Why HNW Employers Should Have a Strong NDA with Personal Assistants
This article was republished under "Fair Use" (and edited) as proof positive that high-net-worth employers and celebrities need strong confidentiality contracts with their staff, especially with a personal assistant. Republished from Grind-Stone archive, a now-defunct website.
Celebrity employers and high-net-worth families need to have their assistants sign iron-clad non-disclosure agreements, or this is what can happen. It's a cautionary tale.
Celebrity employers and high-net-worth families need to have their assistants sign iron-clad non-disclosure agreements, or this is what can happen. It's a cautionary tale.
When we think of personal assistants, Meryl’s wicked looks, shrill calls, and degrading demands as The Devil Wears Prada editor-in-chief often come to mind torturing the doe-eyed, just-wanted-to-be-a-journalist, fashion-challenged (in the first half of the film) Andie a personal assistant (Anne).
But just as we’d like to assume “that’s all,” as the malevolent fictional Miranda famously said, we’ve learned that there is much more to the stereotypical, complacent, star-struck assistant character. They do have an agenda of their own and an ambitious career plan they just get side-swiped by having to check on stray possums in Christian's yard. We were lucky to talk to a staffer of Martha's Upper-East-Side manic millionaires, and the founder of a website about PAs about what it is really like to be a personal assistant (or an executive assistant as some prefer to call it).
Tasks run the gamut from granular to grand like spoon-feeding a celebrity’s sick cat, answering fan mail, replacing 30 windows in a Wall Street bigwig’s apartment, or using a crane to remodel a terrace. While each personal assistant I interviewed had very different to-do lists, three things they all shared were an immunity to stress-induced ulcers, an admittedly warped view of personal life, and a yearning not to have it any other way.
But just as we’d like to assume “that’s all,” as the malevolent fictional Miranda famously said, we’ve learned that there is much more to the stereotypical, complacent, star-struck assistant character. They do have an agenda of their own and an ambitious career plan they just get side-swiped by having to check on stray possums in Christian's yard. We were lucky to talk to a staffer of Martha's Upper-East-Side manic millionaires, and the founder of a website about PAs about what it is really like to be a personal assistant (or an executive assistant as some prefer to call it).
Tasks run the gamut from granular to grand like spoon-feeding a celebrity’s sick cat, answering fan mail, replacing 30 windows in a Wall Street bigwig’s apartment, or using a crane to remodel a terrace. While each personal assistant I interviewed had very different to-do lists, three things they all shared were an immunity to stress-induced ulcers, an admittedly warped view of personal life, and a yearning not to have it any other way.
VIDEO: Assistants usually sign non-disclosure agreements
Harrison's publicist and personal assistant to mega-hit actor Christian, and author of the recent biography about the celebrity actor, worked for the sex symbol for over a decade. He started off as a marketer with big dreams for the little-known and immensely talented British performer who became a close confidante. As he took on both quirky and career-propelling projects, there were also hardships.
“If Christian was away filming on location, I would take care of his five pets, along with stray possums in the backyard as a special request,” said the assistant. “I would do anything from checking for B.O. right before he hit the red carpet to making emergency sock-runs if Christian was all out of clean ones. Sometimes duties were as exciting as traveling to film festivals and as dull as watching Christian surf in case something needed to be done onshore.”
Just being in the PA business was tumultuous. As the assistant described his busy days, it sounded very exhausting. It indirectly took a toll on his personal relationships. He got used to the eye-rolling by friends when he had to leave dinner early to take a call, but it certainly strained his marriage, which ultimately ended in divorce. But assistants can still save you time, and that's why they are so important.
Similarly, seasoned personal assistant Nancy responded with, “What time for dating?” when asked about the time she devotes to her love life. “It’s a pretty difficult thing to do when you’re sleeping only for an hour at a time because your client is working in another time zone across the globe.” But in the end, the celebrity PA job can pay off if you work hard.
Freedman also finds it funny that several personal assistants get into the business because they think it’s glamorous. “Let me tell you about the ‘parties’ I go to in my profession. I’m in the kitchen making sure the plumber arrives before a leak floods the place. And my late-night 2:30 a.m. good time is a house call to a client’s home to meet the police because the alarm accidentally went off while they were gone.”
Nicole, past assistant of 13 years and founder of the site ATA, which allows assistants to step out of the shadows of their bosses and share tips and advice, agrees. “It’s very easy to lose sight of your personal life when supporting a person of power. Over time, you invest yourself professionally and personally. My lunch breaks, sick days, and vacation time were things I never participated in because of my sense of ownership over my boss’s business.” Nicole said. “I, too, have had my fair share of 911 calls, pulling lost passports out of a hat and even briefing my boss on his reverse vasectomy appointment right down to the pre-op requirements of no sex and then no ejaculation cut-off points. I’m not kidding.”
