A few years ago, I was pondering what I wanted to do for a milestone birthday. My birthday is in February, where it is dark and cold where I live. I postponed the celebration to August. One of the most beautiful areas of the world in August is the Pacific Northwest, and particularly the Puget Sound.

My plan involved my bucketlist dream of chartering a yacht and traveling up to, and around the San Juan islands for a week. (I could not even say that with a straight face six months ago. That is way too highfalutin for me!  Thus it being a bucket list item.)

Thank goodness for my EA! She did all kinds of research and together we learned a whole lot about chartering boats (and eating oysters and catching crabs in the San Juan islands). 

The trip was stunning in many ways, but what was most remarkable for me and surprised me the most, was our captain. I kept finding myself in awe of all that he had to do and handle, and how graceful and amazing he was in the process, with anything and everything that came up. As I watched him work for us each day, I thought of all of the high-caliber executive assistants out there.

I made some requests around the itinerary, as there were a few key places that I wanted to visit. But I had no idea what I was really asking for until I watched it play out. I didn’t know that I was asking to go places where the timing of the current and the tides would be difficult!

I didn’t know there were swirling currents and tricky tides at Deception Pass. I just wanted to go under the Deception Pass bridge.

In many cases I did not know what I was asking for, and day by day as I watched it play out, I was amazed and frankly almost moved to tears by the situation. What situation? The situation where every day this captain (Captain Dick was his name) thought through so many details (tides, currents, weather, moorage, fuel, places to eat, etc.) all with a smile on his face and consistently tending to the happiness of the guests on board. Walking past me while he was going from the bow up to the fly bridge (yep, I have boat lingo now) he would pause and say, “Are you having a nice birthday Gina?”

The picture of the paddling duck feet underwater comes to mind. Gliding on top. Rapid kicking under water. Much like the life of a high caliber Executive Assistant.

Captain Dick was always striving to get the best for us. The best what? (Again, things I would never have thought of.) The best moorage slip at a very popular resort Marina. The best crab. (He caught us five large Dungeness crab! What?!) Anchoring in the best cove to watch the sun set and to watch the big glowing full moon rise in the sky. (Like I said, moved to tears at times by this man’s desire for excellence for his guests and clients.)

Of course, things never went 100% according to plan, and yet he pivoted, adapted, and adjusted with grace and calm. And continued to ask, “Are you having a nice birthday Gina?” I was amazed!

I hope you all one day get to experience a Captain Dick, or a high-caliber Executive Assistant in your life. Someone who has your back and will help you navigate tricky currents, tide tables, approaching fog banks and water depths that might be too shallow for the boat you find yourself in. Allow yourself to be contributed to by people who are masters of their craft and love to be of service. There’s nothing like it!

Gina Cotner, CEO

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