Expert insights. Personalized for you.
We spend a significant portion of our lives sleeping. Recharging, dreaming, and restoring are parts of everyone’s life no matter where you live or who you are. So, why do so many of us struggle with our sleep? And how can we change the way we think about sleep for success? Sleep hacking’ has become a buzzword in the world of startups and entrepreneurship. Essentially, sleep hacking is where you try to streamline your sleeping pattern. MORE
Do you ever feel the need to be more productive and organized in order to accomplish much more than what you are doing right now? Time management is one of the most important skills that you need to develop in life. With effective time management, you enable yourself to become more productive at achieving the goals and objectives assigned to you at work. You also get better in achieving the ones you assign to yourself in daily life. MORE
Reading a book is as simple as ABC and everyone can pick up a book to read. However, not everyone remembers what they study. In this guide, I am going to reveal to you the best study habits and tips on how to remember more when studying. I have seen a lot of readers who struggle to remember everything they read just a few hours after. Why is that? Simple, they failed to study effectively. MORE
Throwing an epic party doesn’t have to mean emptying your bank account. After all, it should be about creating lasting memories and not the amount of money you and your partner spend. To plan the most awesome engagement party on a budget, here are some tricks you might want to try. Use Candles. MORE
I wouldn’t have been able to tell you whether I identify as an integrator or a segmenter, but I immediately saw myself as a segmenter the morning that I read this article by Melody Wilding. MORE
So, you are a student who loves reading and writing. You write essays, reviews, and stories. It’s not a problem for you to help peers with their academic papers and you are ready to read tons of books on different topics. Wouldn’t it be great to have reading and creative writing the only subjects in school? But here come the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Physics, Economics, Chemistry, and… MATH! MORE
So, how did your week go? Tiring? Stressful? Well, we don’t blame you. Almost every other adult in the world is dealing or has dealt with a mental health issue and what adds to their stress, is work. Workplace stress exists and sadly, no efforts are made to address this problem. MORE
In any interaction with a client, there’s your space, her space, and the space between you that’s available to be shared. MORE
As we pointed out earlier this week , firms of all sizes and types are increasing their use of freelancers and other forms of non-employee labor. But as companies become more reliant on external talent, they increasingly need to structure their policies, procedures, and engagement practices in order to be successful in attracting, engaging, and retaining highly skilled independent professionals. MORE
Emotional abuse isn’t the easiest thing to deal with. Compared with physical abuse, it leaves pain that lasts for a longer time. It creates a lot of grief and unhappiness that tend to torture the victim every single day. Emotional abuse happens when the other party erodes your sense of self esteem and literally, has a hold over your mind. Your sense of self worth shrinks so much that you no longer dare to challenge what is being said about you. You believe in their stories. MORE
As much as we love to believe we’re the most advanced culture to have ever walked the Earth, the truth of the matter is that we have everything about as fouled up and backwards as a drunken dyslexic trying to figure out pants and shoes. MORE
Deloitte has become, in our opinion, one of the key go-to sources of information and analysis on the future of work. Their recent article Redefining work, workforces, and workplaces is a good example. In a relatively short article, it nicely synthesizes and explains "multiple converging trends and how they are already fundamentally changing all aspects of work." MORE
According to MetLife's 2019 U.S. Employee Benefits Study, 23% of Americans with full-time traditional jobs intend to switch to gig work over the next 5 years. Another 14% say they are considering it. As the study chart below shows, younger workers more likely to say they're intending to leave their job for gig work than older workers. MORE
This is the second article in a two-part series on the topic of Professional Development Plans. In the first part of this series, you learned that a professional development plan (or PDP) is a written document used to focus, evaluate and prioritize professional development goals and activities. In this article, you’re going to learn exactly what should be included in a PDP document and the simple 10-step process I use to write a PDP. MORE
