Building a Bridge...

Greetings...

This weekend, I was helping my 17-year old son with a physics project-- building a bridge from toothpicks.

The project is an interesting dilemma...build a bridge to specific dimensions using nothing but regular toothpicks and white Elmer's glue.  The project is worth 50 points for the quarter and the student who's bridge holds the most weight among ALL students earns another 50 bonus points!  One would think that you simply use a ton of glue and hold it all together...that is where you would be incorrect!

The "trick" to the best bridge design is NOT the glue...its the physics of the toothpick placement!  The glue provides stability and flexibility but the true ability to do the heavy weight is the distribution of the weight across the bridge (for us, the organization).

So...there is my connection.

We work with MANY banks and credit unions around the country.  Most that are performing well but others not so well....the difference?  Its not the glue holding the organization together-- its the design of the teams!  The best teams works together and each contributes and takes some of the weight and helps the other teams.  This is one effective bridge design...the "Warren Truss" design.  It will hold and is a fine design.  However, it will not hold the most!

Here is what I mean...each bank and many CUs have a retail group, lending, investment group, and business lending.  If they operate separately-- no matter how much glue is applied to hold them together-- if they are not designed to be one unit with multiple entry points and really work together, then they are destined to fail.  Here is the design that is truly interrelated, "Warren Truss Subdivided" designed bridge...this will hold the most weight and it designed to be integrated and work as one unit.

Remember, glue is important-- as it gives stability and flexibility.  But the best design is one where everyone ACTUALLY works together, supports one another, and is seamless in distributing the work and weight!

Cheers!

Bruce

It's Here!! Monday!

Greetings and HAPPY MONDAY!

Today is a great day...spring has sprung, the weather has turned and I have actually mowed my grass 2x already!  The best times in grass mowing?  The 1st time of the season...and the last time of the season!  However, each time in between adds to the look of your home and displays your attitude toward your neighbors.

To that end, I share my blog for today...

Action is required by everyone.

Monday's are all about action.  You had the weekend to rest and relax (or have a crazy schedule with baseball, soccer, dinner's cookouts, etc...but still relaxing stuff!) and think about the coming week.  So, today's action has to be to put your thoughts INTO action!

Just like mowing your grass is a reflection on you and your neighborhood, so is your Monday actions! Your actions reflect on your attitude and desire to be successful as well as your attitude toward your co-workers, your company and your customers.

Come out firing away and getting things done...it sets the tone for a GREAT week and let's everyone know that you are ONBOARD with success--- your's and theirs!

So...put your weekend thoughts and considerations on the front burner and get them INTO action.  You will find success comes, the week speeds along, and people gravitate to you.

Afterall, success (like honey) attracts good things!

Have a great MONDAY and even better week...

Cheers!

Bruce

TGIM...

TGIM.

That's right...Thank God its MONDAY!

Changing my opinion of Mondays and making 2010 sing!

In case you have not read it, Thank God is Mondays, by Roxanne Emmerich is a quality read. It simply helps you refocus on the important little things that make the important big things easy.

Its all about making the environment in which you work the best it can be...positive, focused, constructive and engineered for team success.

Its kind of like the Staples "easy button"....that was easy!

With the full and complete knowledge that it IS that easy...and at the same time it is NOT that easy. The difference?  Attitude. Confidence. Team Focus.

At MarketMatch we are all about Focus. Momentum. Results. Three key words that sum up our mantra and keep us all working on the same goals with clients and rowing in the same direction.

I encourage you and your team to find that same type of razor sharp focus for you and your team.

It WILL make the difference and help to create a FUN/PRODUCTIVE/ENERGIZED working environment that will be creating great results along the way....

Cheers!

Bruce

Monday, Monday...

Good morning financial marketers...

In the spirit of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", I share a hearty greeting!

IT'S MONDAY...

I have been reading Roxanne Emmerich's book entitled, "Thank God its Monday!"  A really good read!  The premise is building a team and environment that is the most conducive to success as possible.

So, I ask you to look around your office and institution...1st at yourself.  Are you excited to come to work on Monday?  Full of energy and ideas?  YOU have to be the emotional leader...

If you are coming in excited and ready to go...your team will, too!

I know we have all heard of "walk the walk and talk the talk", it is true!  People watch and make notes of the exec's leadership style and actions. Everything matters!  If we don't follow-thru, soon our staff will take that same cue and slow their efforts, too.  We ALL need to working toward the same goal and we have to be the lead.

Look for more ideas and thoughts about focusing your team and creating and environment that welcomes Mondays!

Cheers!

Bruce