Because the Internet is magical there is now a Charlie Sheen browser blocker. This Firefox extension redacts all mentions of the fallen actor from appearing on your screen so you can go back to being your productive self.
Build a bank browser blocker in the name of saving consumers money. It would be better than tiger's blood.
Showing posts with label crazy idea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crazy idea. Show all posts
09 March 2011
16 July 2010
Reasons
There is a reason you keep working for credit unions.
That reason has changed with time, no doubt. But there's a reason.
The people who I love working with, and for, in the movement have reasons that sound a lot like these:
"I believe in what we stand for." Or "I like helping people." Or "I want to make a difference." Or "this is fun!"
This group could help consumers from any desk, laptop, or setting in any industry. This group measures success in terms of impact, not in accountant speak. This group doesn't need credit unions. Credit unions need them.
There are other reasons people work for credit unions. Their reasons sound different. Their reasons are sprinkled with descriptors like "trapped," "stuck," "scared," "it's all I know," "the job market" and "I'm the [fill in leadership position of your choice], for crying out loud."
This group has seen new ideas fail, knows how hard change is, and fights like the dickens to avoid it. This group is toxic and all around us.
My reason for working for credit unions has changed dramatically over the years. "I don't know what all of this credit union stuff is, but this job description sounds like fun" quickly turned into "I believe in what we do." Later, my new "I want to make a difference" reason morphed into "I can make a difference."
I think I have a new reason.
Over the past several years, many amazing opportunities have presented themselves to me. In some cases, I created those opportunities with hard work, sacrifices in my personal life, and a naive insistence that I matter. In many other cases, serendipity gets the credit. Still, the major source of opportunity in my career has been the belief others have placed in me.
My latest opportunity was being able to attend the 1 Conference with the Crash the 1 group. The reasons these young adults "crashed" varied, I'd imagine. They came from all over the globe from credit unions large and small. They came from many different disciplines, education levels, and experience. Most important of all, however, was another attribute they brought: naiveté.
I think this struck me the hardest when I heard Tim McAlpine and Gene Blishen close the Crash event. Gene, after all of these years, is still naive enough to think small credit unions can do huge things. Tim is still naive enough to think he can create a youth movement that will add 1,000,000 members to credit unions in his career. They're not just naive...they're right.
The optimism of some of my favorite people in credit unions has been poisoned by cynicism. The lumps of the last several years have jaded even the most impervious credit union spirits. The same folks that used to ask "why can't we?" are telling each other why "that can't be done." The regulatory and economic environment has created a leadership crisis.
The reason I keep working for credit unions is because I don't want to grow up. The people that believe in me haven't provided me opportunity because of experience, or title, or politics. They've given me opportunity because they think I'm crazy and naive enough to do something with it.
"Crashing" has nothing to do with entitlement, or instant gratification, or unfair opportunity. Rather, Crash is a reminder to the old guard that what we need more than anything right now is inexperience, energy, optimism, and a self-assured belief that maybe, just maybe, we can change for the better.
What is the reason you keep working for credit unions?
That reason has changed with time, no doubt. But there's a reason.
The people who I love working with, and for, in the movement have reasons that sound a lot like these:
"I believe in what we stand for." Or "I like helping people." Or "I want to make a difference." Or "this is fun!"
This group could help consumers from any desk, laptop, or setting in any industry. This group measures success in terms of impact, not in accountant speak. This group doesn't need credit unions. Credit unions need them.
There are other reasons people work for credit unions. Their reasons sound different. Their reasons are sprinkled with descriptors like "trapped," "stuck," "scared," "it's all I know," "the job market" and "I'm the [fill in leadership position of your choice], for crying out loud."
This group has seen new ideas fail, knows how hard change is, and fights like the dickens to avoid it. This group is toxic and all around us.
My reason for working for credit unions has changed dramatically over the years. "I don't know what all of this credit union stuff is, but this job description sounds like fun" quickly turned into "I believe in what we do." Later, my new "I want to make a difference" reason morphed into "I can make a difference."
I think I have a new reason.
Over the past several years, many amazing opportunities have presented themselves to me. In some cases, I created those opportunities with hard work, sacrifices in my personal life, and a naive insistence that I matter. In many other cases, serendipity gets the credit. Still, the major source of opportunity in my career has been the belief others have placed in me.
My latest opportunity was being able to attend the 1 Conference with the Crash the 1 group. The reasons these young adults "crashed" varied, I'd imagine. They came from all over the globe from credit unions large and small. They came from many different disciplines, education levels, and experience. Most important of all, however, was another attribute they brought: naiveté.
I think this struck me the hardest when I heard Tim McAlpine and Gene Blishen close the Crash event. Gene, after all of these years, is still naive enough to think small credit unions can do huge things. Tim is still naive enough to think he can create a youth movement that will add 1,000,000 members to credit unions in his career. They're not just naive...they're right.
The optimism of some of my favorite people in credit unions has been poisoned by cynicism. The lumps of the last several years have jaded even the most impervious credit union spirits. The same folks that used to ask "why can't we?" are telling each other why "that can't be done." The regulatory and economic environment has created a leadership crisis.
The reason I keep working for credit unions is because I don't want to grow up. The people that believe in me haven't provided me opportunity because of experience, or title, or politics. They've given me opportunity because they think I'm crazy and naive enough to do something with it.
"Crashing" has nothing to do with entitlement, or instant gratification, or unfair opportunity. Rather, Crash is a reminder to the old guard that what we need more than anything right now is inexperience, energy, optimism, and a self-assured belief that maybe, just maybe, we can change for the better.
What is the reason you keep working for credit unions?
13 August 2008
A Maddening Idea
EA Sports' Madden '08 was released yesterday. At lunch, I drove over to Best Buy and picked up a copy. Besides the amazingly high $60.00 price, one thing struck me about this transaction. I now own every Madden Football release since 1994. And in nearly every case, I purchased these games the very same day they were released.
Now don't get me wrong, this is a great game! But that's some serious cash I've dropped on mindless entertainment.
How many other people out there do the exact same thing? I'd wager there are quite a few. This got me thinking. Can a credit union build community out of non-financial services? What about a video game library?
Young adults (anyone for that matter) could open a "Video Game Account" (not clever, I know...just came up with this idea) that would allow access to the credit union's video game library. To check out a game, members must have a balance equal to the market price of the game and must make a $5.00 deposit. If the game never gets returned, no sweat...the savings deposit serves as collateral. A la Netflix, keep the game as long as you want as long as you make monthly deposits into your account. The member enjoys a free video game library and is voluntarily becoming a good saver. The credit union attracts young members for a small investment and increases deposits.
Supplement this idea with monthly video game tournaments on location or online for ways to win bonus deposits to members' accounts.
This could work for books, video games, wedding/prom dresses, all sorts of things... There, I said it. Patented thought exhibitionism - what do you all think?
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