Let us begin with a quote from one of the world’s most prominent life coaches: ‘Who you spend time with is who you become’. Yet again, the great Tony Robbins is onto something but in today’s world the formula also applies to our FYP. The people you follow says a lot about you and has more effect on your mindset than you think. Even if you do not proclaim to be a social media addict, choosing the kind of messaging you wish to be subjected to daily can be crucial, especially when you have made the firm decision to thrive in your career as a personal assistant. This list of Links-approved influencers will fill your feed with valuable perspectives, tips, and techniques to propel your PA skills in the right direction. Take and apply what best aligns with your needs and preferences.
Time Management - Tim Ferriss
Time Ferriss has gained a reputation for his exceptional entrepreneurial brain as well as his ability to empower individuals to design their own path of success and fulfilment. If the name does not ring a bell, you might recognise the title of his bestseller, ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’. A couple of PAs reading this now will be thinking – since when does a full-time assistant have the luxury of a 4-hour workweek? And is this gentleman not a better option for individuals aiming to start their own businesses? I would not pencil him off your list too soon! Take a look at the content he shares on his Instagram: These helpful hacks can be adapted and applied by PAs to enhance time management skills and productivity. By leveraging a few of these strategies, admin professionals can optimise their performance and contribute to their executives and their organisations even more effectively. Remember that sometimes broadening your horizons when it comes to mentorship and applying entrepreneurial wisdom to a traditional role can lead to extraordinary results!
Productivity - Marie Kondo
This is another recommendation that is sure to raise a few eyebrows amongst the PAs in this community. Hear us out! This extraordinary woman once took Netflix by storm with her unique approach to tidying and organising. How can we ever forget the iconic ‘KonMari Method’? The concept of tidying by category rather than room and encouraging individuals to only keep items that ‘spark joy’ in their lives. A healthy amount of exposure to her principles can help you organise a harmonious work environment (maybe even an entire office if your role leans into the Office Manager arena) and further increase productivity. And do not forget to incorporate the ‘spark joy’ habit! Why? Master this skill with your own possessions and that habit might extend to your tasks and targets – putting the meaningful work first and letting go of non-essential and low-value tasks.
Happiness - Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is another life coach on this list who made a name for herself with a book and that bestseller is ‘The Happiness Project’. Her success as a writer stem from her ability to communicate complex ideas in the realm of happiness, habits and personal growth and make it accessible to a wide range of people. Let us stop there! Every PA out there needs to be monitoring their overall well-being and happiness level on a regular basis. How can your possibility bring that sparkling energy and performance into the workplace when you are miserable? If you are on the go, you can also tune into her podcast, ‘Happier with Gretchen Rubin’ which can give you that much needed boost for a difficult day. Gretchen also happens to be the mastermind behind the Four Tendencies framework, which can help PAs understand their own motivations and work preferences – a particularly handy tool if you are entering a new job! It is no secret that an enhanced level of self-awareness is crucial when it comes to adapting your approach to your responsibilities, communication and collaboration efforts.
Mindset - Vishen Lakhiani
Have you ever heard of Mindvalley? If not, downloading this app is a must for this late summer period. He is the founder of this extraordinary global educational platform that offers courses and programs from some of the world’s leading individuals in the realm of personal growth including Marissa Peer, Jim Kwik and Dr. Shefali Tsabary. In the event that you will not have much time to explore this option, following Vishen will expose you to his teaching and help PAs develop a growth mindset, think creatively, and align their work with a larger vision, prioritizing well-being, and communicating effectively. Lakhiani is an advocate for clear and open communication so look out for tips on fostering effective communication so you can better understand what is expected of you, anticipate needs, and provide seamless support to your superiors.
