I was always intrigued by the many reasons people put forward as to why they felt 'unchallenged' and every time I ask: "What will challenge you in the current space you are in?", there is an awkward silence and a few coughs. Then an answer: "I just want to do more, I did not study to become someone's PA."
There are a few things you need to understand very quickly about the working industry and the job you have decided to take and work with:
1. You are not the most important person in the office
2. You are seen as old enough to shout when you need help or more work
3. You must be there for a bigger reason than getting paid
When you enter into an industry, you are working with experience and a lot of hard workers, so you cannot expect not to play the PA role a little bit. The sooner you learn, the more things you sponge in, the quicker you will feel less PA and more 'I am learning here.'
If you work where you work solely for the salary, then you will never be challenged because your eye is not on the right prize.
Once you focus less on the incentive and invest more in the learning - you will see things in a different way and will start to understand why things are done the way they are, and contribute to how they can be done differently.
Notice the word 'contribute'. If you have not contributed yet, even in a small way, then you need to pull up your socks and start contributing.
Do not make me coffee every morning if you see I only drink half the cup, rather offer to update my media list for me and add a publication that I have not thought of as yet.
That will force me to keep asking you to do something that will add value to my job everyday - that's where your challenge comes in.
You see, you need to be smart in some things. Being creative and smart can be compared to energy - it is reusable, it does not end, it is always there, you need to tap into it. So do yourself a favour:
How do you revive your job and make it something to look forward to each day?
