Over my career as a personal assistant and concierge to many high-profile individuals, I have been asked, more times than I care to remember - "Tell me the craziest thing you have ever seen or had to do for a client." My answer has always, and will always be ... I'm bound by too many confidentiality agreements to answer that question.
However, it makes me step back for a minute and wonder why rock stars or any other high-profile individuals come to be known for their weird and wacky requests?
At what income bracket do you need to be, to come up with the notion that:
1) All hotel rooms around the world can be specifically re-designed to suit your needs for the night?
2) The crew can wait for sound-check until you get your specific bottle of wine?
3) An extremely hard-to-find coffee will be delivered to the boardroom at every board meeting you attend ... no matter where you are in the world?
It must be a tiresome job coming up with requests like this. Think about the imagination and creativity that goes in to living this lifestyle.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not complaining. All of these requests keep me in business. I am merely stating a fact and posing a question. Maybe it has nothing to do with the money, maybe it is all about ego!
Since I've been handling these requests for some time now, I have taken the time to think about what MY request would be. Honestly, I just can't come up with a single thing.
What would your crazy, rock star request be?
Take It Easy
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Concierge and the Busy Professional
I would like to take credit for this fabulous post ... but I cannot.
This comes to us from Macy Scharfstein's "Wealth Management Tips Newsletter".
Thanks Macy!
If the demands of your personal life are eating into your professional life, you may find that a concierge service can save your valuable time and wipe pesky errands off your to-do list. Whether you need to organize an event or pick up dry cleaning, concierge services are prepared to handle requests that can optimize the hours in your day.
What concierge services include:
Concierge work and services will vary by the company that you choose, but almost all are aimed at assisting high-net-worth individuals with the chores that eat into their busy schedules. These might include:
1) Home care
Most concierges will offer snow removal, landscaping services, cleaning and house-sitting. Some offer unique packages, such as home organization, storage and even feng shui consulting.
2) Errands
Picking up dry cleaning, grocery shopping, writing thank-you notes, shopping for birthday or Christmas gifts, returning purchases to the store, filling prescriptions or even waiting on the line when you need to contact the phone or gas company, can eat up your valuable time. Concierge services routinely manage these requests for busy clients.
3) Family services
For back-to-school shopping, care packages for out-of-town students or finding a summer camp for your kids, a concierge can help you keep up with your family’s needs.
Event planning. A concierge can ensure that permits, licenses, catering, venue arrangements and invitations are all covered so that you can enjoy your own event.
Choosing a concierge service:
Almost any service you find will promise the moon – and stating that no job is too small or too complex is a matter of course. Be careful, however, that the service you are researching is one that you can rely on.
Any service that is willing to enter your home – for larger jobs or for small ones, like filling your freezer with ice before a party or feeding your cat while you are on vacation – must be reputable, insured and bonded. Ask to see those credentials, and request references even for minor jobs.
The range of services available may vary depending on your location. If you live in a rural area, there may be a travel premium for someone to come to your house.
What to expect from your concierge service:
Most concierge services will assign a single account manager who can arrange the services you require. Depending on the kinds of services you would be asking for, you can provide a list of family birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates for them to keep at hand. This will help them to get to know family’s needs and to provide another helpful service: date reminders. You can decide at the time of each event whether you need assistance planning an event, buying and delivering a gift or arranging something more special.
Be realistic in your requests. For any amount of money, a person cannot pick up your dog from the groomer on the other side of town and bring it to your office in five minutes. As well, you should expect to pay the hourly or package rate plus a premium for rush requests or requests outside of the service’s business hours.
Finding a concierge service:
Many concierge services are not advertised to the general public. To find the service that’s right for you, look local: An internet search for your area may yield options, however you may find better results by asking colleagues in your circle if they use a service that they are pleased with, and contact them to learn more about their services and fees. Tarra is someone I recommend: www.takeiteasytoronto.ca
This comes to us from Macy Scharfstein's "Wealth Management Tips Newsletter".
Thanks Macy!
If the demands of your personal life are eating into your professional life, you may find that a concierge service can save your valuable time and wipe pesky errands off your to-do list. Whether you need to organize an event or pick up dry cleaning, concierge services are prepared to handle requests that can optimize the hours in your day.
What concierge services include:
Concierge work and services will vary by the company that you choose, but almost all are aimed at assisting high-net-worth individuals with the chores that eat into their busy schedules. These might include:
1) Home care
Most concierges will offer snow removal, landscaping services, cleaning and house-sitting. Some offer unique packages, such as home organization, storage and even feng shui consulting.
