5th Edition release date August, 2011 Foreword by Olympia Dukakis. A must-have insiders guide! Real life tools and advice for every professional assistant and their high-powered employers. A first-hand look at the world of a celebrity assistant, and its application to the larger realm of all professional assistants. Enlightening and entertaining, this book is filled with true stories and lessons from author Bonnie Low-Kramen's 25+ years working with Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis. Low-Kramen is also a co-founder of New York Celebrity Assistants (NYCA). THE AUTHOR COMMENTS... I love being an assistant. In fact, I strive to be an ultimate assistant, someone who seeks excellence and improvement - not just on some days, but every day. I don't always succeed, but this is what I try to do. Are you so inclined? Ultimate assistants are like that, and I am privileged to know quite a few, including some whose experiences are in the book. I wrote the book for three reasons. The first is that this work is frequently misunderstood and has been subject to warped misconceptions by the media. The second is that there are too few resources for assistants, and certainly not only those who work for celebrities. Third, there is a tremendous curiosity about the work. I decided that I was in a unique position to set the record straight and tell it the way it really is to those who actually want to know the truth of it! 18 chapters include: How do you find a job? Glamour, Glitz and other perks. Salary & Benefits. Stories & quotes from assts. Skills & Qualities Needed. Public Speaking. Event Planning. Resources-To-Go.
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Bonnie's book is such a great accomplishment! She fully describes the often misunderstood role and day-to-day experiences of a celebrity assistant, which most definitely translates to the world of all administrative professionals. Any individual who interacts with high-powered people - or wants to - will truly benefit from the information that Bonnie shares in this book. --Hope Rippere, former CEO Communications Manager, Hewlett-Packard Company
Be the Ultimate Assistant is a must-read for assistants and employers alike! Bonnie's years of experience with Olympia have served to create the ULTIMATE resource for any assistant looking to develop a successful and long-lasting relationship with an employer. An employer myself, this invaluable guide provided me with the perfect blueprint to follow in my search for a personal assistant. Bonnie clearly demonstrates the do's and dont's of a productive rapport in bite-sized and entertaining anecdotes, and in-depth personal experiences. This book finds it greatest success by debunking the myth of the employment hierarchy by spelling out the reality of every successful working relationship - teamwork. --Anonymous employer-New York, NY
If you are interested in becoming a professional assistant, this is a must read. It defines all the skills you'll need to be successful, gives a historical and future look at the profession, and includes humorous anecdotes that will keep you entertained. The paradox is that it is both an instruction manual and a page turner. The author's realistic approach can inspire those who were meant to be a successful professional assistant. As a former NY personal assistant and current certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor supporting PA's, my specific interest in reading the book was to learn more about the technology challenges professional assistants face. Not only did I discover an author who has undeniable expertise, but one with a sense of purpose to help others succeed in this extremely competitive area. While many people in the business hoard information, Bonnie demonstrates a refreshing collaborative approach. --Vickie Evans CEO Redcape Company- Dallas, Tx
Be the Ultimate Assistant is a must-read for assistants and employers alike! Bonnie's years of experience with Olympia have served to create the ULTIMATE resource for any assistant looking to develop a successful and long-lasting relationship with an employer. An employer myself, this invaluable guide provided me with the perfect blueprint to follow in my search for a personal assistant. Bonnie clearly demonstrates the do's and dont's of a productive rapport in bite-sized and entertaining anecdotes, and in-depth personal experiences. This book finds it greatest success by debunking the myth of the employment hierarchy by spelling out the reality of every successful working relationship - teamwork. --Anonymous employer-New York, NY
If you are interested in becoming a professional assistant, this is a must read. It defines all the skills you'll need to be successful, gives a historical and future look at the profession, and includes humorous anecdotes that will keep you entertained. The paradox is that it is both an instruction manual and a page turner. The author's realistic approach can inspire those who were meant to be a successful professional assistant. As a former NY personal assistant and current certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor supporting PA's, my specific interest in reading the book was to learn more about the technology challenges professional assistants face. Not only did I discover an author who has undeniable expertise, but one with a sense of purpose to help others succeed in this extremely competitive area. While many people in the business hoard information, Bonnie demonstrates a refreshing collaborative approach. --Vickie Evans CEO Redcape Company- Dallas, Tx
Be the Ultimate Assistant is a must-read for assistants and employers alike! Bonnie's years of experience with Olympia have served to create the ULTIMATE resource for any assistant looking to develop a successful and long-lasting relationship with an employer. An employer myself, this invaluable guide provided me with the perfect blueprint to follow in my search for a personal assistant. Bonnie clearly demonstrates the do's and dont's of a productive rapport in bite-sized and entertaining anecdotes, and in-depth personal experiences. This book finds it greatest success by debunking the myth of the employment hierarchy by spelling out the reality of every successful working relationship - teamwork. --Anonymous employer-New York, NY
