What Are You Scared Of?

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Young nervous woman looking at smartphone and biting her fingernails at home.

“We’ll do more to avoid pain than to gain pleasure.” Whether we’re talking about our personal experiences or professional endeavors, this insightful quote from Tony Robbins rings true. Think about your life at home and at work. We have goals. We have dreams. We also have fears. And all too often, our fears keep us from chasing those goals and dreams.
Dr. Seuss wrote about fear in his obscure book, What Was I Scared Of. Throughout the book, the main character continuously sees a pair of empty green pants that seem to be chasing him. He runs away scared, trying to avoid the pants. Eventually, the protagonist and the pants wind up in a snide bush together, and he discovers the mysterious pants were just as frightened of him as he was of them.
For most of my life, I was afraid of needles — an unfounded fear based on nothing. So, when I was writing my bucket list several years ago, I placed “overcoming my fear of needles” at the top of that list. I even came up with a plan to accomplish my goal. I would get a tattoo. Pretty brave, right? I should also mention that since that time, I avoided tattoo shops like the Dr. Seuss character steered clear of the rogue green pants. And much like his unfounded fear of those pants, my illogical fear of needles gave me angst. I tried to avoid it. I tried to forget about it. I tried to pretend it didn’t exist. But no matter what I did, the fear kept nagging me. What was I scared of?
I spent three years avoiding my fear, but this past weekend, I finally had enough. While I was in one of my favorite cities, I decided it was time to take action. I walked past the tattoo shop twice. As I passed by a third time, it looked busy, so I wandered in assuming the wait would be too long. I was wrong. They had an opening on the schedule. I was out of excuses, and I was standing face-to-face with my personal version of those empty green pants.
My fear had controlled me for years, and before I was called back to the tattoo artist’s studio, it made one last attempt to hold me back. Rehearsing all my old excuses, I worked myself up as I waited. But when my name was called, I got up and walked back to face my fear. Sure, I turned white. I sweated. I was dramatic. I almost passed out. But none of these reactions were because of the pain; that was minimal. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it pain. It was a minor irritation. My fear was all in my head.
When we experience fear, it’s usually because we don’t have enough information. We operate on false assumptions. We don’t ask the right questions. We don’t try to gain a better perspective. And the worst part is that we let fear drive decisions that are far more important than whether we should or shouldn’t get a tattoo. In strategic planning and everyday business decisions, we let unfounded fear keep us from doing the things we need to do to be successful.
Perhaps a poorly performing employee continues to drag your team down because you’re afraid of confrontation. Or maybe you stick with the same core processor year after year, renewal after renewal, because you fear change (and the potential issues that come with it). Some people avoid making a name change or launching a rebranding campaign because they fear what legacy members might think or how many members will close their accounts. No matter what your individual fear might be, if you choose to gain perspective, take decisive action, and embrace positive change, you’ll quickly realize that the terrible outcome you feared is as harmless as an empty pair of pale green pants.
So, what’s on your personal bucket list that fear is keeping you from accomplishing? Is it worth getting to the end and wondering “what if” instead of experiencing “what’s possible?” Professionally speaking, what’s the change you know you need to make — the one that you keep putting off because you’re afraid? 2019 isn’t over yet. You still have time to conquer that fear. Quit running from those empty green pants. Stop, turn around, and face them.

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Robb Cribb

Marketing Strategist

Initially from the client side of YMC, Robb has taken the plunge into the world of marketing to provide his expertise as your strategist. With years of experience in the financial sector – both credit unions and banks – he says, “I didn’t pick the financial space. It picked me.” But what brings him to YMC is the same motivation that drew him to the credit union industry: making a difference in people’s lives and helping them achieve what they never imagined. Possessing a fighter’s spirit, he lives his life by the words of the Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa, “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
 
Whether he’s talking shop over a client dinner or unwinding at the end of the week, Robb enjoys a nice cut of steak and a nicer pour of bourbon to wash it down. A straightforward yet no less refined pairing, this combination perfectly reflects his marketing philosophy that, sometimes, simple is much more impactful.

Sara Breckbill

Social Media Manager

Sara is YMC’s very own Social Media Manager, and she has the experience and know-how to take your social media presence to new heights. Since her first college course on social media marketing, she’s known, “This is something I could do, and be happy doing it!” Her three guiding principles in branding: consistency, relatability, and humor. She knows people remember things that make them laugh or make them feel seen, so it’s no surprise she excels at crafting strategic and engaging social media content. Her advice to young marketers is the same motto she lives her life by: Enjoy the journey! Collaborative and creative, she feels right at home at YMC.
 
