more effective and attract more response. At first blush, my pride flared up and my internal Vanessa started to craft a sassy retort to the gentleman about the awesomeness of my resume, yada yada. External Vanessa quickly squashed that response, swallowed her pride and agreed to listen to the caller's advice. That advice, and my side-bar commentary are as follows. For those of you out there in Job Search Land who are waaay more savvy than I am, your resumes may already reflect these tips and more power to you. When I applied these suggestions to my own hot little mess of a rezzie, I started receiving better results [read on for that info]. Tips for crafting a resume that will yield results Lose the nostalgia - If you have more than 10 years of experience, Yay you, but don't put it all on your resume. Limit your job history to no more than the past 10 years. I have a lot of experience and I've always made sure to emphasize that, but now cringing that I may have been shooting myself in the foot. Keep it short and sweet - Limit the long-winded objective or mission statement at the top of your resume to one clear sentence, or an 'elevator pitch,' as it was described to me. Below this, add short segments listing your skills and abilities, then your professional experience for the past 10 years, then your education and accolades, limiting the entire resume to no more than two pages total. Hiring brains will die past that point, regardless of how awesome your experience is. Bracket your recurring functions - I came up with this idea on my own, after running it by my very intelligent adult son and my engineer, linear-brained husband. For most administrative professionals, the majority of our roles contain functions that recur, such as calendar management, expense reporting and travel arrangements. Event planning could also figure into that category. Instead of wasting valuable space listing and re-listing these items in the precious space meant for your professional history, I listed them in alpha order, with bullet separators, taking up no more than three lines total. I then added another two-line, bullet-separated segment directly below that, listing my technological proficiencies, or programs, platforms and apps that I had used across my experience, rather than listing them under each past role. You did the things, but how did they help the organization? Very necessary advice and yet an 'A ha!' moment for me, was to not only list, in no more than two or three carefully worded bullet points, the stand-out, non-recurring projects or special highlights under each role, but also how those items tied back to organizational growth. As administrative professionals, we may not always be privy to the exact numerical outcome of our actions, but there are other ways of listing how your contribution added value. I wrote how my partnership in running a customer-facing event lead to further lead generation and eventual rise in revenue for the organization. General, but true and perhaps better than just saying that I helped lead a customer-facing event, period. Be young at heart, but... Another key piece of advice that was a real 'duh' moment for me, and quite likely one of the key reasons why I wasn't receiving much of a response, was the thing that made me the most proud - my years of experience as an administrative professional. I was told that ageism is a real thing in the hiring world and to best avoid it, leave out anything that suggests your numerical age, such as '30 years' experience' or the year you earned your Bachelor of Arts degree. I touched on my experience instead, using terms such as 'extensive' or 'seasoned.' I didn't love kow-towing to the age haters, but I also need to work, and let's face it, I am nowhere near ready to retire! One resume does not fit all - After this bit of advice, I discovered I had been doing 'lazy applying,' or dully firing off one standard resume for all roles I was considering, though a couple may have had a clear focus within different industries. Instead, and again my super-smart adult son backed this up, the 'modular' approach makes more sense, to initially craft a 'master resume' [again, no more than two pages, no longer than 10 years' experience] and then create modular, tailored resumes crafted towards each role being applied to, with carefully composed cover letters [no more than one page] to match. This approach can take up to an hour per application session, but the return on your time investment could be that next great role. So, after reading all of the above [and thank you for doing so, since this is my first LinkedIn article!], you may be asking yourself, what has my return on this new, improved resume investment looked like? After completing the conversation with the angel advisor last Friday, and then spending a few necessary hours on the updated version, and then sending my new baby rezzie out into the hiring world earlier this week, I can report that as of EOB today, I have had several recruiters reach out to me with strong opportunities for either temp-to-perm or direct hire roles. I have also participated in several fruitful phone screens, and I have an onsite interview scheduled in the coming days. My optimism took a hit in that first week after resigning, and I know employment Rome won't be built in a day [or two weeks even], but with this type of response to the new, improved resume, I had to share these bits of hard-earned wisdom out to those who may be window-shopping or actively job-searching, especially if you haven't done either in a few years. The hiring world changes quickly and I almost missed the boat, but thankfully for my angel advisor, I was able to correct my course and improve my chances, and I hope that sharing this advice helps someone else as well.

