Happy Monday Motivators!
Well, I am extremely motivated as I approach this week as it is our 20th Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence. I am excited to greet attendees from across the United States. Obviously, these are individuals who have committed to a learning event. They have committed to being away from home and their office for 4 or 5 full days. I guarantee they will be better people for doing so. They will learn valuable information from our speakers and their peers.
I have been in the adult education/learning/training business for 22 years, mostly working with administrative professionals of all walks of life. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard an assistant tell me she or he is too busy to attend a class. That is short-term thinking. Anyone can make time to attend a course or event if they make investing in their education important enough. There are hundreds of assistants who make a huge investment in their education and training. You have to value yourself enough to say, “I need to make time for my growth through a scheduled event.” It does not matter if that event is an online course, a live workshop, webinar, or off-site retreat.
Executives and great leaders are always investing in their education. They know it is necessary. So why should an assistant think any differently than the people they support?
Guilt also gets in the way. Even when an assistant or support person takes time to learn, they feel guilty. They also feel like their executive won’t be able to survive without them. Well, that is fine and dandy but will not win them the prize. While it is admirable to worry about your executive or department being taken care of, they will get along without you for a few hours or days. What if you had to have an operation? Or were out sick? Or had some other emergency that kept you out of the office for a week? They would find a way to handle what needs to be done during your absence.
So, don’t short-change yourself. You are worth it. You need to make time for you.
1. This week…. Sign up for something educational! It could be a one day course, an online learning event or whatever. It’s ok if it is for 2014, just make a commitment this week.
2. You could also commit to learning a new language; learning about a foreign client’s culture; improving a technical skill.
3. Select an event or course based on either:
Your gap areas
Your strengths and you want to enhance those even further
6. Do your homework and be selective. There are hundreds of choices today so have a plan and you will feel good about the time you will be investing for that event or course.
Here’s wishing you a good week. Wish you were here at conference with us. It’s going to be mind-stretching. (Be sure to watch this week’s Monday Motivator video on YouTube.)
Joan