Underneath It All: How Top-Tier Executive Assistants Create a Competitive Advantage

Underneath It All: Post Graduate Level Revelations Lift Assistants to New Heights

This book could not have been updated and reissued at an earlier date. Why? Because although the answer is not complicated, the revelations are profound!

The author, Joan Burge, has been at the forefront of the administrative profession and a visionary for administrative training and development since 1990. She is considered the premier global subject matter expert in this field. She is the author of many books, including Become An Inner Circle Assistant, Joan’s Greatest Administrative Secrets Revealed, Who Took My Pen, Again?, and her newest book, The Executive’s Competitive Edge.

But the Second Edition of this book, Underneath It All, is different because Joan is different. Since the first edition was published in 2002, Joan has continued to grow. She embraced the administrative profession’s exponential expansion and growth in responsibilities. Joan expanded her curriculum, offerings, workshops, video training, online and social media platforms, and her industry-leading annual conference. But there is so much more: Since the first edition, behind the scenes, Joan has bravely fought illness, suffering, disappointment, and bereavement. Joan emerged from these battles with strength, grace, and the courage to face anything life throws her way.

Joan is an indomitable force. Yes, as a successful entrepreneur, she is accustomed to being in charge. Yes, as a one-time highly appreciated Administrative professional herself, she knows how effective finely honed skills are … let me learn how to do it and I will do it. But in the process of finding coping strategies and still excelling during everything she’s faced – another dimension has been revealed to Joan.

She successfully forged new thoughts, innovative ideas, and new hope, including giving herself permission to Live A Big Life. She “sees” how her experiences and what she has learned from them relate to everything! That’s why the Second Edition of Underneath It All is a book whose time has come yet again with renewed strength and vigor. You are about to explore key points with Joan that led to success and, in doing so, may wonder who switched on the lights. Once you “see” what is underneath it all, you will become a more effective person. In short, you will not become a more effective Administrative Assistant. You will not become a more effective Parent. You will not become a more effective Life Partner. You will become a more effective Administrative Assistant, Parent, and Life Partner.

While life was happening around Joan (e.g., her own major surgeries, her beloved husband and father’s unexpected passings, and other once-in-a-lifetime personal challenges), Joan’s work continued to grow and expand. She produced years of solid research which concluded: 90% of the requirements for being a successful Administrative Assistant revolve around soft skills … 10% revolve around technology and technical skills. That is quite a revelation coming from a woman who is an eternal optimist, a dynamic motivator, and a tireless proponent of encouragement.

In this book, you will read why it’s essential to maintain your competitive advantage and how continual improvement makes it possible. You will explore key points with Joan that lead to success and will likely wonder, “Who switched on the lights?”

Underneath It All presents innovative ideas and ambitious ways to approach the challenge of rising to the top in a field that is exciting and rewarding. This book is a valuable investment in your future.

A must-read for executive and administrative assistants.

Joan Burge is the pioneer of the administrative training industry. Joan is an accomplished author, professional speaker, corporate trainer, and coach. After working in the administrative profession for 20 years, Joan founded Office Dynamics International (ODI) in 1990, inspiring excellence in the administrative profession. Since then, Office Dynamics has grown into a global industry leader, offering a broad range of training and coaching solutions for administrative assistants and their executives. Joan has earned the respect of premier clients like Walt Disney World, Procter & Gamble, Cisco, and Humana. Joan has produced 400+ educational videos for assistants, written five books for assistants, designed three Certification/Designation courses for executive assistants, and has hosted 29 annual conferences for administrative excellence. Joan Burge has been passionate about the administrative profession for 50 years. She eats, breathes, and lives to improve the quality of life and education for assistants at every level worldwide.