Your Sense of Duty

 

It’s easy to get lost in the daily maelstrom of the “me-first” movement that has existed since time immemorial. Modern trends like “quiet-quitting,” and “ghosting” are common fixtures in the workplace and not necessarily owned by a specific generation. Who can blame them? Employers of all sizes aren’t winning humanitarian awards for compensation, parental leave, paid time off, or understanding the life part of the work/life balance. But before you start another online shopping marathon or decide to print all of your emails for posterity on the company dime, consider this. It’s possible to have a fulfilling career and personal life when you focus on your duty.

What is Duty?

According to dictionary.com, duty means; “Something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation. The binding or obligatory force of something that is morally or legally right; a moral or legal obligation. An action or task required by a person’s position or occupation.” An easy rebuttal could be, “Sure, but what does it pay?” Or, “Even people in uniform get loose with their duty.” All understandable. But the best example of duty can be found in the recently passed Queen Elizabeth II, a modern pillar of duty in every sense.

The Late Queen Elizabeth II

As described in a recent article from City Journal, “When she was 21, she swore that she would devote her life to doing her duty, the duty thrust upon her by accident of birth, and no one could say, three-quarters of a century later, that she had not kept her vow. She was still performing her duty a few days before her death at 96. There must surely be very few examples of such single-minded dutifulness in contemporary history. That is why she maintained her popularity from the moment she ascended the throne to the day of her death. Her conduct was as modest as her position was exalted. She never made the mistake of thinking that she was an interesting or remarkable person in herself and thereby became remarkable.” Elizabeth’s personal life was writ large across British tabloids as expected in public life. But despite this scrutiny, her duty kept her working for the monarchy, a position she knew was larger than her daily life. Here, her duty was both moral and legal. There were rich rewards, but few could argue it was a cakewalk. 

Personal Duty

When working in service as a private service professional, the first choice you make in a new job is how to face it. Is this new position another gig, or is it a privileged duty? Those who decide their work is a moral duty to themselves and the family they serve last longest as private service professionals. Working with a sense of duty is often misconstrued as indentured servitude, where what you think doesn’t matter. It is absolutely the opposite. Working with a sense of personal duty demonstrates your dedication as a professional, reflected in the quality and consistency of your work.

Top-Tier Professionals

Some of us will be lucky to experience someone dedicated to duty. Maybe your first experience was with a teacher who wouldn’t give up or a colleague who went above and beyond and ensured you were okay. Perhaps it was a parent or grandparent who elevated the needs of others. You’d never regard them as indentured servants but as people who had a sense of commitment to their roles for those around them. Now picture working with a small army of similarly dedicated people. What would your work week be like if, at every turn, the things you needed to do your job were in place? Enjoying your work with a sense of duty elevates your fulfillment and the quality of service to your employer. Of course, this type of dedication has rewards that a quiet-quitting or ghosting mindset can never realize.

Who Will You Be?

When you work with a sense of duty, you open yourself to a feeling of fulfillment that no amount of money can deliver. But when you work in service, you can enjoy the honor of your duty and financial rewards regular jobs don’t offer. So why not explore how performing at your best can provide you with a lifestyle others only wish they had? It all begins with a sense of duty—a duty to yourself as a professional and a duty to the family you serve. Be a part of something bigger.

Precise Home Management provides staff to HNW families and individuals and offers professional guidance to private service professionals. Contact us today to discover a life unlike any other in private service.

Ask Andrew: What’s it Like Being a PSP?

Every career has points of entry and a lifestyle all its own. In this installment of Ask Andrew, we explore what to expect as a Private Service Professional and how to enter this spectacular career.

What can I expect working as a Private Service Professional?

“Success begins with a passion for service and freeing your mind from traditional work experiences. So, it’s safe to say that being a PSP isn’t your typical 9-to-5, Monday through Friday job. However, being a PSP means working at all hours in surroundings you could only dream of before. There is a world of luxury even glamourous Hollywood cannot imagine, and you can consider this your daily office.”

Any downsides?

“There are no downsides per se, only a wide departure from what most people imagine when they think of a full-time job. More than anywhere else, if you love what you’re doing, you will never work a day in your life. Although you can be in-service around the clock, your deep service attitude immunizes you from feelings of enduring a ‘daily grind’ so many in the regular workforce face. There is also no comparison in the work-a-day world for where PSPs work. Luxury estates, high-end luxury international travel, yachts – your ‘office’ can change based on your principal’s needs at any moment. But, again, it all revolves around service. Yes, you will make sacrifices for your principal, but they will also employ you in a world few ever see.”.

The long days can stretch into weeks without a day off, time away from, family and friends, holidays missed with loved ones. This career  path is not for everyone and few people outside this world will truly understand the demands of being a PSP

Do I have what it takes to be a PSP?

