In this edition:
- Thursday Thoughts – Before You Say Yes to an Entrepreneur…
- Weekly Top 5 – Elevate Admins, 30 Days to Reinvent Your Life, 40s Are Prime Time, Don’t Only Network Up, & EA Campus Masterclasses
- Language of Business Series – Customer Service & Sales
- Reading Recommendations – To Sell Is Human, Giftology, Be Our Guest
THURSDAY THOUGHTS
Working as the right-hand partner to an entrepreneur or small business owner often means that you wear ALL the hats. You aren’t just an Executive Assistant – you are also the marketing manager, director of operations, office manager, HR generalist, bookkeeper, property manager, personal assistant, PR & communications manager, community manager, and more.
And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing…
If you want a crash course in learning how to run or grow a business… then find a Force Multiplier role to a founder, small business owner or solopreneur.
But working with a self-funded, growth-minded founder is not for the faint of heart. These leaders often blur the line between personal and professional. They move fast, change direction often, and thrive on vision, not structure.
The entrepreneurs I’m referring to aren’t running massive VC-backed startups or planning their IPO exit strategy. Instead, they’re building lean, agile, purpose-driven businesses that prioritize lifestyle, legacy, and long-term autonomy. Think multi-six or seven-figure earners leading small but mighty teams where every decision counts and every team member carries real weight.
Before you say yes to a role like this, you need to know what you’re really signing up for. Because while the work can be exhilarating, it also demands an appetite for ambiguity, a high tolerance for chaos, and a willingness to grow as fast as the business does.
Keep reading for 7 things to consider before working with an entrepreneur.
WEEKLY TOP 5
- A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of chatting with Chrissy Scivicque, Corporate Trainer, Public Speaker, and Founder of Eat Your Career. She has devoted her career to helping others achieve success in theirs. Chrissy is the real deal! Oh, and she’s also the author of several books for administrative professionals, including Elevate Admins: How to Raise the Bar and Achieve Excellence in Your Administrative Career. As you know, we are in the midst of the next admin evolution and, inevitably, only the fittest will survive. If you don’t want to get left behind, you must continuously ELEVATE. This book offers the tools you need to not only meet the ever-expanding demands of the admin role, but to establish yourself as a peak performer in this increasingly competitive field.
- Does it really only take 30 days to reinvent your life? Sahil Bloom thinks so! Regardless of age or life stage, reinvention is possible. Check out Sahil’s four step guide to change your life. It’s never too late. But you do need to be willing to do the work. Get started here.
- Speaking of it never being too late… The Wall Street Journal is working on a rebrand for middle age. They assert that 40s are no longer middle age. In fact, why not start calling it “prime time”!? I like it. There are a few factors at play here. First, we’re living longer than ever. And secondly, many of the traditional milestones such as homeownership, career, and children are happening later in life due to a variety of reasons. Inspiring article to help you reframe your 40s. Though any age can be powerful. It’s what we do with the time that we’re given that counts!
- Networking is so important for ambitious professionals. But we can’t rely solely on networking up to senior leaders and influential executives. Building relationships with colleagues throughout the organization at all levels is just as important for aspiring leaders. Read more from Harvard Business Review here.
- Classes are in session! Looking for some great training for Executive Assistants and administrative professionals? Then check out The EA Campus Masterclass options. Over the next few months you can find classes on Google NotebookLM, Copilot for Email and Task Management, Gemini Gems, AI for EAs and more.
LANGUAGE OF BUSINESS SERIES – CUSTOMER SERVICE & SALES
- Elevate Group Conversations with a “Magical Question” – Founders and Force Multipliers know that better conversations lead to better decisions. Priya Parker shares how asking “magical questions” can move conversations beyond surface-level networking to build trust, uncover insights, and strengthen relationships with clients, candidates, partners, and teammates. Quick 20 minute listen!
- Customers vs. Clients: The Difference and Why It Matters – One of the most expensive mistakes a business can make is treating every account like a long-term client. This article challenges you to identify which relationships deserve white-glove service, where resources are being overextended, and how to build a business around loyal clients instead of constantly chasing the next customer.
- 5 Essentials Sales Reps Need to Know About Your Business – Great salespeople (and I would argue great leaders and Force Multipliers!) don’t just understand what they’re selling, but how the business makes money, who the ideal customer is, and where profit comes from. This article is a great reminder that business acumen (not just product knowledge) is what creates better sales decisions and stronger long-term growth.
- What You’re Getting Wrong About Sales – Bestselling author and entrepreneur Daniel Priestley dives deep into the misconceptions that hold people back in sales. From breaking outdated myths to practical strategies for building influence and trust, this conversation will change the way you think about selling forever. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this is your chance to learn from one of the best in the business.
- Zoho Desk – Exceptional Software for Effortless Customer Service – If you’re researching and vetting customer support platforms, then add Zoho Desk to your list. Zoho Desk helps businesses organize, manage, and respond to customer inquiries across email, chat, phone, social media, and web forms from one central place. It streamlines support with ticket tracking, automation, knowledge bases, AI-powered assistance, and reporting, making it easier for teams to deliver faster, more consistent customer service.
READING RECOMMENDATIONS
- To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink | One in nine Americans works in sales. But so do the other eight. Whether we’re employees pitching colleagues on a new idea, entrepreneurs enticing funders to invest, or parents and teachers cajoling children to study, we spend our days trying to move others. Like it or not, we’re all in sales now. To Sell Is Human offers a fresh look at the art and science of selling.
- Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention by John Ruhlin | Giftology argues that thoughtful, strategic generosity is one of the most overlooked ways to build stronger business relationships and drive referrals. Instead of using gifts as a marketing tactic or holiday obligation, the book shows how meaningful giving can deepen loyalty, differentiate your business, and create long-term advocates who help grow your company.
- Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service by The Disney Institute | Whether they are called clients, customers, constituents, or, in Disney-speak, guests, all organizations must best serve the people who purchase their products and services or risk losing them. Now, for the first time, one critical element of the methods behind the magic that is the Walt Disney World Resort-quality service-is revealed in Be Our Guest. Exceeding expectations rather than simply satisfying them is the cornerstone of the Disney approach to customer service. Get inspired to create magic in your own company!
“When people ask me how I succeed, my basic answer is always the same: I see a unique opportunity, and I go for it with everything I have. And I never give up.”
Stephen Schwarzman
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Understanding the language of business is essential for the Force Multipliers of the future–whether you’re committed to a career as a right-hand partner or plan to move from employee to self-employed.
When someone understands the language of business, they can connect their work to: revenue, profitability, growth, efficiency, risk, priorities, customer experience, organizational goals, and strategic tradeoffs. We aren’t talking about memorizing corporate jargon here! But we are talking about understanding how businesses function, what leaders care about, how decisions get made, and how work impacts the bigger picture.
For the rest of the year, each newsletter issue will focus on one key area of business fluency: financial literacy, customers & sales, marketing & brand, strategy & decision making, operations, people & organizational dynamics, and leadership.
From articles and podcasts, to book recommendations, courses and conferences, and insights and advice, we’ll dive into one key topic each month.
Business fluency changes the way you see your role, your leadership potential, and the opportunities available to you. And who doesn’t want that!? Subscribe today!
