By Danielle Trevino, 4020 Vision Ambassador
Jenifer Sarver has a resume most of us will only ever dream of: work for a White House administration and a U.S. Senator, and now, the owner of her own public relations business. Professionally, she helps people learn how to tell their organization’s story and trains individuals on how to better communicate.
“I have a very rich and full and blessed life. I am fortunate to get to do work that I love and I’m passionate about. I’m fortunate to be my own boss and make my own path and work with clients and people that I believe in.”
An avid traveler, Jenifer resides in Austin, Texas by herself—“no plants, no pets, no people”—but frequently welcomes visitors into her home. Despite her busy schedule, Jenifer still finds time to volunteer with a plethora of civic organizations and nonprofits, serving on advisory boards for at least six different groups, including the Texas 4000, The Annette Straus Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Texas Lyceum.
“I have always felt a call toward public service… I want to live every day of my life so it makes a difference and it matters and impacts the community around me.”
As a 40-something fairy godmother, Jenifer would grant a 20-something three gifts:
The ability to see yourself as a beautiful creation:Don’t spend so much time worried about your body image, wardrobe and accessories. If you fit in with the right crowd, those things will be irrelevant in the long run. Focus on nurturing your soul.
“It’s important to be a part of people’s lives and make sure they’re pouring into your life.”
A love of exploration and travel: Traveling alone builds confidence and self-awareness you can’t get get in other ways. Jenifer’s personal goal was to visit 40 countries before she turned 40; she ultimately visited 43. Now in her 40th year,she is attempting to travel to all 50 states and 7 continents—and she only has one continent and one state left to go.
“My travels have helped me have a stronger perspective on how blessed I am because unless you’ve seen the rest of the world, you really can’t appreciate how much [you] have.”
The gift of excellence: Jenifer says if people come to expect excellence from you, that will come back to reward you in your career.
“I don’t ever want to be just adequate. I don’t want 3 out of 5 stars. I want 5 stars—always.”
Jenifer is the founder of Sarver Strategies in Austin, Texas. You can read more about her here.