Back in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, John Krasinski (Yes, the Jack Reacher and The Office guy.) began an online series called Some Good News, focused on providing a brief respite from the ongoing stories of bad news surrounding us at that time. Watching my social feeds right now makes me wish for some good, old-fashioned happy stories.
Before you recommend dog videos like Casper and Pam or Grizzly Bane, I’m not (necessarily) talking about diving down the rabbit hole of online videos and reels. I’m talking about things that uplift you and help you get through hard times.
I talk a lot about empathy, and kindness in my work, and I know that having some resources in our proverbial back pockets can help us smile through some dark times and moods.
Here are three feel-good recommendations that have some great “teachable moments” for us to apply in our daily life and work.
“What It’s Like To Be” from Dan Heath
In this new-ish podcast, author and speaker Dan Heath interviews everyone from a stadium beer vendor to a couple who are long-haul truckers to ask What It’s Like To Be them. Each episode is around 30 minutes, which makes it a great listen for a quick run after work. (As if I run.)
Dan (because I’m on a first-name basis with him, obviously!) can teach us a lot about how to ask valuable, open questions in a relaxed manner. He listens deeply to the responses, and even though he asks the same questions to wrap up each interview, he approaches each conversation with warmth and genuine interest. You know he already knows what they’re going to say, but the conversations are fresh and captivating.
During our workdays, we can find ourselves asking the same set of questions to each of our members and colleagues – and we think we know what the other person is going to say. Those expectations can lead to a communication breakdown because we are jumping into problem-solving mode before the other person has finished speaking. Slow your roll and listen. What the other person has to say might surprise you.
“Shark Tank”
Since its premiere in 2009, Shark Tank has seen its share of successes. In fact, Shark Tank’s failure rate is around 6%, which is much lower than the estimated 70% business failure rate. With season 16 having launched on ABC on October 18 and with so many product successes, they must be doing something right. Right?
While the show mostly deals with direct-to-consumer products, there are plenty of things credit unions can learn by watching. I’ll admit that most of the deals involve investments and percentages of profit that make my brain spin like one of those story problems (If Joe has 6 watermelons and is flying to Bermuda at 30,000 feet, and Kym has 14 parrots and is driving to Poughkeepsie at 68 MPH, what is the likelihood that Tracy will remember to take her vitamins every morning?)
Watch instead for the sales pitch. Watch the passion behind a designer sharing their dream with a group of strangers, hoping that they love the idea as much as the inventor does. Listen to how they boil their life’s work into a 90-second elevator pitch. Now imagine if your member is the architect of the idea and your team is the panel of potential investors. Buying their first house. Getting a new car. Investing in their financial future. We do have to ask some tough questions to ensure it’s a good investment, yet how much enthusiasm for each new member request do we have?
Even if the Sharks choose not to invest, they often impart valuable knowledge to help that entrepreneur be successful in whatever path they take. It’s our mission to ensure we’re helping people, so be sure your staff is ready to provide financial tips to get that member to an enthusiastic yes—even if it’s not right away.
“Charisma Quest” from Kristin Bock
While none of us need more email in our inbox, Charisma Quest from Kristin Bock is one of those newsletters that I look forward to reading every week. As a body language expert, Kristin promises that her Body Language Blueprints newsletter “will help you go from meh to memorable in just 1 minute a week.”
Kristin shares her inspiration, a fun quote, the science behind her topic, and some bite-sized wisdom to help us become more influential in the way we approach conversations and daily interactions. Over the past year, she’s shared the wisdom of everyone from Fred Rogers to Freddy Mercury.
If you’re anything like me, heaven help you! JK. But seriously, if you’re like most people, we want other people to like us and find us approachable. From tilting your head while you’re listening, to sharing a laugh with a member or colleague, we’re all searching for what Kristin calls, “the perfect opportunity to connect, laugh, and maybe even make someone’s day a little brighter.” I hope you can find as much inspiration from her newsletter as I have!
I’d love to hear what you do for a bit of a pick-me-up on a tough day and how it’s helped you be a better partner, friend, or colleague. Reach out to me at angela@cudifference.com to share what brings a smile to your face.
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” ~ Taylor Swift
