The Small Business Blog
APRIL 21, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. Effective Small Business Planning Strategy Planning your small business is the best way to avoid costly mistakes. Outsourcing Options For Small Business Focus on your business, timeshare professionals.
On The Job
APRIL 30, 2008
Gossip in the workplace is about as common as the daily arrival of UPS. Workers gossip about their families, their friends and whether Miley Cyrus should punch Annie Leibovitz in the face for that Vanity Fair photo. But, workers also gossip about the boss. They gossip about co-workers. Sometimes it's not mean-spirited ("Did you know Daniel and Heather in accounting are dating?
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Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 30, 2008
I read an interesting article in Canadian Lawyer Associates magazine called "Here to Help" by Helen Burnett. It brings up the subject of young lawyers needing to be taught how to make the most of having an assistant. I think it would apply in all offices. It quotes some very forward thinking law firms who run seminars for new associates on how to work with an assistant.
Professional Assistant Blog
APRIL 24, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Blogging Here and There - Part 2 By The Professional Assistant on Thursday, April 24, 2008 Filed Under: A s you may have noticed, I havent been posting any articles for quite some time now. I do apologize for this, but my life has been really busy lately and unfortunately, could not share my thoughts with you during this time.
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
APRIL 1, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. Benefits of Online Software for Small Business. Concentrate on your business, not your office. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. 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.
The Small Business Blog
APRIL 8, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. Build your own network! Community for small business outsourcing and cost control. Enhance Your Work-Life Balance Have it all your way – family, friends, work and most of all a life! Effective Small Business Planning Strategy Planning your small business is the best way to avoid costly mistakes.
Administrative Professionals Pulse brings together the best content for administrative professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
On The Job
APRIL 29, 2008
I've been traveling a lot for business lately, and I've just got to get some pet peeves off my chest: * If you've got a big case, stuffed with a heavy laptop, do not fling that thing over your shoulder without checking to see if someone is behind you. Chances are, if you're standing in line or on a crowded flight, there is someone close by and you could cause potentially cause serious bruises and/or brain damage when you whack them with it. * Two words: Anti-perspirant.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 29, 2008
This is the time of year for spring cleaning and your office probably needs a good clean up too. Make your desk clutter free inside and out. You should have as much working space as possible. Have a place for everything and use it. Keep your drawers neat and tidy. Recycle extra staplers, scissors, highlighters and pens that you do not need. Use a drawer organizer so you can separate items and make things neat.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 29, 2008
So many people recommend asking questions at an interview. What are some of the questions you can ask? A good interview is one that turns into a conversation, with them asking questions of you, but with you also asking questions of them. It will be more relaxing for both parties and by your questions you will give them a good idea about your expectations and capabilities and how you will fit in.
On The Job
APRIL 28, 2008
In a live radio interview last year about my book , the host asked me: "So, Anita, how much do you make writing your syndicated workplace column?" Thankfully, you couldn't see my reaction, because I have a feeling my face sort of resembled a landed halibut. But after a moment's hestitation, I answered him in a round, ballpark-figure-sort-of-way. I thought of this as I read The New York Times story that noted younger workers don't really have a problem telling someone else what they make, and eve
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
APRIL 28, 2008
More and more executives require their assistants to manage their e-mail accounts for them. The problem I have with this request is managing a busy executive’s e-mail account can be a full-time job in itself, but many executives are asking for it. Here are some things that I have found: Meet with your executive and get on the same page as to what they are expecting you to accomplish when going through their e-mail account.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 27, 2008
This is definitely good news for our profession. Here is an article from the Wausau Daily Herald where they quote Department of Labor statistics on the future growth of our profession. Click here to read the article. For a direct link to the Department of Labor report click here. Tags: department of labor statistics good news for the assistant professional assistant Administrative Assistant.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 27, 2008
I am always looking for shortcuts and I found a neat way to speed up my typing using AutoCorrect. For example, here are a few I have created. If I type sbc and press the spacebar (or press enter) it automatically types SENT BY COURIER. Here are some others I use: sbf - SENT BY FACSIMILE sbr - SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL p&c - PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Your Autocorrect shortforms are case sensitive, so choose whether they will be lower case or upper case.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 25, 2008
I’m a Secretary, but “I don’t do coffee”. Let me explain. I am not talking about being liberated and not being willing to make coffee. I can’t make coffee period. I am not a coffee drinker and those who have had one made by me, have quickly learned not to ask for more. I remember years ago wanting to impress a friend who was a coffee connoisseur. I got up early and quietly went about making the coffee.
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.
On The Job
APRIL 24, 2008
Alexandra Levit is a career coach, author and speaker, and has a new book, "How'd You Score That Gig." I recently asked her a few questions about her book. 1. What inspired you to write "How'd You Score That Gig?" The idea originated as a result of several conversations I overheard at friends’ dinner parties. It seemed that someone at every event always had a job that totally intrigued the rest of the group.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 24, 2008
Here are a few articles I wanted to pass along that I thought were very appropriate during Administrative Professionals' Week. Secretary Jobs Evolving Into Something More by Karen Robes in the dailybreeze.com In Celebration of Administrative Assistants by Jenny May in The News-Herald.com This blog post by Ellen Bloom from Los Angeles is my Beat is worth looking at just for the first photo.