2) Errands
Picking up dry cleaning, grocery shopping, writing thank-you notes, shopping for birthday or Christmas gifts, returning purchases to the store, filling prescriptions or even waiting on the line when you need to contact the phone or gas company, can eat up your valuable time. Concierge services routinely manage these requests for busy clients.
3) Family services
For back-to-school shopping, care packages for out-of-town students or finding a summer camp for your kids, a concierge can help you keep up with your family’s needs.
Event planning. A concierge can ensure that permits, licenses, catering, venue arrangements and invitations are all covered so that you can enjoy your own event.
Choosing a concierge service:
Almost any service you find will promise the moon – and stating that no job is too small or too complex is a matter of course. Be careful, however, that the service you are researching is one that you can rely on.
Any service that is willing to enter your home – for larger jobs or for small ones, like filling your freezer with ice before a party or feeding your cat while you are on vacation – must be reputable, insured and bonded. Ask to see those credentials, and request references even for minor jobs.
The range of services available may vary depending on your location. If you live in a rural area, there may be a travel premium for someone to come to your house.
What to expect from your concierge service:
Most concierge services will assign a single account manager who can arrange the services you require. Depending on the kinds of services you would be asking for, you can provide a list of family birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates for them to keep at hand. This will help them to get to know family’s needs and to provide another helpful service: date reminders. You can decide at the time of each event whether you need assistance planning an event, buying and delivering a gift or arranging something more special.
Be realistic in your requests. For any amount of money, a person cannot pick up your dog from the groomer on the other side of town and bring it to your office in five minutes. As well, you should expect to pay the hourly or package rate plus a premium for rush requests or requests outside of the service’s business hours.
Finding a concierge service:
Many concierge services are not advertised to the general public. To find the service that’s right for you, look local: An internet search for your area may yield options, however you may find better results by asking colleagues in your circle if they use a service that they are pleased with, and contact them to learn more about their services and fees. Tarra is someone I recommend: www.takeiteasytoronto.ca
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Punctuality
There are two ways to look at punctuality.
1)"The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it" - Franklin P. Jones
2) "He was always late on principal, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time" - Oscar Wilde
For me, I look at it in this light.
If somebody is late to meet me then they are saying that there time is more important than mine.
There is another quote that states "punctuality is the soul of business" - Thomas C. Haliburton
Why was this an important topic for me to discuss?
Because I believe that the world is loosing its punctuality.
I was interviewing accountants the other day. One kept me waiting for over 15 minutes. Guess what, I didn't choose them as my accountant.
I had an employee that quit because I was always after her about being punctual. I told her that if I am paying her form 9 - 5 and she shows up at 9:15 then she is stealing 15 minutes pay from me. She quit because she told me that asking her to be on time was too tough.
Is this a generation thing? I could never imagine my grandparents or even my parents for that matter being late.
Do people really expect to succeed in business and not be punctual?
TIP "The punctual man always works at an immense advantage" ... At least in the eye of this concierge.
1)"The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it" - Franklin P. Jones
2) "He was always late on principal, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time" - Oscar Wilde
For me, I look at it in this light.
If somebody is late to meet me then they are saying that there time is more important than mine.
There is another quote that states "punctuality is the soul of business" - Thomas C. Haliburton
Why was this an important topic for me to discuss?
Because I believe that the world is loosing its punctuality.
I was interviewing accountants the other day. One kept me waiting for over 15 minutes. Guess what, I didn't choose them as my accountant.
I had an employee that quit because I was always after her about being punctual. I told her that if I am paying her form 9 - 5 and she shows up at 9:15 then she is stealing 15 minutes pay from me. She quit because she told me that asking her to be on time was too tough.
Is this a generation thing? I could never imagine my grandparents or even my parents for that matter being late.
Do people really expect to succeed in business and not be punctual?
TIP "The punctual man always works at an immense advantage" ... At least in the eye of this concierge.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Concierge and Jury Duty
This tip is inspired by my jury selection process.
As I sat in the juror lounge with about 75 other people I started to notice things. I noticed that as the day progressed more and more people started to get anxious about the time they were loosing.
Is this really a loss of time?
Sure you are not at the office or in your vehicle, but time away from the pressures of everyday work loads can be a good thing.
Taken from a recent Toronto Life article - "Not Safe for Work: Your boss is reading your e-mail, spying on the sites you visit and recoding your keystrokes. The biggest time wasters used to be punished, but the newest management philosophy says they should be rewarded. Why cyber-slacking makes you the company's most valuable employee."
