The Real Definition of Job Security (and Why It Matters for Executive Assistants)

When I started my first side hustle, I didn’t have a five-page business plan, a marketing strategy, or even a vision board for that matter.

What I did have was a six-month-old baby Nathaniel, an over-functioning coffee machine, a full time job, and a head full of both excitement and adrenaline.

I’d just left an awful marriage — the kind that takes pieces of you with it — and moved across the country from Sydney to Perth. Big new promotion at work. New city. New neighbours. New everything.

I didn’t even know where the closest petrol station was. Everything was brand new.

I’d just bought my first home — the first place I’d ever lived where I could hang pictures on the wall without worrying about stripping the paint. Where I could plant things in the garden and not feel guilty for growing roots I might have to rip out again.

Cue: cold sweats about mortgage repayments. And a spreadsheet that definitely did not balance.

I was rebuilding my life from scratch with a baby on my hip, laptop on the counter, thinking:

“If stability doesn’t exist, I’ll build it myself.”

And that’s where my side business began.

Not a plan. Not a dream board.

Just a quiet promise to myself, that I would never again rely on anyone else to decide if my life was safe or my work was valuable.

Why It Mattered So Much

As a single mum, there’s no safety net. There’s just YouTube tutorials, caffeine, and sheer willpower.

I loved my job, truly, but I hated how fragile it all felt.

One leadership shuffle, one lost client, one missed contract, and everything I’d built could crumble.

I was lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, doing the maths in my head... the mortgage, the daycare, the groceries. Realising how quickly I could lose everything if my job disappeared.

All my eggs were in one basket.

And when you’re the only one holding that basket, you start to see just how dangerous that is.

So I started building something on the side.

Something that was mine.

At first, it was messy. Weekends, nap-time emails, late-night Google searches like “how to build a website without knowing code.”

But slowly, it started to take shape.

And, despite the hard work, it gave me so much more than I ever expected.

• Breathing room. That little bit of financial buffer between sleepless nights and peaceful dreams.

• Confidence. Proof that my skills had value beyond one boss or one company.

• Fulfilment. Something creative that filled me back up instead of draining me.

• Perspective. A sharper, more strategic mindset that made me better at work and life.

The side business didn’t compete with my career, it strengthened it.

Made me sharper.

More strategic.

More grounded.

More me.

Why EAs, Especially, Need to Hear This

So many Executive Assistants I talk to are quietly stuck inside the limits of their role. You keep the trains running, the meetings moving, and the egos calm.

But your career security? Always hanging on someone else’s decisions. It’s always the first thing to wobble when the budget tightens or leadership changes.

And that’s the thing. You can be brilliant, loyal, indispensable, and still have zero control.

That’s why I think every EA should have something that’s theirs.

I’ve seen EAs turn their genius into coaching, consulting, mentoring, or freelance gigs that give them options, a rush of creative energy, and a sense of ownership over their own future.

Because once you’ve built something for yourself, you stop waiting for permission.

Most recently, my personal career path is the reason I created Launch & Grow. I wanted to help people like me turn their experience into income, creativity, and stability.

Why I’m So Passionate About This

I’m also speaking at the EA How To Virtual Summit soon on Negotiating Your EA Salary.

Because learning to negotiate your salary and learning to build your own income are the same muscle. Both require you to know your worth and back yourself, even when no one else does.

That’s what Launch & Grow is about for me.

Not hustle.

Not “girl boss” nonsense.

Just real, grounded stability. The kind you build with your own two hands and never have to ask permission for again.

Now I want to hear YOUR story

So tell me, have you ever thought about creating something that’s yours?

Something that lights you up, gives you security, or reminds you that you’re not trapped by a title?

If any part of this story sounds familiar, the juggling, the sleepless nights over your job security, the hope for something steady — I’d love to hear from you.

Sometimes all it takes is saying your idea out loud to someone who actually gets it. No pitch, no script, just a coffee-length chat about what you’d love to build, and how to make it real.

You can message me anytime or grab a spot for a quick chat here. I’d love to help you find your footing, like I did.

And if you’re wondering.. Nathaniel’s seven now, with a cheeky two-year-old brother in tow. We’ve grown from a tiny apartment to a half-acre by the beach, two dogs, and a life I built from the ground up.

That little side business? It changed everything.

Job security isn’t a paycheck, it’s self-trust.

I can't wait to hear your story next,

Trinity ☕️