I remember when I was a young whippersnapper of a kid — no place to be and no dependents to take care of. I was responsible, trustworthy, and intelligent enough to work my way to a comfortable place in whatever job I held at the time. And I was balanced enough to separate work from play and appreciate the benefits of both. I was social enough always to have the choice to accept or turn down plans on my own timeline. MORE
Despite trade wars, tariffs, and the erection of other barriers to cross-border commerce, independent workers, freelancers and solopreneurs are increasingly finding customers outside U.S. borders. As the MBO Partners State of Independence study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2019 22% of Independent workers who work full-time as independent workers said they provided goods or services to customers outside the U.S. This us up from 19% in 2018 and just 12% in 2012. MORE
Most of the things we do require hard work. Whether it’s our job, relationships, and personal goals, we need to exert effort and work extra hard to get the best results possible. Unfortunately, working hard comes with negative effects. If you have been working hard for an extended period of time, there will come a point where you’ll realize that there’s only so much you can do by working hard. Don’t get me wrong – working hard is important. MORE
Most of us want to excel in life, but there’s just one problem. People often rely on what their society has to say when it comes to determining whether they’re succeeding or not. The society in which we grow up determines how we perceive excellence and the goal of getting the very best out of our lives. Some cultures might attribute excellence to a few brilliant, hard-working, exceptional cases. MORE
How do you feel when someone gives you feedback at work? Are you open to feedback, or do you feel defensive? What happens when you have challenges at work? Do you face them head-on, or do you avoid the situation? As Assistants, we often come up against misconceptions about the role. MORE
It often feels like hierarchy and influence go hand in hand, but the capacity to influence others isn’t exclusively linked to stature and job titles. As an assistant, it may sometimes feel either uncomfortable or even impossible to influence others in the workplace, but it’s not necessarily the case. MORE
After a long day at your desk job and packing in a good workout, falling into bed in a toasty room sounds pretty appealing. But have you considered the health benefits of sleeping in a cold room? MORE
We’ve all been there- staring at a blank screen, throwing endless drafts in the trash, pulling out hair, scrolling through Facebook photos, re-ordering music libraries and even wiping the computer clean. We do anything to pass the time and avoid admitting the painfully obvious – we’ve hit a block. We are the cultivators and sole fuel source of the blocks we experience. Blocks are usually an indication that we’ve taken our focus off of what we want and placed it firmly on what we don’t. MORE
We all know that water is good for us, but the reasons are sometimes a little fuzzy. Even if we know why we should drink water, it’s not a habit that we can easily form. The truth, however, is that we don’t focus enough on this habit. This is why we end up drinking lots of coffee, soda, alcohol, fruit juices, teas, milk, and a bunch of other beverages. And despite all those fluids, we still end up dehydrated which isn’t good for our health. MORE
If the task of completing a research paper in time seems too daunting to you or you just can’t get that A grade for your thesis, this article will be of help to you. Below are 5 great academic writing tips to help you get that top score in class. Understand the deliverables. MORE
Maybe you work one-on-one with the head honcho every day or perhaps you only get a face-to-face on very rare occasions. Whenever you get the chance to sit down and have a meeting with the big guns, it’s best to make it as productive as possible. MORE
At one time or another, we’ve all been around worried family or friends. Sometimes, it’s awkward and uncomfortable. We don’t know what to say, so we say something fast and easy like “Everything’s going to be okay”, “You’ll be fine”, or worse, “Stop worrying”. It’s as if we think we can change behavior with a smile and a few words of encouragement. Well, words mean nothing. Not when you’re the one without a job and no way to pay the mortgage. MORE
These days, people talk a lot about adding value in the workplace. Specifically, everyone wants to know how to become a more valuable employee. After all, when you add more value at work, you should (in theory) receive more value as well. It’s only natural; contributing at greater levels should enable you to earn at greater levels too. In my newest book, The Invisibility Cure , I cover this topic in depth. MORE
Putting in work or “hustling” is the most widespread maxim for success in the world of entrepreneurship. But the question is this: Are you really being productive with your time or is your work merely a heightened form of procrastination? The three levels of productivity: The first level of productivity is outright procrastination. It is zero productivity. It’s neglecting your priorities and responsibilities in lieu of the dopamine rush of a Netflix series or a video game. MORE
