Career, How-to Julia Hudson Career, How-to Julia Hudson

The Executive Assistant’s Guide to Using ChatGPT Like a Pro

In today’s fast-paced world, the role of the Executive Assistant is evolving — and mastering tools like ChatGPT has become a true game changer. When used intentionally, ChatGPT can draft polished emails, conduct detailed research, streamline workflows, and provide rapid clarity, allowing assistants to step out of reaction mode and operate as strategic partners who anticipate needs rather than simply respond to them

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How-to, Career Julia Hudson How-to, Career Julia Hudson

Slack 101: How to Communicate and Collaborate

In our guide on Slack (Slack) “101: How to Communicate and Collaborate,” we highlight how Slack transforms team interaction—from structured channels that keep conversations organized to real-time features like huddles and clips that replace endless email threads. By leveraging its integrations and promoting clear communication norms, assistants and support professionals can turn Slack from a chat tool into a strategic collaboration platform.

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How-to, Career Julia Hudson How-to, Career Julia Hudson

Best Apps for EAs: Tools That Keep You Efficient

In today’s high-velocity support roles, the right digital tools aren’t a luxury—they’re essential. The most effective apps help Executive Assistants streamline scheduling, manage overflowing inboxes, automate repetitive tasks, and maintain clarity even in chaotic environments—freeing time and energy for deeper, more strategic work.

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How-to, Career Julia Hudson How-to, Career Julia Hudson

The Executive Travel Playbook

Planning business travel isn’t just about booking flights and hotels - it’s about creating a seamless experience that allows your executive to stay focused, prepared, and stress-free. From understanding their preferences to managing last-minute changes, this guide equips executive assistants with everything they need to plan smart, anticipate needs, and execute each trip with precision. Whether it’s their first trip or their fiftieth, you’ll be ready to make it smooth, strategic, and successful.

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Career, How-to Julia Hudson Career, How-to Julia Hudson

Gmail: Mastering Inbox, Follow-Through, Flow

Every role that supports an executive becomes more powerful when it’s built on structured systems, not just completing tasks. The real leverage comes from designing repeatable workflows, automating routine steps, and bringing deliberate clarity to priorities—so the professional becomes a driver of strategic momentum rather than merely a responder.

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How-to, Career Julia Hudson How-to, Career Julia Hudson

A Great Calendar: The Backbone of an Organized Day

Every role that supports an executive becomes more powerful when it’s built on systems, not just tasks. The secret lies in designing repeatable workflows, automating routine steps, and creating clarity around priorities so the executive assistant becomes a driver of strategic momentum—not just a responder to requests.

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Career, Lifestyle Julia Hudson Career, Lifestyle Julia Hudson

5 Ways to Achieve Your Goals: Planning and Daily Habits

Achieving your goals doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of consistent effort, thoughtful planning, and habits that align with your vision. Success starts with clarity: defining what you want and breaking it into manageable steps. By establishing daily routines, visualizing success, and regularly assessing your progress, you create a system that supports growth. Remember, the secret isn’t in occasional leaps but in the small, intentional actions you take every day. As John C. Maxwell wisely said, "The secret of your success is found in your daily routine." Let’s explore how you can put these principles into practice.

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Mistakes to Avoid if You Want to Be Successful

Our environment plays a powerful role in shaping our behaviors and limiting our potential. Just like fleas conditioned to stop jumping high in a jar with a lid, we often let past experiences or the expectations of others create invisible ceilings in our lives. To achieve success, we must challenge these limits, push past fear of failure, and take action when opportunities arise. In this post, we’ll explore five common mistakes to avoid if you want to break free from constraints and reach your full potential.

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Lifestyle Julia Hudson Lifestyle Julia Hudson

A Social Renaissance: Finding Community in Your 20s

As we navigate the post-pandemic world, many young professionals in their 20s are rediscovering the importance of real-life social connections. With the shift from college life to the workplace, the need for authentic, face-to-face interactions is more pronounced than ever. This period feels like a social renaissance, where people are embracing activities like joining sports clubs, participating in local events, or volunteering, all in the pursuit of building meaningful relationships beyond the digital space.

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Lifestyle Julia Hudson Lifestyle Julia Hudson

8 Ways to Boost Your Memory and Productivity Every Day

A sharp memory, enhanced brain power, and increased productivity are essential tools for excelling in both personal and professional spheres. In a world overflowing with information and short on time, optimizing cognitive abilities can be the key to thriving, not just surviving. While the brain's capacity for information is vast, many struggle with memory lapses and mental fatigue. The good news? Simple, effective techniques can unlock your mind's full potential. In this blog, we explore eight practical strategies to help you boost memory, sharpen focus, and increase productivity, allowing you to tap into the remarkable power of your brain daily.

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Career, How-to Julia Hudson Career, How-to Julia Hudson

EAs and AI - What is to come?

