5 Unmistakable Reasons to Hire an Executive Assistant NOW
Does this sound familiar?
January: This is the year I’m going to do it—I’m finally getting an assistant. I need help so badly!
February: Wow, that first month flew by. Let me just catch up on a few things, then I’ll hire an assistant.
March: Too much going on as Q1 wraps up. I’ll punt this to Q2.
April: Let’s get through tax season first.
May: That’s it. I can’t do another 12-hour day or miss another important lead. I’m hiring an assistant.
June: Hmm… how do I even start looking for an assistant? I’ll research it.
July: Haven’t had time to research. I’ll get to it next week during vacation.
August: Never did that research. The board meeting is coming up—I’ll ask some friends for a recommendation after that.
September: … buried in the board meeting…
October: …buried in items that came out of the board meeting…
November: …buried in some other random project to be completed before EOY…
December: Yikes… the holidays are here. I’ll punt to next year.
Sound uncomfortably familiar? You're not alone.
As a recruiter, I’ve seen this cycle play out time and again. Executives often don’t hire an assistant until they’re in full-blown chaos mode, desperately needing help yesterday.
Worse, some hire any applicant or referral who comes across their desk, only to discover they chose the wrong person.
If that sounds like you, it’s time to break the cycle. Here are five unmistakable reasons you need to hire an assistant NOW (and why waiting only makes things worse).
1) You Can’t Do It All (Without an Assistant)
Time doesn’t care who you are—it marches on, whether you’re a CEO or a caterpillar. No amount of success magically creates more hours in your day. In fact, success steals time by adding complexity, demands, and responsibilities.
If you’re running on 12-hour days, constantly putting out fires, and endlessly chasing your tail, you’ve hit the ceiling of what one person can do.
A strategic partnership with the right assistant doesn’t just free up hours—it gives you the time to focus on what matters most. Whether that means scaling your business, hitting major goals, or finally making it home for dinner, an assistant helps you step into the role of a true leader.
Ask yourself: What’s on my plate right now that someone else could handle just as well—or better?
2) You Don’t Have the Skill Set (and That’s Okay!)
You’re in your role because you’re brilliant at moving the needle forward. Whether that means driving revenue, building relationships, or crafting innovative strategies, your energy belongs on high-impact work—not in the weeds of administrative chaos.
Here’s the truth: The role of an assistant isn’t easy.
It requires a superhuman level of organization, prioritization, communication, and proactive problem-solving. They juggle 1,000 moving pieces with precision, all while anticipating your needs before you even realize you have them.
And—let’s be real—most executives aren’t exactly known for their organization skills. Your desk is a mess, your inbox is overflowing, and your life feels like controlled chaos. You’re running late to meetings, forgetting commitments, and dropping balls left and right. That’s where the right assistant comes in.
Could you do this job? Maybe.
But should you? Absolutely not.
Every minute you spend coordinating logistics or managing your inbox is a minute stolen from the work only you can do.
3) Productivity Skyrockets with an Executive Assistant
A well-matched assistant can increase your productivity by 20-50%. That’s not a typo—that’s a fact.
Imagine what you could accomplish if half of your day was freed up. Imagine if someone else handled the follow-ups and put out the fires. Imagine having the bandwidth to focus on strategy, growth, and innovation.
Picture this:
Every meeting has an agenda, clear outcomes, and a follow-up plan.
Your inbox is perfectly organized, with only the most important emails flagged for your attention.
That endless to-do list? Cut in half because your assistant handled the rest (and loved every second of it!!)
Now think about your current inefficiencies and bottlenecks. How much are they costing you, personally and professionally?
4) Your Competition isn’t Waiting.
Here’s the reality: Assistants aren’t a luxury—they’re essential.
The old-school “secretary” stereotype is dead and buried. Today’s administrative professionals are strategic partners who directly impact your bottom line.
Your peers already know this. Many of the executives you admire wouldn’t dream of running their day without an assistant.
As renowned sales coach Jack Daly puts it, “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one.”
If you’re still not sure, take it from someone with a net worth in the billions—even Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, credits his assistants for his success.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have achieved half of what I’ve done without my assistants.”
If you’re still hesitating, ask yourself: What am I waiting for?
5) You—and Your Business—Deserve This
You’ve worked hard, pouring everything into your business, but still feel like you’re always behind. Why?
Maybe you’ve told yourself you’re not “big enough” yet to need an assistant. Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself it’s a luxury you can’t afford (we can’t all be Sir Branson). Both are lies driven by your ego.
Here’s the thing: You don’t hire an assistant because you’re already successful. You hire one to become successful.
Arlan Hamilton, the trailblazing founder of Backstage Capital, puts it perfectly:
“If you’re an entrepreneur or solopreneur, the first hire you make should be an assistant. Period.”
You’ve worked hard to build something amazing. It’s time to support yourself—and your business—with the help you need to thrive.
So, What’s Stopping You?
The cost of waiting is higher than you think.
Burnout, missed opportunities, stalled growth—these are the real prices you pay for delaying this decision.
Hiring the right assistant isn’t just about lightening your load. It’s about creating the bandwidth to be the leader you were meant to be, to focus on what truly matters, and to take your business to the next level.
Don’t wait until you’re in chaos mode again. The time to act is now.