Musings from the NAFCU CU Suite

My Five Wishes for You in 2018

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

The new year is so close, you can almost touch it. Of course, I wish you health and happiness. But if you don't mind, I'll add these five wishes as well.

1. I wish you focus. There are so many distractions out there. I hope you find the power to block out the noise and focus on the important things.
2. I wish you persistence. Something will break in 2018. Problems will pop up. Here's wishing you the grit to push through to the sunshine on the other side.
3. I wish you patience. Our world moves fast. But many good things take time to develop. I wish you the patience needed to be thoughtful in what you do.
4. I wish you understanding. We live in an age of judgment. May you seek to understand first before judging in 2018
5. I wish you the best. But the best for you. Not them. May you be the captain of your life in 2018 and push what you need and want. 

As always, many thanks for letting me bend your ear in 2017. I hope our paths cross in 2018. Until then, be good.

 

 

My Top 10 Posts

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

Here's a list of my top 10 most popular blog posts through the years. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

1. Taking Things Personally.
2. Seven things you should stop doing to your boss.
3. Are you from Latrobe?
4. Letting it go. 
5. Extreme Service...with a Stuffed Giraffe.
6. Four leadership lessons from Apollo 13.
7. Electronic words.
8. The science of debt.
9. They are always watching... 
   
10. The power of a good concierge.

 

Your Weekend Reading Pile from NAFCU

Compiled by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

Our bags are packed and the car is full of gas. I hope Santa knows where to find us, as we'll be in Pennsylvania with family.

On behalf of all of us at NAFCU, have a Merry Christmas. 

Now, grab some eggnog and enjoy this week's reading pile. 

• Here's a nice turnaround story. How A&W got its soul back. (Entrepreneur)
• NCUA just released industry data for Q3. Asset growth. Loan growth. Broken down by region and asset class. Here's a great overview. (NAFCU)
• Who owns the stock market? (TRB)
• Millennial home ownership in large cities. (Ritholtz)
• Plant-based meatless meat is gaining major ground. (Fast Company)
• Top 10 retail banking trends and predictions for 2018. (FB)
• Open or closed. (Godin)
• The best idea wins. (Wealth of Common Sense)
• The demons hate fresh air. (Austin Kleon)
• 16 things successful people have given up. (Medium)

 

 

18 Thoughts for 2018

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

In less than two weeks, we'll venture into a new year. As 2018 approaches, many of us will reflect on where we are today - with a thought on how we can improve.  

Along those lines, here are 18 "thoughts" for 2018.  

