Message #78871

[raindance]

@ Jackie,  It was uncomfortable to hear because we all like to think we are very good at our jobs.  However, putting it in context was helpful. 

I had previously worked for a very high net worth and prominent person as a personal assistant (which in today's language means you do almost anything every time your employer is around).  My main duties seemed to be arranging an awful lot of travel, parties, dealing with household staff, appointments of all sorts, arranging flowers, shopping and some basic admin.  It was very hard work but tremendous fun, and my employer was both demanding and lovely to work for.  I then took a a longish period out of work to go to business college. 

Coming from that background to an "ordinary" office, where I was bottom of the career heap was not easy.  Office politics has never been my bag, so to speak, but we all learn to navigate the murky waters of offices.  Indeed, the company where I worked was quite Dickensian in its structures. The deputy in my department took three hour lunch breaks every day and always returned to the office totally spliced. We juniors would have been fired for doing that, but he was a manager and also jolly good at his job. 

So, I sometimes look back at the person I was in my first "proper" admin job and laugh.  They gave me a lovely gift when I left, which is probably more than I deserved.  I occasionally think of the manager who gave me that piece of advice and mentally thank her. I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without her!