SecsintheCity

PA-ing round the world in 15 days : Donna Coulling shares her experience

By Donna Coulling 

Donna Coulling has been a PA for over ten years and her clients include Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Sir Derek Jacobi and Samuel West. 

She is known as an expert in her field; runs seminars, has spoken and presented at many events and has made numerous TV appearances as a Celebrity PA on shows for Channel 4, Living TV and regularly presents on the shopping channel QVC.  

 

I’ve just been around the world in 15 days (Not quite the Jules Verne novel but worth a try) speaking at two different EA/PA Conferences. When I started as a PA with no formal training just a performing arts diploma, I had no idea that what I had originally trained in would be so useful in my future career...especially since I thought I'd left it all behind when I started my first PA role. 

Being so passionate and enthusiastic about my job and knowing that I’ve been hugely lucky in finding a role that I genuinely love, I really enjoy meeting other people in a similar situation or who are doing something similar but haven’t quite found their niche yet.

When I’m asked to speak at an event or conference I jump at it. I’m a big fan of sharing how it works for me in the hope that I can help others find ways in which to make it work for them. I was very fortunate to be asked to present at the very first Behind Every Leader conference in Anaheim, Los Angeles last month. Attended by 120 super fabulous, intelligent women from all over the US. I was there with speakers and trainers I respect and admire from the UK and the US, among which were Sue France (PA Coach and Trainer), Lucy Brazier (Founder of Executive Secretary Magazine), Victoria Darragh (EA to Group HR Director and Technology Director at Hays) and Bonnie Low-Kramen (Best-Selling Author of "Be the Ultimate Assistant") .

The conference was held over two days and was a hot bed of inspiration and motivation, we all came away fired up and wanting to put into practice all that we’d learned. I’m a firm believer that as people we evolve everyday, be this from the people we meet, the books we read, the challenges we are thrown and this too is part of why I enjoy my job so much. I never know what I’m going to be given from one day to the next – no two days are the same and I thrive on that. It keeps me on my toes, keeps things fresh and mostly it stretches me as a person (and sometimes my sense of humour!).

I came home briefly (to my daughter, day job and presenting job at QVC) before heading out to Sydney, Australia to speak at the 5^th Annual EA/PA Convention. I ran a 7 hour workshop and opened the convention – again (albeit on another continent) was greeted with a room filled with 70 uber glam, powerful, influential women coming together to hone their skills and share experiences with other like-minded people to take back tips and secrets they’d shared to make them so much more indispensable to their bosses.

Power to the PA – we really are worth our weight in gold.

 

Donna Runs her own website www.donnacoulling.com and a fortnightly newsletter to national and international PA’s. Twitter: @DCPAGirl 

Donna’s next day course ‘How to be a better PA’ will be held on May 17^th in London.

 

 

*           *          *          *        *

 

To find a new PA opportunity, search and apply for your ideal role on SecsintheCity

New Year Resolutions of our star PA Bloggers - Post # 2

Donna Coulling 

Donna Coulling has been a PA for over ten years and her clients include Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Sir Derek Jacobi, Samuel West and Bella Freud. She is known as an expert in her field; runs seminars, has spoken and presented at many events and has made numerous TV appearances as a Celebrity PA on shows for Channel 4, Living TV and regularly presents on the shopping channel QVC. She also won SecsintheCity Social Networking PA of the Year 2012. 

 My New Year Resolutions...

1 - Put all those business card details I receive when I meet people into my contacts immediately and not in a drawer for when I get around to it (which of course I rarely do). 

2 - Keep up to date with client filing... Not going well so far this year...

3 - Order ink cartridges for client's printers BEFORE the ink runs out  so I don't have to pay double as a result of having to buy it locally.  

4 - Be more organised in my own life - I may be PA to other people but hate doing it for myself - so apologies if i haven't replied to your email yet... 

5 - Finally finish my book (that I'm writing not reading!)

 

What are your New Year Resolutions? Feel free to share them in the comments space below.

 

*             *               *                *              *

 

To find a new PA, EA or Secretarial opportunity, search and apply on SecsintheCity

When the boss is in the Celebrity Big Brother House - A PA's perspective

By Merryl Futerman

Merryl has been a freelance celebrity PA for the last 15 years. Clients have included Julian Clary, Anne Robinson, Denise Van Outen and Jonathan Ross. In the past year she has expanded into training with  PA Access All Areas. The next course is on 14^th November in West London. See website for full details.

It’s been a month or so since Julian emerged blinking into the bright lights and fireworks of the Celebrity Big Brother Final as the winner, and I’ve had a chance to evaluate the experience from the PAs point of view.  

It was a very strange three weeks, with highs and lows that belie the length of time he was in there. From the moment he went in I was obsessed, following twitter feeds from the production office to get updates between watching the nightly programme. I did have to draw the line at Big Brother’s Big Mouth though – even I found that a bit too much. 

