We ask the tough questions
You’ve got a free half hour during your work day. What do you do?
That’s easy: watch an episode of MASH. I love that show and have the series on DVD, I love the characters and the humour.
When meeting someone, would you rather they thought you were charming or mysterious? Why?
Charming. I don’t like to think that people are unsure of me or haven’t made their mind up as to whether they like me or not. I like people to feel comfortable around me and if they think I’m mysterious, well, to me that could mean that they feel unsettled, undecided and unsure about me as a person, and I don’t like feeling that way about others.
What's the best bit of feedback you've ever had?
That I have a huge capacity for ideas and insight and that this person could see a passion and perspective in my work that I have, that others don’t. That feedback from someone I highly respected and looked up to made my week! And I believe I turned bright red with embarrassment!
What or who has the most grounding influence on you?
My husband, although I baulk against that influence sometimes even though I know it’s often what is best for me and my family.
What’s the most enjoyable element of your work? And the least enjoyable?
I simply LOVE meetings! Truly, and I always have. I love sitting with a business owner and scribbling lots of thoughts and ideas as they tell me about what they are struggling with and what they feel they need. Then I love going away, digesting that, and presenting a solution of what I can offer in return.
The least enjoyable part of my work isn’t exactly the 'work' but it’s pitching myself and marketing myself to others. I am in the early stages of my business and I am still nervous about my worth to others face-to-face, although I know within myself I have something worth offering. The networking and marketing thing I am still finding awkward.
What’s the biggest challenge you face at work?
Finding clients – I know they are out there!
What website do you visit every day?
Facebook.
What book are you reading?
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. I’ve heard that it’s great; I’m reading it because friends and I have decided to start a book club and it’s going to be our first book.
Can you stop at just one chocolate biscuit/savoury snack?
NO, don’t see the point really. The enjoyment is over before it’s even begun if I do that!
And now comes the plug!
What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?
I am a self-employed personal assistant specialising in services to self-employed psychologists.
In my recent experience working with psychologists, it’s obvious that many of them, although they are entirely capable of doing their own administration, don’t like doing it; often it can become something that piles up to be done 'later'.
There is great value for self-employed professionals to have the behind the scenes taken care of, increasing their billable hours capacity without them having to spend extra time working on their business.
And where can we find out more?
- Flying Solo Directory: paceadministration.flyingsolo.com.au
- My website: www.paceadministration.com.au
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