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The Humbling Power of Learning Something New

Jun 29, 2022 | About Athena, Accountability, Business, Mental Health, Productivity, Uncategorized

There is something special about coming together with people in your community, and I’ve discovered it’s even more rewarding to meet your neighbors on a sport court for some friendly and fierce competition. I’ve written about my recent Pickleball obsession, but I’d like to dig a little deeper on the power of learning something new alongside your community.  

Because it is a community sport, you never know who you’ll meet up with on the Pickleball court. You may play a match against a six-figure CEO, or partner up with an amazing tradesperson, teacher, or bartender. You really have no idea who has accomplished what in their lives – you are all just there to play the great equalizing game of Pickleball!

It’s no secret that learning something new is good for your brain. Adding a new skill to your “arsenal of knowledge” is a powerful mind/body benefit. I’ve reached a level of success in my professional life that I’m proud of. It has been humbling to start learning a sport as a complete novice and have to push myself in new ways to grow as a Pickleball player.

As I’ve improved, I’ve had to ask myself…am I just here to have fun? Or do I really want to improve? The way I am wired, I want to keep getting better. There certainly are some days that are frustrating!  But I have decided that it is more than just a cardio workout so that I can have cookies and milk at the end of the day (which I love). It is something I want to learn to do at a high level and be successful at. 

This particular new hobby has also forced me to tend to my body like I haven’t before. I’ve played for almost a year but have just started being more mindful of taking care of my body. There is the warm-up and a cool-down, which need to be tailored to different climates. I have invested in purposeful stretching, recovery creams, and a massage gun. I am investing in my health so I can play again tomorrow! All of this has come along with the challenge of learning something new.  

~Gina Cotner

Fitting fun and self-care into a busy schedule

Apr 5, 2022 | Accountability, Delegation, Mental Health, Productivity, Uncategorized

I don’t have time for Yoga. I don’t have time to learn Pickleball. I don’t have time to see my parents. I don’t have time for a lunch date with a friend. Someday when I have more time, I’ll be one of those people.

Is that you, or something like you? Some weeks, is this the case? It was for me, for a long time.

There may be many ways to solve this issue. I’ll share with you what made the biggest difference for me .

First it has to be an issue or a problem for you. Not visiting your parents, or not taking time to talk to them has to first become an issue for you. Your current level of fitness or health has to occur for you like an issue, or a problem that you’re out to solve.

(Side note: If you’re 50+ I recommend this book to motivate you about fitness over your next 30 years: Younger Next Year.)

Once you’re committed, once you see something as a problem that you’re out to solve, then what? How to get things that feed your mind or body into your schedule. Your calendar is full. There are only 24 hours in a day.

What to do? SCHEDULE IT & HONOR IT

Put it in your calendar. That thing that you “don’t have time to do” that would really feed you – SCHEDULE IT in your calendar. Your schedule may be so full that you can’t see a space in your schedule to put it for a few weeks. That’s fine. For example you may schedule yourself to go for a walk for 30 minutes every day, starting 2 weeks from now.

Now, here’s the key. HONOR IT. Work around it. When someone asks if you’re available at 3pm on Tuesday and you are going to go for a walk then, you say, “I’m not available then, how about Wednesday at 10am?” You do not need to say anything more than “I’m not available then.”

If you schedule it and honor it, here are some discoveries you may have:

• You can do that 60 minute meeting in 30 minutes
• You can talk to that co-worker, staff person or friend while you’re going for a walk
• You can not always be the one to raise your hand and say, “Sure I’ll do that.”
• You can delegate more and allow those around you to contribute to you more

Once you start honoring the items in your schedule that feed and nurture your mind, body or spirit, you will find that you have more energy for the rest of life. You will find that who is now working, attending meetings, making sales calls, or making dinner is a much happier, more effective human being. You will get better at producing results with less time and less effort.

