Involuntary Exit - by Robin Merle (Paperback)

About the Book

A slim, fast-paced, savvy volume that takes readers through the emotional roller coaster of dealing with being fired, seamlessly integrating practical advice and women's experiences into a narrative of resilience Involuntary Exit is a must-read for all professional women, because--let's face it--it could happen to any one of us.

Book Synopsis

It can take less than a minute to get fired. Less than a minute to hear the words that change your life as you've known it. You're stunned, shocked, humiliated--because your career has defined your life and you've been blindsided. You're a company Loyalist with a capital L, and you've been sucker punched professionally. How do you even talk about this?

Countless books focus on leadership and resilience, but none of them take you through what actually happens to women leaders who are suddenly let go, or who endure untenable circumstances and ultimately fire themselves. None of them take you, step by step, through the emotional process of acceptance and beginning again. And that's where Involuntary Exit comes in.

With advice for every unexpected twist, turn, and emotional trigger, this book is based on author Robin Merle's experience at the top of billion-dollar organizations, as well as her interviews with accomplished women who were suddenly severed from their organizations and navigated their way back to success. The real-life examples she offers in these pages prove that you're not alone--and that you, too, will get through this. Whether you've been fired or need to move on, Involuntary Exit will help you rediscover your value and emerge as a stronger leader on your own terms.

Review Quotes

2022 Nonfiction Book Awards Gold Winner

"The book is well written and fast-moving, treating a complex and emotionally charged subject with sensitivity. . . . Merle does a solid job of steering readers through a complex and challenging process."
--Kirkus Reviews

"A helpful business book that covers the opposite end of leadership and growth, Robin Merle's Involuntary Exit is a must-read for career-driven people of all genders."
--Foreword Reviews, 5-stars

"Robin Merle's Involuntary Exit is part survival guide and part group hug."
--Danielle Dardashti, CEO of dash.

"Involuntary Exit should be compulsory reading for women at the top of their professions--and all who are navigating upward."
--Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global

"This book will empower you to reclaim your personal value and give you the courage to create a positive future."
--Lisa Marie Vasquez, Chief Experience Officer, INSiGHT CLA

"This is more than a book about working through an abrupt career change; it is a book that reminds you of your inherent value, your strengths, and your resources no matter where you're at in life. As Robin beautifully reminds us, you are not alone."
--Sara B. Weeks, Life Coach

"The wisdom contained in these pages will assist you on the most important journey of all: happiness."
--Bob Cooper, author of Heart and Soul in the Boardroom

"Being savvy about being fired is an essential skillset you never knew you needed. Involuntary Exit is anecessary read for women in the development profession!"
--Yolanda F. Johnson, founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy and president of Women In Development, New York

"I'm thrilled to be in this timeless book. May we all learn and listen to our instincts."
--Laura Fredricks, JD, author of The Ask: For Business, For Philanthropy, For Everyday Living

About the Author

Robin Merle is the author of Involuntary Exit: A Woman's Guide to Thriving After Being Fired. She has published short fiction in The Chouteau Review, South Carolina Review, Kalliope, and Real Fiction. She holds a master's degree from The Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, where she earned a fellowship. In her other professional life, as a nonprofit executive, she has raised over a half-billion dollars in philanthropic support to improve individuals' quality of life and access to opportunities. A longtime New Yorker, Robin now lives in Scarborough, Maine with her family.