I have wanted to write this article for two years now, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do it... until now. What I am about to share is very personal to me, but I hope that you walk away with some encouragement and reminders that cost me quite a bit to learn. This is a photo of my nephew and one of his closest friends. I snapped this photo as we were saying goodbye, and it was a moment that was seared in my heart forever and one that I will never forget. October 12th, 2016. My nephew, Frank, was a senior in high school, and it was his 19th birthday. It was going to be a very hectic day for me in the office, but it was early in the morning so I still had a small window to call him before he was off to school for the day. I had the phone in my hand, ready to call him and wish him a happy birthday. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, that I was so proud of him, and that I hoped he enjoyed his day. And then I got distracted. I put the phone down because I just had to respond to an "urgent" email and told myself that I would call him that night when I got home from work when I wasn't so slammed. Things would be calmer then, and I could spend more time talking to him. It would be fine. Except it wasn't. I never got to make that call. Frank died that night on his way home from his birthday dinner, and I will always regret that decision. Today would have been his 22nd birthday, and I can only imagine the incredible man he would have become. As soon as he turned 18, he enlisted in the Army Reserves, even though he still had to finish his senior year of high school. He was in the ROTC in high school and loved competing in the drill team. He was an incredibly smart and focused young man. He was funny, always had a smile on his face, never met a stranger, and he was determined to define his future for himself and not let circumstances or society decide it for him. I will never forget snapping the photo of his friend saying goodbye to Frank. It seemed so surreal. I couldn't believe that this was happening and that I would never get the chance to say all of the things that were in my heart towards him. I was furious with myself for letting that moment pass because of something so trivial. That was the moment that I decided that I never wanted the hustle of my career to interfere with the truly important things in life. I wish that I could say that I have been perfect at this, but I haven't.  It has been and is a journey for me. Here are 5 things that I have learned over the past 3 years since we said goodbye to Frank. #1 - Kick FOMO Out of Your Life FOMO - Fear of Missing Out is a real thing. In retrospect, that email was not critical. It wasn't urgent. It wasn't even all that important. It just felt important because I had not yet given myself permission to determine my own priorities instead of letting someone else decide where my attention should be focused. Since then, I have learned that just because a topic is top of mind for someone else, it does not mean that it has to be top of mind for me the moment I receive it. I know that it a shocking statement, but I stand by it. Many of us are afraid of missing an email or a meeting that we deem essential... because what happens if I don't respond in 5 seconds? What if they meet without me? What if they have a conversation over email, and I don't immediately reply? How will that look? What will they think? I know it sounds crazy, but the truth of the matter is that many people honestly feel this kind of pressure over an email... over an EMAIL! Since then, I have learned that moments are precious, and I can never get time back once I let it go. So I made a choice to set my own priorities. I decide what is important and when. When I begin working with someone, I simply communicate my working style early and set expectations. Truth be told, more often than not, they feel empowered to do the same. #2 - Don't Let the Hustle Steal Your Life - Live In the Moment Chasing the hustle can motivate many of us, but it should never define our life. If I am honest, I was so busy chasing the hustle that I missed more of my life, than I would care to admit. Now, I am not saying that you shouldn't hustle or that you shouldn't follow your passion, but I am saying that it should be balanced with chasing true happiness. That day, I was reminded that if I was not careful, life would pass me by, and I would completely miss it because I was choosing not to slow down enough to enjoy the people that made my life great. I was letting my hustle steal the special moments in my life, and I wanted them back. I decided that chasing moments that would last when the hustle was over was much more important to me than watching them just pass me by. I wanted to learn to be