Well. I did it! I made it 5 years with my current company. YAHOO!! I got the pin and catalog to order the blender as proof!
I do believe this the longest time I have spent with one company. I have mixed emotions about that fact. It’s great that I have spent that much time with the same organization and I feel really good about it. But, I also have that voice in my head that says in today’s business environment, 5 years is too long (especially with the same job title) and would say that it’s time for a change.
SPECIAL NOTE: To all my coworkers, do not read this as Tracy is looking to leave (as that is not the case). PLEASE!!!! I like my paycheck. 
It’s just that this milestone has made me think about these past 5 years. Even though I have had the same job title over this span of time, the job has certainly changed. I have had 3 different supervisors, spanned 2 different departments, and have moved offices. I have worked with some really great teams and individuals. I have made some real friends – not just coworkers. I have seen some of those friends and coworkers leave. I left my comfort zone and ventured outside the four walls and connected with amazing business and industry leaders through various events and organizations. I have grown both personally and professionally.
I believe the biggest change has been in how I work and the role that I play. I feel like even though my job title is “Administrative Assistant”, I believe that I have moved from Admin to Assistant. No longer is the role that I play one that runs, prints, and organizes reports, make travel arrangements, answer phones, and manage calendars. While I still do some resemblance of those very important tasks, these are not the tasks that my supervisor, my team, and I find the most value, inspiration, and impact from. I have found that some of greatest value and impact that I can provide is by being a true assistant, partner, connector, and voice.
I think this may be a real missing piece in business today. When asked, most will say that it really is the Admin that runs the office, but I wonder if they have really harnessed that power. In my next few blog posts I will be looking at this. I encourage you to set aside the image that you may have in your head of what an Admin does. Forget about the coffee fetching (arsenic loaded) Dolly Parton character in 9 to 5. Forget about the “special favor” long legged, high heel wearing, perky assistant (why does Monica Lewinsky come to mind….). While some of that sadly still exists today, open your mind to what a skilled, intelligent, business minded, thought leader assistant can bring to you, your team, your brand, your organization.
In the meantime, is that 1 lump or 2 you would like with your coffee?