In her downtime, Sara enjoys Japanese food, hot or iced coffee, and listening to her favorite singer-songwriters. Some day, she hopes to visit Niagara Falls in person, but in the meantime, she’s happy to enjoy the journey.
Mandy Garman headshot

Mandy Garman

Graphic Designer

Meet Mandy, one of YMC’s in-house Graphic Designer phenoms! Honing her craft from an early age, Mandy constantly strives to innovate design and refine her artistic techniques. An avid believer in “quality over quantity,” she feels right at home with YMC’s focus on details and dedication to providing unique strategies. In fact, her marketing philosophy reflects this drive for excellence and commitment to substantial work, “Brand consistency is key for all marketing materials. Also, I believe less is more in graphic design. White space is your friend, and the logo does not always need to be the main focal point.”

A Nashville native, Mandy is intimately familiar with the profound effects of great art and stellar design. Especially influenced by the city’s music scene, one of her lifelong ambitions – besides trips to Italy and Japan – is to professionally create album covers. When she isn’t practicing her craft, you might catch her out and about enjoying matcha boba tea or at her favorite dining establishment: Mas Tacos. That, or obsessing over her Persian cat, Benny!

Reh Harvey

Vice President of Digital Strategy

Reh Harvey, our Vice President of Digital Strategy, leads with diligence and fervor. Having previously been a member of Team YMC, he is excited to return to such an amazing culture and even more amazing people (his words)! Through his experience in the marketing world, he’s found the key to success is to stay on the cutting edge and to always keep evolving.
 
Although originally drawn to marketing for its lack of math, Reh now finds himself doing more math than he would’ve bargained for. But his self discipline and positive attitude make it easy for him to laugh and take it in stride. Hoping to one day visit Japan and enjoy some premium Sushi, Reh lives life by his creed: Be a good human. Do good work. And above all, just keep going.

Hailey Madej

Graphic Designer

As YMC’s in-house Graphic Designer, Hailey possesses an eye for detail and a drive to innovate. It’s no surprise though since being creative runs in the family! Inspired from an early age by her mom’s work as a Graphic Designer, Hailey is a seasoned expert whose talents bring vitality and accessibility to every project. As a UX/UI designer, she expertly blends the intuitive and the creative for all to enjoy.
 
In addition to the occasional freelance project, Hailey also lends her abilities to supporting art initiatives within her community, such as the Belleville Mural Project. Her favorite aspect of joining the YMC team is the friendly, uplifting culture and breadth of design tasks. When it comes to marketing, she believes in pushing boundaries and maybe breaking some rules to capture her audience’s attention. Her advice to those just starting out? “Always seek quality over quantity.”

Dexter Ochoa

Development Assistant

When it comes to blending logical thinking and creative problem solving, Dexter’s abilities are undeniable! Beginning his career as a Web Developer, he’s no stranger to the wide world of Marketing and Advertising. Calling Biñan City in the Philippines home, Dexter has a burning desire to visit the Alpine peaks and valleys of Switzerland. While that journey may be far off, he is still no stranger to international travel. While visiting Japan, he was able to enjoy his favorite delicacy: Sushi and Sashimi. He also learned unexpected facts about Japanese Yen, specifically that it has special markings for the blind to know its value!

Whether he’s enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or the occasional Pale Pilsen in the evening, Dexter is eager to work with the talented professionals of YMC, and we’re just as eager to add his talent to the team as well! His marketing words of wisdom? “Be creative, and just do what you want!”

Andrew Wyche

Copywriter

Hailing from the NC state capital (that’s Raleigh if you didn’t know), Andrew is YMC’s Copywriter extraordinaire. That’s why he knows that “The verb form of ‘reconnaissance’ is ‘reconnoiter.’ The former is, strictly speaking, a noun.” Seriously, he knows his words and he’ll use those words to get bold and weird (in a good way) with his copy. Fuelled by a love for pasta, shellfish, a good single malt, or a meal consisting of all three, Andrew navigates life with a motto engraved in his heart: “Choose kindness. Always.” It is this guiding principle that has led him to explore the realm of marketing, driven by a desire to connect with people in meaningful ways. As he continues to chase his dreams, one bucket list item stands out above the rest – a pilgrimage to Scotland. With his heart set on adventure and his pen poised for creativity, Andrew’s journey is far from over.

Alex VanHaasteren

Senior Web Developer

Alex is YMC’s Senior Web Developer and, as the title suggests, she is an absolute pro! While she initially started in graphic design – working long and hard to expertly bring concepts to life – she also felt drawn to technology and applying her natural ability to problem solve. Web Development proved the perfect blend of her creative passion and technical savvy.

When Alex is out with friends – including her YMC colleagues – she’s up for Greek cuisine or some good pulled pork BBQ washed down with Diet Coke. Or an Old Fashioned, if the occasion demands. Someday, she hopes to go to Africa on a safari. Hopefully she’ll see a giraffe in the wild, because – as she’s pointed out – its neck is too short to reach the ground!

When she isn’t jamming out to T-Swift, she’s happy to impart some marketing words of wisdom, “Aim to create something unforgettable.” For day-to-day inspiration, she would remind you of two fundamental truths: You decide your happiness, and Ice cream is its own food group—not just a dessert.

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