I had thought that I might have a bit of a quiet time once he was in, but not a bit of it. The production office was making requests from day 1 that I had to make executive decisions about. But I didn’t feel completely alone as one of the lovely things was that all the people who support Julian from day to day, his agent and assistant, partner, family etc really pulled together and were in close contact throughout, comparing notes and thoughts, so I would ask their opinions when I wasn’t sure what to do. That being said, some decisions were on the spot and I did feel a different type of pressure there. 

I was watching like a hawk, and it was very hard to be able to see him but not speak to him. I could tell when he was feeling low or under pressure, and that is why when they asked if I could arrange for his dogs to visit as a prize for winning a task, I agreed as I thought that might be a good pick me up for him. It was quite an operation, they were being looked after in Kent, so it meant transporting them to London, bearing in mind that Valerie is a mature girl and has never liked being in the car much. I was also aware that they would be coming to a strange place and that the round trip was too long to do in one day. Basically I made more demands on their behalf than I would for Julian.

His partner and I went to meet them at the studio as they arrived with the house-sitter and we all had to sit around for a couple of hours while he completed the task. All this effort for a 15 minute visit in the diary room that was edited down to about 2 minutes on TV! However, he said afterwards that it was just the tonic he needed to get him through the next week and that he could see they were being well cared for, that made it all worthwhile and confirmed we’d made the right decision.

I wasn’t at all sure about Julian doing this but once he decided to go ahead, it was important to support him. Although he found it tough, his winning served as proof that he did  the right thing. That being said, I’m not sure I would like to go through it all again.

 

Would your boss ever consider going into the Big Brother House?  What would you do if they did? 

Got a question for Merryl? Feel free to leave your questions and comments below. 

 

To find a new PA opportunity, search and apply for your ideal role on SecsintheCity.

For more information on Merryl's training courses, click here  or follow @PAAccessAllArea on twitter

For full details or to book, click here 

 

 

 

‘So you want to be a better PA?' - Meet Celebrity PA Donna Coulling

Celebrity PA/Presenter/PA Seminar leader Donna Coulling brings you two unique one-day seminars:

‘So you want to be a better PA’ and ‘So you want to be a celebrity PA’

 

Donna Coulling is a Celebrity PA whose clients include Helena Bonham Carter and Rachel Weisz. She wants to share with you what skills she uses to manage four clients and a school run! With over eleven years of experience working with A-list celebrities, Donna has put together two one-day workshops filled with information that she has gleaned over the years, her personal tips for success and her passion for advising other assistants to believe in themselves and plenty of encouragement to find the job they will love.

Find out how to be your own boss whilst working for your boss, get IT and office savvy, be motivated, assertive and make yourself indispensible in your workplace.

The day includes: guest speakers, morning and afternoon coffee, lunch, cupcakes, a goody bag plus spend the day at a fabulous central London hotel with drinks and a show around afterwards. You will also work through Donna’s textbook that you also take away with you.

Dates and Venues

September 19^th – Hampshire Hotel, Leicester Square

October 17^th – tbc, Central London

November 14^th – Hampshire Hotel, Leicester Square

Special Secsinthecity price - £155 – please quote ‘Secsinthecity’ for discount

All this and much, much more at www.donnacoulling.com 

 

 

 To book, contact: caroline@donnacoulling.com

 

Are you attending? 

 

       

 

 

Testimonials 

• Donna – excellent presenter and facilitator. Great content. A very valuable and value for money course
• LOVE THE WORKBOOK!!!
• This seminar has really made me feel like I can push myself, I am worth more and have skills and why shouldn’t PA’s share experiences and help each other.

 

To find a new PA opportunity, visit click here

When the boss goes into the Celebrity Big Brother House - PA Merryl Futerman shares her experience

By Merryl Futerman

Merryl has been a freelance celebrity PA for the last 15 years. Clients have included Julian Clary, Anne Robinson, Denise Van Outen and Jonathan Ross. In the past year she has expanded into training with  PA Access All Areas. 

 

You know how when you’ve been in a job for a while things just tootle along, regular style. And then you know how sometimes your boss says something that totally shatters this peaceful routine? Well I have had a corker, try this for size:

"I’m going to do Celebrity Big Brother"

That was several months ago....

And now it has been 24 hours since my boss (Julian Clary) went in to the Celebrity Big Brother House, and 48 hours since I could speak to him. This is the culmination of months of indecision and planning, plotting and shopping, and I have to say I have walked around with a very peculiar feeling in my stomach today - a combination of anxiety, relief, fatigue…

It was all top secret, I won’t say exactly how long I had known, but I didn’t breath a word, to the point where several friends and family have texted me today to ask if I know where he is - In my head I'm saying: Of course I know where he is, I bought most of the wardrobe he has taken in with him, as well as a load of toiletries, and organised a couple of surprises he has tucked away for dull moments.

