In each of the following sentences, commas are missing or are misplaced, misrepresenting exactly which word or phrase is parenthetical to the sentence. Revise the sentences as necessary to clarify the parenthesis. MORE

This is part of a series by editor Barbara McNichol to provide tips for writing like a pro. Ever wonder how to make your sentences less verbose and more direct? This works like magic: Change long nouns to short verbs. Consider the differences in these examples from a manual: “They remain in contradiction with themselves” vs. “They contradict themselves.”. “He He made an acknowledgment of her success ” vs. “He acknowledged her success.”. “We MORE

Most administrative professionals understand that being proactive is an absolute must. As an assistant, your executive looks to you to anticipate needs and do everything in your power today to make sure tomorrow is successful. That’s what being proactive is all about. But it’s not as easy as it sounds! Those who have tried to enhance their proactivity prowess know how tough it can be. All too often, we’re so consumed by today that we don’t have the time (or energy) to think about tomorrow. MORE

So you already have achieved great success in your career and are a pretty savvy assistant. So what’s next for you within your career? Well here are 7 must-do actions of success-minded assistants. See which ones resonate with you; which ones you can do more often and with more consistency. See yourself in a new light, starting today! What are your secret dreams and visions for who you want to be or where you want to be a better person at work? Do you wish you were more confident? More assertive? MORE

In honor of Administrative Professionals Day, Office Dynamics loves to hold our annual Blog-A-Thon for the entire month of April. April is a month that can change your career if you’re an administrative professional. We love this time of year and it’s time to shine the spotlight on our favorite office professional, you, the administrative professional. MORE

One complaint I hear fairly often is from those who feel they are not appreciated at work. These workers often feel that they've become human doormats, with colleagues and bosses treating them as if what they do doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Baloney. Everyone's job matters. MORE

Welcome to April. Wow, where is the time going? April is one of my favorite months because, here at Office Dynamics, we get to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of those in the administrative profession! In case you are not aware, Administrative Professionals Week is April 24 – 28. But we celebrate the entire month of April. One of the major ways we do that is to host our annual blog-a-thon whereby we post a blog every work day in the month of April. MORE

by Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. You can leave a review here! In this episode, I’ll talk about how the only good reasons to get and stay organized are the ones that matter to you, Staying focused on those in a positive way is what gets you there. Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. This podcast is based on my book, 52 Simple Ways to Get Organized, available on my website. MORE

Writers often fail to note that a phrase they have constructed to describe a person, place, or thing—one that involves two parallel components, or one component subordinate to another, in sequence—can result in unwieldy strings of nouns functioning as adjectives leading up to a key noun. MORE

The federal government encourages 150 minutes or five, 30-minute sessions, of moderate-intensity exercise each week. If you live somewhere with great year-round weather, such as California, walking might be a viable option. MORE

Losing someone you love, either through a death or a breakup, is arguably one of the most painful experiences a person has to endure. It is particularly challenging during the initial stages. I like to compare it to the drowsiness and uncomfortable sensations a patient experiences right after having a surgery. The only difference is that the physical pain has a fairly predictable healing time, whereas emotional pain does not. MORE

If you have a physical location or property as part of your business, you’re going to be worried about the best way to present and maintain that building. MORE

Finding the perfect gift for your administrative assistant can be a daunting task since flowers and lunch no longer cut it. Today’s executive or administrative assistant wants a gift that is long-lasting. You might be thinking… what about a cool coffee mug? Or what about a travel business tote or beautiful Levenger notepad and pen? Maybe you were considering a gift certificate to your assistant’s favorite restaurant or spa. MORE

by Sometimes just making a to-do list makes you feel so productive that you give yourself a break from doing anything on the list. I’m a big fan of to do lists and I encourage people to acknowledge their progress in order to stay on track. But that’s not always fruitful. Sometimes looking at the progress we’ve make seduces us into believing we’re done. We look at all the tasks crossed off the to-do list and feel good about ourselves. MORE

Just last week I was reminded how brilliant PAs are at using networks to get stuff done. I’m lucky to be a member of a direct messaging group on Twitter made up of some very awesome and proactive assistants. MORE

Last year I wrote a blog about how assistants should always try to make a really great first impression. You never know who you will end up working with, or for, so it is important that you take the time to make that first contact memorable for all the right reasons. MORE

You’ve made the decision to start a new venture. You’re excited, motivated and strongly fueled by your passion. You’re feeling positive about your future and this path you’ve laid out for your success. You shared your new found journey with a loved one, who immediately started pointing out all the reasons why this is risky and why you shouldn’t do it. Suddenly, you started questioning yourself. Before you knew it, you’ve come to a complete stop. How can you stop this from happening? MORE

Each month we feature a question from our friends at Business Management Daily’s Admin Pro Forum. Please enjoy engaging in a conversation over this month’s question. Question: “Everyone seems to have a different way of creating their to-do lists. I’ve always been interested in how they go about it, and what their lists actually look like. Am I the only one who just scrawls things in a big notebook and messily crosses them out? MORE

