What is the path of the enlightened credit union marketer?

Sorry, Grasshopper — I don’t know either. I’ve only been doing this for 17 years. But perhaps there’s something to learn from the traditions of Zen. Let’s take a deep breath, sit comfortably, leave today’s concerns behind for a moment, and ponder…

“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
Our culture presses us to multitask, to always think of the next five things while doing another. We’re expected to be frantic. What if we did just one thing at a time, and did it with all our attention? Try it today, just once. When you drive to lunch, just drive. When you sit down to make a media plan or think about a brand strategy, turn everything off and concentrate on your goal and your tasks.

“When you eat, the meal is yourself”
We are all that we choose to take in, from corn flakes to feelings. What have you swallowed today? How does it affect you? Can you bring better things and experiences into your mind and body?

“Move and the way will open”
How many CU marketers have been obliged to sit on their hands for much of this past year? Staying in motion and taking action give the power of action, of finding and opening the path.

“From the withered tree, a flower blooms”
Amid apparent destruction, there is always opportunity for growth — sounds like a credit union specialty to me.

“When facing a single tree, if you look at a single one of its red leaves, you will not see all the others. When the eye is not set on one leaf, and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves are visible to the eye without limit.”
Remember to keep your senses open, to perceive widely. It’s easier and often feels safer to focus on each leaf instead of the whole tree. In order to nurture a brand, credit union marketers must perceive and understand the wider, long-range perspective.