Deep Impact

This may start out a little morose but stay with me… 

Last night I had a dream where I found out my father died.  In actuality, he passed away October 8th, 2003 (20 years ago).  The thing about this dream was the impact it had both while I was sleeping and after it woke me in the wee hours of the morning.  I felt, intensely, all the anguish, sorrow, heartbreak, loss one would expect in the dream, but upon waking those feelings lingered for some time after.

It was difficult to shake.  I’m not sure what triggered the dream, but you know me, I figured there was some purpose, and, in my head, I started forming what is now this message.  In conjunction with this nocturnal event, I remembered that just a couple days ago I was talking with one of my brothers about the time since our father’s passing and he asked, rhetorically I’m sure, why it seemed like yesterday.

I, of course, endeavored to respond and the answer that immediately came to mind was, “it was because of the impact he had”.  That conversation, the dream, all got me thinking about the impact we make on those around us and what we leave behind.

In emails, meetings, and public speaking opportunities, I’m always talking about “the experience”; how the member experience and employee experience are the two absolute pillars of Freedom’s culture and strategy.  It’s our why.

I met a lady recently at one of our Business After Hours events who recently found out about us and moved all her accounts and loans from one of the big banks to Freedom.  Oh, she told me about the things we did, how we saved her money, dropped her auto loan rates, how we simplified her banking, etc., but what really meant the most, what had the biggest impact, was how she was treated and how wonderful the people she’s dealt with are.  She raved not only to me, but to anyone that would listen.  Talk about a testimonial!

That moment was a tangible realization, a validation, that each of us can have a positive impact on those around us.  That what we do and say to one another, to our members, in the community, can make a difference.

I’ve always said banking is what we do, not who we are, but really who we are AND what we do is so much more when we realize that someone and some point will be better off because of our involvement or intervention.

I know this won’t always happen and not everyone will be impacted in some transformative way, but if we start with one, who knows where that will lead.  In a world where we are inundated with negativity, where there is more talk about what makes us different than unites us, where there isn’t enough rational discourse and tolerance, I’ll gladly focus on the impact we make on one and build on it.

“One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.”  ~ Buddha

 

The Freedom Way

The last time I wrote one of these philosophies it referenced change. 

At that time, my focus was on the never-changing aspect of our culture; how the core of who we are and why we do what we do is, and will be, a necessary constant.

Of course, change in some form or fashion is inevitable.

But you know what I love about Freedom?  It’s that when change does come, we adapt, and we thrive.  Pandemic, economy, technology, staffing, no matter the impetus, we trust one another, we rely on each other, and we succeed.

That’s not an opinion, not wishful thinking.  That’s a fact.

There is an evolution to everything and when we embrace that, use that as fuel to move us forward, we can accomplish great things.

This is the Way

We’re told change is good, and while I believe that’s true in many cases, I also believe some things shouldn’t change.

…like the culture at Freedom.

Now, culture has become a bit of buzz word these days, but I go back to October 2015 when I made my first address to Freedom as the CEO.  On that day I quoted Maya Angelou by saying, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.

From that day our culture was set and our focus has been on the member and employee experience; to make people feel something positive.  I never heard that quote before then and never really heard people talk about culture much, but nowadays, I hear that quote and the word ‘culture’ tossed around a lot in business.  I won’t lie, it makes me feel like a bit of a trailblazer and it reinforces my commitment to the “Freedom way”.

I don’t care what outside pressure comes, what competition surfaces, what hurdles are placed before us.  We will not abandon doing what is right for our members, our community and each other.

People helping people has long been a catch phrase of the credit union movement so it’s not unique to Freedom, but how we put that into practice, how we make that real as best we can every day, is where we distinguish ourselves.  I know that isn’t easy, I know we may have limitations at times, but I also know what we are building together is right.

I hear it from members, from you, and I see it in the community.  Of course, though we can feel good about what we’ve accomplished so far, we must also continue to achieve the results that support our culture.

That’s why it is important to tell our story, so people understand that the more business they do with Freedom, the more it benefits themselves and their community.  Normal everyday “banking”, the same stuff so many financial institutions offer, can have a more positive impact at Freedom because of the “Freedom way” and how we put that into practice.

Simply put, ours is a symbiotic relationship between Freedom, its members and the communities we serve and support.

This is the way.