Gone are the days of ease - ease of credit; which led to the ease of buying, indulging ourselves with things we didn’t even have time to use or enjoy; which led to complacency, because we were comfortable. And now…we are at today, and the stark realization that our carelessness has led to a new reality.

We are all to be held accountable for our part in the mess we find ourselves in. We let it get to this point. If we hadn’t been “buying”, the business of conducting business couldn’t have gotten this out of control. The greed would not have been able to gain traction, if no one was buying!

And there is the business of government. And make no mistake, it is a business. The only difference between it and private business is that private business has to work for its cash flow, its livelihood, while government business gets its cash flow for “free” from us.

We haven’t held them accountable. We were too comfortable.

Discipline. It’s time to take that word out of storage, dust it off, and begin to exercise it. Isn’t that what it takes for any real change to take place? Change that is going to be long lasting?  Taking a hard look at the reality of one’s situation and making a commitment to change?

That’s what retailers are doing. They are fighting for their lives. They are exercising discipline and changing to meet demands.  If consumers aren’t buying, they’re out of business. And their new discipline, brought on by change, will be good for consumers (see the article).

Credit unions!! Rise Up!! It is our time to shine. As pop star Mary J. Blige sang “Lean On Me” at a concert on the National Mall recently, it was noted by Hunter Moss of Callahan & Associates that “Lean On Me” is the working mantra for a credit union culture.

Now is the time to help people. They want to be helped. They want change. Help them put a new discipline to work in their lives with sound and solid credit and savings solutions.