Friends are very important in our lives. If you have a true friend and find love in someone special, then you are one of the luckiest people in the world. Essentially, true friendship is an expression of a type of love. Whether you find friendship in a lover or someone you are just friends with, there may be a time when you question if this person is a true friend or not — and that’s ok. Even well-established relationships need reviewing once in a while. MORE
You know what to do in theory, don’t you? Avoid processed foods and trans fats. Include more lean protein and load up on the fresh fruits and veggies. Looks easy, right? MORE
What does success mean for you? Here’s an interesting story. In 1983, a young talented guitarist was kicked out of his dream band. He was delirious with joy even just before the manager called him at his office to kick him out. It happened just three days before he was about to record his first album. No reason, no complaints, no fight, just shown the door. For no reason. So, as he sat on the bus from Los Angeles to New York, you know what he did? He cried. What did I do wrong? MORE
During my monthly webinars , I often hear a handful of the same questions. A common one goes something like this: “The people I work with think my job is inferior. They look down on me (and my role). How do I get others to value my work more?”. This question hits particularly close to home for administrative professionals. As a proud former admin myself, I know what it’s like to feel that your work isn’t valued. MORE
Well, that is us in 2019 folks! Happy New Year. Firstly before I start this blog, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Practically Perfect PA readers who are joining us for another year on the blog. We have been going now since 2011, and I can’t wait to see […]. Core Competencies Featured admin administrators assistants Career Competencies EA Executive Assistant Office manager PA Personal Assistant Virtual Assistant MORE
As a proud former administrative professional , I’ve always enjoyed being a part of the admin community. In fact, from the moment I got involved in the field, I wanted to be an admin leader. I felt called to it from day 1. I loved the work and the people, and (even as a total novice) I thought I had something valuable to offer. So, back in 2006, I started a blog for admins called The Executive Assistant’s Toolbox, where I shared tips and tricks for success in the field. MORE
It’s the holiday season , and many home businesses are thinking about client gifting. From wondering if you should or shouldn’t gift clients to worrying about whether your client celebrates a certain holiday or not, it can be a stressful decision to make. MORE
I never had major struggles with my weight, but there was definitely a period of time where I was somewhat out of shape, lazy, unhealthy and unhappy. Not knowing a whole lot about fitness, I just decided to hit the gym and hope for the best. When I started going to the gym, it was all about the cardio. I started running on a treadmill, then started using the rowing machine. Both helped me to tone up some, but I found that I still didn’t feel confident in my health and certainly not my strength. MORE
I came across this article on Inc.com that proclaims that hiring a virtual assistant is the best move that entrepreneurs can make. I’ve actually been arguing that fact for years here. The above article was written less than a year ago, which makes it apparent that entrepreneurs still aren’t flocking to the idea, even though it’s been proven to be a successful investment over and over again. Which leaves me wondering why? MORE
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA Regional General Manager and Administration Assistant to Founders Office – Necker & Moskito Islands, in The British Virgin Islands. I love this interview because it shows how exciting, different, challenging and incredible our profession is! Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA to Regional General Manager and […]. MORE
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 26, 2019
After a long day at your desk job and packing in a good workout, falling into bed in a toasty room sounds pretty appealing. But have you considered the health benefits of sleeping in a cold room?
Virtual Moxie
JUNE 14, 2019
In any interaction with a client, there’s your space, her space, and the space between you that’s available to be shared.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Small Business Labs
APRIL 9, 2019
According to MetLife's 2019 U.S. Employee Benefits Study, 23% of Americans with full-time traditional jobs intend to switch to gig work over the next 5 years. Another 14% say they are considering it. As the study chart below shows, younger workers more likely to say they're intending to leave their job for gig work than older workers.
