Athena

Gift-giving should feel thoughtful, not rushed. Your assistant can make the process less stressful—from understanding how to make the people in your life feel special to handling the logistics. Swipe for tips to get started or visit the blog for more ideas: https://bit.ly/49GNAFT

Feeling the year-end crunch? Don’t let deadlines sneak up on you. Now’s the time to lock in deductions, max out contributions, and set yourself up for a stress-free tax season. These aren’t just to-dos—they’re opportunities to save money, optimize your finances, and start the new year with confidence. Here’s how your assistant can help: 1️⃣ Maximize 401(k) contributions They can track contributions, verify IRS limits, and handle admin details—like contacting your plan administrator or drafting an email to confirm details with your financial advisor. 2️⃣ Capture business expenses From reviewing credit card and bank statements to categorizing expenses and cross-checking invoices, your assistant ensures every deduction is accounted for and no detail is overlooked moving into 2025. 3️⃣ Optimize tax planning They can research strategies like donor-advised funds, manage gift documentation, and prepare paperwork to ensure your finances are in the best possible shape before the year ends. Read the blog for more ways your assistant can simplify year-end finances.: https://bit.ly/3P2BdKE

In a recent Esquire interview, Athena CEO and Co-founder Robert Hayes shared how optimism drives success. At Athena, we turn that mindset into real, tangible results by blending human expertise and AI-driven innovation. Through smart delegation and seamless support, we fuel your growth and creativity, delivering trusted partnerships and measurable outcomes that keep you ahead. Inspired by Robert’s insights? Read more about his interview: https://bit.ly/3V8ntS7

The saying "Your network is your net worth" rings true in countless cases, yet many professionals dread networking events, overlooking the human connection behind each interaction. Some argue that networking rarely leads to meaningful job opportunities.Participate in our poll below and feel free to explain further in the comments.

Human+AI isn’t about replacing your assistant—it’s about unlocking their full potential. When paired with the right tools, your assistant can combine AI’s speed and efficiency with their strategic judgment to create remarkable results. Here’s how to get started: ➡️ Turn Ideas Into Actionable Results AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Grammarly can help your assistant create a presentation deck, brainstorm ideas, or summarize data. Your assistant refines the output to align perfectly with your voice and strategic goals. 💡 Action It: Share examples of work you love with your assistant. This gives them context to direct AI tools effectively and tailor outputs to your needs. 🔍 Real Results: An assistant used ChatGPT to draft patient follow-up templates for a healthcare executive, ensuring consistent and empathetic communication. This gave the client more time to focus on strategic priorities, like improving patient care processes and team efficiency. ➡️ Build Smarter Systems for Repetition AI tools like Zapier, Notion AI, and ChatGPT can help your assistant streamline recurring processes—email templates, expense tracking, or appointment scheduling. The systems can scale with your needs as they are refined and save you hours each week. 💡 Action It: Identify recurring tasks and ask your assistant to explore AI automations like Zapier for workflows or Notion AI for SOPs. Collaborate on the setup, refine it together, and watch it evolve into a reliable system. 🔍 Real Results: An assistant scoped a VP role for a client by using ChatGPT to draft a comprehensive job description and design the entire hiring process. They then leveraged LinkedIn Premium for a targeted outreach campaign, identifying top candidates based on a look-alike search from profiles the client had flagged. This system saved the client weeks of effort and resulted in multiple high-quality interviews. ➡️ Combine AI Creativity With Human Expertise From generating visuals to crafting engaging presentations, AI tools like MidJourney, Sora, or Canva AI provide raw ideas your assistant can polish and customize for high-impact deliverables. 💡 Action Tip: Delegate a creative project to your assistant and ask them to test tools like MidJourney for visuals or Sora for storytelling. During review, focus on what worked and why to refine the process for future projects. 🔍 Real Results: An assistant used MidJourney to create visual concepts for a client’s high-stakes presentation. By pairing these with Canva AI, they delivered a polished deck that wowed the audience and secured a big-dollar contract. When it comes to Human+AI delegation, start small and refine together. Next, step back and watch your assistant use these tools to create lasting systems that elevate your impact.

