Learning & Sharing Together - Positioning Forward

Higher education inspires us to strive for the insights that yield intelligence and personal significance.  And here we are learning and sharing together – not about what we think we know, but mining for knowledge we don’t yet possess.  It’s this ambition that broadens the gap between you, your goals, and everyone else. This is your time.

Brian Solis, Engage! The Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web

Time to Vote for Next Read - Book Club for Professional & Personal Development

When it comes to reading for both professional and personal development, do you have good intentions but don't get anywhere? Is your schedule so crazy that meeting at the same time and day of the week is a commitment you're not ready to make? Do you need deadlines to get you started? Do you work for or love a credit union? Answer yes to any of these questions, and we're the group for you!

Our book club launched March 15, 2010 starting with Patrick Lencioni's "Getting Naked: A Business Fable." We are currently reading our second book, Seth Godin's "Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?" Please feel free to join in at anytime. That's the method to the madness for connecting on LinkedIn. If you missed the start or we are on another book, you can still jump in and add to the discussion on any book active in the group discussion site, sharing with the community.

We are about 1/3 of the way through Linchpin. It's time to start thinking about what the group will read next. On the list are:

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Everyone Communicates Few Connect by John C. Maxwell
Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman
Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeir Hansson

Vote here. When you vote, please feel free to recommend books for future consideration.

Voting closes on June 16. Simple majority rules. The book with the most votes will be our third book.

LinkedIn Group - Credit Union Leaders Book Club Begins New Book - Seth Godin's Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

This week we are wrapping up discussions on Patrick Lencioni's book, "Getting Naked: A Business Fable...about shedding the three fears that sabotage client loyalty." Even if you did not read along with us, I'm encouraging the read and joining in the discussion threads. It's a great book for folks involved in sales and customer service. It can provide insights for large organizations with multiple departments/branches (when you substitute departments/branches for companies as you read). It also gives perspectives for organizations involved in mergers, as well as those simply looking to gain perspectives about their competitors.

It's no secret that I'm a Seth Godin fan. Next up, beginning April 26, we'll start discussions on Godin's "Linchpin: Are You Indispensible?".  Join us in our adventure as we explore Godin's thoughts about ourselves - our choices, our future, and our potential to make a huge difference. Whether you work for a credit union, serve a credit union, or just love your credit union, feel free to read along with us. Discussions and comments are encouraged.

Our approach is simple. We'll cover a chapter a week. Feel free at any time to add to the discussions and share your challenges and insights. Let's learn from and challenge each other.

For my credit union friends, I also recommend reading Godin's book "Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us".

Credit Union Leaders Book Club Launched

I don't know about you, but I am surrounded by books I plan to read. Great books sit waiting to provide aha moments, challenge my thinking, or to provide much needed escapes. Gifts waiting to be opened and explored, they look at me wide-eyed as if to ask which book will I devour next?

 

I have collected a number of business books in the last year that all seem more than worthy to spend quality time with. Yet, before I open any of the books, another one lands on my radar and finds it way home. My list of recommended books continues to grow. I trust the sources. They must be good reads. Right?

 

And yes, I must confess, I’m a cycler. No, Lance Armstrong doesn’t need to be worried that I might be a hidden threat. For as long as I can remember, I’ve cycled between fiction and non-fiction reading. Lately I’ve been reading historical fiction. The books have taken me on great adventures back in time and broadened my perspectives.

 

Was my recent escape to fiction driven by guilt that when I got bogged down reading “Einstein”? A trusted friend recommended the book. I know she would not do that lightly. Yet half way through I laid it down and it sits by my chair. I can’t completely let it go. It sits starring at me. Einstein and I will reunite somewhere down the road.

 

During a recent CUChatUp blog talk, the participants started chatting about business books. Book recommendations started flying. Inspiration! Around the same time, I had received one of those delightful Amazon emails about new books. I'm so weak and they know me so well. This one mentioned "Getting Naked: A Business Fable...about shedding the three fears that sabotage client loyalty" by Patrick Lencioni. I'm a fan of his "Five Dysfunctions of a Team".