Eat Your Career
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
These days, people talk a lot about adding value in the workplace. Specifically, everyone wants to know how to become a more valuable employee. After all, when you add more value at work, you should (in theory) receive more value as well. It’s only natural; contributing at greater levels should enable you to earn at greater levels too. In my newest book, The Invisibility Cure , I cover this topic in depth.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 28, 2019
How do you feel when someone gives you feedback at work? Are you open to feedback, or do you feel defensive? What happens when you have challenges at work? Do you face them head-on, or do you avoid the situation? As Assistants, we often come up against misconceptions about the role.
Tips From T. Marie
DECEMBER 10, 2019
It’s the holiday season , and many home businesses are thinking about client gifting. From wondering if you should or shouldn’t gift clients to worrying about whether your client celebrates a certain holiday or not, it can be a stressful decision to make.
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 27, 2019
You know what to do in theory, don’t you? Avoid processed foods and trans fats. Include more lean protein and load up on the fresh fruits and veggies. Looks easy, right?
Administrative Professionals Pulse brings together the best content for administrative professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 25, 2019
As much as we love to believe we’re the most advanced culture to have ever walked the Earth, the truth of the matter is that we have everything about as fouled up and backwards as a drunken dyslexic trying to figure out pants and shoes.
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
Throwing an epic party doesn’t have to mean emptying your bank account. After all, it should be about creating lasting memories and not the amount of money you and your partner spend. To plan the most awesome engagement party on a budget, here are some tricks you might want to try. Use Candles.
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 28, 2019
If the task of completing a research paper in time seems too daunting to you or you just can’t get that A grade for your thesis, this article will be of help to you. Below are 5 great academic writing tips to help you get that top score in class. Understand the deliverables.
Dumb Little Man
OCTOBER 11, 2019
At one time or another, we’ve all been around worried family or friends. Sometimes, it’s awkward and uncomfortable. We don’t know what to say, so we say something fast and easy like “Everything’s going to be okay”, “You’ll be fine”, or worse, “Stop worrying”. It’s as if we think we can change behavior with a smile and a few words of encouragement. Well, words mean nothing. Not when you’re the one without a job and no way to pay the mortgage.
Virtual Moxie
AUGUST 5, 2019
I wouldn’t have been able to tell you whether I identify as an integrator or a segmenter, but I immediately saw myself as a segmenter the morning that I read this article by Melody Wilding.
Small Business Labs
JULY 9, 2019
Despite trade wars, tariffs, and the erection of other barriers to cross-border commerce, independent workers, freelancers and solopreneurs are increasingly finding customers outside U.S. borders. As the MBO Partners State of Independence study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2019 22% of Independent workers who work full-time as independent workers said they provided goods or services to customers outside the U.S. This us up from 19% in 2018 and just 12% in 2012.
Eat Your Career
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
During my monthly webinars , I often hear a handful of the same questions. A common one goes something like this: “The people I work with think my job is inferior. They look down on me (and my role). How do I get others to value my work more?”. This question hits particularly close to home for administrative professionals. As a proud former admin myself, I know what it’s like to feel that your work isn’t valued.
Practically Perfect PA
JANUARY 3, 2019
Well, that is us in 2019 folks! Happy New Year. Firstly before I start this blog, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Practically Perfect PA readers who are joining us for another year on the blog. We have been going now since 2011, and I can’t wait to see […]. Core Competencies Featured admin administrators assistants Career Competencies EA Executive Assistant Office manager PA Personal Assistant Virtual Assistant
Tips From T. Marie
JUNE 11, 2019
I came across this article on Inc.com that proclaims that hiring a virtual assistant is the best move that entrepreneurs can make. I’ve actually been arguing that fact for years here. The above article was written less than a year ago, which makes it apparent that entrepreneurs still aren’t flocking to the idea, even though it’s been proven to be a successful investment over and over again. Which leaves me wondering why?
