At the start of a company is an idea and desire to create something new, to develop an area or in some way contribute to society. An entrepreneur is inspired to do business, just as an artist is inspired to paint. The problem is that when the business actually gets going, that original concept and passion can tend to get lost, which might mean the company loses direction, struggles to develop or that it just stops being fun. It’s hard to feel enthusiastic about an overflowing inbox, never ending to-do list and pile of administration, but enthusiasm is vital to the success of a company and the happiness of its employees.

That’s where a personal assistant steps in. In fact, one of the most important jobs of an assistant is to provide you with headspace and more time to concentrate on the important stuff, which means relaxing and exploring as much as it means meetings and urgent deadlines.

It’s hard to feel enthusiastic about an overflowing inbox, never ending to-do list and pile of administration, but enthusiasm is vital to the success of a company and the happiness of its employees. That’s where a personal assistant steps in. In fact, one of the most important jobs of an assistant is to provide you with headspace and more time to concentrate on the important stuff, which means relaxing and exploring as much as it means meetings and urgent deadlines.

Inspiration is often overlooked because of its lack of immediate impact, but everything we see, taste, smell, hear and feel awakens us to new possibilities, allowing us to overcome limitations and challenges. It has a significant effect on important life and business decisions.

Psychologists Todd M. Thrash and Andrew J Elliot have written extensively about the huge benefits of inspiration on the mind, stating that “The heights of human motivation spring from the beauty and goodness that precede us and awaken us to better possibilities.” Their implication is that inspiration helps us to stay enthused and actively driven towards achieving our goals, which of course is vital for the continued development of a company, but also the working environment and personal well being.

The results of a study (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188691100417X) showed that people who were generally more inspired in their daily lives also tended to set inspired goals, which were then more likely to be successfully attained. So whilst taking time to wander round an art gallery, read a book or lie on a beach might seem like “down time”, it could actually help you to be more productive in the long run.

Furthermore, Gregory Dess and Joseph Picken note in “Changing Roles: Leadership In The 21st Century,” our competitive global economy requires leaders to shift their focus from efficient management to effective utilization of a company’s diversity of resources. They argue that motivation, empowerment, inspiration, creativity and knowledge are key for successful leadership.

An assistant can help you harness those characteristics by taking care of all the mundane tasks that stifle your passion and by allowing you time to rediscover the excitement of leading a company.