Employees are really not "wasting" time with non-work-related activities such as FaceBook, Twitter, FourSquares, etc. Some companies say it is a waste of time and other companies have proven that it makes their employees more productive.
"A 2009 Australian study of 300 workers found that those who waste time on the Internet for pleasure get more done than those who don't. As long as the Web-surfing breaks took up less than 20% of a worker's time, they resulted, on average, in a 9% spike in productivity. Brent Cocker, a professor of management and marketing at the University of Melbourne, concluded that short visits to fun Web sites or quick check-ins with friends could help reset a worker's focus and steel him or her from onerous tasks." - Toronto Life "March 2011 edition - Pg. 53"
So why can't a day or two off of work, sitting in a jury lounge, make you more productive?
I bet it will make you appreciate getting back to the office and your normal routine!
Now, for the tasks that couldn't be managed while you were sitting there ... Do you ever think that the juridical system would provide a concierge for every selected juror? ... SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!
As I sat in the juror lounge with about 75 other people I started to notice things. I noticed that as the day progressed more and more people started to get anxious about the time they were loosing.
Is this really a loss of time?
Sure you are not at the office or in your vehicle, but time away from the pressures of everyday work loads can be a good thing.
Taken from a recent Toronto Life article - "Not Safe for Work: Your boss is reading your e-mail, spying on the sites you visit and recoding your keystrokes. The biggest time wasters used to be punished, but the newest management philosophy says they should be rewarded. Why cyber-slacking makes you the company's most valuable employee."
Employees are really not "wasting" time with non-work-related activities such as FaceBook, Twitter, FourSquares, etc. Some companies say it is a waste of time and other companies have proven that it makes their employees more productive.
"A 2009 Australian study of 300 workers found that those who waste time on the Internet for pleasure get more done than those who don't. As long as the Web-surfing breaks took up less than 20% of a worker's time, they resulted, on average, in a 9% spike in productivity. Brent Cocker, a professor of management and marketing at the University of Melbourne, concluded that short visits to fun Web sites or quick check-ins with friends could help reset a worker's focus and steel him or her from onerous tasks." - Toronto Life "March 2011 edition - Pg. 53"
So why can't a day or two off of work, sitting in a jury lounge, make you more productive?
I bet it will make you appreciate getting back to the office and your normal routine!
Now, for the tasks that couldn't be managed while you were sitting there ... Do you ever think that the juridical system would provide a concierge for every selected juror? ... SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
February 2010
Tips for the perfect Valentine's Dinner
1) Create a theme - makes it easier to plan. This creates a focus for you, so you can better time manage. Example, Valentine's in a Ski Chalet, Caribbean Valentine's, or a Picture Perfect Valentine's
2) Hire some help - this way both parties can enjoy the special evening.
3) Keep it personal - don't try and copy what your family or friends are doing. The more personal the better - try creating a centrepiece around that special wedding photo or vacation picture
4) If you decorate with rose petals or fresh flowers - remember to reuse. Example: create your own bath salts, bath fizzies, body lotions, potpourri, candles, soaps, scented closet bags, or your own sent in a special fire
5) Pair some special cocktails with your evening.
a) Warm & Toasty - Coffee, Caramilk liqueur, Whipped Cream, Cinnamon
b) Caribbean Sunset - Malibu Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine
c) Strawberry Valentine - Champagne, Black Current Liqueur, Sliced strawberries
6) Have fun - the more you relax, the more special it will be!!! I promise!!!!
1) Create a theme - makes it easier to plan. This creates a focus for you, so you can better time manage. Example, Valentine's in a Ski Chalet, Caribbean Valentine's, or a Picture Perfect Valentine's
2) Hire some help - this way both parties can enjoy the special evening.
3) Keep it personal - don't try and copy what your family or friends are doing. The more personal the better - try creating a centrepiece around that special wedding photo or vacation picture
4) If you decorate with rose petals or fresh flowers - remember to reuse. Example: create your own bath salts, bath fizzies, body lotions, potpourri, candles, soaps, scented closet bags, or your own sent in a special fire
5) Pair some special cocktails with your evening.
a) Warm & Toasty - Coffee, Caramilk liqueur, Whipped Cream, Cinnamon
b) Caribbean Sunset - Malibu Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine
c) Strawberry Valentine - Champagne, Black Current Liqueur, Sliced strawberries
6) Have fun - the more you relax, the more special it will be!!! I promise!!!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New Year's Resolution - To Get Organized
In the New Year it’s not uncommon for many people to make resolutions, and even less uncommon for people to forget them come March! The trick to a great resolution and positive lifestyle change is dedication and a bit of help from an expert. With the rise in popularity of television shows such as A&E’s Hoarders, people who live in clutter are having the spotlight shone on them – and their messy homes!
