That's A(nother) Wrap! Writing My Way Through 2021
By Randy Kaufman, with research assistance from Dustin Lowman
As America started its painful process of breaking up with its tyrannical commander-in-Cheeto, I experienced my own little breakup.
A global pandemic ravished the world, and I left corporate America. I was tired of not being able to say what I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted. I loved my work, and I loved my clients, but after 40 years in corporate environments, it was time to spread my wings — and to raise my voice.
Fortunately, the business breakup turned out to be a mere transitional moment. I still work with Cerity Partners, my former firm. I’m also running Aker Advisors, my own consulting firm, working alongside my husband, David Edwards, at Heron Wealth, and volunteering for Acumen, a philanthropic organization dedicated to tackling poverty in a more effective way than traditional charity.
Of the many things that keep me busy, none provides me with more joy than my blogging. For the past 18 months, I’ve been writing during a pivotal moment in both our country’s history and in my own personal history. The national and personal upheaval intersected, energized me, and fueled my writing.
As the year ends, I’ve been reflecting on my writings — the political, the technical, the literary, and the personal. Some of them got a lot of attention; others, not so much. In this article, I look back at some of the year’s highlights (and lowlights), and the articles that commemorated them.
1. #BringOrangeBack: The Stories We Will — and Should — Tell About the 2020 Presidential Election
While I technically wrote it last year, my article about the 2020 Presidential election set the tone for 2021. All of us who lived through it will be telling stories about it for years to come. From the triumph of truth and empathy to an imperiled Republican party, these, in my view, are the ones we should remember to tell.
2. Freedom Rings: Why I Quit Corporate America in the Middle of a Global Pandemic
Choosing to quit corporate America in the middle of a global pandemic surprised a lot of people…myself included. But I had my reasons — reasons that had been bubbling up for many decades.
3. Grit with Guests, Andrea Greenspan: I’m Naked
I was honored to have a handful of colleagues contribute guest blogs to my site this year. This one, by image consultant Andrea Greenspan, covered a very relevant topic to me: how personal history informs professional development. (You can read all Grit with Guests posts here.)
4. I Walk the Line: On Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
A highlight from a handful of posts that didn’t get a lot of readers the first time around, but that I was extremely proud to write. Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” is a classic of speculative fiction, one that forces us to examine the nature of social inequity. What are the story’s lessons? How can we apply them to our own very real, very tangible lives?
5. Givin’ on a Prayer: The Myth of “Easy” Family Philanthropy
Philanthropy is one of my favorite subjects — both because of how powerful it can be and how misunderstood it is. Certain myths suffocate philanthropy. Too often, people are “givin’ on a prayer,” not on research or data. This article discusses the myth of “easy” family philanthropy, and how charitably inclined families can avoid common pitfalls.
6. Randy's Rant: You Do You
The Texas abortion law reignited an anger that has seethed in me for decades: people judging other people’s lifestyle choices. People have long judged me for wanting dogs instead of children (not to mention where I get those dogs). My campaign is to get people to remove the words “You should just…” from their vocabularies.
That’s Not All, Folks…
The above list is just a sampling of the writing my colleagues and I did this past year. For the full backlog, visit my blog, which you can browse by category.
I didn’t just work and I didn’t just write this year. Dustin Lowman, my marketing colleague, research assistant, editor, guest blogger, sounding board, and supporter, asked about launching a podcast. “No,” I said, “I hate podcasts.” “Why?” he said, throwing my favorite question back at me, and doing what Dustin does so well: going beneath the shallows, uncovering the truth. Trusting him, I left my comfort zone in the dust. Together we produced nine episodes of a podcast, “To Grit, with Grace.”
To top it all off, I added a Music page to the Grit with Grace website. There you will discover the soundtrack of my life. Even though I know I implore people to never say “You should just…” I really think you should just check this out!
2021 proved to be a strange year, one that we thought would represent the other side of the pandemic. Instead, it was more of a shaky adaptation to a world in which COVID-19 just won’t go away. But that’s the thing about writing — it almost doesn’t matter what’s going on around you, as long as you give a faithful account. That way, the stories don’t fade into the unreliable chamber of memory. They stay fresh, and they serve as cautionary tales, rather than history we’re doomed to repeat.
I thank my husband, my friends, and my family, all of whom encouraged me to launch this blog. I thank you, my dear readers, for reading me for the past 18 months. I hope you’ve enjoyed the ride — I know I have. I look forward to many more articles to come.
With all of my father’s grit, and as much as my mother’s grace as I can muster, I leave you committed to a growth mindset, with much gratitude, and with best wishes for a most wonderful 2022 ahead.