Once he decided to do it, there was such a lot to do, all under a cloak of secrecy. I developed a vague, middle distance stare when having to fudge exactly what I was making arrangements for, but it seems to have worked (worrying). I had to find someone to take care of his lovely doggies for the duration, but without knowing how long the duration will be exactly. Maybe he’ll be home within a week, although I doubt it knowing what he’s like. The only reason I would want him out quickly is if it looks like he is having a horrible time, because after the build up, the arranging and the shopping, it would be a shame to have it all over too quickly. I will be watching the programme closely to see if I can discern any worrying signs of a storm brewing, not that there is much I can do about it anyway. The lack of contact is very unnerving. Imagine knowing that your boss is totally unable to get a hold of you under any circumstances…

That doesn’t mean work isn’t continuing apace and I am having to make executive decisions, or educated guesses, depending on how you spin it. I had to take a call on a request from the production offie asking for arrangements to be made for something to happen, something which I didn’t think would be appropriate so I turned it down. Maybe Julian would have been delighted at the idea but I have a gut feeling not. 

Coming back to 'My boss in the Celebrity Big Brother House', my main concerns are two-fold. Firstly I am worried about the papers being nasty, he has had bad experiences in the past and I know how hurtful they can be. Secondly that he has a horrid time. He is quite happy pootling about on his own, doing his own thing, not really into the big communal set-up, and I think he will find it hard having to be around people (strangers) 24/7. There are certain signs I will be looking for, signs that he is on the turn. Not much I can do about it, and he isn’t one to kick off with a big shouting match, but be sure of this – anyone who winds him up to much will experience a very sharp tongue. Just a warning….

 

Have you been watching PA Merryl Futerman's Boss on Celebrity Big Brother? Has your boss ever shocked you with this plans or have you ever had to keep his'her plans a secret from everyone? Feel free to share your comments and questions below. 

 

To find a new PA opportunity, search and apply for your ideal role on SecsintheCity.

 

And...don't forget to Enter. Closing date: 24th August 2012.

 Click here to enter 

 

Merryl's training courses for PAS:

The next PA Access All Areas course is in West London on September 19^th.

For more information visit www.PAAccessAllAreas.co.uk, or follow @PAAccessAllArea on twitter

For full details or to book, click here 

Networking Tips for success from Celebrity PA Donna Coulling

By Donna Coulling 

Donna Coulling has been a PA for over ten years and her clients include Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Sir Derek Jacobi, Samuel West and Bella Freud. 

She is known as an expert in her field; runs seminars, has spoken and presented at many events and has made numerous TV appearances as a Celebrity PA on shows for Channel 4, Living TV and regularly presents on the shopping channel QVC.  

Networking is never easy and you can’t always convince a friend that it’d be a great night out so they should come too. I find it incredibly useful to go and see new restaurants and hotels, and try to see each one through my ‘clients eyes’ so that I can recommend what I know they would like (or wouldn’t like).

However, you may have often have to do this alone...and enter a room ‘solo’…

Here are my top tips for networking success: 

1. Check yourself in the mirror - make sure your skirt isn't awkwardly hitched up somewhere, lipstick isn’t on your teeth and toilet roll isn’t stuck to your shoe, to avoid any embarrassment.

2. Put your smartphone in your bag: never enter a room looking too ‘busy’ to look up and catch anyone’s eye.

3. It wouldn’t do you any harm to think of a funny story that you heard on the radio or read in Grazia to pull out as conversation material.

4. Once you've grabbed a glass of something bubbly, take a moment to survey the room and watch people’s body language – and your own. If a group is huddled with their backs to everyone they clearly aren’t receptive to being interrupted.  Approach a group whose circle is quite open or someone who is also on their own and remember to smile!

5. People love compliments: perhaps open with ‘great shoes!’ or 'Cute bag'. Or try something as simple as ‘have you been here before, what unusual decor?’. You’ll be having a conversation in minutes, if not, I whould politely say ‘nice to meet you’ and move on.

6. If you’re on LinkedIn and connected already with several PA’s it’s possible that they may be there so you could already know people in the room without realising (until you chat and start putting names to faces).

7. If it’s not your type of event, remember that Vogue editor Anna Wintour is renowned for only spending ten minutes at a party. The point is to go, be seen, take in the room, the people, and give out a business card of two (if only to the registrar and host).

8. Always remember to follow-up the next day on the contacts you’ve made with an email, LinkedIn message or a tweet – it’s polite and also ever important to build your own network.

9. If you feel as though it was a complete disaster (nobody spoke to you/you spilt a drink/ you made a joke and got * tumbleweed* back) - don’t worry, just put it down to experience.

 

Feel free to leave your comments or questions for Donna, below. 

 

For upcoming PA Networking Events, keep an eye on our blog. 

