Birthday Blog

Ron Krit, President, Krit Consulting

This birthday feels different.

I am not sure if it is the gray hairs, having less hair, or the growing list of things that seem to annoy me. I am not yelling at people to get off my lawn, yet.

However, if you do not use your turn signal, my road rage starts to build. And I fully support a law where you can get arrested for listening to music on speakerphone or video calling someone in public. There are exceptions, like 90s hip hop or Pearl Jam.

Despite how that sounds, I am generally not cranky. At least that is what I tell myself.

My dad celebrated a bigger birthday than me this year, and he said something that stuck with me: “I never thought I would live this long. My parents died young, I’ve had my share of health problems, but I feel incredibly lucky.” That perspective stayed with me.

Health has a way of becoming more present as the years go on. It is part of life. It also gets… strange. Things show up that make no sense. Like a random foot itch when the weather gets warm. If you have a solution, let me know.

Still, like my dad said, I feel lucky.

I may not be able to work out the way I once did, but I can still work out. I started lifting weights at fourteen because I wanted to gain muscle. Now I am doing everything I can not to gain weight. Same person, different goals.

I have been a personal trainer for twenty-five years, part-time, and the job was never just about fitness. Most sessions turned into conversations about life:

·       Work

·       Family

·       Relationships

·       Stress

·       Goals

Looking back, I was executive coaching long before it was called that.

Now, that’s part of what I do.

I am a fundraising consultant and coach. I help nonprofits raise money, improve culture, coach leaders, and work with teams and boards. I still train a few clients, but the common thread has always been helping people move forward.

Somehow, I have built a career where people pay me to talk! If you know, it’s probably not a surprise. However, I’m listening way more than talking.  I’m always working on sharpening that tool.

I love what I do, and that makes me feel incredibly lucky.

Starting a business is not easy, especially with a family. There is uncertainty and moments where you are not quite sure how it is all going to work out. My wife has been incredible through all of it. She may have been more nervous than I was at the beginning, but she has been my biggest supporter ever since. There is a good chance she has already shared this article before reading it, which makes this thank you even better.

So, thank you!

There are many people who have helped me along the way. I will not name everyone, but I will mention one more supporter. My sister has been incredibly generous with her time and her rolodex (which also shows my age). She will introduce me to anyone without hesitation. That kind of belief builds confidence and opportunity.

To everyone who has made an introduction, passed my name along, or pushed for me to get hired, thank you. I would not be here without your generosity.

One thing that has surprised me along the way is how willing people are to help.

When you start a business, you are not sure how others will respond. You wonder who will take your call, who will ignore you, who will help.

Most people are incredibly open. Even the super busy, CEO, board-leading, marathon-running type.

They are willing to share ideas, make introductions, and offer advice. Are there people who are not interested in helping? Of course. But they are the minority. The overwhelming majority are generous with their time and perspective if you simply ask.

That has been one of the best surprises.

Another has been the people I coach.

More and more, I am working with individuals early in their careers. It has been eye-opening. They care deeply, ask great questions, and are incredibly curious.

At the same time, they have not always been taught how to ask for feedback and sometimes struggle to receive it. One of the most important skills I focus on is helping them actively seek feedback. Not wait for it, but ask for it.

And for managers, once you give feedback, ask, “How can you apply this?” Then let them sit in it. They will surprise you. The next generation just needs some guidance and confidence.

I have also been amazed by how much LinkedIn has played a role in all of this. I tend to be selective about who I connect with. However, if you send me a note, I’m usually open to connecting. These new acquaintances have become friends and even business partners!

One introduction turned into a training business! With a partner, we are creating online fundraising classes, something I had not planned but have really enjoyed building.

That same connection led to me experimenting with LinkedIn marketing. There was no pitch, just curiosity and a conversation. As someone who has spent years creating content, it has been fascinating to see how social outreach actually works.

It has also come with a few entertaining moments. Like a friend texting me to ask if I had been hacked. Another responded with a simple “really?” That is when I learned segmentation also means removing your friends from mass outreach.

Live and learn.

That seems to be the theme right now.

I’m learning, adjusting and improving daily. That applies to everything, from health and work to hobbies like writing.

I’ve self-published three novels on Amazon and I’m working on my fourth! I know the logical move would be to write a business book, but writing is my creative outlet. It is part therapy, part meditation, and part joy. And who knows, maybe next year I will write the great American business novel. First, I need to check if that is even a genre.

To another year of learning, growing, seeing what’s possible… and a Bears Super Bowl!

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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. I also lead high-impact professional development, coaching programs, and retreats for companies of all sizes. If you’re ready to strengthen your fundraising strategy, turn board members into advocates, or build a comprehensive legacy giving program, let’s talk.