intentional with my life and be present in the moments that mattered. #3 - Live Fearlessly My nephew was a very passionate young man. He was passionate about family, he was passionate about his country, and he was passionate about chasing his dreams. He had 101 reasons to make excuses in life and be less than he dreamed, but he refused them all. He was only 19, and he had learned something that many of us could take notes from. He had learned that no one and I mean no one would set his destiny for him. He had a purpose and a plan, and he was going to chase it fearlessly. When people ask me why I decided to start my YouTube channel - this is why. I had given myself all of the excuses in the world, but Frank inspired me just to let them go. If my nephew could set aside his excuses, then so could I. #4 - Grieve on Your Own Terms As much as I would love to say that our colleagues are going to be forever supportive when you are grieving, often they are not. No doubt that when the tragedy occurs, everyone offers their words of encouragement, dinners and flowers seem endless, but that quickly fades, and you are left picking up the pieces of your life. Their world moves on, and yours has fallen apart. Now what? Well, now you have to give yourself permission to grieve on your own terms, and it generally is not going to happen in the 3-5 business days that is defined by many HR policies. People are going to move on, forget, be insensitive, be demanding, and put pressure on you, but you have to advocate for yourself. Grief is a process, and it will smack you at the oddest of times, in the strangest of places, and when you are not expecting it. There will be pressure to get back to "normal." A month later, people will ask you questions like, "Are you okay?" "Why do you look sad?" "What's wrong?" You may momentarily consider causing them bodily harm, but then you reconsider and just say - "I'm fine." But you are not fine, and you can't imagine ever being fine again. Trust me when I say that the business will be okay. It will keep moving whether you are on the train or not. However, if you don't make yourself a priority and take care of yourself, and allow yourself to grieve on your own terms, you won't be. Don't let anyone else dictate when and how you grieve. Period. #5 - Smile and Embrace Your Life Frank could take a selfie like no one else. He had the most amazing smile that just seemed to say - I know something that you don't. He captured moments in his life that we all cherish to this day. Moments of laughter, hilarious moments that make us laugh, and moments that make us proud. In fact, when we were trying to figure out what we would say to hundreds of his peers and friends who loved him and who were so young to lose a friend - we told them this. Frank wouldn't want you to be overcome with grief and mourn him forever. He would want you to remember the joy and friendship you shared. Frank would want you to live life to the fullest. He would want you to smile, take that selfie, and embrace life. You never know who will need to see that picture of you one day and be inspired to be brave and leap over the pain and live life. So that is what we did. We smiled even though our hearts were breaking. We took pictures together to remember his love for family and our love for him... even though we realized that it was the first picture he would not be in. We remembered. We Smiled. We embraced the life that he couldn't, and we know we made him proud. Frank D. Wilson October 12, 1997 - October 12, 2016 #Frankslegacy #worldmentalhealthday

Recently, I was asked how I keep up to date on technology trends and training. I have to say that my answer is pretty simple. I follow hashtags and influencers. Instead of wasting time scrolling mindlessly through social media feeds, I do my best to make those platforms work for me. LinkedIn is my go-to platform for influencers and hashtags within the administrative profession. I follow hashtags that are relevant to my professional development and areas of interest. Following hashtags allows me to discover new ideas and trending topics from thought leaders that I am not connected with. Surprisingly, Instagram is a treasure trove of training and snippets of inspiration for Administrative Professionals. Following hashtags like #outlook and #msonenote helps me stay abreast of the latest technology releases and updates. If you haven't read my article on how to improve your hashtag game, then you can check it out here. Here are some of my favorites hashtags to follow: #executiveassistant #administrativeprofessional #meetingmanagement #inboxmanagement #productivity #outlooktips #earesources #eatraining #msonenote #ceomindset I would love to hear what hashtags you follow! Let me know in the comments below.