1. This book written by Jerry Weintraub. I read this book years ago and recently re-read it with my teens who voted it their favorite non-advice advice book of all time. It’s an entertaining look at a life well lived but the lessons it teaches about not taking no for an answer, why networking matters and how to re-invent yourself (multiple times if necessary, at least once if not!) last well beyond the last page.

When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man

2.If you want to gift your grad technology that will withstand whatever life throws at them next, then the Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 is the way to go. With carbon fiber built into the lid and the chassis and spill channels in the keyboard (liquids run right back out the bottom!) this is a lightweight powerhouse that should last well past the last strains of Pomp and Circumstance. Our clients regularly get 7+ years out of them and I’ve personally had one fly out of a moving car and only suffer minor scratches.

Lenovo - ThinkPad

3. Whether it’s thanking people for graduation presents themselves or sending to potential employers after interviews, Smythson’s personalized correspondence cards will place your graduate in a league of their own. The art of a handwritten note still makes an impression and good quality materials seal the deal.

Kings Correspondence Card

4. Every person moving into a new chapter and stepping fully into who they are should have a signature scent to accompany that transition. Enter Molecule 1. Niche perfumer Escentric Molecules created this fragrance over 20 years ago and it’s become a cult classic. A unisex single note creation that smells a bit differently on each wearer, it’s been described as ‘warm skin… but better’. Some people have trouble detecting the fragrance at all but others will chase you down the street and ask what you’re wearing. It’s more ‘aura’ than fragrance and celebrates the next chapter with style and sophistication.

Molecule 01

5.The first time a client asked me to hand them their iPad encased in a Leatherology envelope I HAD to know where that buttery softness had come from. Grads would celebrate pretty much any selection from this retailer but the personalized Padfolio gift set stands out to me as something that would give you confidence to carry into any meeting or interview on your way out into the wide world.

Padfolio Gift Set

As featured in the Wall Street Journal:

Wall Street Journal Graduation Gift Guide

We regularly get phone calls from all over Boston from clients who are frustrated because they tried to hire someone to do something around their house and were unsuccessful. There are many reasons this can be the case but primarily we have found that the vast majority of people just don’t understand that they are playing a numbers game and that’s why they’re losing. If a client tells me they want someone to replace the carpet in an upstairs bedroom, I am going to open up our contact database and I’m going to start calling and I’m not going to stop until I have reached out to at least 20 different vendors. Yes, 20. And here’s why. If you try calling someone who puts down carpet during the day, there is a good chance you are going to get their voicemail. They are busy carpeting! (And if they’re not, there’s a chance there’s a reason why…. If you do reach a secretary don’t forget the cost of her salary will likely be reflected in the final cost of the project) Now some numbers might be out of service, maybe one guy retired but that means I’ve still probably left at least 15 voicemails. Out of that maybe 10 will actually get back to me. Those 10 give me appointments for different days and times but I do my best to corral them into groups where possible. Out of those 10 only 7 actually show up for the appointments they made. You ask those 7 to give you a written quote. Written quotes are like tradesman kryptonite. If you are willing to work off verbal quotes you can absolutely get things moving more quickly, but it can often lead to regret down the road when results and final costs don’t match the initial numbers you were given and you don’t have proof of what those were. So you ask those 7 for written quotes, you will be lucky to actually receive 3 or 4 from the 7 people you asked for them. That is the actual amount of time and effort that is often required to achieve what seems like a much simpler goal and the vast majority of people tend to underestimate it by a large margin. Time of year, the current state of the economy, supply issues and many other factors can move the needle a bit in either direction, in terms of how eagerly vendors are looking for work. But good tradespeople are in high demand pretty much perennially and it takes effort to get on their radar and stay there long enough to bring a project to completion. If that sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. Coordinating contractors and vendors is something we handle regularly for clients throughout Boston. If you’re overwhelmed by a home project, we’re happy to help simplify the process.

FAQ

How many quotes should I get for a home improvement project?

Usually 3–4 written quotes after contacting multiple vendors.

Can a personal assistant coordinate contractors?
Yes — this is one of the most time-saving ways clients use our service.

What areas do you serve?

We work with clients throughout Boston and surrounding areas including Newton, Lexington, Quincy and further afield as well.

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