3/19/2019 1 Comment March 19th, 2019I am obedient. I do what I am told. I pretty much have always been that way. Why? It minimizes risk. It avoids conflict. It keeps the trains running smoothly. So it’s no surprise that I should be a “secretary,” or as I like to call it an Administrative Assistant (never call me a secretary by the way; those are fighting words). To me, like most children, the question was often posed:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers were always the same. Yes. Answers. I had a list. I would say them proudly and with certainty: “A cooker, a singer, a secretary and a writer.” The answers the adults gave in return are gone from my memory; but my words rang ever true in my ears and somehow, I now am exactly what it is that I said I would be. The secretarial career path fit me. Being a background player, my shy personality, my “go along to get along” attitude. One thing I knew, if I couldn’t do much, I could carry out exactly what you asked me to and in the exact manner that you asked. This is what drove me. This is what made me sign up for keyboarding all three years of middle school. This is what made me study shorthand and only apply for office jobs. This is what I prepared for. I didn’t need a corporate career path anyway because my other dream? To be a famous novelist. Secretarying has been so much a part of my persona, that friends and colleagues have often heard me say that “Anyone could do this job.” Many have assured me that that is far from the truth. However, I can’t see anything else. It was who I was – who I wanted to be – something I believed I could do, so it was something that I did. Couldn’t everyone? I knew I could answer phones, set up calls, arrange meetings, coordinate calendars, cater events, manage offices, keep things running smoothly, file, enter data, type over 60 wpm (words per minute) (I actually type over 85 wpm btw); arrange travel, do expense reports, be someone’s “right hand man”, yes, I could do this. Those duties listed above fit like puzzle pieces into every crevice of who I was; who I had learned and agreed with myself to be. To be this, I didn’t have to step out of my shell and maybe herein lies the difference and the reason why we believe one thing over another: “….I didn’t have to step out of my shell to be this. . .” What shell are you not willing to step out of to become who it is that you desire to be? What places do you know, that even though the desire may exist, you’re unwilling to forge, or even try new paths because of unfamiliarity, for fear of looking like an idiot? **raises and waves hand wildly** “oooh oooh, Me! Me!” There was nothing at risk for me, as I knew it, to become an administrative assistant. There was no new person that I had to become to fill these shoes. After all, wasn’t this what I had prepared for all, if not most, of my life? There was no risk of rejection in this position. I just pass along your query to my boss. There were no corporate presentations to make in front of big bosses. No life-altering decisions to be made about yourself or others. I was not in management even though I work around them and there was somewhat limited responsibility. But I know that I can – and not only can but am CREATED – to play a much bigger game. Maybe that’s why my girlfriend had that response. That is, the one time that I mentioned to a girlfriend of mine that I wanted to be an Executive Assistant when she asked what my ultimate career goal was. Her response, however, I will never forget “Really? That’s it? All you want to be is an Executive Assistant?’ What was wrong with that? I thought. Was that too small? Was there something wrong with being an Executive Assistant? I shrugged it off and didn’t think much about it. It was her opinion after all, and as life would have it – that was in 2003 and 7 years later my “dream” came true when I became the Executive Assistant to the VP/ General Manager at WDIV/Channel 4. To my friend Roberta’s point, my dreams have gotten bigger because I’ve gotten bigger. My internal strength has grown. This past weekend someone told me that I should train other executive assistants. I thought it was a good idea and maybe I’ll consider it but, I have other, BIGGER dreams now. Dreams that I don’t want to be afraid to follow, now that I am comfortable and know what I’m doing as an Executive Administrative Assistant. I’ve landed; now I must climb some more. I have other interests and skills; other things that are just as much a part of me as my secretarial skills are and if there’s anything that I am or am not, it’s because, I haven’t taken any or enough action in a particular area. I haven’t learned to be someone else. The biggest indicator of whether you believe something or not is in your actions. James said it best. Faith without works is dead (James 2 :17 KJV) I became an Executive Assistant because I believed that I was. I trained for it. I spoke about it often. I looked for those jobs because I knew that I was the qualified candidate. As a result, I became better. I did because I believed. This is what believing looks like. It looks like you stepping out into the shoes that you know that you can fit, because you’ve seen yourself in them over and over again. I did because I thought I could. I made mistakes. Now I’m in demand. Now I’m sought after. Now I’m retained I’ve been requested to train others; had other job offers, my bosses have been envied because I work for them. But as I evolve, it comes a time that it’s time to do something else. I remember an ex co-worker of mine who used to hold an executive admin position as well once told me, “Don’t ever get stuck here.” Did she value my job as much as I? Not sure; however, I believe that there was some truth to her words. Don’t stay stuck. Now that you’ve accomplished this – go on and accomplish other things. See how fearfully and wonderfully you’re made, what other skills you can learn and what other impact you can have. I had my “list” for a reason. There was never just one thing that I wanted to be, even in my 5-year old mind, somehow, I knew that even then; and now that I know the science behind believing. I want to apply this strategy for my life over and over again. The sky is the limit What am I believing for now? I’ll address that question by saying that I’ll just let my actions speak louder than my words. ;-) But know this, I’m doing it. I’m willing to show up. I’m believing. It’s scary. It’s uncomfortable. It’s new; but I’m willing to learn how to walk and having one heck of a time while doing it! Happy Living, Chris
1 Comment
Susan
3/25/2019 06:57:30 am
We've had this conversation! I LOVE this.
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