The results of my March 5, 2021 Weekend Poll I asked and, as always, readers stepped forward to voice your experiences and perspectives. With thanks to all who participated, here are the results. Less than one in five envisioned a…
Exceptional EA
a resource for assistants around the globe, from international trainer Shelagh Donnelly
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Life
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: Paris on an early summer evening, with the setting sun casting a golden glow over the Louvre
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Optimistic
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: at the tail end of yesterday’s walk, I came across this wonderful camellia practically shouting happiness against the backdrop of the incredibly blue sky
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Strength
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: Have gentle temperatures reached your community? After a cool start to the month, April has settled in to a warming weather pattern. Here, a wonderful spot to pause and chat, contemplate or read; I caught this shot on a walk yesterday. This bench overlooks Lost Lagoon at Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
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Listen
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: London, England’s Tower Bridge, from my 2019 stay in England
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Clutter
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: earlier this week, one of my posts showed a kitesurfer flying across the waves, with mountains in the background. Here, I stepped back from the water’s edge after taking that shot. Just off the beach, there are cherry trees in blossom even while the mountains across the inlet remain capped in snow.
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Time
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: I had an early morning Teams conversation with a London, England PA today. That naturally led me to think about my last visit to her city, back in 2019. It’s now become a given that any of my stays in London will include a visit to nearby Richmond Park, home to miles of walking paths as well as deer and wonderful gardens. On my 2019 visit, I walked from Isabella Plantation to Pembroke Lodge, seen here with wisteria draping the entrance. This Georgian mansion has wonderful views over the Thames to London and toward Windsor, and has a storied history – including being home to a regiment during WWII.
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Lucia Landini: Insights from Italy
For this week’s Real Careers interview, I’m talking with Lucia Landini. Lucia is PA to the Senior Country Manager (SCM) and EA to Coverage and M&A, Natixis SA Milan. A member of the Secretary.IT network, Lucia studied foreign languages (English,…
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Coming up in Real Careers: Assistants from Italy, Denmark and India
I’m delighted to share word of some of my upcoming Real Careers interviews, beginning tomorrow with Italy’s Lucia Landini. Wed, April 7: Lucia Landini of Itally Wed, April 21: Ulla Vennervald Nielsen of Denmark Wed, May 5: Amanda Bagga of…
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Daring
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: we’ve had gorgeous weather lately. On Easter Sunday, we were at Locarno Beach, and kitesurfers and windboarders had wonderful, windy conditions.
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Hope
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: How was your Easter? We had a beautiful day, which called for a long walk. I shared this photo with friends yesterday, and one – Corinne – suggested I title it “Fresh Hope”.
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Chocolate
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: That is not a massive chocolate rabbit I positioned by the logs of Locarno Beach. It’s a real rabbit who unintentionally posed for me one day last week, with the beach and our North Shore mountains in the background … almost as though it wanted to help me convey these good wishes!
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April
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: spring is blossoming all around us, and Vancouver’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival is underway.
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Look
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: Sligachan Old Bridge, on the wonderful Isle of Skye in Scotland. It’s three years ago this week since I visited, and I’m keen to return to this achingly beautiful part of the world.
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Balance
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: crocuses lifting toward the sun
About Shelagh
A highly regarded speaker and trainer, Shelagh Donnelly walked the walk for almost three decades. She’s authentic, inspiring and positive. When you hear Shelagh speak, you know she understands the career and has good insights on its ongoing evolution. She…
Webinars with Shelagh
Meetings, technology, communications, governance and much more The best assistants are always learning, through experience and by engaging in professional development. While plans for a number of conferences and other in-person learning opportunities have been postponed, that needn’t put a…
For training and event planners
Helping you adapt as new norms continue to take shape As assistants and employers rebuild on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to focus on professional development that reflects evolving norms and needs. More than ever, it’s critical…
Weekend Polls - where assistants around the globe have their say
Weekend Poll: Did You Plan to Become An Assistant?
This poll is now closed. Please check back for Shelagh’s report on the results. … and how do you feel now about that career choice? Are you glad you’re in this career? These are among the questions we’re examining in…
A year into the pandemic: what and how we’re doing
Optimism amid limitations I saw a celebratory post this week, published by one of my Australian clients, the Melbourne EA Group (MEAG). Carmel Bond and members marked their first face to face networking event in 12 months. In other countries,…
Life
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: Paris on an early summer evening, with the setting sun casting a golden glow over the Louvre
Optimistic
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: at the tail end of yesterday’s walk, I came across this wonderful camellia practically shouting happiness against the backdrop of the incredibly blue sky
Strength
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: Have gentle temperatures reached your community? After a cool start to the month, April has settled in to a warming weather pattern. Here, a wonderful spot to pause and chat, contemplate or read; I caught this shot on a walk yesterday. This bench overlooks Lost Lagoon at Vancouver’s Stanley Park.