special forces

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

origins

My grandfather was one of the very first Navy Seals. You’d not have guessed it in his later years, spent managing a furniture chain in a crisp blue suit, cigarette dangling from his lips, my grandmother beside him as the perfect suburban Betty to his Don Draper. In his youth, however, his Superman-like frame, strength, and shall we say flexible moral compass made him a shoe-in for a then brand new maritime commando unit organized to lead assault forces by water to enemy beaches, under the cover of darkness. They survived in uncertain conditions, with sub-par equipment, and braved open oceans while sometimes swimming with explosives to their targets ashore. These guys were trained in martial arts, map and boat making, jungle survival, local dialects, even sea-creature defense! Real renaissance men, customized for war.

what it is

I like to think I inherited my grandfather’s inclinations to literally and figuratively dive into deep water first, the capacity to constantly learn and thrive with limited resources, and to extract a thrill from doing what is both hard and necessary. I studied food along with the first big wave of epic and humble chefs in the Pacific Northwest, and nurtured a love of wine by earning my sommelier certification just because it seemed like a good challenge to know as much about history as viniculture. I was a sought after high-end nanny and taught preschool as a young woman, but redesigned the curriculum and co-founded a national nonprofit for domestic employers for kicks. A performing musician with her own record label and a catering company by age 23, I pushed hard to travel as much as possible, and to surround myself with accomplished, brilliant and unique individuals. I threw in a love for helping human beings, and accidentally helped define a role within the Executive Support industry, without having known such a thing was possible.

WHO THEY ARE

I’m speaking here of the elite tier of private, executive-level pros who manage the lives of groundbreaking, pioneering artists, execs, inventors, entrepreneurs, and scientists. You’ll hear them called a range of titles (upon which no one can seem to agree), among them Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, Executive Assistant or Senior Advisor. Alas, as the personal goals of each human are very different; so are their support teams.

True renaissance agents; these pros are uniquely determined, fiercely loyal, humble, and they prefer to color very far outside the lines. They are notoriously secretive; often hidden working inside the lives and estates of the rich and powerful, and they like it that way. Stealth right hands with a vast range of knowledge and curiosity about the world, their protective instincts, thick skin, an ability to class and culture-jump with grace makes them more of a defensive asset than a “serve the coffee and handle the calendar” type of aide. Their understanding, calming presence is supportive, and their authentic alignment with organizational culture trickles down to guests, extended family, even to the press. Their discretion is absolute. They will become an expert on brand new subjects regularly, as quickly as the situation at hand requires. This is how manuscripts get handed in, events of a lifetime are coordinated, forever homes are built, and how CEOs are able to scale their companies without losing their marbles.

how it feels

I’m weaving through a crowded foreign airport, visas in my hand. We are wearing respectful head coverings I procured so as to slip through customs gracefully. I flag the driver with a few lines of the language, ensure her luggage arrives and we’re off to engage with prime ministers and heads of state before she’s even realized what country we’re in. I just booked dinner with a client, so today is going to be a long one.

Next week I might procure red carpet options for an event, navigate an audit on her behalf, or direct PR while working through a sticky situation. I may send her daughter off to college, break ground on a new residence after working carefully to steer the architect back into reality, or refine a pitch deck for a unique audience. Special Forces means whatever the cost, whatever the task, we’re in, and we’ve got your back.

If you’d like to know more about the field or growing your career in the Executive or Private Service Support Industry, please check the class schedule below for upcoming classes!