Because you clearly don’t get to know enough about me and my crazy brain through reading these blogs each week, I decided to write a blog about what I do in a typical day/week. All of my days differ each day, and week to week, so I’m just going to explain to you what it means to be a Marketing & Admin Assistant for the wonderful Valcato Entertainment.
In my role, I’m lucky enough to be able to work from home so I have a leisurely start to my day. I really do feel for all you commuters – I used to do it myself, and let me tell you, the traffic on the M62/M60 on a Friday was HELL! Usually I start off with a decaf oat milk cappuccino (if you know, you know – and if you don’t, then you need to) and whatever I feel like scoffing for breakfast. I’ll usually turn my laptop on around 8:50, in preparation to start bang on 09:00 (just in case the bosses read this 😉 I am a great employee). But all jokes aside, I genuinely do – I’m an organised person and a stickler for timings.
I always get my little set up going on the dining room table, work phone at the ready, water for hydration and, what you can’t see, is the stash of snacks to the left hand side that usually keep me going throughout my shift.
Asana is my holy grail for work – you need it in your life if you don’t use it already – and I’m not sponsored by them to say this, I just think it’s great. It’s a task based project management system, and due to the nature of my role, it really helps keep me on track each day/week. I have a ‘My Tasks’ section which pulls a list of all tasks assigned to me, from every projects in our Asana group, in due date order, so I know what is high/low priority. First thing each day, I go onto Asana to check for what needs doing that day, and especially for any last minute urgent tasks I may have been assigned overnight.
Then it’s onto my emails and Teams message check for any pressing matters there. I’m usually greeted by just a funny meme/photo on Teams, which is always a great way to start the day. Then, nagging Nancy comes out to play as I am the chief of reminders – not an official title, but more something I’ve given myself. Any emails that need responding to, photo of the month entries, and anything else in between, I have the pleasure of the team on to ensure everything gets done, on time!
Next, I’ll get to work on the adhoc tasks that Jay and Vicky set for me, as I know I have flexibility with my daily/weekly recurring tasks that I set myself. This can be anything from audition posts, to research tasks, to zhuzhing up company documents (best believe I Google’d how to spell that, and the spell-corrector on WP still said it was wrong).
And then it’s onto my bread and butter (pudding, I wish) – my recurring tasks that keep me busy as a bee each week. As I said before, I can be super flexible with the majority of them, as long as they get done each week; so I just go off my mood each day as to which ones I do. When I’m feeling creative, I’ll get my social posts curated, created and scheduled for the following week. I always stay a week ahead of myself on scheduling just in case disaster struck, I got ill and had to take time off. If I’m in a chatty mood, rather than bore my partner to tears, or talk to my dog (…), I like to get my blog post written out for the week following. It’s like an internal monologue that streams out of my brain, through the tips of my acrylics and onto the laptop screen. Once it’s all written out, I definitely go back and check that, what I had in my mind, actually makes sense and is suitable for posting – it’s a good job I do this, as there have been some questionable, almost mishaps.
In the midst of all this, I have a needy attention seeking diva of a dog, Joey – who demands cuddles at least once an hour. It’s a great endorphin booster, and screen break, but also highly distracting when you’re in the middle of something.
He’s also been a great hot water bottle during the winter months, sitting on my lap during work hours. But now the sun has started to shine outside, he’s off like a flash and it’s like I don’t even exist.
Throughout the day, I drink endless cups of tea like they’re going out of fashion – I like to call it my brain fuel. I feel like I can tell when I’m flagging and a brew perks me right up – which is probably the caffeine, and not just a placebo effect like I tell myself it is. But as the great saying goes, a cup of tea solves everything…
Towards the end of my day, I usually have a small panic that there’s too much to do and not enough time, before realising I just haven’t ticked the complete button on my Asana tasks. Then peace and serenity are restored, and I feel like I’ve had a good day (most of the time). I finish my day off, usually at 2pm, with a quick email and Teams check to make sure there’s nothing pressing before I log off and pretend I’m going to go to the gym. What?! It’s the thought that counts…
So, there you have it, an insight into what I get up to behind the scenes to produce content, blogs, and help the wonderful Valcato team through the week. I’d be interested to know who thought this was more exciting than they first thought, or who’d rather watch an Antiques Roadshow marathon, followed by a 2 hour long special of Great British Canal Journeys…
Ciao for now,
Otti x
WeAreValcato.
