She’s a Boss: Erika Jarvis

I had really grand plans for the month of March. I wanted to write a variety of posts all about me: talk more about my favorite things, my thoughts and philosophies on women in the workplace, female friendships and more. Then, on March 22 I lost my job.

My company was going through a rather large reorganization and me, and my role, unfortunately, were eliminated. It had nothing to do with performance, but more about efficiencies, streamlining and more. I’m quite sure the gentleman telling me that my role was eliminated said other things but I honestly heard none of it. The numbness I felt as I walked to my car in shock, sadness and utter confusion; the feeling was as if I lost a loved one. A million thoughts raced through my mind: Who am I without working at this company? What do I do? How do I get started? And a lot of “What the fucks just happened?” I started working here immediately after college. I met my best friends here. I had some of the most amazing experiences and I truly grew as a person. Who am I? What was I going to do?

If you have been through this kind of loss there is this thought to crouch down, curl into a ball, drink yourself into oblivion and pretend it didn’t happen. That’s what everyone expected me to do…But I didn’t. Oh, don’t get me wrong…beers happened. However, what happened first was this: I got home, I opened my laptop and immediately started sending emails out to my network of friends and coworkers. I started applying for jobs and I hit up that 30-day trial of LinkedIn pro because if there was ever a time to partake it was now!

You may be wondering what my parents had to say about my being let go. They didn’t. I didn’t tell them and this was a very controversial decision. I knew telling them would break their heart, and that they would be there for me. My dad had been through this in his own career so I knew if anyone could walk me through what to do next, it was him. I knew that they would be disappointed that I didn’t come to them in this time of need. But, in my back pocket, I had their advice and wisdom that was carrying me through. Yet, at the end of the day, I truly needed to focus on myself for two weeks and I had a job to do: Get. A. Job.

I made sure my resume was updated and I formulated a plan, I had two weeks left in the company before my separation date of April 5 so I needed to find a new job by then. I sent out emails to colleagues to let them know about my role, how great it was to work with them and oh yes, attached is my resume if they know of anything. The flood of “WHAT?” emails that came my way was overwhelming. However, what was almost the best part of it all, if there can even be a best part is for the first time I got an understanding of what my reputation was in the company.

Let me take this moment to tell you that other than being good and doing good, you need to have an overarching goal when you’re at work whether you’re a small business owner, a cog in the corporate wheel or you’re a super successful blogger/influencer: Write out what you want your reputation to be and work towards it. A few years ago during another reorganization, I could feel a shift coming and that I was going to be moved. I decided to stop worrying, take a deep breath and work hard to “be the kind of coworker that people want to work with, who they have fun with but ultimately get great work accomplished and to be able to lay my head on the pillow at night without any worries.” Basically, I was refusing to get involved in corporate politics and just focus on the job at hand.

Three years later, that reputation that I was constantly striving to live up to … well, it saved my ass. I spent the last two weeks of my life living like getting a job WAS my job. I was up in the morning, out the door by 8:30 a.m. I was having coffee with recruiting companies and taking phone interviews. I was doing meet and greets with leaders in my company I hadn’t met with yet and I was staying in contact with mentors, friends and more. I even snuck in a quick meeting with my therapist (if you don’t have one, get one…you never know when you’ll need them!).

Everyone I met told me “I am so excited to meet you! [Insert name] has said the most amazing things about you, and I just had to meet with you myself.” My reputation was being verbally expressed back to me and that was the most amazing feeling. Multiple people reached out to me and I was never happier to have the large network of friends and colleagues that I had curated over the last 12 years. It was an amazing feeling to see all of that good come my way. Then, on April 4 I got a phone call that would change everything.

A previous leader of mine heard about my role being eliminated and just happened to have an opening on his team. He called and told me about the job and at the end asked “So, are we doing this?” just like that. I didn’t have to interview or meet the team. He told me that my reputation spoke for itself, he knew I was smart, we’ve worked together before and it just made sense. So, I said yes.

I know with this series, She’s a Boss,  I want to introduce you to amazing women with hustle, drive and a sense of community over competition, which is why I have shared the stories of so many amazing women like Sonni Abatta and Lauryn Evarts Bosstick. However, I believe my last two weeks of life (it’s felt like 100 years!!) proves that I don’t just talk the talk but I have walked the walk and lived the life I truly believe we should all lead. I don’t have a fun quippy phrase for my life motto but at the end of the day if I can share any advice with you it is this: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. But when you get there, you sure as shit better know something.

A few other words of wisdom:

• Network, network, and network some more. You are NEVER too good for networking
• Be willing to learn always.
• Create a community of coworkers who you would go to bat for. They WILL go to bat for you when it’s your turn.
• Never say no to people wanting to meet you and learn from you.
• Always be willing to teach others or mentor others, giving back to others will speak volumes to your character.
• Think about your character in the workplace.
• What is your reputation?
  • Ask people what your reputation is. Does it synch up with what you want? If not? Write a new reputation and work towards it.

All of this is to tell you I’m a boss. I am responsible for my own success and the reputation I worked hard to establish just saved my own ass. I saved myself and I am so thankful for the person I decided to be 12 years ago and I hope that you are able to be proud of you, thankful for you and more. I know I am!

I am SO excited to share more with you about this new chapter in my career and what I learn. I hope that you never have to experience this situation…but if you do, I hope you remember that you, too, are a boss…and you’ve got this.