Weekender #134

💄 Beauty: Check out the 15 best Ulta picks according to beauty editors in 2024.

💼 Career: How to navigate midlife career pivots.

🍓 Food Art: How cute are these strawberry roses?

👗 Fashion: 12 Spring & Summer fashion trends.

👩‍🍳 Meal Prep: Healthy & high protein meal prep ideas.

“Where do I start when it comes to developing a more strategic partnership with my executive?”

I get asked this question a lot!

While I certainly have a good number of boots-on-the ground strategies that will help you build trust, improve communication, and keep your executive on track, there’s one overlooked area that’s crucial for your success:

Developing a more strategic mindset.

Truly strategic business partners differentiate themselves in several ways:

• They stop being everyone’s “yes person”, and aren’t afraid to give a strategic “no”
• They show up in service of the work, not solely to placate their executives
• They use their voice and ask insightful questions in order to strategically align with their executives

All of these things require a leveled-up and more strategic mindset.

Building Evidence

Start by pinpointing what is already working well in your partnership.

Have you developed excellent communication protocols with your executive? Are your time management and productivity skills on point?

Once you have an understanding of your strengths, you can build upon them toward a more strategic partnership.

Challenging your Beliefs

Assess your thoughts and challenge outdated beliefs that are hindering your evolution as a strategic business partner, such as:

• Beliefs that keep you from using your voice to point out holes or blindspots
• The belief that risk taking and failure are “bad” and should be avoided at all costs
• Beliefs that keep you stuck in a reactive firefighting mode

There are so many strategies I can share with you, but until you begin to see yourself as a more strategic partner very little of it will stick.

If you are interested in learning more (including solid boots-on-the-ground strategies) about strategic partnering, I’d like to invite you to join me on May 16 at 1:00 CDT for a free masterclass I’m hosting:

Unlock your Executive Assistant Badassery: 3 Steps to Developing Your Strategic Partnership

During our hour together I’ll outline three surefire ways to strengthen the relationship with your executive. To learn more and register, click here.

Annie Croner (Guest Writer for TA)

Annie helps executive assistants unlock their badassery. To schedule your complimentary coaching discovery call, click here. To learn more about Annie please check out her website WholeAssistant.com.

Get organized and make the most of the remaining months this year.

Whether you’re planning personal goals, business milestones, or family events, this year-at-a-glance calendar will keep you on track and focused on what matters most.

Take control of your time with this free calendar template.

*Powered by Notion.

Growing up in SoCal means I’m a pro-level beach bum.

Once summer hits, my friends and I try to have as many epic beach days as possible — as in 10am until the sun goes down.

My husband (originally from Atlanta) is always shocked at how long we stay out.

But when the weather is perfect (June Gloom stay away!), we hit the beach to play volleyball, drink, sunbathe, swim, and listen to music.

Here’s what we’re usually bringing along:

• Oversized beach towel – regular sized just doesn’t quite cut it
• Beach umbrella (with sand anchor) – a must when you’re at the beach for hours
• Rolling cooler – what’s better than a cooler at the beach? one that rolls
• Canopy – for when we’re feeling extra
• Sunblock – I take my sunscreen seriously and this one scored highly on Yuka for having risk-free ingredients
• Sunglasses – just bought these and loving ‘em
• Boom 3 portable speaker – waterproof, long battery life, and durable af
• Bathing suit – one of my fave Amazon bathing suit finds because you can adjust it multiple ways
• Insulated water bottle – love me some ice water on a hot day
• Beach chair – the drink holders come in handy
• Hat – there for the sun, but gotta bring the shade
• Volleyball – a must for us
• Power bank – someone’s phone is always dying (usually the person DJing all day)
• Lip balm with SPF – this is often overlooked

And of course, don’t forget your preferred snacks and drinks — I especially love bringing sandwiches, and fruits and veggies that help with hydration (watermelon, cucumber, berries, etc.).

Happy beaching!

Joanna (Co-Founder of TA)

It’s slightly creepy, thrilling, and intriguing. This spy-thriller landed on Netflix last month and it’s got “binge-me” written all over it. But this isn’t the type of show you have in the background while you work on your laptop, you need to give it your full attention or you’ll miss something.

Sandra Oh shines as Eve Polastri, an MI5 analyst whose fascination with a high-profile assassin spirals into a series of unexpected events. This obsession pulls her into the secretive corridors of MI6, though her involvement remains unofficial.

Jodie Comer delivers a chillingly charming performance as Villanelle, the assassin with a psychopathic edge, who manages to be strangely likable despite her lethal profession. What unfolds is a mesmerizing dance of obsession between two formidable women.

For fans of: Sandra Oh, Homeland, Big Little Lies, The Americans

Pair it with: A steak dinner, red glass of wine, and your favorite ice cream

Watch it with: Your picky boyfriend or family member who won’t watch reality TV with you but loves fiction dramas

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Major is a therapy dog for a psychiatry clinic in Mississippi, where he is the boss and the staff just follow his lead.

He is paid in treats and belly rubs and is the BEST at his job!

He spends his days roaming around the office at his own free will but mainly naps in his bed in the back office.

When he’s not stealing staff members breakfast, he’s stealing their attention with his constant need for butt scratches!

💌 We’re huge pet lovers at The Assist and want to feature a pet each week — fill out this form for your fur baby to be featured!