Mother's Market & Kitchen’s Post

Here's how my client went from director to Technical Chief of Staff for a major US retailer: She started out as a Technical Program Manager. It was a director-level job. Not the fanciest title, but solid. Since that point, she has been building trust with people in her company. She positioned herself as her VP's proxy. By focusing on relationship-building, she moved past everyone else who was hired at the same time as her, at the same level. She soon got a promotion to Technical Chief of Staff. Now, she's essentially an acting VP. She's on the way up! Advancing in your career is ALWAYS about building trust. Yes, you have to deliver results, yes, you must be credible. But the biggest factor in advancement is building solid relationships! #leadership #careerdevelopment #personaldevelopment #hiring #jobs

🔍 Why is it always about the title? It’s fascinating how much weight we place on job titles in the hiring process. You could handle all the responsibilities and possess the qualifications for a role, yet if your title doesn't align, your chances of landing the job can diminish significantly. Why do we fixate on titles? An executive assistant might be performing chief of staff duties, or an operations manager could be fulfilling the same responsibilities without the official title. Let’s shift the focus from labels to capabilities. It's time to recognize the value of experience over title! 💪 #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ExperienceMatters

𝐃𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 Hey, it’s Adam here! Over the last couple of years, I’ve learned one powerful lesson—focus your energy on what lights you up and challenges you to grow. If you’re like me, you want to spend your time on passion projects, becoming a better leader, parent, and friend, while making a real impact. But here’s the catch—those never-ending to-do lists and busy work can drain your energy and time. My solution? Hiring an executive assistant. It’s been life-changing! Every morning, my amazing EA, April, helps me clear my plate so I can focus on what matters most—learning, evolving, and leading. Want to live with more purpose and make a bigger impact? Get better at delegation. Trust me, it’s a game changer. 𝐆𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐭—𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮! 💪🔥 #Delegation #Leadership #ProductivityHacks #GrowthMindset #BusinessTips

🔄 Embracing Change: My Career Journey 🔄 Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of transitioning through diverse roles, each step shaping my understanding of business and leadership. I began my journey in sales, where I honed my skills in customer relations and learned the importance of building strong connections. This experience ignited my passion for helping others succeed, prompting my shift into operations. In this role, I focused on optimizing processes and driving efficiencies, which deepened my appreciation for the intricate workings behind the scenes. As I continued to grow, I transitioned into training, where I empowered teams to excel and embrace new challenges. This role reinforced my belief in the value of continuous learning and adaptability. Today, as Chief of Staff, I embrace the multifaceted nature of my role. Some may view generalists or "unicorns" with skepticism, but I believe my diverse experiences in social media, marketing, program management, calendar management, travel planning, client relations, budgeting, and statistics uniquely position me to support executives effectively. Each task contributes to a holistic understanding of business operations, allowing me to drive strategic initiatives and foster a culture of innovation. I'm excited about what the future holds and grateful for every experience that has brought me here! #CareerJourney #Leadership #ContinuousLearning

☕ ☕ Second cup of coffee reflections on personal brand building and leadership. 👨💼 As a manager, it's crucial to continue nurturing your brand, focusing on collaboration, communication, and support across all levels within and outside your organization. Success thrives in environments that foster teamwork, feedback, and a shared vision for both short and long-term achievements. 📎 I'm super fortunate to be hiring for what seems to be a fairly sought-after position. In so many hiring situations, I hear about candidates expressing interest but facing silence, and certainly have felt this myself in my career. 🙏 While not every applicant may fit the role perfectly, it's essential to uphold integrity by acknowledging their effort, providing feedback, and treating everyone with respect. Remember, reputation is built on small gestures and meaningful interactions. Now back to the IM's, e-mails and texts -- meeting new people, hearing from former connections and staying human. #Leadership #Brand #Teamwork #Communication #Feedback #Hiring #Professionalism

A little less than 2 years ago a store manager on my team lost her battle to cancer. Jenn was a ray of sunshine to all those who knew her. ☀️ Yesterday I was doing an interview for a different district team. During the interview it came out that this candidate many years ago was hired by Jenn. She shared how way back then as she applied for a seasonal sales associate Jenn made her feel so special. The candidate shared how Jenn as her leader said words like “I see something special in you” “you have so much potential” those words made a lasting impression on her. This candidate said how she thought of those words and how Jenn made her feel. Hoping Jenn would be proud as she is now years later interviewing for a Store Manager position. This was such a beautiful moment and I was so grateful that this candidate shared this with me. This moment has made me pause and reflect on how….every day we are leaving our legacy with those we lead and interact with. 💙 There is power in how we use our words. 💙 There is power in how we invest in people. 💙 There is power in being kind. 💙 There is also power in how clear we are as we coach people to reach their potential 💗We have a opportunity every day to make a difference in someone’s life. I know personally this was a reminder to not waste a single opportunity to smile and make someone’s day. #ginghamnation #oneteam #leader #leadership #empower #kindness #legacy #retail

