A practical guide to strutting your stuff from cubicle to corner office. Drawing on her experience as personal and executive assistant to George Stephanopolous during Clinton's campaign and first term, Heather Beckel cuts to the chase on how to dazzle now to get ahead later.
Excerpts
From the book...
Introduction
The Best Cup of Coffee
They'll Ever Taste
This book is for anyone who has found their way to the city of his or
her choice and into the industry of their dreams. Once you get there,
you'll probably find that your first job will be as the assistant to an
executive. Unfortunately, you'll find that what you learned in college
isn't much use and the company you work for doesn't offer a training
program in how to be a kickass assistant. If you are smart and
ambitious
and want to excel at your new job as an assistant, then this book is
for
you.
Why Be an Assistant?
Being an assistant is a great first job. It helps to be in a good
company and to have a good boss. But even without these advantages, if
you work very hard, you'll learn a lot and develop a strong foundation
for your future career. The skills necessary to be a good assistant
will
serve you throughout your professional career: organization, diplomacy,
problem solving, prioritizing, time management, and communication. Many
of these skills are exactly what is needed for certain jobs; for
example, entry-level public relations jobs are no more than
coordination
and administrative work. As an assistant, you'll have the opportunity
to:
Impress senior-level executives at your own and other companies
Learn what it takes to become an executive
Learn how the company works
As an assistant to an executive you'll have access to other executives
that you wouldn't have in another entry-level position because they'll
be dealing with you to get to your boss. They'll know who you are, and
you'll have a chance to impress them with your performance. You'll be
an
apprentice to your boss in that you'll learn what it takes to be an
executive. You can learn how he does his job, and judge what he does
that you admire and what you'd do differently. You'll have more of a
chance to learn about the overall goals of the company than you'd have
in another junior-level position from which you'd have a very narrow
view of the company. You'll learn about the different departments
within
your company and about different companies within your industry, and
through this you'll gain a greater understanding of your own career
goals. As long as your chosen industry is not in one of the
professional
fields (law, medicine, engineering), which require a specific college
degree, a position as an assistant can be a stepping stone, and with a
little fair play from your boss and a lot of hard work from you, your
boss will help you move on to the next job of your choice. Another
reason to learn to be a great assistant is that at your next job,
you'll
most likely have to be your own assistant -- and you'll want to be a
good one. You'll answer your own phone and mail, and you'll keep your
own schedule. And when you do get to hire your own assistant, chances
are you'll have to train him to be a great assistant.
Why Read This Book?
The goal of this book is to teach you how to be a great assistant. Get
a
pen and make notes in this book because it is designed to be a tool.
There are specific instructions on how to do everything necessary to
succeed, from getting the most out of your first day to your final day
of departure from the job.
Reviews
George Stephanopoulos...
Heather is the perfect person to write this book. Her organization, reliability and efficiency kept my White House office afloat.
Dee Dee Myers, former White House Press Secretary...
Heather Beckel was a great assistant, and now she's written a great book. It's crammed cover to cover with practical suggestions, dos and don'ts, facts, plans, lists, outlines, illustrations and amusing anecdotes--all organized to make this book not just a great read but an indispensable tool. I'll never hire another assistant without insisting he or she read it first!
Stephen Goodin, The President’s Aide, 1994-1997...
Heather Beckel has captured the urgency and professionalism of the White House and made the lessons learned there applicable for everyone from the corner office to the home office. Filled with keen insight, practical advice, and humorous anecdotes, How to Be a Kickass Assistant is the perfect handbook for the career-builder who longs to “make things happen” and not just “do what they are told.” Beckel has provided an entertaining “bible” that can guide anyone who wants to follow the righteous path of advancement and learning on the job.
Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman...
Everyone needs a good assistant, whether one is a lexicographer, a president, or just a busy executive. Heather Beckel's remarkable, clever, and genial book offers endlessly useful instruction for one of modern society's most vital but least understood professions. It should become essential reading, a classic of its kind.
Joanne Cea-Eboli, Former Assistant to Ralph Lauren...
Heather’s straight-talk style of techniques and day-to-day practices provides the professional and personal skills it takes to become a ‘kickass assistant.’ There can be no higher compliment. . . . Heather’s common sense combined with personal and professional techniques give you all you need to win that title. This unique guidebook should become the bible of every assistant in the workplace today.
Vanessa Flindt, former Assistant to Tipper Gore...
Heather understands the importance of being an assistant, from the small yet crucial details to the sometimes enormous responsibilities associated with the job. This book will provide a huge advantage to anyone starting out.
About the Author
Heather Beckel was George Stephanopoulos’s personal and executive assistant during Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign for the presidency and during his first term in the White House. After three years as Director of Corporate Communications for Polo Ralph Lauren, she moved to Kent, CT, where she owns and operates the local diner.
