• All the Function keys. That row above your number keys do some pretty nifty things. I don’t know anyone who has them all memorized, but just go through and hit them randomly every so often. I bet you’ll be surprised.
• [Command][Tab] cycles through all the applications you have open at the time.
• [Command][~] cycles through all the windows that are open within any single application.
  • for example, if you have two or more Word documents open
  • the [~] is right above [Tab]
• [Command][Shift][4] turns the mouse arrow into a quick screen grab tool. When you hit the key combination, you’ll notice that the mouse arrow turns into a target-like circle. Just drag a rectangle around anything, and a picture of that appears as a .png file on your Desktop. This is a great way to put something into a PowerPoint presentation or to email someone a visual.

That last one may be my favorite hidden gem. It’s saved me a lot of time over the years.

I’m often asked about the standard $10-an-hour pay offering by those advertising for assistants on Craigslist. I must assume that these entrepreneurs get responses because otherwise, they would stop asking.

For my part, I usually respond to this inquiry by saying—they probably got what they paid for.

There probably is a reason that the ad answers are willing to settle for this wage. The bottom line is, they accept $10 an hour because (for whatever reason) they are not able to get someone to pay them more than that.

Even if there are extenuating circumstances, I feel that the small business runner would be taking a big risk. Once a good assistant begins to realize that he/she is being underpaid and is able to command a higher price elsewhere, then the entrepreneur will either have to step up and match the demand or be willing to start all over with someone new and of perhaps a lower quality.

When you own a business, I know that business is you. And you deserve an administrative professional who is capable, experienced, and trustworthy. Not someone purchased at a bargain basement rate.