Have you ever wondered about that little voice in your head? What it actually does to you and your way of thinking? In reality, it’s possible that it mostly does you harm. It puts up invisible self-sabotaging barriers for you. MORE

Somebody forgot to tell BCG, Sodexo and Mercer that trends season runs from November to January. These three large and influential firms all recently released 2017 global trends reports.  MORE

The number of flexibly- and self-employed workers has increased significantly in recent decades. At the end of 2016, nearly five million UK workers were classified as self-employed , which marks a 45% rise since 2000. MORE

Travel planning is infamous for being a huge time, patience, and sanity suck for administrative professionals. What seems like a simple there-and-back trip to a traveler is a whirlwind of coordination and research for the admin. Hey, can you book me a trip to San Francisco next week?” Inevitably leads to, “Hey, can you book me a trip to San Francisco on my preferred airline, in an aisle seat, that gets me in on time to meet with John? MORE

“Adopting a mobile strategy is no longer an option for any enterprise, it has become a need.”. According to a mobility trends report , on an average, an employee uses more than 3 devices to help him with his work and tasks. Enterprises, in general, experienced an increase of 72% in their number of managed devices between the years 2014 and 2015. These numbers aren’t that surprising, especially with how beneficial the strategy is. MORE

As I laid down on a rock using my legs as a brace to keep me from falling into the cold rushing water, I thought to myself, “I can’t believe I made it here.”. Here” was the Hapao Hot Spring. It also features some cool rapids adjacent to the spring so you can go from a warm bath to frigid water (or vice versa) in just a few steps. My wife and I had hired a local guide to take us through the Hapao and Hungduan Rice Terraces with a stop at this waterway two-thirds of the way through our journey. MORE

Binders are a versatile and highly cost-effective way to raise awareness for your brand. A well-designed binder provides more information in one place than virtually any other print marketing material. Its tangibility helps clients focus and retain information. MORE

Are you thinking of adding cameras to your current alarm system? Are you specifying a new alarm system? Are you worried about false alarms? In any of these three scenarios, you should consider adding self-monitored video cameras to your system. MORE

A decade ago, Paul Zak began measuring brain activity from people while they worked and he soon made an important discovery: There are scientific reasons why some organizations perform at high levels while others flounder. MORE

Designed by Freepik. Have you ever said, or heard an admin say, “I’m just an admin?” I have. And I’ll admit it – I’ve said it too. Then one day I discovered that every admin is valued and the true value of the profession of the administrative assistant! I’d like to share my journey of discovery with you. It began several years ago when I started working for Mr. H as a temp. What started out as a two-week assignment ended up lasting for seven years! MORE

There are thousands of online businesses that require certain marketing tactics to bring them customers and attention. MORE

For the first time in years, I screwed up my monthly theme. But the outcome is going to be worth it. Let me explain. I recently went on a three-week journey in the Philippines. I saw some amazing scenery, took in as much of the beautiful country as I could, and spent time with incredible people. This trip took up 23 days of the month. MORE

Spending 12 years in school and another 2 to 4 years getting a higher degree isn’t a complete guarantee that you’ll get rich easily. There are things and specific steps you need to do first before you can be successful in life. Unfortunately, despite spending several years in school, a lot of people are still not aware of this. In this article, I’ll share with you the best tips and tricks on how to get rich that majority are still clueless about. Step 0: Get a job. MORE

The issue of gender-neutral language reemerged recently in the form of a publicized incident involving a college student who was (mildly) penalized for the use of the term mankind in a paper she wrote for a class. Why was the score on her assignment lowered by one point out of fifty? MORE

Millennials are known for a lot of things. Some consider this generation as hard-headed, self-centered and irresponsible. There are people who think that millennials are born to be lazy and dependent on technology. These misconceptions create conflicts and they make understanding millennials more difficult. As a way to help you connect better with today’s youth, here are six things about millennials you should know about. Millennials have the heart for the environment. MORE

Thanks to artificial intelligence, chat bots essentially have all the answers. MORE

Disney has achieved success and fame through its original creations and their film adaptations. In addition to that, it also became famous for its perseverance. Despite the ups and downs it experienced, Disney was able to succeed and become popular across countries. Disney took on a couple of approaches to get to where it is now. In case you are curious about these approaches, the list below can give you a clearer idea on how to succeed in business based on Disney’s strategies. MORE

This post lists numerous nouns and adjectives that describe or pertain to qualities of color, plus brief definitions. ablaze : bright and full of light or color. bleached : washed out as a result of exposure to chemicals or sunlight. bold : very bright, clear, or strong in color. MORE

A key reason we started following coworking back in 2007 was it provided a flexible alternative to the traditional long term commercial office lease. Coworking turned a fixed cost (long term lease) into a variable cost (month to month membership).  MORE