While most of us do not live under such extreme conditions, it’s good to keep an eye on clutter and stop it before it gets out of control. For those of us hoping to be better organized in 2010, here are some great tips and tricks on getting and keeping your home in order
T – TINY FIRST– start small – start with a desk drawer or the car – you will be amazed at how good you feel when the task is finished and how much easier your life is – this will motivate you to keep going with organizing goals
A – ASSISTANCE – If you struggle to get motivated, ask a friend. Say - "If you help me clean out my garage, I will help you organize your kitchen." Always make organizing fun – put on some music – dance – sing – enjoy – or else you will despise the thought of it and never fully complete your goals
K – KEEP IT SIMPLE – Like items always stay with like items – if everything has its own place then it is more likely to be put back into its place when you are finished – this will keep you organized throughout the year
E – ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS – Make sure the area that you are organizing is free of distractions – try going into the office on a Saturday morning to organize your area – a little sacrifice is well worth the payoff
I – ITEMIZE – write down anything that comes to your mind of how you would envision your life as perfectly organized – then start forming those thoughts into manageable tasks & lists – one goal at a time
T – TIME – having a large organization goal doesn’t mean you have to book days, weeks, or even months of your time to accomplish the goal – start small – do a little bit each day, or weekend. If you plan too much you will get frustrated and never finish the task
E – ENGAGEMENT – Make the time to stay organized – schedule the date – write it down – if you had an appointment with the doctor or a business meeting you would keep it - on this date you can purge/re-organize/put away – this will keep things from piling up in the future
A – ADVICE – For most people organizing is the last thing they want to do with their spare time – or the thought of it is just too overwhelming – where do I start? That is where a professional organizer comes in – there are personal concierge services and professional organizers located in almost every city
S – SUPPLIES – have all your supplies ready to go – garbage bags, labels, permanent markers, bins, tape, baskets – if everything is at your finger tips you will not have an excuse to get sidetracked
Y - YOU – It is all about you – adopt your own system - Learn tricks from family, friends, professionals, and even television show – but adapt your own systems of organizing – if it comes directly from you, you are more likely to keep up with it
While most of us do not live under such extreme conditions, it’s good to keep an eye on clutter and stop it before it gets out of control. For those of us hoping to be better organized in 2010, here are some great tips and tricks on getting and keeping your home in order
T – TINY FIRST– start small – start with a desk drawer or the car – you will be amazed at how good you feel when the task is finished and how much easier your life is – this will motivate you to keep going with organizing goals
A – ASSISTANCE – If you struggle to get motivated, ask a friend. Say - "If you help me clean out my garage, I will help you organize your kitchen." Always make organizing fun – put on some music – dance – sing – enjoy – or else you will despise the thought of it and never fully complete your goals
K – KEEP IT SIMPLE – Like items always stay with like items – if everything has its own place then it is more likely to be put back into its place when you are finished – this will keep you organized throughout the year
E – ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS – Make sure the area that you are organizing is free of distractions – try going into the office on a Saturday morning to organize your area – a little sacrifice is well worth the payoff
I – ITEMIZE – write down anything that comes to your mind of how you would envision your life as perfectly organized – then start forming those thoughts into manageable tasks & lists – one goal at a time
T – TIME – having a large organization goal doesn’t mean you have to book days, weeks, or even months of your time to accomplish the goal – start small – do a little bit each day, or weekend. If you plan too much you will get frustrated and never finish the task
E – ENGAGEMENT – Make the time to stay organized – schedule the date – write it down – if you had an appointment with the doctor or a business meeting you would keep it - on this date you can purge/re-organize/put away – this will keep things from piling up in the future
A – ADVICE – For most people organizing is the last thing they want to do with their spare time – or the thought of it is just too overwhelming – where do I start? That is where a professional organizer comes in – there are personal concierge services and professional organizers located in almost every city
S – SUPPLIES – have all your supplies ready to go – garbage bags, labels, permanent markers, bins, tape, baskets – if everything is at your finger tips you will not have an excuse to get sidetracked
Y - YOU – It is all about you – adopt your own system - Learn tricks from family, friends, professionals, and even television show – but adapt your own systems of organizing – if it comes directly from you, you are more likely to keep up with it