Her Story
About Cheryl
I currently work as a personal assistant for two different clients, providing a range of services from executive assistance to home organization and design. One of my clients is the CEO of her own consulting business, and I help her stay organized by creating tracking systems and spreadsheets for her clients. My other client is a homeowner I've worked with for years. I first started working with her by redesigning and redecorating her entire 6,000 square foot home over a six-month period, which really highlighted my natural ability to see what works and understand what my clients are looking for in terms of design and space organization. During that time, I also took on personal assistant roles like handling personal accounts and checks, ensuring bills were paid properly, and taking care of their vehicles. After she moved and came back, she reached out to me again to help organize her new home, and now I continue working for her doing personal assistant work and overseeing the home while they're away. I hold an Associate's degree from Lone Star Community College and an AutoCAD certificate, which I actually finished while undergoing cancer treatment. I've also built home furnishings, installed barn doors and mudrooms, and done extensive work in my own home using AutoCAD. I've learned a lot through hands-on experience and what I call YouTube University. I believe I have a natural talent for organization and design, and I give every project my all because I'm not willing to give anything but my best.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cheryl
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my personality of not being willing to give anything but my best. It's really important to me that I give any projects that I'm in my all. I just don't agree when people half-ass things, and it's not something I'm interested in. Quality and giving my best effort in everything I do is what drives me and has helped me succeed with my clients.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to follow your gut and speak up. Those two things have really guided me in my career decisions and helped me navigate my professional journey.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that confidence is key. Believing in yourself is more important than placing your own trust and self-worth in anybody else. You need to trust yourself and have confidence in your own abilities rather than looking to others for validation.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are AI and market saturation, particularly in the CAD industry. AI is becoming a big challenge for AutoCAD work. The industry is very saturated right now, which is a significant setback. Because the economy is struggling, companies are able to hire people who have been in the industry for longer and have more experience for less than those people are worth. This means they're not hiring people who are new to the industry, making it very difficult for newcomers to break in.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In both my work and personal life, honesty is the most important value to me. In my personal life, quality time and family are also very important. Family is a big deal for me. I also really value giving my all to everything I do and not half-assing things. It's important to me that I give any projects I'm working on my complete effort and attention.
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