CRAFT & SPIRIT

CRAFT AND SPIRIT

Bring It On

My entrance as an Executive Assistant to Chelsie Thompson at The Renaissance Theatre was a whirlwind of events:

-I desired a full-time position and an environment to develop fundamental and new skills in life, as well as a job I’m passionate about.

-Asked in person, somewhat informally, if an Executive Assistant position would be valuable. I was thrown into the CEO’s office by a friend who worked here. He basically said “Here’s Matt, he wants to know about this position. The floor is yours Matt!” We spoke for a while and I gave her a fairly rough pitch of myself and what I believed in.

-Afterward, I emailed a formal request.

-Chelsie gave me a job offer.

-She took me in and I was working the day I met for clarity on that job offer.

After the meeting and my confirmation, I asked her, “So, what are the next steps?” As we were walking out of her office she pointed to my laptop and said “I’m about to go to our staff meeting, could you take minute notes?” That staff meeting was when she introduced me as the new Executive Assistant. I started that day in a position that has already proven to reignite and reimagine my past and current skills, and inspire and foster new ones.

I’m extremely thankful for so many skills I’ve developed in my personal time with a desire for holistic growth, but there were still so many things about this job I had no clue about.

-Email

-Calendar

-Meetings

-Specificity in communication and expectations

-Slack 🫣

-Things I thought I knew about like project and task management.

-and so much more…

I knew I needed a resource before I drowned and burnt out trying to figure it out myself. I believe I could in time, but I didn’t have that time. I picked up Jeremy Burrow’s book The Leader Assistant and now feel extremely confident to continue forward with the skills and tools necessary.

His book will be the first of many books I read about this position, as there is an expansive world to this work. At first, I didn’t have a clear understanding of what my job is, but now I understand that will be how I feel forever, but that’s alright. My job is many things, but most importantly, I’m here to create time for my CEO, so that she can do her best work. I feel I’m learning more and more how to do that every day.

I’m thankful for this opportunity, and extremely excited to take on the oncoming challenges and adventures of this important work.

CRAFT AND SPIRIT

This Path Is Not Meant to Be Lonely

It’s interesting to look at this bit of necessary divergence in a path toward creativity, and it’s funny to see it shaping everything I needed. As I continue my path toward artistic and spiritual freedom I’m only bolstered in my journey by this new job. I sensed I needed a challenge, I spoke those feelings out loud, and I received something that would prove to be my new challenge.

I can only toil away for so long by myself. I needed the time to master particular skills, but even then I needed a team to implement these skills and learn my weaknesses. So, if anything, I’m happy to explain to you how this particular work has been congruent with my journey.

The skills that I’m working on apply to the creative and personal. My job is to create time for my CEO, so when reflecting these skills toward yourself as the CEO of your own company (for example, Matt Piper LLC) how would you create time for yourself? How can you build a team around the projects you want to accomplish, and how do you communicate effectively to move the needle on those projects?

I took this job because I needed to find out how it all worked, every aspect if I can get my hands on it. When I find out all of these aspects, I will further know how to create incredible work. Work that I think will help our world, arguments to pose.

Let’s utilize my screenplay as an example. Jason Painley the CPA, Executive Vice President & CFO of Mechanics Bank told me “The most important part of your every day is that your work should be a contact sport. The relationships you build matter more than your time spent at the desk.” It’s the relationships that surpass all things. There are going to be times when you ask someone for help, and you should ask for help, but it’s even more important to find out how you can help them.

I’m extremely fortunate because right next door to my office sits Michael Thomas, who I consider my scriptwriting mentor. We began meeting weekly to make sure my script stays on course. Ryan Shealy, a friend and collaborator, (He’s the one who threw me into the CEO’s office), will speak through ideas with me, offer insights, and share expansive movie knowledge.

That’s my writing team. More people will pass their eyes over my script as time goes on, but once I feel the script is at a good spot, we’ll move into production planning, shooting, editing, and then release. It sounds simple, but a team will be designated through each of these steps, and they’ll shift from step to step. Some will be there through the entire process, others will come and go. throughout the entire process are touchpoints with many individuals. To learn how to build out an entire film starts by building relationships, asking for help, and being there to help.

That’s how I think we’re going to release this film, I’ll let you know if anything changes on the way.