The Founder & The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together

by Adam Hergenrother, Hallie Warner

Beside every successful Founder is a powerful Force Multiplier.
 
A Force Multiplier is a strategic partner for any entrepreneur, an invaluable asset to a Founder working toward building a thriving business. Known as an Executive Assistant or Chief of Staff, they are an entrepreneur's competitive advantage in accomplishing goals and scaling growth.
 
But what happens when a Force Multiplier is kept out of the conversation and left unfulfilled? And how does an entrepreneur work with their Executive Assistant without burning them out? In this updated version of The Founder & The Force Multiplier , Adam Hergenrother and Hallie Warner provide the candid insight they're known for. You'll learn the basics of forming a successful partnership, solutions to common communication challenges, and how to form a united vision that moves the business forward. You'll also learn how to plan for the future and lead together as Adam and Hallie share how they started several companies, created new content and training, and navigated growth over the past decade. This is a groundbreaking resource that will help you achieve more as individuals and be better together.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Professional Development

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

I am the Founder and CEO of Adam Hergenrother Companies, a multifaceted organization that empowers today’s leaders in developing the leaders of tomorrow. When I am not growing my organizations, you can find me in the Vermont mountains with my wife, Sarah, and three children, Sienna, Asher, and Madelyn.

Reviews

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave to my daughter to read, as she was looking for her first job as an executive assistant. Extremely helpful and intuitive guide, straightforward. Not enough words to describe this astonishing work put forth by both authors.

"OUTSTANDING"

#KUDOS!

#WINNER!

#GOODREADSGIVEAWAYS

[Lacey James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Executive Secretary magazine had an interview with Hallie Warner, the "Force Multiplier" in this book that was captivating as someone who works in the EA space. It is unique in that it is written by an Executive/Founder and his EA/COS; most professional books in this space are written by a researcher or from only one perspective. The style is very conversational in tone; a little bit like a fly on the wall. They've pulled together business principles and research, a variety of techniques ranging from HBR to Gallop's Strengths Finder. It does have a bit of the feel that you get in a lot of MLM meetings and sales training seminars: repetitions about meditation, fitness & nutrition, type-A scheduling, abundance attitude; not a bad thing, just the vibe one gets in reading it. They did use "he" for Executive/Founder and "she" for EA/COS; they announced this at the outset with caveats that this is not the only gender combination possible and while helpful in following their thesis, it just felt dated. There were some really interesting take-aways and ideas that I will be implementing with my Executive that I think will enhance my career.

[jerm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprising amount of emphasis on presence and intentionality in and out of the office, which won three of the stars from me.

A business book, which lost two of the stars from me.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed the “two sides of the coin” take here on the EA and Executive partnership - it takes two to steer the ship, rain or shine - and it’s grounding to be reminded it doesn’t all happen overnight.

Listened to this on Audible and took advantage to slow it down just a touch (partly to soak it all in, partly as Mr. Hergenrother is quite passionate (i.e. speedy) when delivering some quick fire tips).

Whether you’re month 8 or year 8 into your strategic partnership as an Executive, CEO, Founder, etc and Executive Assistant, no doubt there are some new perspectives and thought leadership here.

[LP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been attending their Webinars and training courses for quite a while now, and this was what I needed to ‘put it all together’. This laid out in a clear and concise manner, what they have been teaching to so many.
The audio version has more personal content from Adam - I loved that - it helps to flesh out his ideas and add a feeling of 'connectedness'.
I ended up buying three more copies for our team, as we hire a new assistant, so that they may begin implementing these ideas from the start.

[Christine Trombley Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from an HR Generalist background, I found myself relating to a lot of what was said about building relationships, particularly with your Leader (Founder). I liked reading about establishing a "cadence of communication" with your stakeholders & connections, as well as taking responsibility for your "emotional wake." These were concepts I had never heard framed in this way before, and appreciated the authenticity of Adam & Hallie's writing. Great read!

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic insight in to the strategic partnership between the Founder (visionary) and the Force Multiplier (integrator). While I think a lot of the ideas in this book are better suited to a very different business relationship than I am or want to be in, it did encourage me to continue to level up at every opportunity.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exact book that I needed right now as I actively search for my first Executive Assistant. It perfectly outlines the relationship, the true partnership of the Executive and their Assistant. This will be required reading for my EA in their first 30 days!