Spending most of my career as an executive assistant, I’ve just about seen it or done it all. Today, I don't work as an EA, but coach other executive assistants and their leaders on how to work together best and achieve a thriving partnership. If you're looking to HIRE an executive assistant, don't stop reading… Here are 6 key things to remember that are often stumbling blocks for leaders when looking to fill the role of an executive assistant. 1. Don’t hire for chemistry (people you like or friends); hire for competency and experience. 2. Be willing to pay for the experience. There's a wide variety of people you can get that will bring very different experiences to your company. Do you want the “Disney” experience where everything is always thought about in meticulous detail, or do you want a “Six Flags” level where they sometimes close early, and the park is just mediocre? Many people want Disney-level experience but are only willing to pay for Six Flags. 3. Know WHO you are looking for and define a clear job description with clear expectations. 4. Leader Pairing. Not every executive assistant and leader will work well together, and that's okay. It’s important to know how you work and what you value so that you find someone who also works and values the same things. 5. Be willing to adapt. A good EA will stretch and grow and provide a lot of momentum to your leadership. Be willing to let them teach you. 6. Give them a seat at the Leadership Table. Over time they will become your most trusted advisor and a strategic partner that moves things forward in crazy cool ways. You'll wonder how you ever got things done without them! But make sure you give them a seat at the table so that the same value and respect you have is also reciprocated across your leaders and company. Don't be afraid to do something different. #executiveassistants #hiring #operationalleaders #leaders #leadershipinsights

I once had a talented team member who was an ops leader of a practice I was leading. Their career aspiration? To become a COO. Of course, I only knew that because we had an intentional conversation about it. Talented person. Sharp individual. I could tell he had useful skill sets, but the work he was doing within the practice wasn't relevant to his abilities. So while he was doing the work we needed, it wasn’t in a way that was bringing him or the organization exceptional value. Since I knew this person's goals, recognized his talent, and also saw he (and the organization) wasn’t maximizing his abilities, I had two options: 1) Keep this person in his current role (and likely start the timer before he came to me telling me he was leaving the company). 2) Be intentional about finding this person a new opportunity within the organization that fits his skillsets (and likely keeps them in the company). So, I took a short-term "loss" and identified an opportunity to move this person into a new role in another part of the organization. A new role that utilized his skillsets and would provide a better path to his career aspirations. Sure, it may have hurt my team at the time because it left a hole I had to fill. The way I look at it... either it was going to happen now (when I decided) or it was going to happen later (when the person decided to leave). And by the way, these tailored professional opportunities I'm talking about can also look like specialized training or skill development to help people grow in areas of interest. If you know someone wants to grow in a certain area, help them identify work or training opportunities to support that growth. At the end of the day, we need to consider the cost of keeping people in roles that don't benefit or challenge them. Because you better believe there is a cost—to the person and to the organization. #leadership #culture

The Power of Starting from the Bottom: Building a Career Through Diverse Experiences: Today, we often hear about the importance of specialization and honing specific skills. However, I’ve found that the most valuable lessons in my career have come from starting at the bottom and experiencing a variety of roles across different industries. I began my journey washing dishes, moved into fast food, and then transitioned into retail sales. Each of these roles, though seemingly unrelated to my long-term career goals, taught me critical skills—customer service, attention to detail, and the importance of teamwork. When I entered the technology field, I literally started by sweeping floors and performing menial tasks. It was through these humble beginnings that I gained the trust and respect of a business owner, who gradually entrusted me with more responsibilities. Over time, I was managing client portfolios, leading teams, and learning the intricacies of different businesses—understanding what made them successful and unique in their markets. This experience paved the way for my career in Managed Service Providers, where I started as a support technician and worked my way up to VP of Operations. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse teams and organizations, always taking the time to understand their goals and challenges. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there is immense value in starting at the bottom and taking the time to understand each role you step into. It builds resilience, provides a deep appreciation for every part of a business, and fosters a well-rounded skill set that’s invaluable in leadership. For those of you just starting your careers, or even those looking to pivot, remember that every experience is a stepping stone. Embrace the journey, and take pride in the fact that starting from the bottom can lead you to the top. #CareerGrowth #Leadership #LearningByDoing #FromTheBottomToTheTop #ExperienceMatters

PSA to hiring managers: There’s a ton of amazing people out there looking for their next opportunity. It’s understandable to want to find the perfect candidate that checks every single box on the job description, responsibilities, and qualifications list. But remember, if a candidate checks 100% of the boxes they have no room to grow into the role. They will be overqualified on day one and seeking their next role. Look for candidates that have enough expertise to execute the job and enough room to grow to stay excited and motivated. Find people who are hungry to learn and grow — and they might bring new ways of thinking that you hadn’t even considered. If I were building a team, I’d choose the person who’s asking all the right questions but doesn’t have all the experience. #careers #recruiting #team #leadership