The Small Business Blog
FEBRUARY 2, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. Build your own network! Community for small business outsourcing and cost control. What is Small Business Infrastructure? How to be successful by focusing on your core business. Small Business Bootstrapping How to start your own small business with no or little money. You ask a question, I answer! Ask me your small business questions, I will answer them ASAP.
Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Co-Workers Not Cleaning Up After Themselves? By The Professional Assistant on Monday, February 11, 2008 Filed Under: Organize , Productivity D o you find that staff members leave their garbage around the kitchen area? Do you get annoyed that you are always the one that has to clean up after them? Do you start wondering if they treat their own house the same way?
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Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
When someone new is hired these are the things I look for: Do they ask questions? People sometimes feel when they are new they shouldn't ask questions because we might think they are not qualified. I get worried if they don't ask questions. I can gauge how much they are taking in by the questions they ask. Do they write things down? I like to see someone writing things down, then I feel I can relax.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 28, 2008
It’s one of those awkward situations we’ve all found ourselves in: we’re standing around at a company function, and all of a sudden the top brass shows up and heads our way. Suddenly we don’t know what to do with our arms. Our hands are some strange appendage that hang uselessly, or flutter nervously. How did our necks get to be too short for our bodies?
Speaker: Chester Santos
Forgetfulness is costing you time, money, and a ton of missed opportunities. In the age of automation, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a well-trained human mind. But memory isn’t just a parlor trick, it's a strategic edge. Human memory is one of the most underrated business skills. Whether you’re managing people, leading sessions, or having high-stakes conversations, remembering names, details, and concepts can be transformative in building trust, absorbing knowledge, and driving perform
The Small Business Blog
FEBRUARY 12, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. What is Small Business Infrastructure? How to be successful by focusing on your core business. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online. Effective Small Business Planning Strategy Planning your small business is the best way to avoid costly mistakes.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
I found a very interesting article today called The Secret Service of Administrative Assistants in the West Viriginia Record. It is an excellent article on the changing role of the administrative assistant. It addresses our name change from secretary to administrative assistant, but in particular our expanding duties and responsibilities as our roles have been re-created into what they are today.
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Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 29, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Work From Home? Want to be More Productive? By The Professional Assistant on Friday, February 29, 2008 Filed Under: MS-Excel , Organize , Productivity A re you a Virtual/ Professional Assistant or want to become one? Do you work from home on a regular basis? Are you just starting out or already have a thriving business? Finding the right tools to manage your business can be time consuming.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 29, 2008
It has been my experience that using Spell Check never replaces proofreading a document. I have proofed documents where the person has relied only on Spell Check and the outcome has been comical. A few examples of this are: A lawyer writing to a potential client writes that he has expensive experience, instead of extensive experience. I remember reading a document and instead of its they had written tits.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 28, 2008
I’m sure we have all seen quirks at the office. Some examples could be drumming fingers on the desk, twirling hair, clicking a pen while talking, or sighing heavily when thinking or problem solving. We all love the person who absently makes necklaces out of paperclips and then when one is pulled out you have a whole string of them. Grrr! I have seen people who pull at their chins, steeple their fingers as they think and nibble on their pens or pencils.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 27, 2008
You’ve practiced your presentation until even the family dog heads for cover when he hears your opening line. You’ve researched your data, got your handouts ready, the slides have been double-checked and now the big moment is near. Time to give your big presentation that will hopefully rank right up there with The Gettysburg Address and catapult you into the career stratosphere.
Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA
In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. If you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner—and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top (a concept first popularized by Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There ). What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 26, 2008
It is inevitable that on the morning I oversleep and the radio is announcing traffic is backed up and it will be slow-going to work: that is the morning I open the cereal box upside down sending my cat scrambling and leaving me with a shower of raisins and flakes at my feet. Mornings can be a busy time. Ideally I would like to have lots of time to make my lunch, do my hair, put on my make-up and get dressed, but most mornings I find myself racing just to get out the door.
Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Top Reasons for Working in Large and Small Companies By The Professional Assistant on Monday, February 25, 2008 Filed Under: Job Seeking , Productivity , Travel D o you work in a large company ? A small company ? Do you find that you prefer one over the other? I have worked in several jobs where the firms were large and small.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
If you work from your home, either full or part-time, you probably feel pretty lucky. You don’t have to fight the traffic, you get to wear your bathrobe if you want, and no co-worker is hitting you up to contribute money for another employee’s baby shower. Everything is pretty cool. In fact, you’re so relaxed you haven’t bothered to lock the doors, you don’t hesitate to brag to everyone in the grocery store that you work from home and anyone can look in the window and see all your nice, expensiv
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 24, 2008
There is likely a time in your career when you took a break to either raise a family, take care of an elderly or sick family member, go to school, travel the world or whatever the reason may be, this will show an employment gap on your resume. These gaps are noticed. How do you explain it to a potential employer? Be Honest I have found that honesty is the best policy, but you do not need to go into detail unless you are asked for further information.
Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP
The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 24, 2008
Here is an article I found that helped an administrative assistant become a first-time homeowner and her employer helped to pay for it. For some homeowners it pays to walk to work , is about a company in the States who promote living close to the workplace and they are prepared to put down the money to prove it. There are conditions, but if you meet the criteria they will give you money for a down payment.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 24, 2008
Here is an interesting article on a company called The Virtual Workspace: "Virtual company revolutionizes the way entrepreneurs manage their business". Click here to read it if you are interested in this fast-growing business of being a virtual assistant. Tags: virtual assistant Virtual office.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 22, 2008
Today is the last of my two-armed blogs for a while. That may sound strange, but true. On Monday, I go under the knife (gasp) to have torn tendons fixed in my elbow. I'll be in a full cast for a couple of weeks, then face whatever comes after that. While I've planned ahead as much as possible (turning in work early, advising people I may be on drugs), there's still a knot in my stomach as I contemplate what's going to happen when I can't even do my own hair, and can't write (it's my right elbow
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 22, 2008
I told the mailroom staff I was going to apply for a job with them. They said that I need not apply. Were they saying I was not qualified? Actually, I know I would be horrible at the job and obviously they know it too. Collating, copying, binding, stacking and couriering is not my thing. It takes all kinds of skills and people to run an office efficiently and having someone who can do a job well and be suited to it is a good match.
Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Do You Have a Pen? By The Professional Assistant on Thursday, February 21, 2008 Filed Under: Client Service , Meetings , Productivity Y ou’re walking around the office and someone comes up to you, asking for a pen. You search your pockets and realize that you don’t have one. Has this ever happened to you? This has happened to me quite a few times in the past.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
There's a new meme being passed around the blogosphere, and it's pretty simple and fun: Find the book nearest to you, go to page 123 (this may not work if you're reading comic books at the moment), go down to the fifth sentence and then type the following three sentences. After that, you pass the message along to other people you want to bug. uh, get to contribute.
Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 20, 2008
Home About Me Advertise The E-tiquette of E-mail By The Professional Assistant on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Filed Under: Client Service , MS-Outlook E ditor’s note: This is a guest post by Patricia Robb of Laughing all the Way to Work: The Ultimate Secretarial Survival Blog. E-mail is no longer just for personal use, with all our accepted short forms: LOL, U, GB and a co-workers favourite, OMG!
On The Job
FEBRUARY 20, 2008
In the working world, we try not to show our weaknesses, concentrating instead on displaying our strengths. We respond to others with confident tones, argue our point of view firmly and lead with authority. Too bad we’re not always right. This may be a hard concept to grasp for some people, especially those who have risen in the ranks because they are always right.
Speaker: Frank Taliano
Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.
Professional Assistant Blog
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Adhering to the "Open Door" Policy By The Professional Assistant on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Filed Under: Meetings , Prioritize I n my last job, I had my own office. I worked as an Investment Advisor’s Assistant, completed my CSC (Canadian Securities Course), but soon after, I realized that this wasn’t really for me.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
On this Tidbit Tuesday, the first order of business is to plug my podcast today where we'll talk about how your physical appearance in the workplace impacts your success. If you think I’m talking about just women, forget it. We’ll also talk about how a man’s height (or lack thereof) affects his chances for raises and promotions. Author Gordon Patzer, who wrote “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined,” will be my guest.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
Richard and I actually started blogging around the same time. I found him by accident on an interactive administrative assistant site and we discovered we had both started a blog for admin assistants. I enjoyed reading his article about being a male admin in a predominantly female occupation. I invited Richard to guest blog. Here is his bio and his post will follow: Richard Rinyai has been an Administrative Assistant for many years and has extensive knowledge of organization, prioritization and
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
You can find Richard Rinyai on his blog The Professional Assistant. For Richard's complete bio see the previous post Introducing Guest Blogger Richard Rinyai. Being a male administrative assistant in a predominantly female profession is something everyone asks me about. It feels like I have broken new ground by entering this profession. I have been an admin for many years and have worked in a construction company, an investment firm and for a large publishing firm.
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
On The Job
FEBRUARY 18, 2008
When I was a kid, I hated Sunday evenings. I'm sure I wasn't alone -- I think kids throughout the ages have hated Sunday night because it means doing homework and going to bed early because it's a school night. Kids know that on Monday they face another week of teachers, tests and more homework. As an adult, I still get a sort of melancholy feeling when the sun begins to set on Sunday.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 18, 2008
Check out The Green Blog and participate and let them know how you are going green in your office. It's something we all can do, one person at a time, to make a big global impact. The most recent blog post is called "Oh my Aching Footprint". Tags: being green in the office carbon footprint going green.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 18, 2008
I noticed a co-worker putting on a hat with a competitor’s logo. It made me think of loyalty in the workplace. How loyal are you to your company? If someone offered you a higher-paying job would you take it without a second look back or would you hesitate because you really like the company you work for and feel loyal to your boss? Big Daddy is Watching It is hard to feel loyal to a big corporation, especially if you are staff.
Laughing all the Way to Work
FEBRUARY 17, 2008
The Chart Online at Missouri State University report that the first Library Employee of the Year was given to their Administrative Assistant, Ann Quade, in recognition of her hard work and dedication. Congratulations to a fellow admin. Click here to see the full article. Tags: recognition Library Employee of the Year dedication.
Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC
Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult
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