Musings from the CU Suite

Dec 19, 2017

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'." 

Image result for you versus 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. 

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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.