The Road to a New Job

Whenever a new Mayor is elected all city managers submit their resignations as protocol dictates. I was at the NYC Parks & Recreation Agency and was advised by my Commissioner that it was just a formality and not to worry. I didn't worry, but should have because the road opened up to dark insecurity and a long and sometimes scary journey..

I was one of those people whose identity was overtaken by work. Some say I was a workaholic.

The Road twists and turns led me to contact former colleagues, friends, self-help groups and anyone who would listen. It was difficult and embarrassing to ask for help. I kept on the Road listening, hoping and worrying. For two years I worried and took whatever consultancy jobs offered and learned a lot about human nature. I was surprised by the generosity of some colleagues and the dismissal of others. 

I was at my most vulnerable and began to pray and ask the Road to lead me. I got up one morning two years after losing my job and thought of Michael Bloomberg. Our daughters attended the same school and I had just produced the school's benefit show in which his company provided  two full-time internships with pay. The show was a hit and the school raised a lot of money for its scholarship fund. I had a book full of contact information and decided to fax him. Scary but what the heck. I had nothing to lose.

The very next morning the phone rang at 6:00 AM. It was the News Director at Bloomberg News offering me an interview. I was thrilled and said I'll be right over. Bob said it can wait until tomorrow morning. Please be at Bloomberg News at 8:00 AM.

I was hired as a Public Affairs producer and got to know Mike Bloomberg a lot better. Whenever we saw each other he would say "this is my Spence connection". 

The twists, turns and detours of the Road took me where I needed to be.

Carmen Matias