Does every email deserve your attention? The quick answer—no. Your inbox isn’t just a collection of messages; it’s an access point to your time. Left unmanaged, it can quickly become the bottleneck that slows down you and your team. Here’s how to rethink your inbox with your assistant: 1️⃣ Triage Your assistant isn’t just sorting emails—they’re building a system to get the right messages to the right people at the right time. When you're running a large team, too many decisions end up in your inbox, slowing everyone down. Your assistant can help by routing decisions back to your team or handling them directly. 💡 Pro Tip: Have your assistant shadow you as you work through emails (via screen share or video). Talk through your thought process so they can learn how you’d handle similar situations. This real-time training doesn’t take extra time and accelerates their ability to act on your behalf. 2️⃣ Shift from Inbox to Impact Your inbox isn’t a to-do list—it’s a tool for triage. Work with your assistant to redirect actionable items to your team or into tools like project managers or calendars. This keeps your inbox clear for what truly needs your attention. 💡 Pro Tip: Introduce “impersonate mode.” When appropriate, train your assistant to send messages as you (not on your behalf). This carries a higher standard and requires trust, but it ensures faster communication for recurring or straightforward topics. 3️⃣ Empower, Don’t Micromanage Delegation isn’t just about offloading tasks—it’s about trust. Allow your assistant to manage follow-ups, draft replies, and handle conversations within agreed-upon boundaries. The more autonomy you give them, the faster your team can operate. 💡 Pro Tip: Set a “check-back threshold.” For example, ask your assistant to only flag items that exceed a certain value or require strategic input. Then let them own the rest. When your assistant owns your inbox with these strategies, your team works faster, bottlenecks disappear, and you can focus. With less context switching, you’ll stay present and locked in.

Gift-giving should feel thoughtful, not rushed. Your assistant can make the process less stressful—from understanding how to make the people in your life feel special to handling the logistics. Here’s how to delegate gift-giving this season: 1️⃣ Share context: Leave a voice note with insights about the recipient’s passions, challenges, and memories. Your assistant will organize the details. 2️⃣ Explore gift options: Your assistant will help narrow down the best options. Together, decide on unique items, unforgettable experiences, or deeply personal gestures. 3️⃣ Don’t stress the details: Your assistant will handle research, logistics, and those extra-special touches, like wrapping or coordinating with others. 4️⃣ Refine as you go: With every gift, your assistant learns your style, making each one more meaningful than the last. The best gifts start with the people who matter most—and a little help to make it happen. Read the blog for more ideas: https://bit.ly/3OXAudu

These leaders unlocked their potential by focusing on what matters most—and trusting others to handle the rest. With assistants who anticipate needs, solve challenges, and take initiative, they’ve found more time for strategy, innovation, and living life on their terms. What could you achieve with the right support? Watch the video to see how delegation isn’t just about getting help—it’s about gaining the freedom to lead effectively and live intentionally.

Among the aspects that influence job satisfaction, is the work model applied in a business. The shift towards a remote work model has been met with enthusiasm from both employers and employees. Businesses are attracted to the cost savings associated with reduced office space and operational expenses, while workers value the increased freedom and time it affords them for personal pursuits. Participate in our poll below and feel free to explain further in the comments.

Athena's CMO, Victoria Alcachupas, ranked 11th on the Top 100 Filipinos on LinkedIn for 2024. This prestigious list recognizes Filipinos who are pioneering excellence across various industries, advancing in their careers, and inspiring others through their knowledge and expertise. Anna Victoria Alcachupas’ thought leadership on LinkedIn—grounded in personal and professional experiences—strongly resonates with professionals worldwide. Her dedication reflects Athena’s core value of Approach Directly, fostering honest communication and a growth mindset within and beyond our organization. Congratulations, Victoria! Your achievements inspire us all.