The CEO’s Secret Weapon: How Great Leaders and Their Assistants Maximize Productivity and Effectiveness

Feb 25,2024: I have read this with each EA I have hired for the last 5 years. When they are first hired, we meet every day to cover a chapter and what stands out to us. Definitely helps to set mutual expectations and build a good foundation for working together.My sole qualm with the book is that Donald Trump is mentioned multiple times. Like him or not, he’s a very polarizing figure and he distracts from the book’s message. I hope Jan releases an updated version with some new interviews and takes him out of it.Feb 19, 2019: Wow! I devoured this book in a day and I highly endorse it. As a business leader, I can say this book perfectly encapsulates everything you need to know about finding the right "secret weapon" or "business partner" to dramatically multiply your effectiveness. I was not expecting it to be as good as it was. I definitely learned a lot and I've been founding and leading businesses for 20 years. I will definitely be reading it again!

I was able to snag my first EA position - being able to speak to the business relationships EAs must have with the C-suite is really helpful. We’re more than just calendar kings and queens, we’re the powerhouse behind the powerhouse!

The good thing:Some very good stories that reflect wide experienceThe bad thing: lot of the advices will not work on on a CEO who work as a staff but A CEO who owned the business or at least owned part of it

Jan, who is absolutely the right person to write this book, really gives us CEO's a roadmap.As someone who's founded four international companies, and run three of them, I realize how much the "right hand person" to a CEO can help - or hold back.It blows me away how some biz leaders have assistants who aren't effective. Also it made me realize how much I didn't know about the process.Jan is really great how she outlines the whole process - from the benefits, to figuring out what you want, hiring, and onboarding.THANKS on behalf of me and other biz leaders out here Jan!

The Trump quote on the cover of this book is a HUGE turn off for me. But the stories have been fun to read and it seems like I will get some use out of it. I hope they print a new version without Dump on the cover. Ick!

I met the author and then brought this book to share with my company's senior exec assistant team for discussion at a forum. Not only did this book bring a view of how an exec might utilize an EA, but it can be a playbook for exec assistants to measure their skills, those of their colleagues and their partnerships with execs. Those attending the forum are planning to share with their own EA teams (and their bosses) to raise the bar for this professional role. I'm very pleased with this book.

The best part about this book for me was reading that there is potential and growth beyond the traditional assistant role. If you can't imagine or see how that can be, this book helps give real life examples on how to go beyond the surface of the role.

I found Jan's book by chance and I'm glad I did. I've been an administrative professional for 40+ years with half that time working for CEOs. While the book was intended for executives, essentially it is the assistant that trains the executive on how to use them wisely. I am always looking for ways to increase my effectiveness as well as my CEO's. Jan's book gave me the blueprint to follow to do just that.

Hello,I am Executive Assistant and after reading of this book, I found it very helpful for being Exceptional EA. I refer this book to all my EA community for being Exceptional EA.I am very thankful to Jon Jones for writing this a great book. Thank you very much Jon!!!!!!Regards,Sameer Khan.

Awesome, arrived on time, love the book

Really interesting. I enjoyed the reading. Full of excellent suggestions and tips. A really help to understand better and easily business environment at high level.

very good book, some good tips and ideas

I loved this book, hits the mark perfectly highlighting the relationship required to have an exceptional and effective partnership between an executive and their assistant, and how to make the assistant your most important business partner.