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 15, 2019
So, you are a student who loves reading and writing. You write essays, reviews, and stories. It’s not a problem for you to help peers with their academic papers and you are ready to read tons of books on different topics. Wouldn’t it be great to have reading and creative writing the only subjects in school? But here come the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Physics, Economics, Chemistry, and… MATH!
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 11, 2019
Reading a book is as simple as ABC and everyone can pick up a book to read. However, not everyone remembers what they study. In this guide, I am going to reveal to you the best study habits and tips on how to remember more when studying. I have seen a lot of readers who struggle to remember everything they read just a few hours after. Why is that? Simple, they failed to study effectively.
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 10, 2019
Most of the things we do require hard work. Whether it’s our job, relationships, and personal goals, we need to exert effort and work extra hard to get the best results possible. Unfortunately, working hard comes with negative effects. If you have been working hard for an extended period of time, there will come a point where you’ll realize that there’s only so much you can do by working hard. Don’t get me wrong – working hard is important.
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 10, 2019
I remember when I was a young whippersnapper of a kid — no place to be and no dependents to take care of. I was responsible, trustworthy, and intelligent enough to work my way to a comfortable place in whatever job I held at the time. And I was balanced enough to separate work from play and appreciate the benefits of both. I was social enough always to have the choice to accept or turn down plans on my own timeline.
Dumb Little Man
JANUARY 7, 2019
We’ve all been there- staring at a blank screen, throwing endless drafts in the trash, pulling out hair, scrolling through Facebook photos, re-ordering music libraries and even wiping the computer clean. We do anything to pass the time and avoid admitting the painfully obvious – we’ve hit a block. We are the cultivators and sole fuel source of the blocks we experience. Blocks are usually an indication that we’ve taken our focus off of what we want and placed it firmly on what we don’t.
Dumb Little Man
JANUARY 16, 2019
Emotional abuse isn’t the easiest thing to deal with. Compared with physical abuse, it leaves pain that lasts for a longer time. It creates a lot of grief and unhappiness that tend to torture the victim every single day. Emotional abuse happens when the other party erodes your sense of self esteem and literally, has a hold over your mind. Your sense of self worth shrinks so much that you no longer dare to challenge what is being said about you. You believe in their stories.
Dumb Little Man
FEBRUARY 6, 2019
I never had major struggles with my weight, but there was definitely a period of time where I was somewhat out of shape, lazy, unhealthy and unhappy. Not knowing a whole lot about fitness, I just decided to hit the gym and hope for the best. When I started going to the gym, it was all about the cardio. I started running on a treadmill, then started using the rowing machine. Both helped me to tone up some, but I found that I still didn’t feel confident in my health and certainly not my strength.
Small Business Labs
MAY 13, 2019
Deloitte has become, in our opinion, one of the key go-to sources of information and analysis on the future of work. Their recent article Redefining work, workforces, and workplaces is a good example. In a relatively short article, it nicely synthesizes and explains "multiple converging trends and how they are already fundamentally changing all aspects of work."
Eat Your Career
JANUARY 14, 2019
As a proud former administrative professional , I’ve always enjoyed being a part of the admin community. In fact, from the moment I got involved in the field, I wanted to be an admin leader. I felt called to it from day 1. I loved the work and the people, and (even as a total novice) I thought I had something valuable to offer. So, back in 2006, I started a blog for admins called The Executive Assistant’s Toolbox, where I shared tips and tricks for success in the field.
Practically Perfect PA
DECEMBER 9, 2019
It often feels like hierarchy and influence go hand in hand, but the capacity to influence others isn’t exclusively linked to stature and job titles. As an assistant, it may sometimes feel either uncomfortable or even impossible to influence others in the workplace, but it’s not necessarily the case.
