When Being An Admin Has You In A Spin, Just Twirl! A Collection of Inspiring Stories from IAAP Members

By Andrea Zweifel

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (iaap) Core Purpose: ensure individuals working in office and administrative professions have the opportunity to connect, learn, lead & excel. This ebook is a collection of stories shared by iaap members to inspire & encourage people to reach their highest potential. The Downtown Milwaukee Chapter coordinated and produced this ebook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrea Zweifel
• Release date: Nov 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310235771

Andrea Zweifel

Andrea has worked at UW-Milwaukee's School of Continuing Education for over 17 years as a Program Associate. She's experienced in daily and long-term administrative tasks and projects. She is involved in the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and is the 2013-2014 President of the Downtown Milwaukee Chapter. She's also a Committee Chair for the 2014 IAAP Education Forum and Annual Meeting (EFAM), which is coming to Milwaukee on July 26-30, 2014.

Book preview

International Association of Administrative Professionals

When Being An Admin Has You In A Spin, Just Twirl! A Collection of Inspiring Stories from IAAP Members

Published by Andrea Zweifel, MIS at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Andrea Zweifel, MIS

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

FORWARD

REMEMBERING THE FIRST TIME

MEMBER OF EXCELLENCE

EFAM FUN!

COMMUNITY AWARENESS

FOREIGN TRAVELS

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

FRIENDSHIPS

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

PUBLISHED ARTICLES THAT INSPIRE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS

RESOURCES

CONNECT WITH IAAP DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE CHAPTER

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

This eBook would not have been possible without the help and support of the IAAP community.

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INTRODUCTION

International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Core Purpose, which is to ensure individuals working in office and administrative professions have the opportunity to connect, learn, lead and excel.

The Downtown Milwaukee Chapter coordinated and produced this eBook in an effort to help raise funds for the 2014 EFAM co-Host Committee. The stories in this eBook were submitted by various members in the IAAP community. The stories shared in this eBook are inspirational and encouraging. This eBook isn’t just for administrative professionals. It’s for anyone who needs encouragement, inspiration, professional positive reinforcement, and exceptional advice from administrative professionals.

Keeping your profession fresh is a true statement if there ever was one. Make a plan for your professional development. It may involve joining an association like the International Association of Administrative Professions. Keep your plan assessable. Create a calendar that marks educational sessions that you are or would like to take. Create a wave of knowledge. Share what you have learned by writing an article or informing staff at your work. As time moves on, revisit your plan. Update your plan as needed based on your professional needs. Learning never gets old.

Being inspired and inspiring others is a great beginning to creating a great working environment. Mentor someone at work or find someone to mentor you. Being mentored is a great way to learn something new, share your ideas, and to grow personally and professionally. If you are experienced in something, then you are qualified to mentor someone. It may be a short mentorship or a long-term mentorship. Either way, the experience of being mentored or mentoring someone is fulfilling and worthwhile.

Listen to your elders as my grandmother always says. Or at least listen to someone who has more experience than you. It may not be a mentor/mentee relationship, but talking with someone who has been there before or done that is a valuable learning experience. Understanding the environment you work in and learning the culture of your organization is essential in keeping you professionally ‘sane’.

I hope that reading this eBook will inspire you to join an association like the IAAP, encourage you to become a leader, and motivate you to create your own professional story to share with others.

Andrea Zweifel, MIS

President (2013-2014)

IAAP Downtown Milwaukee Chapter

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FORWARD

Foreword to Just Twirl

By Lynne Woida, CAP-OM

2013-2014 Wisconsin Division President

If you’re curious about the title of this e-book, read on for the rest of the story.

We all have moments in life - at work, at home, and all by ourselves in the car! Many of the moments we use to fuel our personal and professional actions have perceived negative connotations: looming deadlines, panic over last-minute changes or events over which we have no control. It can put us into a spin.

I’ve had some defining moments of my own this past year