1. Seek to understand. Too often, I judge before I try to understand. It is the curse of the manager. We are slowly, yet surely, trained to look for problems. To offer our two cents to "fix" things. Imagine if everyone focused on "understanding" first.
2. Focus on developing others. Your next email can build people up, or cut someone down. You can criticize, or offer guidance and wisdom. You can add to the noise, or make things better. The choice is yours. But if you want to build stronger, more confident colleagues, the choice is clear. 
3. Create the world you want to inhabit. We wish the world were kinder, or more efficient, or this, or that. Well, start with what you control. Create the environment that you want to live in. Don't be passive. Don't wait for it to appear. Make it appear. The results can be amazing.
4. There's no free lunch. If you want to change something, you'll have to...well, change something. That means something has to give. There are only so many hours in the day. If you want to improve some facet of your life, the investment in time, energy and focus must come from someplace else. 
5. There's no substitute for hard work.  Seinfeld is funny.  So that must be why he's successful. Perhaps. But he also works hard. Behind every successful person, you'll see a ton of hard, focused work. Nearly everything I see and read backs this up. Nearly everything. If you're looking for a silver bullet or secret to success, stop looking. And start working. 
6. Watch out for vampires. There's a good deal of negative energy out there. Stay clear of it. And beware of those that feed off of negative energy. Seth Godin does a wonderful job of highlighting this trend.  He calls these folks "vampires." Vampires will not help you improve in 2018. In his words: "It's so tempting to evangelize to the vampires, to prove them wrong, to help them see how destructive they are. This is food for them, merely encouragement. Shun the ones who feed on your failures."  It can be hard to cut off negative influences in your life. But what's the alternative? Allowing them to drag you down? This year, stay clear of the vampires. And better yet, strive to spend more time with those who see the world as you do - from a positive, can-do, point of view.
7. Be that guy. We all have chances during our days to help. To brighten the mood. To pitch in. To make things better. To encourage others. Do it. As I said before, the results can be amazing. Life is so short. Spread joy when you can.
8. Learn. Never stop learning. My pal John Spence sums it up in this blog video called Personal Kaizen. Life-long learning is the key to personal success and happiness. The more I learn, the more I understand.  And that understanding allows me to connect dots and see patterns. Learn from your successes. And your failures. 
9. Read. If you learn about successful people, you'll find that they read.  A ton. This is akin to life-long learning. Carve out more time in 2017 to read. You won't be sorry that you did.
10. Be clear. You may think you are clear, but chances are, you are not. Poor communication plagues nearly every organization, and it saps time and energy. Be clear with expectations, deadlines, your language, and your feelings. If you think something could be taken the wrong way, don't say or write it. In other words, banish the fog.  And you can start immediately. With your next email.
11. Stop taking things personally. It can be difficult to receive critical feedback. Feedback, however, is a great way to improve. Your colleagues want what's best for your members. And they want you to succeed. Look at their feedback as a gift. See you colleagues as trusted advisors, and see their feedback as the help that it is. 
12. Simplify. Is your life too busy? Too many things going on? Fix that. Remember, it is your life. You're in control. There are countless stories of how far leaders go to simplify things.   The busier you are, the more important this is.  Simplification reduces stress, increases your attention, and frees up time to work on your priorities. Don't know where to start? Here's one of many articles that talk about how to de-clutter your life. 
13. Invest for the future. Ask yourself this question. In a month, six months, or two years, will I be glad I did this today? That simple question will help you prioritize. Think and act with an eye to the horizon.  
14. Health. I'm not telling you to focus on your health in 2018.  But I'll say this much. When your health is good, everything else seems to go a bit better as well. It is a sort of a life "springboard." Don't have time? Really? 
15. Block out the noise. There's so much noise out there. Social media. The radio. The television. Advertisements. How much of it really affects you? How much is important? Very little. The more you can block out the noise, the better. Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture wrote a wonderful piece on how to cut down on the noise in your life. 
16. Focus where you make a difference. Akin to blocking out the noise, is the need to focus on where you can make a difference. Take the past 5 Presidential campaigns. Along the way, I'm sure you heard someone tell you that if this or that candidate was or was not elected, we'd be doomed. I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying that Presidential elections are unimportant. But don't overplay their control over your destiny. Become informed, and then vote. Then move on.  There are a number of things you can control in your own life that will determine your success.  More than who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.
17. Focus on what you're doing now. We've become a distracted society. Between Facebook, Twitter, Smartphones, television, Netflix, and iPads, it is harder to find folks who focus on what they are doing and who they are with. It seems everyone is focused on the next thing, and then quickly on to the next thing after that. We've become a society of multi-taskers. I've found that people who are great at getting things done have a master plan, but they focus on the task at hand. Completely. 
18. Never forget the journey. I love the process of self-improvement. I love planning. And spreadsheets. But even though it is important to plan for the future, don't neglect this moment. While it can be difficult sometimes to remember it, each of us is blessed. Through my 46 years, it seems the happiest people around me are those that appreciate the good in their lives. I'm no Pollyanna. There will be clouds and rain for of all of us. But there will be sunshine and gentle breezes as well. Always take a moment to enjoy life. To appreciate beauty. To say please and thank you. Self-improvement involves what we do. Never forget why you do it. 

Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope your 2018 is filled with laughter, smiles, health, and success. And if I can ever help along the journey, please let me know. I think life is better when we work together. 

You are not them

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

I have a friend who did advertising work for McDonald's. 

After seeing a McDonald's ad that I didn't like, I unloaded on him at a party.

I critiqued the ad and told him that it didn't resonate with me.

He patiently listened and then cracked a smile.

"Anthony, we can make an ad that you like. But we aren't interested in you. We're interested in 'them.'  And you are not 'them'." 

Eric's point was a good one.  I am one person. I may be similar to others, but I certainly don't represent everyone. What works for me may not work for others. And what doesn't work for me, may have great value for countless other people. 

I have carried that lesson with me for more than a decade.

How often do we look at something new and scoff? Facebook. PayPal. YouTube. Twitter. Netflix. Venmo. Zelle. Bitcoin. Blockchain.

It can be tempting to overlook the importance of something that doesn't resonate with us. I don't use it. I don't understand it. I don't understand what the big deal is. 

Sure. It may not work for you. But remember Eric's wise words.

You are not them. 

***

Hey - I hope to see both you and them at a NAFCU conference in 2018. You have until January 5th to save $300 on all of NAFCU's 2018 events. 

 

 

Your Weekend Reading Pile from NAFCU

Compiled by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

We've made it through another week! Sit back with a cup of joe and enjoy the best of this week's reading pile.