The role of the Executive Assistant has always been one of agility, foresight, and relentless dedication to keeping an executive’s professional life running smoothly. With the rise of technology and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), this crucial position is evolving in exciting ways. Are we under threat? We get asked this question in various forms at least once a week. What’s going to happen to the role of EAs? We see it differently. We believe EAs are not just gatekeepers, time managers, and logistics wranglers; they are becoming strategic partners, thought partners, and curators. Leveraging AI will enhance EAs' efficiency, productivity, and overall effectiveness. But is the role disappearing? Absolutely not, especially at a high level. While some tasks like long-form writing and calendaring may become more hands-off, EAs will continue to be the curators, gatekeepers, sounding boards, and central hubs of their executive’s life. The essence of the EA role is here to stay, evolving with technology to become even more integral to executive success.

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Career, Lifestyle Julia Hudson Career, Lifestyle Julia Hudson

Discovering Joy: "The Happiness Project"

In conversations with job candidates, we often find ourselves delving into topics far deeper than career paths—questions of fulfillment, happiness, and purpose frequently arise. Many individuals are unsure of what they want in their professional lives or how to align their work with their personal values. This post stems from those meaningful exchanges, where work and life converge. Inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project, we explore how deliberate choices can lead to a more fulfilling life. Through her insights, we aim to offer practical tips to help you find purpose and happiness, both personally and professionally.

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Inspiration, Lifestyle Julia Hudson Inspiration, Lifestyle Julia Hudson

Time is a choice, be choosy

When we say "I don't have time," we're often unconsciously stating that something is not a priority. This phrase, a common refrain in the rush of daily life, masks our true intentions and priorities. Recognizing this can be transformative. By shifting our language to "It's not a priority," we take ownership of our choices, acknowledging that time is a matter of selection and prioritization. This subtle change in phrasing not only clarifies our true commitments but also empowers us to manage our time more intentionally. As we begin to align our activities with our values, we transform from being passive participants in our schedules to active designers of our lives, making every moment count towards what truly matters to us.

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The Power of Polished Communication: Why Writing Well Matters

The importance of writing well cannot be overstated, especially in a professional context in which communication occurs at lightning speed. Whether you're writing an email, a report, or even during an interview, being able to write effectively is crucial. Let's explore why punctuation, grammar, spelling, and succinctness are essential elements that help professionals present themselves in a professional manner.

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Career, How-to Julia Hudson Career, How-to Julia Hudson

The Power of Prospective Hindsight

Do you ever feel like you wish you could turn back time so you could avoid making a mistake or having a mishap? It has happened to all of us at some point in our lives. But what if there was a way to use the concept of hindsight to prevent problems from ever occurring in the first place? The idea of prospective hindsight comes into play here - an extremely valuable tool that we can use to make smarter decisions and lead a smoother life with the benefit of hindsight.

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How-to, Inspiration Julia Hudson How-to, Inspiration Julia Hudson

10 Ways to Avoid Procrastination: Embrace Productivity

The struggle of procrastination is a common problem that affects many of us at some point or another in our lives. It is often the case that we feel overwhelmed and stressed as deadlines creep closer and closer. But fear not! Procrastination can be overcome with the right mindset and the right strategies, and you can become an expert at productivity with the right strategies. In this blog post, we will explore ten effective ways you can avoid procrastination and take control of your tasks in order to become more productive. Let's take a closer look at what it takes to unlock your productivity potential and find out what keys you need to unlock it!

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How-to, Career Julia Hudson How-to, Career Julia Hudson

16 Things to Avoid During Your Virtual Interview

Zoom interviews have become a ubiquitous part of our professional lives, making it crucial to know the do's and don'ts to ensure a successful meeting. While there are plenty of tips for what to do during a Zoom interview, it's equally important to be aware of what you should never do. You’d be surprised by the things that happen in Zoom interviews!

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Career, How-to Julia Hudson Career, How-to Julia Hudson

16 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get the Job

You've polished your resume, thought you aced the initial interview, and left a lasting impression on the hiring manager. But….. When the inbox remains empty from that recruiter, and that anticipated ping for a second interview never comes, it can be disheartening and leave you wondering where you went wrong. While it's natural to feel frustrated, it's essential to reflect on your interview performance and identify areas for improvement. In this post, we'll explore the top 16 reasons why you may not have been called back for a second interview, helping you understand what you can do differently to increase your chances of landing the job. We focus on roles for Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Chiefs of Staff, EA Managers, House Managers and other support roles - however - this post is applicable to every job seeker! Learn more.

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Inspiration, Lifestyle Julia Hudson Inspiration, Lifestyle Julia Hudson

8 Ways Mindfulness Can Change your Life and Career

Finding moments of peace and clarity can seem impossible in today's fast-paced and chaotic world. By incorporating meditation and mindfulness into our daily routines, we can unlock a treasure trove of benefits that extend far beyond our personal lives. Meditation and mindfulness have the power to revolutionize our lives in more ways than we can imagine, from boosting our mental well-being to increasing our productivity in our careers. Meditation and mindfulness can enhance our lives in more ways than we can imagine. The purpose of this blog post is to explore the eight ways in which meditation and mindfulness can transform your life and career, allowing you to thrive even if there are challenges and uncertainty surrounding you.

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