[Karen Briscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The force multiplier is the ultimate leverage for the founder. The authors bring in real world experience and examples on how to achieve a higher level of success in business and life! Karen Briscoe, author and podcast 5 Minute Success

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. It had good tips and tricks for EAs, gave an insight in the work of the Executive as well as EA and how to improve/build the relationship with their Executive. Good read for EAs.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have helped a lot of my CEO clients hire their first executive assistant--and my assistant and I have help the new pair to figure out their own working rhythm. I'm a big fan of this concept. When I got my first assistant it changed my life. (And that first assistant has gone on to become a leader in one of the most loved multi-billion dollar brands in the world.)

So, I had high hopes for this book--and it did a good job. What I loved most was how specific and tactical they got. It wasn't just vague encouragement, they did things like spell out their daily routines and showed how they handled some of the difficult parts of the job. It was authentic and vulnerable.

But I had to deduct a star because in the end they strongly urged people to follow their approach and work like them, from going to be early and getting early (even though only 10% of people are wired to be early morning people) and handling meetings the way they do (even though there are many other options for note taking and task reporting these days).

So, I strongly endorse the concept. Leaders, as soon as you can afford it, hire an assistant! And if you're wiring just like these two, then the tactics are going to be invaluable. But if you don't resonate with their methods, then don't worry. I've worked with assistants of crazy productive billionaires and genius start up founders who don't follow these tactics.

[Aimee Ortega · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible. I had a hard time listening to it. The leader’s tone was irritating to me. I kept wanting his section to finish quickly for Hallie to share her perspective and she would chime in with 3 lines summarizing what he just said. I didn’t feel Hallie in this book and I would have loved to have heard her perspective a bit more. It sounded to me like the EA’s battled through burnout supporting the leader multiple times. Especially because when it came to the chapter on self care the leader said “oh self care is really for the EA’s”. And it’s probably because the EA’s are building time into his life for his own self care but he doesn’t even realize it. The book was good overall but I read a tone throughout it that bothered me. Maybe I have to listen again at a different time of day but not sure I will be able to.

[Huw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful set of tips and paradigm-breakers

Proved helpful in getting a large volume of administrative 'grind' off our shoulders at Counterfactual Ventures, allowing us to scale faster and achieve more.

[Harry Harman]

The 80/20 rule has popped up again!

Focus on the 20% that gets results: marketing and sales. Delegate the administrative 80% to your Chief of Staff. Elon Musk and Bill Gates has a Chief of Staff. You become a force multiplier.

[Dajana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is especially helpful for smaller businesses/ those who just got big enough for something like this. As someone who’s been in the admin world for years, I do wish it taught and / or suggested more of what I don’t already know. But, still great insight and nice reminders.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book. Highly recommend for anyone working with or as a EA

[Zachary Cadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if you're looking for the balance for an executive & executive assistant

[Tony Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding read for the entrepreneur who is trying to figure out if they should have a EA...I wish I would have read this years ago.

[Tess Fiedler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an intriguing read, but didn’t love the author’s writing style!

[Lisa Doolittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what an EA needs!

[Kayla Trudeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I’m definitely headed in the right direction for my career

[María De Felipe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book as an EA to the CEO getting prepared to jump into the Chief of Staff position. While I got some valuable lessons from the book such as the difference between both roles and the 20/80 rule, I don’t think this book was what I was looking for. Maybe the reason behind it is that it is “too American” for a European company. The way they talk about their almost non-existent boundaries between personal and working life shocked me. It is inconceivable to have a meeting with the executive's family, at least where I work, in Germany. Also, at times I got the impression that it was going deeper into a couple's relationship than a working one.

[Reanna Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an executive assistant, I found this book very informative and helpful. It was interesting to read from both the perspective of an EA and an Executive. Highly recommend to anyone who has a similar field of work.

[Jessie Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read! As a Force Multiplier myself I found that this book had some great tools and tips for me and my CEO. We read it together and had weekly check-ins. I definitely feel like our relationship is stronger from going through this together!