Adrienne writes: "I have been an Admin/Executive Assistant for 14+ years. I am 42 and feel like I have hit a wall with what I am doing."

You are not alone, Adrienne. Many admins feel the same way. I can honestly tell you this happens in every profession. Speakers can feel that way; nurses, lawyers, doctors, graphic designers, and realtors. The key to long-term career happiness is to always challenge yourself and look for ways to make your job interesting.

First, you have several options and you need to decide what you want to do in the next 1 - 3 years of your life. The way I interpret your note is that you are bored being in the administrative profession. But you could have meant there just aren't any exciting opportunities out there for you. I just spoke about this in October at our Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence. My session was called Managing My Career (from my new book, Underneath It All).

Where are you right now?

1. I am happy I even have a job in this economy. (If this is the case and you are just bored doing the same thing over and over, then use your creative juices and make your job more interesting. Create new processes or methods; take on a new project that will challenge you; take a task off your leader's plate; mentor other admins; make a monthly report more visually interesting and so on. It's up to you to add interest to your job; you can't always wait for your leader to make it happen.
2. I like my current job just the way it is. (Great!)
3. I like my executive and work I do and want to grow within this position. (If you like the company and/or your leader but the work has become ho hum, then refer to #1.)
4. I like the company I'm in and want to move up in the admin role. (What opportunities are available within your organization either within the administrative role or another field? Again, if you are pleased with your employer, the benefits, and your coworkers, see what other opportunities might be available in the future. Based on that, do you need to upskill? If so, start working a plan. You have to have a target to aim for and then map out how you will get there.
5. I don't really like where I work anymore and want to find a new job as soon as the economy picks up. (While there are clear signs the economy is getting better, we aren't there yet. You need to prepare for any move you might make outside your company.)

42 years old! Wow, you are young yet. I am far older than you. As long as we are alive and breathing, we are never too old to set goals and dream. It's very exciting. When we feel bored or stagnant or like we're too old to change or do more, that is usually a wakeup call saying, "DO MORE!" I started Office Dynamics when I was 40 years old. I had been getting a bit antsy when I was 37. I had worked in the administrative field since I was 18 years old--fresh out of high school. By the time I was 37, I had worked in 12 different companies, 5 states, various industries--I worked my way up from a Receptionist to Executive Assistant to C-level executives and CEOs. Now what? I did know that I did not want to be in the field and working for someone else by the time I was 40. That was my target and I achieved it. It wasn't easy because that is all I knew and I did not have a college degree. The past 20 years of owning Office Dynamics is a book in itself.

While I would like to say that you have your whole life ahead of you, I'm a bit smarter since my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 57. Fortunately, he has had excellent medical care and is doing well as of today. But that taught me that while we like to think we have 30, 40, or 50 years ahead of us, it can all change in one day.

Every day, look for ways to make your work and life interesting. Take on courses that challenge you. Decide if you want to stay in the field or not. It could be you just need an entirely new environment. Train other assistants in your organization--we have plenty of materials you can use.

I'd also like to suggest a new great book we now sell, written by Dan Zadra, called Five: Where Will You be 5 Years From Today?

Remember, your future starts NOW! Best of luck to you.