• Visualizing the net worth of Americans by age. (FourPillarFreedom)
• The secret life of 'Um.' (Atlantic)
• Has technology fundamentally changed inflation? (Wired)
• Do not grab nickels in front of steamrollers. (TonyIsola)
• Should you block that marijuana transaction? (NAFCU Compliance Blog)
• These 31 mistakes could derail your next presentation. (Inc.)
• The circle of competence. (SafalNiveshak)
• The best of ads of 2017. (Adweek)
• 52 things I learned in 2017. (Medium)
• Ethereum miners are rending 747s to ship graphics cards. (Quartz)
• Podcast: 3 ways to get your board unstuck. (NAFCU)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A tip: Feedly

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

People often ask me how I organize my daily reading. Well, here's my answer. I'm a huge fan of Feedly. 

Feedly is a news aggregator that collects and organizes posts from websites. Is there a blog or website that you follow? Simply copy and paste the URL into Feedly after you sign up (free). 

You can then organize Feedly to group similar types of web pages.  I have "folders" for marketing, trade associations, credit unions, finance, photography, content marketing, the economy and more. 

When I bring the Feedly site, it has all of the available reads to review. After a few weeks of trial and error, you'll be able to "issue spot" and scan very quickly. Here's a screenshot of what my page looks like now.

If you do a lot of reading, Feedly, or an app like it, is invaluable. Faithful readers - how do you stay on top of your reading pile?

***

Another tip...you have 24 days to take advantage of NAFCU"s Holiday promotion. Use the code "HOLIDAY" when registering to get $300 off any conference. 

Your Weekend Reading Pile from NAFCU

Compiled by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

The world nearly stopped in State College, Pennsylvania this week.

Penn State's oldest dive bar, the Great American Rathskeller, announced that it would be closing. Open since 1933, it is a dark and mysterious place where your beer is cold, and your feet stick to the floor. Yours truly may have ventured into the "Skeller" a few times during my days in Happy Valley. It practically was a prerequisite to receiving one's diploma.

Upon hearing the new, legions of students and alumni erupted into fury. You would have thought Christmas had been canceled. Petitions have been started. Boycotts have been threatened. 

It is just another reminder that many people love beer. And nearly everyone hates change.  

Now, on to this week's reading pile.   

• Another reminder to get outside. (Inc.)
• Why are Christmas trees so expensive this year? (Associations Now)
• November: 228k jobs added. (Calculated Risk)
• Consumer borrowing keeps going up. (Bloomberg)
• A great story about NAFCU's Carrie Hunt. Going to bat for credit unions. (thehill.com)
• When in doubt, tidy up. (AustinKleon)
• This chart details price changes in a select number of consumer goods and services. It is mind-blowing. (WealthofCommonSense)
• 9 common-sense rules for getting the most out of meetings. (Ted.com)
• Could driverless trucks create jobs for the trucking industry? (FastCompany)
• Napa Valley's wineries have rebounded quickly from the fires. (CNBC)
• Well, that didn't take long. (Housing Wire)
• CEOs are confident in the economy. (CNNMoney)
• Millions of people are turning to recorded nature sounds to drift off to sleep. Why? (Vice)
• The color of the year is...ultra violet. (Fast Company)
• And some NAFCU tidbits:
  
  • NAFCU releases its updated cybersecurity assessment tool workbook. 
  • Sign up for our member call-in next week. It is a great briefing on all that is happening in D.C.
  • Save $300 on all of NAFCU's 2018 conferences!

Have a great weekend, everyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The famous "Skeller."

The best 11 words you will read today...

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

Not my words. His.

 

Technically, you're right...but

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

Kate and Briggs are playing youth basketball. 

As you might expect, third-grade basketball is hardly a fine-tuned instrument.

Kids are learning the rules. Kids are learning the basic fundamentals. Kids are learning how to play for a team.

That's a lot of learning. As it should be.

The refs have been great. They are 30 percent referee and 70 percent teacher.

Many a "travel" or "double-dribble" is not called. When a player really doesn't get a rule, the refs will calmly explain how the game works and then hold the player accountable the next time.

Their "loose" stance helps keep the game moving. It helps players move the ball, and it helps newbies score a bucket or two.

There are parents, though, who view these games as NBA finals.

At one point, a voice bellowed out in the small gym.

"Holy cow, ref...that was a double-dribble. Come on!" 

The person was right, technically. But man, were they ever wrong. 

The goal of the day was to develop young players and foster a love of the sport. The kids were eight and nine years old. The ref calmly spoke to the parent and said she was going to call the game loosely so that kids could play and learn the game. As the kids got older, the refs would tighten up their calls.

It got me thinking...

• How many times do I give feedback, that while technically correct, is not appropriate given the situation?  Probably too often. 
• How often do I stop and think before giving feedback, with this thought...will this feedback help right now, or not?  Probably not enough.