Graceful Exits

Offers advice on how to handle various exits in life, from death and loss, to firings and breakups with empathy and humor.
“Actually, Geri, it’s you. We have to let you go.” Hearing these words from my dear friend of more than 25 years over the phone on a sunny Friday afternoon left me shaking. It was a first for me – being at this end of a layoff. And it was a gut punch. Being on the receiving end of a layoff, Geri Reid Suster pondered her next steps and had an epiphany – life is full of exits. From school, from jobs, from relationships, and ultimately from life itself. And those transitions can be rocky or they can be handled with grace, honor, and humor. Still, most people struggle with such endings, getting mired down in thoughts of failure, grief, frustration, regret, and anger. Here, Suster shows readers how they can do better, be better, and live better through all of life’s goodbyes. Exits are going to happen whether we like it or not, so why not get good at them? How much time did you spend learning to walk, ride a bike, drive a car, and/or interview for a job? Why not spend a little time learning to approach exits with greater skill? An ugly exit not only leaves scars on everyone involved, but also adds to the psychological burden one carries long after the exit. On the other hand, a graceful exit is hard in the moment, but sets us up to feel lighter and healthier on the other side. Direct and full of advice and suggestions for next steps forward, Suster guides readers through the ups and downs of goodbyes, and carefully reveals the best methods for a smoother, more graceful transition.
Geri Reid Suster has 30-years of experience in business and management specializing in acquisitions and creating operational excellence. Between 2004 and 2006, Geri lost her mom, got divorced, started therapy, sold her house and bought a new one, and left her job as Director of Operations after 18 years. She eventually became VP Operations at ZipLocal, promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and worked there for five years. After jumping to a new technology startup that didn’t pan out, Geri entered a period of reflection that led to an epiphany, In January 2017, as her two boys reached adulthood, she sold everything, bought a huge RV she named Wallace (after William Wallace in Braveheart), and the hashtag #whereswallace was born — familiar to thousands in van life. In 2020, Geri sold Wallace, bought a Sprinter passenger van (named Wufgang #whereswuf) and built her own custom home on wheels with her nephew in 81 days. She spends most of her time in Bend, OR.

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