I know I’ve highlighted some negative aspects of being an admin so far, and – I plan to continue. However, I do love being an admin!! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t spend so much time reading and learning more about our profession, its history, and our collective future. I’d like to spend this week discussing my top 3 reasons to love being an admin.
- Flexibility
- Opportunity
- Be a part of something bigger
We Are Everywhere
I’ve said it in other posts, and I’ll say it again – you can find an administrative role in almost any industry or profession.
That’s super awesome because that, alone, allows admins to immerse themselves in the world of their choice. I always say the admin profession is the skill set that allows me to follow my passions and interests.
Whether it’s healthcare, academia, legal, international, government, military, construction, event planning, art, or dance, they all require administrative work in order for the business/organization to function.
The possibilities are endless. Outside the routine and controlled responsibilities of the everyday, the actual world is yours to decide.
Our unique and vast skill set is transferable, practical, flexible, and necessary, which makes me feel like the world is open to welcoming my ambitions. Admins can adapt any of our vast, eclectic hard and soft skills to most other positions, and learning alternative methods/programs is normal and expected.
And we now can even be self-employed and work from home! Which can be a VERY tempting offer for someone who wants to travel while earning an income.
Keeping this in mind on tougher days, helps to remind me I’m not locked in anywhere. I can start again, try something new, learn new things and meet new people (if I choose to).
Learn Anything
By anything, I mean a??ny??thing??, and some day that knowledge will probably come in handy.
For example, my interests were pretty nerdy starting from age 14 because I REALLY wanted to know Excel and I love art. Every paycheck I’d divvy up my smoothie-making pittance in Excel.
Later on, Excel turned into learning Microsoft Access in college, and today I’m one of the few admins I know who uses Access. I make my own databases from scratch to suit my needs and expedite my administrative responsibilities.
Additionally, I expanded my art interests to Adobe Photoshop, and later, graphic design. Now I can make marketing material if/when I need.
No one told me to learn these things, I just wanted to. I was curious which turned out to be is the best way for me to learn. There’s no wrong answer. Even if it just ends up being a hobby, or hell, even if you hate it, that’s fine too. No one gives a damn – it’s your choice. Have fun.
Lastly, in my post about Setting Boundaries, I had a section about using your company/department as guinea pigs to help cope with a “less than ideal” job/task. Repurposing a negative into a positive is always a great way to cope with bullshit. Get creative and make the solution your own.
Being a Part of Something Greater
There are few things that make an admin happier than 1) checking items off a to-do list 2) feeling like you’ve given your best and your/your work being acknowledged as a “job supremely well done.”
That feeling of… admin badassery – the inner you affirming that you slayed today. While we hope to have daily wins, I also absolutely love the feeling of knowing I was part of something bigger. That feeling of accomplishment when you can look back and see where you started and compare it to where you are today.
I love being able to feel like I’m part of a team who all did their part to make something bigger happen. That you’re not alone in your struggle to be and do your best every day.
I suppose that is why I felt so strongly about starting this blog. I wanted to create something to provide every admin a place where we have a voice and can go through the daily struggle and grind together. When you work in a support role, especially by yourself, it’s really easy to feel isolated and beat down.
If you are fortunate and have a good manager or team, the isolation part might not resonate with you as much. However, you should understand the feeling of contentment when you and your team share victories together.
We put so much effort, love, care, and dedication into our profession and our jobs. After a while, that can take a toll, but the result could also be soooooo worth every minute. It’s always better to try!
End
I hope you enjoyed my top 3 reasons to love being an admin. I hope they spoke to you as much as they do to me.
What are your top reasons to love being an admin?
Photo by Bart LaRue on Unsplash
