The problem with possibilities is that they are endless…
This time of year, hope springs eternal. We enter the new year with unlimited possibilities and musings all the wonderful things we’ll do. There are trips to take, fitness goals to crush, healthy foods to eat, weight to lose, friendships to bolster, spouses to focus on, prudent financial decisions to make, new languages to learn, dance lessons to master, and golf games to improve. But, I digress. Generally, we spend a lot of time thinking of all the possible ways to be a better, more likable version of ourselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE possibility. I get swept up in the idea of what is NEXT. I hate to stand still. I am always plotting the next adventure, the next race to run, the next country to visit. Truth be told, I get a little twitchy if I don’t have that “next thing” on the calendar.
It’s addictive, this perpetual need to move forward. It idolizes possibility. But the problem with possibility is that it steals focus. When we spend all our time dreaming of what’s possible, we often don’t see what’s right in front of us. We forget to be present and miss out on the here and now.
This year, as you think of all the possibilities that 2025 has for you and your credit union, resolve to pause and contemplate these three considerations before chasing after what’s next (whatever it may be):
Be Purpose Driven - Does this idea, project, goal, or initiative align with the core purpose of the credit union? Does this keep the purpose constant, or is it an interesting distraction from the strategic direction we as an organization have laid out? If it’s not purposeful, then it’s an easy possibility to be eliminated.
Prioritize - We cannot do everything on the list. It’s just not possible. We don’t have the time or the resources. Individuals and organizations get fatigued when there are too many things to do. We can’t get things started if we don’t know what the priority is. Ask yourself the question, what are the top three to five priorities for your credit union this year. Are they purposeful, and do these priorities collectively move the ball down the field strategically?
Be Present –It’s a simple idea: be present in the moment. Straightforward, easy and so impossible to remember to do. For your credit union, this is about meeting members where they are at. We should be looking to what’s next and helping members get there. Some of the best experiences and lasting ways to help members are to simply listen to what they are telling you, hear their concerns and assist them the best we can in the present.
I don’t think I will ever lose the love of possibility, and quite frankly, I shouldn’t. It’s that drive forward for what’s next that keeps things interesting and allows me to remain open to new ideas and experiences. But I do need to spend a little more time slowing down, being present, and welcoming the pause before charging forward to the next possibility.
Here’s wishing you a year of purposeful, prioritized, and present possibilities!