Stop Trying To Be The Other Guy
by Bo McDonald
Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone, once said “Being like everybody is the same as being nobody.” I got an up close and personal dose of that message last week in New Orleans. During a meeting with one of my mentors who has successfully started several national businesses and chains I asked: “how do you keep up with everything?” After explaining that I too wished to be able to work on several different jobs at once, I got a response that punched me in my gut.
Based on previous conversations, he knew that I am very hands-on with our clients’ projects at YMC. I have a difficult time keeping my nose out of every aspect of operations at our office. “Not everyone can be wired to start a project and keep their nose out of the details” he explained. “I’m a good starter, I partner with people that are more detailed oriented to see the project through” he explained.
After taking that lesson to heart, I thought about how it really applies to organizations and credit unions. Often we go to conferences to hear what other credit unions do and then think: “Hey I want to do that too!” Sometimes we even hear an inspirational message from a large company like Starbucks or Southwest and want to apply those ideas to our own organization. It’s almost as if everyday is Halloween for us, dressing up as something we’re not —then trying to make it work.
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