Business Acumen for Executive Assistants: Why It Matters and How to Build It
When Executive Assistants and other Force Multipliers ask me how they can become a stronger strategic business partner to their Principal and leadership team, one of the first things we talk about is business acumen. And no, it’s not just a buzzword for CEOs or MBAs. Developing business acumen is one of the most effective […]
The White House Chief of Staff, Not Everyone Wants a Promotion, & Getting Ready for a Career Pivot
Did you know that I actually modeled my role as Chief of Staff after the White House Chief of Staff? When I moved into the role around 2013, there were very few resources available outside of military and government Chief of Staff examples, so I used what I could find and adapted it to the […]
Shower Thoughts, Let Me Know How I Can Help, Chief of Staff to CEO, Fall in Love With the Problem, and More
Have you ever noticed how most of our best ideas and insights come to us while we’re in the shower? Or maybe while we’re on a walk or folding laundry. Shower thoughts, defined, “as a sudden idea that occurs to a person during an unconnected mundane activity” are aptly named. My shower thoughts aren’t always brilliant […]
The Executive Assistant Flex: Why Are EAs Expected to Flex “Up”, but Chiefs of Staff Never Flex “Down”?
Here’s something for you to think about this week: Why are Executive Assistants often expected to flex “up”, but Chiefs of Staff are never asked (and in fact, are usually encouraged not) to flex “down”? I mean, we hear it all the time: Chiefs of Staff (CoS) are “strategic” and “operational leaders,” while Executive Assistants […]
Learning the Hard Way, 100 Tips to Organize Your Life, Owning Your Career, Book of the Week & More
Alex Hormozi, Founder of Acquisition.com sold one of his other companies, Gym Launch, for $46.2 million. Today, let’s take a minute to learn from someone who’s gone before us in business (very successfully I might add). And, per usual, these lessons apply to founders, leaders, CEOs, and Force Multipliers and executive support professionals. Here are the 7 lessons that […]
Hurricane Relief, 1 Year After Quitting My Job, & 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
Like so many others across the United States, I’ve been glued to the news and social media watching the destruction of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton wreak havoc on communities. The Southeast was devastated by Helene just weeks ago and recovery efforts are still underway (and will undoubtedly be for months to come). Hurricane Milton […]
100 Day Countdown, Earning Respect, & The Force Multiplier Mindset
On Monday, September 23, there will be 100 days left in 2024. I don’t know about you, but this makes me both terrified that I don’t have enough time to accomplish everything I want to and relieved that I still have so many days left in the year. The reality is,100 days is plenty of […]
Every Entrepreneur Needs a Force Multiplier, 21 Force Multiplier Interview Q’s & 4 Pillars of Innovation
Let’s look at some numbers. There are approximately 31 million entrepreneurs in the United States (and 582 million globally). On average, entrepreneurs earn between $50,000 – $75,000 a year. But, we’re not average here. The top 1% of entrepreneurs earn $390,000 or more. And, of course there are the top 0.1% (I’m looking at you Elon, Mark, […]
21 Executive Assistant or Force Multiplier Interview Questions
You’re ready to hire an Executive Assistant. Congratulations and smart move! A great Executive Assistant is an invaluable asset, helping you clarify your thinking, organize and implement your projects and priorities, maximize your impact, and give you time back in your day to focus on what matters most to you. If you’re still debating whether […]
Heartsaver You’ve Got the Best of Me, Why Aren’t You Delegating?, & Founder Mode Debate
Did you know that if performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out of hospital cardiac arrest? In my opinion, CPR training should be mandatory. No, thankfully, I didn’t have to use compressions or an AED (automated external defibrillator) on anyone over the weekend, but if I had to, I now could […]
Delegate or Die – Why Entrepreneurs & Force Multipliers Must Start Delegating Today
It’s very rare that my husband and I find a TV series that we agree on. In our twenty years together, I can count on one hand the shows that we’ve actually sat down and watched together. They are, in no particular order, Turn: Washington Spies, Hunting Hitler, Outlander, Hell on Wheels, and The Last […]
Stop Auditing, Force Multipliers vs. Integrators, & The Challenges of Entrepreneurship
When you hear the word “audit” do you immediately get a bit tense and start thinking that the IRS is coming for you? Yeah. Me too. And, yet, one of the first things that many Chiefs of Staff and Force Multipliers set out to do in their first 30 days on the job is audit […]
What is the Difference Between Force Multipliers and Integrators?