Gina Cotner, CEO

 

 

 

 

Alone Time is Quality Time

Jan 13, 2022 | About Athena, Accountability, Business, Mental Health, Productivity, Remote Work, Uncategorized

I need to be alone sometimes. I’m not mad. I’m not upset. It’s just one way that I refuel and rejuvenate. Once an only-child, always an only-child. And I think when you’re a Gen X only-child, that somehow makes you even more independent and seeking some alone time. Every afternoon like a good Gen X latchkey kid I had a couple of hours after school to myself. Sometimes I went to a friend’s house or there was soccer practice, but those couple of hours with Happy Days, Scooby Doo and Brady Bunch were fabulous! Never mind the graham crackers and orange juice snack I made myself.

I often came home to a list that mom had made in the morning before she went to work, of things I needed to do after school. Mostly likely defrost protein and other prep work for dinner. Then there were my general chores: bring in the mail, walk the dog, etc. But the name of the game was to do all that as fast as possible, so I could chill out in front of our 13” portable black and white TV that I moved all over the house.

This is a long way of saying, alone time can be very rejuvenating. I’m heading down to my place in Pismo Beach, CA next week by myself for a week. (Thank you awesome life partner John for having that be ok for you and your life.) I know other CEOs who rent a local AirBnB for a day or two just to hole-up and have quiet time in a different environment to think about, ponder and work on the future of their company.

There’s a lot less to think about and coordinate when it’s just you. That means more brain power can go to other areas of life that need your attention, creativity and focus. I encourage you to give it a try!

Invest in your talent

Dec 3, 2021 | About Athena, Accountability, Business, Delegation, Getting Started with an EA, Remote Work, Uncategorized

We have always been a virtual company. Our team of high-caliber, high-performing Virtual Executive Assistants are located all across the United States.

Working from home is a benefit and advantage for our contractors. However, this doesn’t mean they are working alone! Our team of virtual Executive Assistants stay connected via monthly strategy meetings and regular check-ins with leadership. This continuous investment in our team is so important, and is one of the many reasons we are thriving.

This article offers some fantastic insights on why ongoing training and mentoring is so important, especially in this current hiring climate. We couldn’t agree more!

“Companies are caught in the middle of a talent reshuffle right now, and the time has come to start thinking about how to support aspirations for career development.”

“Once you help your team members hone their respective skill sets, build their knowledge base, and grow professionally, you aren’t just attaining and retaining top talent—you’re building an environment where people can thrive.”

Read more on Forbes.com

 

 

Giving Thanks

Nov 23, 2021 | About Athena, Accountability, Business, Mental Health, Remote Work, Uncategorized

This is the time of year that giving thanks is truly celebrated, and we have so much to be grateful for!

  • We are deeply thankful for everyone on the Athena Executive Services Team, both past and present.
  • We are especially thankful for every client we have ever had (even the few we have fired, who taught us a lot!)
  • Thankful to have been in business over 5 years.
  • Thankful that 2020 was only a dip for the business, followed by a rapid recovery.
  • Thankful that our firm is the biggest it has ever been (no matter which yardstick you want to use).
  • Thankful that we’ve discovered what our Superpowers really are here at Athena.
  • Thankful to be distinct and unique within the vast Virtual Assistant industry.
  • Thankful to never have posted a job advertisement for people to apply to work for us.
  • Thankful for what we Value here at Athena Executive Services:

• Confidentiality, Discretion & Security
• Responsibility
• Being Peaceful
• Being of Service
• Being Efficient
• Creativity

 

 

 

Thriving during times of crisis

Oct 28, 2021 | Accountability, Business, Delegation, Mental Health, Productivity, Remote Work

“If ever there were a time when executives must call on the full complement of their assistant’s skills and utilize them to best advantage, now would surely be that time.”

So true! High-performing EAs have always been the not-so-secret super power for their executives. This fantastic article from Chief Executive.net outlines just why, especially right now, “…exemplary assistance is not a luxury, but a requirement.” 

How Exceptional Executive Assistants Are Keeping CEOs Thriving In This Crisis