 

To find a new PA opportunity, search and apply for your ideal role on SecsintheCity.

And...don't forget to Enter. Closing date: 24th August 2012.

 Click here to enter 

PAs Make Things Happen

By Merryl Futerman

Merryl has been a freelance celebrity PA for the last 15 years. Clients have included Julian Clary, Anne Robinson, Denise Van Outen and Jonathan Ross. In the past year she has expanded into training with  PA Access All Areas. 

 

As a Celebrity PA the thing I get asked most often is 'how I started out', and I'm always happy to answer honestly. Yes, I did have experience and contacts in the creative industries. Yes, I was able to accept part-time work, and yes, there was an element of luck. It's this element of luck that I would like to focus on here, because actually, it was really more a case of being in the right place at the right time, and I do think there is a difference between that and luck. 

Most folk see luck as something that's entirely down to chance, however, as a PA, I think Lady Luck is more likely to come knocking if you give her an opportunity. As PAs we're used to making things happen, we actively do this. For a start, we know that things don’t just ‘happen’. They take planning, arranging, chasing and confirming. And re-confirming. Similarly, I believe that if you want a new role you can take an active part in making this happen. 

My own lucky break as a Celebrity PA came about because I was doing all the right things – but it was not as a direct result of any of them. If I hadn’t gone to the expense and effort of having promotional leaflets designed and printed I would not have met the graphic designer who led me to my first client. I still have that box of leaflets somewhere, practically untouched. They didn’t have the desired effect on potential clients but having them done was my active part in making it happen for myself. 

Networking is a great way to do this without the expense of a print and design job! No-one can know what you are hoping or thinking - but if you talk about it with others, you broaden the possibility of the right person knowing the right piece of information about the right opportunity. I have found that the majority of people want to help. Not only because helping someone else out makes us feel better about ourselves, but also in the vein of ‘Do-as-you-would-be-done-by’. Be sure to network with people from all walks of life, not just those in your industry or a similar position. 

I have been a celebrity PA for 15 years now, and I am ready to take on something new. I think what I am planning is a great idea, but unless I start sharing it, it will remain just an idea. In fact, I think it may be of interest to you. I absolutely love meeting other PAs and comparing experiences and tips with them. I have been speaking at seminars and on panels and it became clear that corporate PAs and celebrity PAs have much in common. A colleague and I have launched a training course for PAs who are interested in investing in their own professional development. We have some great tips and tools to share and we illustrate them with real life experiences, which will help you see that many of our challenges are not that different. 

If you are looking to develop or change your role this course could be ideal for you, and by telling you about it I'm making it happen for myself as well. This could be a perfect exchange, PA to PA. Lady Luck may come knocking, but she needs to know your address so email info@PAAccessAllAreas.co.uk or follow @PAAccessAllArea.  For more information, visit PAAccessAllAreas 

The next course will be on July 9th in London.  For full details or to book, click here 

 

As a PA you can make anything happen, and that includes getting the job you want. For instance, if you'd like to be an EA to a President in Music, or perhaps Global Film and TV, tailoring your CV and applying for the job could land you there. 

 Are you ready to make your dream job happen? 

 

Give your PA career the VIP makeover it deserves....

.....with celebrity PA Donna Coulling.

Want to learn how to become a better PA? Or even how to how to become a PA to a VIP? Inspired by her own passion for the role, Donna Coulling, PA to numerous A-list stars, is holding a series of seminars to help you achieve career success.

Donna will hold two types of exclusive, one-day courses, spread throughout the year: ‘So you want to be a celebrity PA?’ and ‘So you want to be better PA’. Calling on her considerable experience as a PA to leading VIPs for over a decade, Donna will reveal the tips and tools necessary to become the boss of your own career and get ahead.

The next seminar ‘So you want to be a celebrity PA’ is coming up:

On - Wednesday 27^th June 

At - the stylish Mercer Street Hotel, London.

 

The seminars will also feature guest speakers, including top recruitment agencies, and detailed workbooks for attendees to fill in. Each seminar will take place in a luxurious central London setting and attendees can expect goody bags even a VIP will lust after.

So, don’t miss out and sign up now, places are limited!

 

Are you attending? 

 

       

 

 

 

To find a new PA opportunity, visit click here

A day in the life... of Celebrity PA Donna Coulling

By Donna Coulling 

Donna Coulling has been a PA for over ten years and her clients include Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Sir Derek Jacobi, Samuel West and Bella Freud. 

She is known as an expert in her field; runs seminars, has spoken and presented at many events and has made numerous TV appearances as a Celebrity PA on shows for Channel 4, Living TV and regularly presents on the shopping channel QVC.  

One day in my life…

7.10 Get up and read emails, wake daughter and husband. Husband goes to work – get daughter and myself ready for the day.

8.30 Leave for school.