If you’re an entrepreneur or building a career in an entrepreneurial environment, then you have likely come across the terms Force Multiplier and Integrator. While these roles are similar, in that they both work closely with a Visionary leader, they are not interchangeable. There are some key differences that are helpful to explore whether you […]
200% Life, Partnership Quotes, Managing EA Teams
And just like that… I’m back on The 200% Life podcast with Adam. I know, I know… I just couldn’t stay away! What can I say, I love having interesting conversations with other leaders! For those of you who are new(ish) to The Inner Circle and The Founder & The Force Multiplier, for the past decade […]
Zach Bryan, Chief of Staff Mistakes, & Talking About Force Multipliers with Jasmine Star
Last week, the week I had been waiting for finally arrived… I got to see Zach Bryan perform at Gillette Stadium! I discovered his music around this time last year as I was beginning my transition out of my 13+ year partnership as Adam’s Chief of Staff. Zach’s music carried me through the fall and winter when […]
The Power of Prosocial Skills for Leaders & Force Multipliers
In his book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, organizational psychologist and New York Times Bestselling author, Adam Grant, talks about the importance of prosocial skills in the workplace. Grant writes, “Prosocial skills are the glue that transforms groups into teams.” Grant even goes on to assert that we should choose leaders with […]
Choose Courage Over Confidence For Long-Term Success
You know what we don’t talk about enough in business? Courage. One of the biggest myths about successful individuals is that they are inherently confident. Que all the imagery in magazines, on tv, and online of confident people leading teams, commanding crowds, breaking down doors, power posing on rooftops, interviewing world leaders, captivating audiences of […]
How to Motivate an Unmotivated Leader
Listen to our podcast episode about this topic here: I recently received a question from an assistant at Meta. She wrote: “While reading your book I kept thinking that it would be nice to have an executive who was motivated and promoted growth. So how we can help a CEO who is on autopilot? I […]
Are You Delegating Problems or Are You Delegating Tasks?
Why do leaders hire Force Multipliers? Because entrepreneurs and leaders want (and need) more time back in their day in order to focus on growth and revenue generating activities or simply to experience more time freedom. But those relationships don’t always work out. Leaders often make a hire and then wonder why they feel like […]
The Next Evolution of The Founder & The Force Multiplier
Late last week, I became the proud owner of The Founder & The Force Multiplier. It feels incredibly appropriate, poetic even, to be making this announcement during Administrative Professionals Week. I’ve been an assistant and force multiplier since my first job fresh out of college as a non-profit public relations assistant until my recent departure from […]
How to Improve Your Leadership Skills By Asking Better Questions
Leaders don’t have many tasks on their to-do lists. Their responsibilities are few in quantity, but large in scope and impact. A leader’s job impacts the organization, the team, stakeholders, clients, customers, and sometimes, entire industries. Leadership is about making a few high-quality decisions each day, while continuously casting your vision and keeping your team […]
13 Books Every Founder (or Executive) Should Read
Thousands of business books are published each year, spanning topics from entrepreneurship to management, finance, marketing, and leadership, and more. Approximately 81 million business and economics category print books were sold in 2021 alone. With so many options out there, from classics like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill to relative newcomers like James […]
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Communication in the C-Suite
Effective communication sets the great leaders and Force Multipliers apart from the average. Part of effective communication is being strategic about which forms of communication you use—specifically synchronous versus asynchronous communication. The Difference Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Synchronous Communication Synchronous communication is scheduled, real-time interactions, usually done by phone, video conference calls, or in-person. […]
Should an Executive Assistant Be Part of the Leadership Team?
Listen to our podcast episode about this topic here: I find it interesting that on most organizational charts, the Executive Assistant and/or Chief of Staff are always hanging out on the side by themselves. They don’t necessarily have any direct reports, nor are they a part of any one business function (that is, except for […]