Reflections on the 2020 Pandemic

Reflections on the 2020 Pandemic

I tell my Graduates to have faith. If you have no faith, find something to believe in to focus your attention. Get in touch with how you are feeling and what changes you would make in your personal life to create a more fulfilling experience when given the chance.

How Estate Management Has Changed Over the Years

How Estate Management Has Changed Over the Years

  As recently as 10 years ago, old veteran Estate Managers were still available. These were highly skilled individuals with advanced Maintenance and Property and Grounds expertise. Their knowledge of the interior of homes was minimal, other than the management of...

Changes in Private Service

Changes in Private Service

Placement techniques in our Private Service profession have changed dramatically in the last few years. New employers do not understand your value other than for cooking and cleaning. Employees who are not Starkey Graduates do not have the language to communicate...

Let’s Talk Placement!

Let’s Talk Placement!

Part 1 I have been placing Private Service professionals for nearly 40 years. Early on, I placed those who came to me who were in the profession, but not my Graduates. I quickly learned why the Starkey training creates real and effective Household and Estate Managers....

For All Current Household & Estate Managers

For All Current Household & Estate Managers

Starkey Has Taken Its Essential Knowledge and foundation from Its Household and Estate Manager Courses and is offering them in two courses… We have found that experienced managers and staff have solid Technical Skills. We now provide the management tools to create the...

Graduate Wisdom part 2

Graduate Wisdom part 2

In the second of our Graduate Wisdom series we ask Mr. S.M. a graduate of Class 63 a series of questions in order to gain some wisdom from her experience Q. Professional name used, # of years in private service.  A. Mr. S.M- 19 years….. Wow…. Time is flying by…. Q....

Graduate Wisdom part 1

Graduate Wisdom part 1

In the first of our Graduate Wisdom series we ask Ms. D.L. a graduate of Class 93 a series of questions in order to gain some wisdom from her experience. Q.   Number of years in private service. A. Been in private service ten (10) years Q.   Title in your position......

The Business of Private Service

The Business of Private Service

Administratively, I had never thought of myself as particularly skilled. I was indeed an entrepreneur, and had a very clear vision of what I was to accomplish, but the administrative perspective was way too structured, systematic and maybe boring for my active service heart to ascertain. I remember early on, when organizing a housekeeping company, the idea of keeping books, hiring staff and actually purchasing a computer in 1981 was way over my head. I set up my first corporate bank account using my father’s credit card and cashed in a paid up life insurance policy purchased for me at birth.  He co-signed the card so that the bank knew someone would be accountable.  After all, I was just a cleaning lady. I kept that card for 25 years, well after he had passed on. Giving it up was a traumatic experience. His name on my credit card forced me to always keep my bills paid.  I would have rather died than have the bank call him suggesting I had failed in the administrative duty of paying bills.

The Real Cost of Turnover in a Private Residence

The Real Cost of Turnover in a Private Residence

When there is Staff turnover in a private residence more may be lost than just time and energy to rehire for that position. There is substantial Financial and Emotional loss for the Principals and family. We will explore these areas below. First of all, consider the...

Placement Update

Placement Update

The Starkey International Institute has a rich lineage in the private service industry. In fact Starkey invented, coined, and began utilizing the majority of terminology that has spread all across the entire private service world. This is why we sometime struggle with...

Protocol

Protocol

Social protocol is an aspect of etiquette defined as a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary norms within a society, social class or group. The French word etiquette literally signified a tag or label first used in...

Protocol

Protocol

Formal Protocol in Private Service has evolved a great deal in recent decades since Private Service emerged from the shadows of servitude! The old language of “Inferiors” and “Superiors” has long since passed, but some things have stayed the same. The Starkey...