“Although there is no tried and true test, successful PSPs do have many traits in common. Most are service oriented, with early examples of being ‘mommy’s little helper’ at every opportunity. It’s likely no coincidence that service-minded people find work in the service industry which is a natural precursor to being a PSP. If you are curious about working as a Private Service Professional, reach out to others in the industry and inquire about open positions. Working for five years and moving from $40,000 to $120k annually isn’t rare when you have the right mentorship. So if you are service-minded, enjoy the adventure of an ever-changing environment, and want to experience what most can only dream of, you should consider becoming a Private Service Professional.”

 

 

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED ENTERING PRIVATE SERVICE?

When you think about service careers, it’s easy to picture law enforcement, EMS, or even teaching. But did you know there’s a service with an exclusive culture, language, and richness? Whether celebrities, business magnates, or wealthy families, high net-worth (HNWs) individuals and families need an army of Private Service Professionals (PSPs) to keep their lifestyles running smoothly. If you’ve felt that inner drive to be helpful, it’s time to ask, “Have you considered entering private service?” Our experts at Precise Home Management can curate your rewarding career as a Private Service Professional and help you develop gifts you never knew you had.

CALLED TO SERVICE

The world is full of helpers. From holding a door open to allowing someone to merge in traffic, these are more than common courtesies. We call them characteristics of a call to service, and you shouldn’t ignore these clues. For example, did you help your mother with household chores or help your dad with yardwork or in the garage? Natural helpfulness can be nurtured into a career as a PSP. Transforming genuine helpfulness into a Private Service skillset requires discipline, but we are here to help you.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Think about everything you do at home to keep your life running. Cooking, shopping, cleaning, errands, laundry, paying bills, organizing home repair, yard work – the list is almost endless. Now picture yourself specializing in one task and being paid well for it. As a PSP, you can specialize in a field you love and work as part of a team for a high-net-worth individual. Best of all, the potential for advancement is limitless. It’s not unheard of for someone who begins as a house cleaner to advance to estate management within a few years with diligent professional development. Best of all, we can guide you through your career and help you develop the skills and relationships you need to succeed.

SUBSTANTIAL REWARDS

Life in private service pays well beyond your salary. You get to work with a team focused on the same goal of taking care of your Principal, the HNW that needs the support of staff to make their household run smoothly. In addition, PSPs have a deep sense of community and endless networking opportunities. Some PSPs travel with their Principals. It’s not uncommon for PSPs to experience private luxury travel and shopping as part of their duties. So, although service is your focus, bring along your sense of adventure.

Transform your natural helpfulness into a rewarding career as a Private Service Professional. Our experts at Precise Home Management are here to guide you every step in your development. We love to help too, and we would love to serve you. Also, you can receive upwards of $500 in referral fees for someone, which results in a successful placement.

 

I WOULD RECOMMEND PRECISE HOME MANAGEMENT TO ANYONE IN NEED OF AN EMPLOYEE

I tasked Andrew Lowrey, owner of Precise Home Management, to find a domestic couple for my family and home last year.
I had a very specific list of demands that included qualifications, personality and expectations that my family needed from the positions.
This was my first experience I had used Andrew, or any other type of recruiting services for that matter, so I was bit skeptical before I met with him if my demands would be met or even listened to when searching for candidates. However, from my first meeting with Andrew it was apparent to me that he had my family’s best interest at heart. He was excellent with his communication and follow-up and really listened to all the qualities I wanted in someone that would be working in my house on a day-to-day basis.
Andrew was able to present me with several qualified candidate couples to choose from and I knew each one had been vetted and background cleared by him. Andrew walked my family through the whole process of finding to hiring and even helped me with interviewing of prospective candidates. I cannot stress how pleased I was with his professionalism and his manner throughout the process.
Even before we had selected and hired our new couple, Andrew actually watched my house for a weekend while my family was out of town and we were in transition to a new team. I think this truly showed his dedication to my family and how much he places clients needs above all else. The couple we hired from Andrew’s service are still with us a year later and we could not be more pleased! Andrew still checks in on a monthly basis to make sure my family’s needs are being met.
I would recommend his service to anyone in need of an employee that will be working in your home. Before I consulted with him I felt as though finding and hiring someone that would meet the needs of my family would be impossible. He made the process less intimidating and catered to all my trepidations and wants. Without him we may have still be searching!

Cindy Galli
Reisterstown, Maryland

I COMMEND PHM’S SERVICES AND RECOMMEND PRECISE HOME MANAGEMENT

I live in the Sherwood Mansion of Sherwood Gardens in the Guilford area of Baltimore a 23-room monument to 19th century architecture. I have a family of 6 and entertain extensively. Also included on the grounds are a large pool, pool house and several acres requiring very precise maintenance and grooming because of extensive and various growth.
My family and I have enjoyed living here for the past 15 vears, however it is only until recently that we have thoroughly enjoyed occupying this beautiful home. Precise Home Management has been totally responsible for this transformation consisting of re-staffing, replacing various vendors, such as housekeeping, landscape architectures, maintenance and cost effective practices to make the house more efficient while saving money. They were successful in locating and hiring my chauffeur and valet. My wife is very involved with running the family while I am involved in several large businesses. In spite of that, we are able to find time to run the household now that PHM has provided their services to us.
Andrew has allowed us to divert our attention to more enjoyable things. In addition to being very effective, his attitude has been very positive as he very much enjoys his work. He is anxious to build his business and are fortunate enough to have the resources. He has also been very helpful in planning and staffing parties and other functions that we have hosted. Certainly we have given PHM many occasions to demonstrate their talents and they have unfailingly completed the task to which they were assigned.
I commend PHM’s services and recommend your consideration to utilize their services for your home as well.
Louis Nicholas, CEO

