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, Oprah, and Sara – among others).
There are about 1.1 million entrepreneurs in the US who fall into this top 1% earner category.
And, you know what this says to me? Opportunity.
Whether these top entrepreneurs have Executive Assistants or not, this tells me that there are, in theory, 1.1 million Executive Assistant roles either currently filled, being hired for, or will (or should!) be hired soon. And this is just in the entrepreneurship space!
Beside every successful leader is a powerful Force Multiplier.
I don’t think every entrepreneur needs an EA, but every growth-oriented, high achieving, top 1% entrepreneur does.
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.
EAs, if you haven’t considered working with an entrepreneur before, there is no time like the present. Entrepreneurship is expected to grow by 15% worldwide in 2024.
And, entrepreneurs, if you haven’t hired an assistant yet, what are you waiting for?
No, not every business will succeed past year one. But, the likelihood of success increases with a great Force Multiplier.
There are certainly risks to working with an entrepreneur, but I can tell you first-hand, the rewards are worth it.
Hit reply and share your entrepreneur and Executive Assistant story!
How did you connect? What’s working? What challenges do you need help working through?
– Hallie
On the Blog
21 Executive Assistant & Force Multiplier Interview Questions
Ready to hire a Force Multiplier? 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. Here are a few of my favorite interview questions when hiring any right-hand Force Multiplier position.
Weekly Top 5
- Looking to get more eyes on your business – without spending money on ads or a PR firm? Then positioning yourself (or EAs, positioning your Executive) as a thought leader will help build your credibility, your brand, and your business. Download the PR Strategy Guide from Trends today to get started.
- This episode of Modern Wisdom with Dan Martell, entrepreneur and author of Buy Back Your Time was packed with tactical business tips, relationship advice, hiring and leadership insights, and so much more. I particularly loved when Dan said, “… I would sell everything I own to not lose my assistant, Ann. She’s a clone to me.” He gets it. Check out around 58 minutes for Dan’s inbox management process. Great stuff!
- Visionary leaders and growth-minded Force Multipliers rarely lack ideas. And if they are fostering a culture of big thinking, then the company is likely not short on ideas either. But, not all ideas are created equally. Knowing which ideas to nurture and act on is key. Check out HBR’s article, 4 Pillars of Innovation Every Organization Needs, for ways to ensure you are working with high-quality (not just a high quantity of) ideas.
- I couldn’t help but wonder… What questions do you have? What do you need help with? The next time you’re wrapping up a conversation with a team member, presenting to your ELT, or in a 1:1 with your Exec, instead of saying something like, “Do you have any questions?” or “Let me know if you need any help,” try asking an open-ended question. The aforementioned questions encourage a yes or no answer. They can also put the person on the defense. “Of course I don’t need help! I can do it on my own!” or “I don’t want to look stupid. I’ll save my questions for Google.” But, asking “What questions do you have?” or “What can I help with?” immediately gets the brain working to think of something specific and actionable. Better questions lead to better answers. Give it a try in your next meeting
- “Partnership is not a legal contract between two equal individuals. It’s an emotional alliance between two people who are committed to each other’s success.” —Warren Buffet. The Force Multiplier and leader partnership is arguably the most important one in the organization (at least I’ll argue that it is!). Both parties must be willing to invest the time into the relationship, into each other’s success, and be committed to growing, learning, and leading together. This partnership sets the tone for the rest of the company. Ask yourself, what example are you setting for the rest of your team?
