By Mary Arnold
Strategy and business models have been pretty much the recurring themes on CUES Skybox of late. And rightly so, I'd say. If we don't get these aspects of our businesses right, what difference does anything else make?
In case you've just joined us, we started in this direction with Ted Thames' five-part series, "10 Strategic Questions CU Leaders Must Answer," followed by insights from several Harvard Business School professors and, most recently, Steve Williams' "To Fight Commoditization, Clarify Your Business Model." (If you like what you read here, be sure to hear Steve speak on this same topic at CEO Network in Key Biscayne, Fla., Nov. 4-7.)
The trouble with working to sharpen strategies and hone business models is that sometimes it's hard to get to the bottom line. What are we really good at that is also vitally important to a certain group of members or potential members? What is our value proposition?
According to Christopher Stevenson, professional development manager for CUES, if you can write a good e-mail, you can also nail your value proposition. Read how in "What's Your Value?" on our sister blog, Nexus Connection.
Anyone care to share their e-mail? Post it as a "Comment" below.
Mary Arnold is VP/publications for CUES and editor of Credit Union Management magazine.