 

It hit. The perfect storm - energy sparked by a community of friends who like to read and make a difference and a new book by an author I like It’s time to cycle back to business reading.

The call to action. The call to community. The LinkedIn Group “Credit Union Leaders Book Club” was born. Using the discussion feature of LinkedIn, this is a community where credit union professionals and friends committed to professional and personal development are encouraged to grow together. Being part of the community adds a sense of accountability and responsibility. We’re spread out across the country and all have busy schedules. The online discussion gives us more options to learn from and share with each other. On March 15 we start our 1st book discussion, covering one chapter a week. Our community will determine the next book.

 

Feel free to join our group and share the challenge with your team. Together we can learn from and challenge each other forward. Feel the energy. Make the commitment.

Twitter: a faster horse, trends, the classroom, & our future work force

My mind is racing as I think about the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead as we innovate, communicate, learn, and grow together.

Others may question the value of Twitter. It was not that long ago that I didn't even want to consider another communication channel. I was too busy and there was too much trivial communication. Now, I'm thankful for an ever-growing, thought-provoking, community of connections and viewpoints shared on Twitter.

Browsing through Twitter updates this morning, I came across @BertDecker's reference to a quote by Henry Ford:

"If I'd asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse."

Fortunately, Mr. Ford chose a different path, pioneering a new form of transportation. Might social media be to communication, like the Model T was to transportation, where Twitter is the higher speed evolution?

Next, I spent some time reviewing @MichaelHyatt's pointer post to the free ebook, "What Matters Now: Things to think about (and do) this year". More than 70 big thinkers collaborated to provide a picture of where we are headed, including Seth Godin, Chris Anderson, Tom Peters, Elizabeth Gilbert, Guy Kawasaki, and more.

The ebook begins with a spotlight on generosity. Logic would indicate that people start focusing on looking out for number one when the economy is tough. It turns out that the connected economy doesn't respect this natural instinct. Instead, we're rewarded for being generous.

Covering such areas as dignity, momentum, consequences, compassion, DIY, accountability, responsibility, collaboration, change, context, authenticity, and more, the ebook is worth taking the time to read. Slow down, contemplate, and give some serious thought to the concepts. Take time to ask yourself, "What does this mean to me?"

Next, @rossdawson pointed me to "A futurist's view of the 'next big thing' in social media" by @VenessaMiemis and featured on www.businessesgrow.com.

When I came across:

Many young people are not being taught how to benefit from the power of the web as a tool for building a network and for learning. I mean, anyone who uses Twitter or belongs to an online community of some sort has seen that sharing information and learning from one another is not only fun and rewarding, it's addictive. Kids need to be shown how to navigate that world too.

It's not just the kids who need to be introduced to or taught about the value of social media. All ages can benefit when they find the right focus and discover the best channels to use for their goals and interests.

I was compelled to pay it forward today, sharing insights I found valuable with others. Now will you share with me? Has someone's tweet inspired, challenged, and helped you position forward? It's your turn to pay it forward, shout out and share with others.

Leading the Way

A big shout out to Janine McBee for pointing this out.  She is reading Seth Godin’s book “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us”.  Pretty nice title considering the theme of the Texas Credit Union League Marketing Conference.  His subheading states “In Search of a Movement...a movement waiting to happen, a group of people just waiting to be energized and transformed.”

Janine states “A movement is thrilling. It's the work of many people, all connected, all seeking something better. I so felt like he was talking about our credit union movement.”

The book also notes that “Everyone is not just a marketer - everyone is not also a leader. The explosion in tribes, groups, covens, and circles of interest means that anyone who wants to make a difference can.”

Janine summarizes this thought with “At this point he made me think of our credit union network, how each of our contacts impacts our lives through leadership, direct or indirect, good or bad.”

Just getting back into the office from the marketing conference, this makes so much sense (more to come on conference thoughts later).  What are you doing in your daily life to empower your co-workers to help them make a difference in your member’s lives.  Shout back below and let us know.