Are you still wondering why anyone in their right mind would want to be a personal assistant to a celebrity?
“If Christian was away filming on location, I would take care of his five pets, along with stray possums in the backyard as a special request,” said the assistant. “I would do anything from checking for B.O. right before he hit the red carpet to making emergency sock-runs if Christian was all out of clean ones. Sometimes duties were as exciting as traveling to film festivals and as dull as watching Christian surf in case something needed to be done onshore.”
Just being in the PA business was tumultuous. As the assistant described his busy days, it sounded very exhausting. It indirectly took a toll on his personal relationships. He got used to the eye-rolling by friends when he had to leave dinner early to take a call, but it certainly strained his marriage, which ultimately ended in divorce. But assistants can still save you time, and that's why they are so important.
Similarly, seasoned personal assistant Nancy responded with, “What time for dating?” when asked about the time she devotes to her love life. “It’s a pretty difficult thing to do when you’re sleeping only for an hour at a time because your client is working in another time zone across the globe.” But in the end, the celebrity PA job can pay off if you work hard.
Freedman also finds it funny that several personal assistants get into the business because they think it’s glamorous. “Let me tell you about the ‘parties’ I go to in my profession. I’m in the kitchen making sure the plumber arrives before a leak floods the place. And my late-night 2:30 a.m. good time is a house call to a client’s home to meet the police because the alarm accidentally went off while they were gone.”
Nicole, past assistant of 13 years and founder of the site ATA, which allows assistants to step out of the shadows of their bosses and share tips and advice, agrees. “It’s very easy to lose sight of your personal life when supporting a person of power. Over time, you invest yourself professionally and personally. My lunch breaks, sick days, and vacation time were things I never participated in because of my sense of ownership over my boss’s business.” Nicole said. “I, too, have had my fair share of 911 calls, pulling lost passports out of a hat and even briefing my boss on his reverse vasectomy appointment right down to the pre-op requirements of no sex and then no ejaculation cut-off points. I’m not kidding.”
Are you still wondering why anyone in their right mind would want to be a personal assistant to a celebrity?
The Windows of Opportunities Are Worth Doors Slamming in Your Face
Sure, you may have to deal with the irrational temper tantrums taken out on you by your famous or über-rich employer, but expert personal assistants say that with the right boundaries in place, a clear goal in sight, and healthy self-esteem, the quirky tasks -- like having to race to your boss’s house at 3 a.m. to sift through a walk-in closet of 2,000 pairs of shoes for lost heels or handing over your empty Snapple bottle while your boss pees in it to avoid stopping on a six-hour road trip -- are well-worth the benefits.
For example, if you’re an aspiring actor, screenwriter, producer, or entertainment marketer, working as a personal assistant to the stars gives you exposure to powerful people, the right events, and the relevant projects that will give you a fast pass to cut the line as long as a hot L.A. night club full of cut-throat competition.
Outside of Hollywood, those who seek a high-powered position in fields like banking or litigation will find that the payoff of putting up with working ‘round the clock for an executive in that industry is like a prolonged interview for your dream job. If you make a good impression, then you’re in with a killer referral. You have someone on your side who will show you the ropes and let you into the inner circle of the business that could take a lifetime for other people to achieve.
And then, there are those on the hunt for love. These men and women are known to seek executive assistant positions to accomplish one thing: marry a celebrity. And do you know what I say? Go for it. I was surprised to find out how common this is, as Cheung estimates about 25% of celebrities date their assistants (like Nicholas) or friends’ personal assistants (like Matt who went out with Ben’s assistant). After all, that’s how Christian met his wife who was a personal assistant for then-girlfriend Winona. Go figure. So, assistants don't just run errands.
Other perks to consider are a vast variety of skills you can add to your resume that can apply to any job even outside of the industry you’re assisting.
As Lisa, personal organizer and life coach to elite clients like Martha explained, it’s an invaluable opportunity to showcase your organizational skills, hone hard-to-master management skills, and learn to quickly adapt to different personalities and work styles -- all of which are key components to any desirable office job if you decide your time as an assistant is up. Cheung agrees, having left his position with Christian for a marketing job he loves at IBM in Austin. He also attributes his success as a writer in his spare time to his background in entertainment, which is similar to the publishing world.
And, apparently, the pay isn't bad either for this long-term career investment. Though Hollywood is known as the lowest paid in the personal assistant spectrum, Krohn knows at least one person in another industry that makes as high as $125,000 a year with Wall Street known for dishing out the highest dollar for help, including bonuses.