Supporting Our Clients & Candidates Through the Recruitment Process in These Exceptional Times

We hope that everyone is keeping safe and well, and adjusting to the challenging new way of life we now find ourselves in.
We wanted to assure our clients and candidates that we remain open for business, with appropriate adjustments to our working practices, to ensure that we’re able to deliver the same high level of service to our clients and candidates.

We are currently representing some superb new candidates who are looking for their next opportunity. Given the current ‘new norm’ where safety is paramount, we are now carrying out all interviews and meetings via video calls, and are undertaking COVID-19 due diligence before our candidates start new roles, for a little extra peace of mind.
For all roles, it’s important that they are followed to ensure everyone’s safety. We have candidates who are able to self-isolate prior to starting new roles, if required (including within clients’ households for live-in roles, or in separate accommodation on their premises).

We take our role in the support of good practice seriously for our employees, clients and candidates.

We continue to monitor the current situation closely, and will provide updates should the official guidelines change.

In the meantime, stay safe wherever you are.

Sincerely,
Andrew

Hire a Personal Chef

BENEFITS OF HIRING A PERSONAL CHEF

Let’s face it: We are busier than ever. With more professional commitments comes less time to prepare healthy meals for our families and ourselves. Hiring a personal chef allows us to continue to meet our daily demands without sacrificing proper nutrition.
A Personal Chef provides stress-free meals by consulting with you to determine meal options before doing the shopping. They will typically prepare the food in your kitchen, and either prepare the meal to be eaten now, or package it up so you can quickly heat it when convenient. Other benefits to hiring a personal chef include:

  • Customized menus
  • Fresh local ingredients
  • Food allergy or dietary considerations
  • They leave behind a clean kitchen

If you’re interested in hiring a personal chef, Precise Home Management can help you find the perfect fit for your household.

Top Choice Luxury Brand

CHRISTOFLE A TOP CHOICE LUXURY BRAND AMONG DOMESTIC ESTATE MANAGERS AND HOME OWNERS

As purveyors of the finest silver products money can buy – as well as other fine pieces such as stainless steel and porcelain ones – countless domestic estate managers and home owners take pride in using Christofle. Exquisitely designed in order to compliment only those homes with the most refined taste, Christofle offers a wide selection of products to choose from. It’s no wonder the Domestic Estate Management Convention is proud to have the distinguished pleasure of enjoying Christofle as an annual sponsor.
Christofle is an obvious top choice for many agencies such as Precise Home Management – whose founder Andrew Lowrey was, in fact, the 2013 recipient for Domestic Estate Management Convention’s “Agency of the Year” award. As a domestic staffing agency and consultancy that helps place home help such as butlers at appropriate residences, Precise Home Management knows the level of quality clients demand. Fulfilling Precise Home Management’s mission of providing the top estate management services available anywhere is made easier through the privilege of utilizing Christofle’s fine products. Precise Home Management’s Andrew Lowrey eloquently articulated this point when he shared: “The goal at Precise Home is not simply to meet but also to set the standards. By being able to utilize the excellence that is Christofle, I have had the pleasure of setting fine tables in palaces and on yachts that exceed 350 ft. and to watch these tables come alive with such beautiful silver is music to my ear.”

Modern Butler Duties

To many, the idea of a butler conjures antiquated images of British butlers silently lurking in the background. However, the modern butler is more of an all-purpose household manager.

A butler’s primary duty is to oversee the household staff, often at multiple residences. A butler may be called upon hire staff and create their schedules. He or she may also double as a personal assistant, valet, house manager, travel organizer, and even sommelier. Therefor butling requires intimate knowledge of social etiquette’s and extreme organizational skills if required to plan events or host parties.

Modern butlers seeking employment, or those wishing to hire a butler, turn to professional staffing agencies like Precise Home Management to ensure the highest quality in the service industry.

Estate Management 101

Estate Management is a professional career that involves managing one or more household estates for a private owner. An estate manager ensures the all aspects of the household are functional and run smoothly. Duties may include staff management and training, calendar scheduling accounting, and even developing household manuals. Employers need to count on the estate manager to handle problems efficiently and with discretion. In fact, discretion is one of the top priorities of the position and most employers require their managers to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Employers seeking trusted and vetted estate managers turn to staffing agencies such as Precise Home Management. Services include the search and placement of domestic management and staff including butlers, chefs, estate managers, personal assistants, nannies and housekeepers.