Dumb Little Man
AUGUST 14, 2019
We spend a significant portion of our lives sleeping. Recharging, dreaming, and restoring are parts of everyone’s life no matter where you live or who you are. So, why do so many of us struggle with our sleep? And how can we change the way we think about sleep for success? Sleep hacking’ has become a buzzword in the world of startups and entrepreneurship. Essentially, sleep hacking is where you try to streamline your sleeping pattern.
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 24, 2019
Do you ever feel the need to be more productive and organized in order to accomplish much more than what you are doing right now? Time management is one of the most important skills that you need to develop in life. With effective time management, you enable yourself to become more productive at achieving the goals and objectives assigned to you at work. You also get better in achieving the ones you assign to yourself in daily life.
Dumb Little Man
NOVEMBER 29, 2019
So, how did your week go? Tiring? Stressful? Well, we don’t blame you. Almost every other adult in the world is dealing or has dealt with a mental health issue and what adds to their stress, is work. Workplace stress exists and sadly, no efforts are made to address this problem.
Dumb Little Man
AUGUST 9, 2019
What does success mean for you? Here’s an interesting story. In 1983, a young talented guitarist was kicked out of his dream band. He was delirious with joy even just before the manager called him at his office to kick him out. It happened just three days before he was about to record his first album. No reason, no complaints, no fight, just shown the door. For no reason. So, as he sat on the bus from Los Angeles to New York, you know what he did? He cried. What did I do wrong?
Dumb Little Man
MARCH 4, 2019
Most of us want to excel in life, but there’s just one problem. People often rely on what their society has to say when it comes to determining whether they’re succeeding or not. The society in which we grow up determines how we perceive excellence and the goal of getting the very best out of our lives. Some cultures might attribute excellence to a few brilliant, hard-working, exceptional cases.
Dumb Little Man
JANUARY 3, 2019
Putting in work or “hustling” is the most widespread maxim for success in the world of entrepreneurship. But the question is this: Are you really being productive with your time or is your work merely a heightened form of procrastination? The three levels of productivity: The first level of productivity is outright procrastination. It is zero productivity. It’s neglecting your priorities and responsibilities in lieu of the dopamine rush of a Netflix series or a video game.
Dumb Little Man
APRIL 26, 2019
Friends are very important in our lives. If you have a true friend and find love in someone special, then you are one of the luckiest people in the world. Essentially, true friendship is an expression of a type of love. Whether you find friendship in a lover or someone you are just friends with, there may be a time when you question if this person is a true friend or not — and that’s ok. Even well-established relationships need reviewing once in a while.
Dumb Little Man
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
We all know that water is good for us, but the reasons are sometimes a little fuzzy. Even if we know why we should drink water, it’s not a habit that we can easily form. The truth, however, is that we don’t focus enough on this habit. This is why we end up drinking lots of coffee, soda, alcohol, fruit juices, teas, milk, and a bunch of other beverages. And despite all those fluids, we still end up dehydrated which isn’t good for our health.
Small Business Labs
MARCH 14, 2019
As we pointed out earlier this week , firms of all sizes and types are increasing their use of freelancers and other forms of non-employee labor. But as companies become more reliant on external talent, they increasingly need to structure their policies, procedures, and engagement practices in order to be successful in attracting, engaging, and retaining highly skilled independent professionals.
Eat Your Career
JULY 9, 2019
This is the second article in a two-part series on the topic of Professional Development Plans. In the first part of this series, you learned that a professional development plan (or PDP) is a written document used to focus, evaluate and prioritize professional development goals and activities. In this article, you’re going to learn exactly what should be included in a PDP document and the simple 10-step process I use to write a PDP.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 6, 2019
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA Regional General Manager and Administration Assistant to Founders Office – Necker & Moskito Islands, in The British Virgin Islands. I love this interview because it shows how exciting, different, challenging and incredible our profession is! Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA to Regional General Manager and […].
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