Administrative professionals, hats off to you!

Did you know today is Administrative Professionals Day?  It is!

Yesterday my boss gave me a lovely bouquet of lilacs for my birthday which always falls around this other holiday.  I choose to see this gift as recognition of both.  After all, I deserve to be recognized for all the pain I go through!  So here's a post for the unsung heroes...


Dear Executives of the World,

There is a person or a few people in your office that deserve to be recognized.  I'm talking about your administrative staff.  Too often, these folks function beyond their job description and are the first line of defense against the world of customers.  They also help to make the little mundane tasks go away so that you can focus on "more important things".  Without this administrative element, your office would more than likely cease to function like the well-oiled machine it is.

All I ask is that every year you recognize that person or people on this one national holiday.  It is your responsibility to remember that date.  Put it on your personal calendar so as to remind you to get them something in honor of the work they have done for you.  Your appreciation will go far as we all know, if your staff is happy, you are happy.

Beth, Office Manager Extraordinaire



My dears, let's hear it for the administrative professionals!

I'm talking about the people that...

• mindlessly stuff envelopes for a mailing
• field phone calls of really pissed clients and effectively talk them down off the wall before they grace your ear
• manage the billing and often take the heat when charges are called into question (charges that would never be questioned elsewhere)
• wear multiple hats, managing to do jobs they weren't initially trained for while still being paid the small amount of the lowly assistant
• make miracles happen with schedules to make meetings and other priorities happen
• pick up your children and gas up your car when you can't
• fetch food for you so that you can remain nourished

And last but not least.... (drumroll please)

• pick cheese off of a salad that was fetched for you because, unbeknownst to the assistant, your mind should have been read and cheese should have been requested to not be included.  This is picking off fine cheese on a salad after being yelled at for not having the gift of ESP that most people don't have.

Oh yes, that happened.

See kids, this is why these helpful individuals need recognition.  So help a gal out and spread the Admin Pro Day cheer!  The person who receives it will be forever grateful.