Years ago, I came across this idea in the writings of Brian Tracy, and it struck a chord with me:
"You are always self-employed. You are always the president of your own personal services corporation, no matter where you might be working at the moment... Instead of waiting for things to happen, you make things happen... This is the mindset of the truly excellent person."
I’ve tried as best I can to allow that attitude to shape how I approached every role I’ve had. Whether leading a team or contributing within one, I’ve found that adopting a “services mindset” rather than an “employee mindset” consistently leads to greater impact and growth.
You Are Already Self-Employed
Think of yourself as a professional services company, not just a wage earner. You’re selling your skills and expertise to your current credit union or other business. And just like any business, you may someday change your client.
This mindset puts the responsibility squarely on your shoulders. It’s up to you to keep your skills sharp, stay current in the credit union industry, and continuously increase the value of what you offer. That might mean reading a chapter from a book on your lunch break or completing an online course after dinner.
You can wait for someone to send you to a conference, or you can take initiative. The difference in mindset is everything. One of the remarkable advantages of the current information age is that excellent training is often available online at little to no cost. Spend just 30 minutes of your evening investing in your growth instead of scrolling social media and watching Netflix. You will set yourself far above, perhaps, a majority of your coworkers who are not willing to make that investment. You can find an excuse to stick with old habits, or you can take action and set yourself apart. The choice is yours and no one else’s.
Strategic Thinking, Not Just Task Completion
The difference in mindset becomes especially clear when you observe how people manage their time.
Someone with an employee mindset might finish their daily work early and then watch the clock until “quitting time.” They’re disengaged, waiting for the day to end, but someone who sees themselves as a personal services firm never runs out of meaningful things to do. Every minute is an opportunity to deepen expertise, anticipate future needs or deliver a little extra value. This mindset makes your day, and therefore your life, more interesting and engaging.
Professional services firms don’t just follow instructions. They consult. They solve problems. They build relationships. That’s what sets you apart when you apply this thinking to your role within your credit union.
Your Strategic Plan
This mindset also encourages long-term thinking. What’s your five-year plan? How prepared would you be if your current role in the credit union were to end tomorrow?
Do you have a reputation for excellence in your field? Do you have a plan for continued relevance? Are you actively managing your network, skill set and professional presence?
The answers to these questions don’t just prepare you for uncertainty—they make you stronger, more confident and more valuable in your current credit union role.
Conclusion: You Are the CEO of You
The most successful credit union professionals I’ve worked with didn’t just show up and do the job; they approached their careers with intention. Whether they consciously realized it or not, they saw themselves as business owners, responsible for increasing the value of their product: providing services, delivering results and earning trust.
You are the CEO of you. And whether you stay in one role or pursue new paths within the credit union movement, that mindset will serve you every step of the way.
I’d love to know what this idea means to you. Have you tried approaching your credit union career this way? How do you encourage your team members to take ownership of their growth? Let’s keep the conversation going.