Explore Hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant



Athena Executive Services

About Us

Services + Pricing

The Productivity Blog

Case Studies

Delegation 101

For Financial Advisors

Schedule a Free Consultation

Client Testimonials

Executive Case Study

Contact

Let’s Connect

Job Opportunities

Speaking

Privacy Policy

The Joy Of Not Being Accountable

Jul 21, 2021 | About Athena, Accountability, Delegation, Productivity

A few weeks ago I wrote this blog on how I was preparing to completely relax and recharge on my upcoming vacation. Well… I did it! I did the real work and it paid off. The Operations Manager at Athena, Jennifer Tracy, was a Rockstar. It wasn’t all smooth sailing while I was gone, and she did really well with the challenges that came at her. She didn’t shy away from them, or say, “We’ll wait until Gina returns from vacation and sort that out.” She kept moving all things forward.

I read NO email while on vacation for 10 days. None. I pushed my email app off of my home screen, so that I’d have to be a real culprit and go digging for it if I wanted to read my email. I managed to not be a culprit.

When I returned from vacation, Jennifer and I debriefed. This is when you learn the real strength of your people. I said to her, “Ok, start with the worst stuff first.” She did and it turns out he “worst” wasn’t that bad, partly because she knows better than to let issues fester. She swoops in, rolls up her sleeves and takes action to get things resolved quickly. Hallelujah!

Why am I so adamant about turning everything over so thoroughly when I go on vacation? Why not just check my phone a little bit each day? What I have discovered is that the most rejuvenating and re-fueling and nurturing part of time off or vacation, is not the location you’re going to, or what you do or don’t do while on vacation, but rather that you have the opportunity to not be accountable for your usual work and projects, for a period of days. That is what allows me to mentally, physically and emotionally recharge – the lack of accountability, more so than the pina colada on the pool deck (and that’s cool too!).

The more you “give” in life and the more you provide for others, the more you need to recharge, and knowing how to recharge is critical.

Would you like to know my specific tips and ideas for crafting your own time away from the office with intention? I share this and more in our latest newsletter. I personally write our newsletter on topics such as Life Balance, Working Values, Delegation, Remote Teams, Effectiveness and the latest on what’s happening at Athena.

Subscribe Today!   

~Gina Cotner, CEO

 

Time Management Tips

Jul 12, 2021 | Business, Delegation, Productivity, Remote Work

Why do some people seem to get so much more done with their time than others? What is the secret to managing your time effectively? There are many answers that are unique to everyone on this topic, but we did find a handy guide about this all-important productivity skill.

Check out this Ultimate Guide on Time Management, via AsianEfficiency.com. There are some great tips!

Do you have a particular method of getting things done efficiently that is working well for you? Please share!

 

‘Building Your Band’ With An Executive Assistant

Jun 24, 2021 | Accountability, Business, Delegation, Financial Advisor, Getting Started with an EA, Podcast Appearance, Productivity, Remote Work

Athena Executive Services Contractor, Christina Miser, was recently interviewed by her executive, Gabe Nelson, on his podcast “Solopreneur Money” .

Christina and Gabe discuss the tasks that a ‘band manager’ (aka executive assistant) can do, and creating a true partnership with your EA.

Listen Here

Doing the work to be on a real vacation

Jun 9, 2021 | Business, Delegation, Productivity

My trip to Hawaii is looming. Looming? I mean, “Yea! I’m traveling again!” but it’s all coming back to me now, the work it takes to have a real vacation. It’s really worth it and it takes work. It’s now June 9. I leave June 29. I’ll be gone for 10 days. If I want a real vacation, I have many things to turn over in the different areas of my life. All the projects, responsibilities, management, etc. that I tend to each week.

What do I mean by a real vacation? I mean one where you are not required in the areas of your usual, day-to-day life. Vacation comes from the word Vacate. By a real vacation, I mean one where you have done the work to set up your life to be able to vacate it. Vacate it?

 

 

 

 

 

A real vacation is going to happen when I have set up my company, my passion projects, and the groups I’m a part of. When I’ve set them up to be “deprived of an incumbent”. That incumbent is me! I will not be “occupying” my roles for 10 days.

Now, you could just dump and run. You could just set the auto-responder and call a few people and say, “I’m going on vacation. I’ll be back July 10.” And you could then return to a mess.

Part of going on a real vacation is that when I’m there, I don’t have to be worried about returning to a mess. I don’t have to be snorkeling while pondering “I sure hope it doesn’t all fall apart while I’m gone.” I don’t have to be in the outdoor massage cabana with the ocean in the background while hoping the invoicing goes well and wondering if there’s money in the right account for payroll. This freedom is the payoff of the work I’ll do over the next 20 days.

I’m starting my list of what needs to be turned over and to whom. Who will cover the different bases? What do I need them to do while I’m away? How do I need them to do it? If they have questions, or get into the weeds with it, who is a resource they could turn to (that is not me!)? What do I need from them when I return, so that I’m set up for a smooth re-entry?

So, my trip to Hawaii is looming. There is snorkeling, sundresses, lazing in the sun, and homemade banana bread with lilikoi cream cheese from a small farmer’s market in my future.

When is your next vacation? What’s the work you need to do to have that be a Real Vacation?

 

 

 

The Art of Productivity

May 26, 2021 | Business, Delegation, Productivity

Being productive takes planning, and energy. We have all put off those things that we really wanted or needed to do!

We recently read a fantastic blog post about how time, energy and attention are all at the core of being more productive, and the importance of daily rituals.

Do you have a daily routine that helps you stay on task and gives your energy?

Read more via AsianEfficiency.com