If you are interested in becoming a professional assistant, this is a must read. It defines all the skills you'll need to be successful, gives a historical and future look at the profession, and includes humorous anecdotes that will keep you entertained. The paradox is that it is both an instruction manual and a page turner. The author's realistic approach can inspire those who were meant to be a successful professional assistant. As a former NY personal assistant and current certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor supporting PA's, my specific interest in reading the book was to learn more about the technology challenges professional assistants face. Not only did I discover an author who has undeniable expertise, but one with a sense of purpose to help others succeed in this extremely competitive area. While many people in the business hoard information, Bonnie demonstrates a refreshing collaborative approach. --Vickie Evans CEO Redcape Company- Dallas, Tx
Be the Ultimate Assistant is a must-read for assistants and employers alike! Bonnie's years of experience with Olympia have served to create the ULTIMATE resource for any assistant looking to develop a successful and long-lasting relationship with an employer. An employer myself, this invaluable guide provided me with the perfect blueprint to follow in my search for a personal assistant. Bonnie clearly demonstrates the do's and dont's of a productive rapport in bite-sized and entertaining anecdotes, and in-depth personal experiences. This book finds it greatest success by debunking the myth of the employment hierarchy by spelling out the reality of every successful working relationship - teamwork. --Anonymous employer-New York, NY
If you are interested in becoming a professional assistant, this is a must read. It defines all the skills you'll need to be successful, gives a historical and future look at the profession, and includes humorous anecdotes that will keep you entertained. The paradox is that it is both an instruction manual and a page turner. The author's realistic approach can inspire those who were meant to be a successful professional assistant. As a former NY personal assistant and current certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor supporting PA's, my specific interest in reading the book was to learn more about the technology challenges professional assistants face. Not only did I discover an author who has undeniable expertise, but one with a sense of purpose to help others succeed in this extremely competitive area. While many people in the business hoard information, Bonnie demonstrates a refreshing collaborative approach. --Vickie Evans CEO Redcape Company- Dallas, Tx
About the Author
Ms. Low-Kramen is a passionate spokesperson on issues concerning professional assistants and enjoys setting the record straight. As a result, she has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NY Post, and Vanity Fair, and interviewed on Entertainment Tonight and Good Day New York among others. She is a guest speaker at executive assistant conferences in the US and Canada. Ms. Low-Kramen worked to create NYCA in 1996 with seven fellow celebrity assistants. It is the only organization of it s kind on the East Coast. In 2003, she was honored by her peers for career achievement at a ceremony in Beverly Hills. Ms. Low-Kramen s work with Olympia Dukakis has included close involvement with the Academy Award win for Moonstruck, the 1988 presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis, travel around the world to places such as Sydney, London, Alaska and Prague and numerous awards shows and benefits. A New Jersey native, Ms. Low-Kramen holds a B.A. degree from Rutgers University in English and Theatre. She worked in public relations and marketing for not-for-profit theatres in Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston before returning to New Jersey where she became Public Relations Director at Olympia Dukakis Whole Theatre in Montclair, NJ. Her latest venture in sharing her knowledge is as the instructor of a class for Personal Assistants at the Estate Management Studies program at the French Culinary Institute in the SoHo section of NYC.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Brilliant Great.....,
By AC McNamara "AC McNamara" (Philly & NYC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Be the Ultimate Assistant: A celebrity assistant's secrets to working with any high-powered employer (Paperback)
Bonnie is right on point with this book. The Book "is a one of a kind for the Personal Assisting industry". Really. The stories she shares are great examples and so common in the industry. She makes the reader feel as if they were working with her and Olympia. Bonnie gives good pointers for people looking to break into this field as well as good contacts for internet searches, recruiters, and unique and cool gift ideas. This is a good desk reference book. Buy it and you will not be sorry.... I love it...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Written,
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This review is from: Be the Ultimate Assistant: A celebrity assistant's secrets to working with any high-powered employer (Paperback)
The Ultimate Assistant by Bonnie Low-Kramen was detailed enough for those of us who really are looking to continue as Executive Assistants. It emphasizes the importance of intelligence, thinking and getting jobs done without much help and just really working hard to research tools needed in a job that you are really on your own to do. It is all about working independently and using all resources including other key people to get the job done. I like the great examples of doing unexpected jobs and the "out of your way" challenges and hurdles that come up and have to be overcome in order to get it right for the executive. That is the true challenge of good executive assistants. To find a way no matter how.
I liked how the book is spersed with interesting and valuable inspirational quotes between chapters. It's a good book to keep at hand and reread.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME BOOK,
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This review is from: Be the Ultimate Assistant: A celebrity assistant's secrets to working with any high-powered employer (Paperback)
Delightfully encouraging read. Very well written book. Bonnie is still working as a personal assistant and has over twenty years of experience. She shares those experiences with us in great detail. She also provide great solutions to everyday life as a a celebrity personal assistant. She shares not only her success but even her failures and mistakes and how she corrected them.
This book will definitely help you to become better in whatever field you choose.
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