Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone

It is early January, so that means my television screams at me, demanding I join Weight Watchers, chug Slim Fast, or purchae any one of a number of crontraptions that will return me to the glow of my youth.

And why not?  Many of us are making goals for the new year.  And so it is for organizations as well. 

I've nothing against goals.  To the contrary.  They help us focus on what is important.  Which brass ring to stretch for.  But I came across a post from early last year that got me thinking...

It was this, from the wonderful blog, ZenHabits.  

There is an alternative to setting goals that will bring you closer to the life you want. Focus on a few practices you can enjoy doing on a regular basis. The trick here is consistency. These four helped me:

• Get up early. When the world wakes up, distractions abound. If you are going to focus on creating a new life for yourself, you’ll need to find the time. The best way to do this is to work while others are sleeping. At first, I didn’t like waking up before the sun, but eventually my body adjusted and I began looking forward to the solitude.
• Over-commit. The adage “under-promise and over-deliver” is a farce. It only propagates the status quo. Real difference-makers push boundaries. They test, prod, and poke until something gives. You can do this, too, by saying “yes” to more things than you’re comfortable with. Learn to stretch yourself. You might be surprised by what you’re actually capable of. Your confidence will grow, too.
• Talk to strangers. Relationships are what make the world go round. This is true for your career, personal well-being, and inner life. When you meet new people, you make connections that can lead to all kinds of future breakthroughs. Even when it’s uncomfortable, reach out and introduce yourself to new people. The worst they can say is “no.” Fortunately, many won’t.
• Practice generosity. Give away your time, money, services, and ideas. When you do this, you will get a lot more than you give. People will learn to trust you, and if you really help them, they will tell others about you. This will build your reputation, and you will have more friends than you know what to do with. And as the saying goes, what goes around really does come around.

After a year of doing these things, I ended up with a life I couldn’t have imagined or planned for. And I had a blast doing it. So I’m going to do it all over again, without setting a single goal.

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Could organizations do that?  Perhaps.  A while ago, I wrote about the late Coach John Wooden.  He had his pyramid of success.  The pyramid listed all the attributes he wanted in recruits, and all attributes he'd push, nurture and grow on his team.  His theory was this: take care of these traits, and success is inevitable.

So, here's a few questions for you.  What practices or habits would get you where you want to go personally?  As for your credit union, can you create a organizational habit or practice?  If you could, what habit or practice would you choose for your credit union?

Have a great weekend, guys, and here's to a grand 2013!

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