What you know best

Over a half dozen years ago, following a 20 year stint working in various jobs in Corporate Canada, I recall having a heart-to-heart with Gordon, one of my close friends and a wonderful spiritual advisor. Together, but mostly as a result of his wisdom, we discovered that I was destined [I know, a heavy word] to do what I did best in terms of career. It—those things—were inescapable. And what I do best has always been divided between teaching or training, and administrative roles.

This is going to sound strange, but, I’ve tried hard not to work as a teacher, and years ago, equally hard to distance myself from professional administration. To that end, and at various times in my life, I took on something completely different. For example, yes, there was a time in the distant past when I was a chauffeur. And yes, there was another time when I was a microfilming technician. Years after those pursuits, my first company was dedicated to web development. Each of those was a genuine attempt to do something different; to do something I thought I wanted to do. I never did half-way measures either: I trained and graduated as a Webmaster, for example, and many years before, took a course in microfilming so I could get involved in the industry.

So look at me now: I’m a graduate of AssistU, the preeminent training organization for virtual assistance, and I’m being increasingly called on to broaden my teaching horizons (now at two colleges). I don’t do these things half-way measure either!

It’s taken me, oh, probably all my life (to this point) to realize one simple fact: the best things for me to do are the things I know best. The things I know best, all, naturally, revolve around me. Just as they do for you. In my case it follows that the things I know best are the things I keep getting called upon to do. Sometimes what you know best are things that you do best. It’s indisputable: what you know best is ... you. Follow ‘you’, then, as you discover, refine, and incorporate the things that you know and do best.

Comments

[Franni Ferrero]

Great posting, Rob! I think you speak for many of us who, after searching for years, found ourselves feeling at "home" as a Virtual Assistant.

Franni