On The Job
APRIL 23, 2008
This is a frightening time for everyone in the workplace, when fears abound about what latest economic downturn will result in layoffs. One of the most vulnerable groups of employees are the experienced workers with their higher salaries and richer benefits. Older workers need to understand that this is the time to ratchet up their game. They need to be seen as vital by going after new clients, taking on new projects and just being seen as a dynamic voice in the future of a company.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 23, 2008
Christie Phillips was named 2008 Administrative Professional of the Year by the Hager Chapter of IAAP. Congratulations Christie. Click here to read the article. Tags: Admins in the spotlight professional assistant kudos Administrative Assistant.
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.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 23, 2008
I am on vacation the rest of this week so I will be blogging only occasionally during that time. I will be back at it starting on Tuesday, April 29th. Enjoy the rest of the week wherever you are. Patricia. Tags: out of office blog assistant.
On The Job
APRIL 22, 2008
In honor of Earth Day, we're going to deal with all things green in this Tidbit Tuesday post: * One of the job sectors expected to grow is anything that has to do with the environment. If you're interested in "green collar" jobs and what that means, check out this report. * Co-op America and Treehugger.com both offers ways to make your office green in 10 easy steps. * For the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks, artists from more than 45 comic strips are all working together to focus on a comm
On The Job
APRIL 21, 2008
Was I the only one NOT shocked by the YouTube video of several girls beating another girl and videotaping the incident? Of course, it was horrible. Of course, we should all condemn it. Of course, the girls who assaulted the other girl should be punished. But women who gasp in horror and express their disbelief that females would be capable of such acts aren't being honest.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 20, 2008
I went through most of my career unaware that we as admin assistants had a professional association. Since I have become a member of IAAP I don't know why I didn't join before. What a great place to network with our peers and a place we can learn and grow as a person and as an assistant. Judy McCoy, Board President, of IAAP gave a good summary of what joining a professional association can do for you and your career in a recent article in The Bellingham Herald: "I meet people who are stagnant in
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.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 19, 2008
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all followed the same numerical dating standard. It can get very confusing when we date differently. For instance, can anyone tell me what this date is - 06/11/03? Is it June 11, 2003? Is it the 6th of November 2003? Or is it 2006 November 03? Well, it depends on which country you are in and if the person writing the date is aware of the standards in their particular country.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 19, 2008
I have a bad memory. I admit it. Depending on how much sleep I get can determine if it will be better or worse. I jokingly told a friend of mine that sometimes it feels like the information I am looking for is in the archives and the door has been locked and I don't have the key. At work I compensate by writing things down. I write down any instructions I get from my boss, phone messages or anything I will need to remember to either pass on or do.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 19, 2008
Today starts Administrative Professionals’ Week. The whole week is set aside to acknowledge what we do every day. The first time I realized the importance of our job was when I was working as a young secretary in my first job. I was creating some organization charts for my boss and noticed that the secretary was listed beside the director of our department.
On The Job
APRIL 18, 2008
Ask anyone who really enjoys going to work every day, and you’re likely to hear that one of the reasons they like the job is because of the boss. A good boss, it seems, can make even the really bad days bearable. But a bad boss — well, a bad boss makes every day unbearable, no matter how good it is. And while you may be miserable day in and day out working for a bad boss, it actually gets worse.
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.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 18, 2008
Practicing your answers to some possible interview questions really helps you to prepare. They won't always ask this question, but for an administrative assistant's job it would be a good question to ask. We certainly know pressure. This is the answer I normally give to this particular question. Do you work well under pressure? I handle working under pressure by being organized.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 18, 2008
I found an interesting post on Anita Bruzzese's blog 45 Things. She wrote an article called Your Success is Tied Directly to the Boss. Click here to read the article. It is an interesting read. She suggests that if you have a bad boss you could be putting your career at risk. Fortunately, I have always gotten along well with my bosses, but I have known people who have had difficult working relationships and it hasn't been pretty.
Laughing all the Way to Work
APRIL 17, 2008
I came across this article on personal admin horror stories that I thought you might get a kick out of reading. Some of my memorable moments are. I remember making travel arrangements for my boss who was travelling to New York City for a meeting. I was not aware there were three main airports that he could fly to: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark International Airport.
On The Job
APRIL 16, 2008
As the economy takes a nose dive, and many of us experience burnout as never before, the attraction of working overseas becomes greater. After all, if Brad and Angelina can travel the world and work, why not you? Still, if you’re considering working overseas there are some practical matters to consider such as work permits and visas. And, you also need to be realistic and understand that while many of those who have worked in other countries describe it as one of the greatest adventures of their
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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