Some tricks of the trade from these veterans to ensure your time as a personal assistant isn’t done in vain: be sure your reason for going into this field comes with clearly defined goals and check in at the end of each month to make sure you’re making progress in reaching those goals.
For example, if you’re an aspiring screenwriter, set specific objectives to network and share your scripts with a certain amount of influencers by a certain date. The last thing you want is to wake up 10 years later with no transferrable skills because you were too busy bettering your boss’s life to realize any of your own personal and professional goals.
For example, if you’re an aspiring actor, screenwriter, producer, or entertainment marketer, working as a personal assistant to the stars gives you exposure to powerful people, the right events, and the relevant projects that will give you a fast pass to cut the line as long as a hot L.A. night club full of cut-throat competition.
Outside of Hollywood, those who seek a high-powered position in fields like banking or litigation will find that the payoff of putting up with working ‘round the clock for an executive in that industry is like a prolonged interview for your dream job. If you make a good impression, then you’re in with a killer referral. You have someone on your side who will show you the ropes and let you into the inner circle of the business that could take a lifetime for other people to achieve.
And then, there are those on the hunt for love. These men and women are known to seek executive assistant positions to accomplish one thing: marry a celebrity. And do you know what I say? Go for it. I was surprised to find out how common this is, as Cheung estimates about 25% of celebrities date their assistants (like Nicholas) or friends’ personal assistants (like Matt who went out with Ben’s assistant). After all, that’s how Christian met his wife who was a personal assistant for then-girlfriend Winona. Go figure. So, assistants don't just run errands.
Other perks to consider are a vast variety of skills you can add to your resume that can apply to any job even outside of the industry you’re assisting.
As Lisa, personal organizer and life coach to elite clients like Martha explained, it’s an invaluable opportunity to showcase your organizational skills, hone hard-to-master management skills, and learn to quickly adapt to different personalities and work styles -- all of which are key components to any desirable office job if you decide your time as an assistant is up. Cheung agrees, having left his position with Christian for a marketing job he loves at IBM in Austin. He also attributes his success as a writer in his spare time to his background in entertainment, which is similar to the publishing world.
And, apparently, the pay isn't bad either for this long-term career investment. Though Hollywood is known as the lowest paid in the personal assistant spectrum, Krohn knows at least one person in another industry that makes as high as $125,000 a year with Wall Street known for dishing out the highest dollar for help, including bonuses.
Some tricks of the trade from these veterans to ensure your time as a personal assistant isn’t done in vain: be sure your reason for going into this field comes with clearly defined goals and check in at the end of each month to make sure you’re making progress in reaching those goals.
For example, if you’re an aspiring screenwriter, set specific objectives to network and share your scripts with a certain amount of influencers by a certain date. The last thing you want is to wake up 10 years later with no transferrable skills because you were too busy bettering your boss’s life to realize any of your own personal and professional goals.
Why You Should Consider Becoming a Personal Assistant & How
“It’s not only a fantastic entry-level position for someone who wants to get the insider info of a company or department before making the transition, but it’s also an admirable career for someone who likes running the show behind the scenes,” says Nicole. “As long as you have a genuine interest in your boss’s initiatives, you’ll find this to be a huge steppingstone in the direction of your dream job.”
And if you’re fresh out of college and completely unsure of what type of work to get into, the many hats of a personal assistant can provide a sampler platter of jobs that you can use to narrow down the career you want to pursue based on your interest.
All experts agreed that while very few people make assisting a lifelong profession, it is the gateway for huge opportunities made easier than ever today to obtain thanks to Facebook and Twitter where qualified fans can often contact employers directly and sites like ATA that feature and connect candidates to potential employers like photographers, actors, stylists, politicians, attorneys, teachers, makeup artists and more.
As Cheung put it, “Even Mary Poppins leaves in the end.”
Here are some tips for personal assistants: keep your mouth closed and stay loyal to your boss.
You can also register with staffing agencies like The Celebrity Personal Assistant Network.
And if you’re fresh out of college and completely unsure of what type of work to get into, the many hats of a personal assistant can provide a sampler platter of jobs that you can use to narrow down the career you want to pursue based on your interest.
All experts agreed that while very few people make assisting a lifelong profession, it is the gateway for huge opportunities made easier than ever today to obtain thanks to Facebook and Twitter where qualified fans can often contact employers directly and sites like ATA that feature and connect candidates to potential employers like photographers, actors, stylists, politicians, attorneys, teachers, makeup artists and more.
As Cheung put it, “Even Mary Poppins leaves in the end.”
Here are some tips for personal assistants: keep your mouth closed and stay loyal to your boss.
You can also register with staffing agencies like The Celebrity Personal Assistant Network.
