Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Lazzara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Erin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Very early on in my life I faced a lot of assumptions regarding the person that I was. Sometimes it was my clothes that prompted that, other times my colored hair and then my tattoos as I aged. When I entered my working career I was then judged based on not only my appearance but my age as well. The one thing that has always remained is my authenticity. I truly believe that regardless of whatever challenges you face – you are capable of overcoming by simply being your authentic self. I love getting to know people, starting conversations and sharing my knowledge with others. I love celebrating other peoples wins. I have consciously chosen to be authentic with others and I think that allows them to feel safe enough to share their life in the same way. Furthermore, it’s allowed me to be seen and trusted for the person I am instead of the person someone might assume me to be. At the end of the day what makes you the most effective and successful is having the support from the people around you and coming together to make great things happen.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I design and create leather goods of all kinds! On any given day you can find me creating a variety of bags or wallets etc. for my own line, but I am also a fully customizable workshop! This means you can alter an item I already offer in effort of personalizing it more OR you can request a custom piece. My favorite part about this work (other than being my own boss and getting to do this creative work for a living) is the many different types of pieces I’m asked to create for people. While I predominantly create pieces to be carried; I’ve also done plenty of other work like furniture and upholstery, books, accessories for self defense items and more. As if this in itself wasn’t fun enough – I also offer in-person workshops where you can learn a variety of leathercrafting skills! Although my currently scheduled ones are sold out, I have added Birkenstocks to the list of classes offered and it’s really been a blast seeing so many people trying their hand at them. Since I no longer work in a space where I’m with other people regularly; offering these workshops is a way for me to consistently connect with my community and share my knowledge. It’s so rewarding for me to see people leave with a piece THEY created under my guidance. It also happens to be a very helpful way to educate people about leather itself and all the work that goes into a single piece.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I think the most impactful things for my personal journey was my optimism, work ethic and willingness to take risks. There were a handful of people that “took a chance on me” in prior jobs and it allowed me the opportunity to challenge myself in new ways and really see what I was capable of accomplishing if I put my mind to it. I feel like those experiences combined with my work ethic and willingness to take risks is what gave me the confidence to know I could make this business happen even without a real plan. My biggest piece of advice for those that are early on in their journey is to seek out constructive criticism if you’re not getting it already, always work toward the things that sound “too big” and stay true to the things that make you happy.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My biggest obstacle is often myself and the time I have. I’m a workaholic by nature and before I started this business.. before I was a mom.. I spent very, very, long days just working. I spent many years of my life working hard for that next opportunity or position. Everything I obtained was a direct reflection of how much I had worked. Fast forward to being pregnant with my first son and my whole life plan changed direction when I decided to leave my job and start Covet. My struggle these days is finding comfort in the uncomfortable reality that I don’t have all those hours I used to have. I’m often hard on myself because I don’t feel like I’m ever accomplishing ENOUGH. I am SO lucky to be with my boys every day and nurture their growth at home. At the same time, I want to devote all the time in the world to building my brand and creating leather everything for everyone in the country. It’s just not the season of life I’m in though. I have to get creative with doing more in a shorter time so I can still be present with my family and fulfill my other obligations while still finding time to put back into myself. It’s a new sort of challenge for me as someone who has always relied on just working more. It’s a good challenge nonetheless.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.covetcalifornia.com
- Instagram: @covetca
Image Credits
Angela Nunnink
