Who Wants to Work for Maria?

I need an assistant to help me find an assistant...after I figure out the whole cash fllow issue.

I really really really dislike it when people say that, particularly when women say it.

My former co-workers said it all of the time and it drove me INSANE.

I was very pleased that your post didn't include the "I need a wife" sentiment. It's something I appreciate about you. :-)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

What I purposefully did not bring up or link to is the multitude of women who say "I need a wife." And, yes, assistants are mostly women - though I will say it is heartening to see almost as many men on the reality shows as women. Apparently celebrity assistant-hood is gender neutral ;) But I do think there is a role for nurturing, parental, familial energy in a team model while agreeing that an employer should not seek a "mother" in an employee.

I'm fascinated, in part, by the Diddy show because of the parade of former assistants who run their own companies or have major senior management positions after working for Puff (as former assistant and head judge, Capricorn, calls him). Though indentured servitude is a good way to describe
the hazing process that requires you to sleep with an always charged blackberry and bottle of Heinz 57 ketchup so that you can be prepared to hop on a plane at 4 am and join your boss on a model stalking and kidnapping mission in Paris and attend to his ego fluffing needs.

Of the celebrity models, though, team Griffin is my favorite because they really appear to be a team.

Thanks so much for your thought provoking comments!

Yes, it would be terrific to have my own assistant who adored me, gave up her (almost always a "her," eh?) own ambition (and volition) for me, reflected all the glory on me, and did whatever I asked.

Just don't want to be that.  For anyone.  Ever again.  Nor, I think, should anyone aspire (or be asked to be) an Assistant, unless there's VERY CLEARLY something in it FOR THEM, too.  Employees aren't "mothers."  Or "wives."  (again?  Notice all this female imagery of servitude and self-sacrifice here??)

I think we outlawed both slavery and indentured servitude some time ago.

"Team," Hurray.  "Slave Assistant" -- NAAAAAY!

We all need a St. Louise but I'd be happy with even just a little help every once in a while until the dreamgirl shows up ;)

Thanks for sharing your comment and letting me know that I'm not the only one.

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I just watched S&TC last night and during all of the scenes with Carrie and St. Louise, I kept thinking the same thing.  I need an assistant like that!  Someone to keep things organized so that I can go off and be creative.  You know what, though?  I'd settle for a good babysitter once a month.

on building the space for the team to work in - so many awesome folks ready to be a part of it!

Thanks, Debra :)

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I'd be part of your team in a heart beat! You're even a do-able commute.

Debra
A Stitch In Time ( http://astitchintime.blogspot.com )
Weight for Deb ( http://weightfordeb.wordpress.com )

I have all this "mothering" left over, I may as well use it to my advantage.

So interesting. I think you've got something there with the idea of the mothering instinct coming into play. I'm glad you've found an outlet. Good luck in your house cleaner search.

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Yes I am an assistant and I love it. Not for anyone famous, just very busy and there really does seem to be a need and I can see why. Life is just so busy and since my kids are all gone, I have all this "mothering" left over, I may as well use it to my advantage.  You are right though, you need an assistant to find you the perfect fit.  I am still trying to find the right house keeper/cleaner for my people. Not an easy task. Good luck with your search.

Given that I'd spend all my time apprenticing myself at your feet, Professor Kim ;)

I'm flattered but maybe that's a great example of the perfect professional relationship - one where each believes they can learn from the other.

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Would love to have you on the dream team, Cadelaria :)

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Even with all the web 2.0 tools at our disposal to make these kind of searches easier - it still takes time to research, interview, find the person that has just the right vibe and to whom we connect.

Sending Mary Poppins vibes and good thoughts your way!

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sigh. and it's hell.

If mary poppins could just swoop in, that would be great.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain ( http://queenofspainblog.com/ )

Suzanne can be your assistant. I'll just be your student. ;-)

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|Professor Kim ( http://professorkim.blogspot.com/ )|

blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

What a fascinating range of assistant experiences you've Candelaria.

You make a very good point that it is often the assistants who are the smartest, most knowledgeable folks in the room. And always be kind to the assistant. They can hold a great deal of power (as you note, when they manage up) and you never know when you'll see them on the other side of the equation.

And, I hear you. Sometimes the lure of being an assistant is strong. When you are smart and focused, it is easy to do the job well which is satisfying without, as you put it so well, the weight of the responsibility of being "the boss." But love the name "whiny-weepies" - the other side of the coin of competence is kind of frightening.

Thank you so much for your kind hope. I've had a few people come work with me at various workplaces and I'd love someday to have them be part of my very own dream team. And for you, I think what you ask for is not too much - it's a very reasonable request. I hope it is answered.

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Trust me, you'll be top of my list of people to snap up once I figure out how to rule the world! And, the headline is just a play on the Diddy show because I don't ever want people to work for me, only with me.

Thank you for your comment and kind words :)

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I was an assistant who was often under-employed and stymied when I proved "smarter and more savvy" than my boss.  I've had assistants who were organized, dedicatd and managed up, i.e., reminding me to do what I needed to do.  I've had assistants who did want to work and hid work that they weren't doing.

I've had interns who are now in the position of hiring me for freelance work (two so far in the past 3 months)!

I've been fantasizing about being an assistant since I left my last full-time job of being a director of a non-profit program.  I don't want the weight of directorship any more but it is hard to go back and pretend you do not know what you know and simply have to carry out the directives of others. 

Plus - the reality show assistants that I've seen on Kimora's show and some of the others - kowtow so much I don't really trust them not to do something to eff-up on purpose.  (I wrote about this months ago - "whiny-weepies."

I would just like to have enough money to parcel out the things I'd like to hand-off to someone.  Is that too much to ask?

You're a nice person, Marie, and so for you - I hope you are able to assemble a team to do what you need to do to get your various jobs done and responsibilities handled.blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

I read the headline and thought, "I want to work for Maria!" But alas and alack, you are neither hiring nor would I make a good personal assistant if you were. Lots of good thoughts in the post, though, so thank you for that.

Suzanne Reisman ( http://www.blogher.com/member/suzanne-reisman ), Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender ( http://blogher.org/topic/feminism-gender )
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