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Don’t Get Mad, Get Noticed
Every generation believes it is living through unprecedented uncertainty. Yet history reminds us that uncertainty isn't the exception—it's the rule. The real question isn't whether we'll face disruption, but how we'll respond to it.Consider where America stood just 50 years ago.
In 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The Eagles released Hotel California. A Big Mac cost 75 cents, gasoline averaged 59 cents a gallon, and the typical American family earned about $16,000 a year. A new home sold for roughly $43,000—about 2.6 times the average annual income. You could drive home in a brand-new Ford Pinto for $2,895 or a Chrysler Cordoba for $4,895. Many people look back on those as "the good old days."
But were they?
One of the most memorable moments from 1976 came not from a newspaper headline, but from the Warner Bros. film Network. Peter Finch's Academy Award-winning portrayal of news anchor Howard Beale captured the nation's frustration with a speech that has become part of American culture.
“I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be! We know things are bad - worse than bad, They're crazy! It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore … I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad! You've got to say, "I'm a HUMAN BEING, GODDAMNIT! My LIFE has VALUE!!" So I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!'... Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!”Howard Beale described a country gripped by inflation, economic anxiety, crime, political uncertainty, and a growing sense that everything was spinning out of control. His famous rallying cry—"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"—resonated because millions of Americans felt exactly the same way.
Sound familiar? Now fast-forward to 2026.
Today's headlines may be different, but the themes are remarkably similar:
- Geopolitical uncertainty and trade policy are disrupting markets and delaying business decisions.
- Inflation and interest rates continue to pressure both household budgets and business investment.
- Political polarization and rapidly changing regulations have created record levels of what economists call "economic policy uncertainty."
The headlines change. The uncertainty doesn't. America is frustrated. Many credit union leaders, employees, members, and business partners feel that frustration every day. They're asking the same questions Americans asked decades ago: What happens next? How do we respond? What can we actually control?
The answer isn't outrage. Nor is it retreat. This isn't the time to throw up our hands—or pull the covers over our heads and wait for someone else to solve the problem. It's time to do what credit unions have always done best: work together.
This Isn't a Time to Get Mad—It's a Time to Get Together
One of the greatest strengths of the credit union movement has always been collaboration. That strength matters now more than ever. Our industry already has an extraordinary ecosystem of innovators and problem-solvers—credit unions, CUSOs, fintechs, and trusted service providers—all working toward the same goal: helping credit unions serve members more effectively while operating more efficiently. Like Howard Beale, perhaps we do need to get up and go to the window. But not to yell. To look. To learn. To connect.
Look beyond the partners you've always relied on. Explore the CUSOs you've never contacted. Schedule a demonstration with a fintech you've been meaning to investigate. Reach out to vendors solving challenges you've struggled with for years.
Innovation often begins with a single conversation. For credit unions, this is an opportunity to discover solutions that can help:
- Reduce operating costs
- Improve employee benefits and retention
- Grow lending and deposits
- Launch or strengthen credit card programs
- Expand ATM access
- Simplify compliance
- Reduce delinquency
- Share operational services
- Increase capital
- Strengthen succession planning
- Deliver a better member experience
- And more…
The expertise already exists. The opportunity is making the connection. And that responsibility doesn't belong only to credit unions. CUSOs, fintechs, and service providers also have an important role to play. If you have solutions that can help credit unions thrive, don't assume they'll find you.
Introduce yourself. Share your expertise. Start the conversation. Because partnerships don't happen by accident; They happen when someone reaches out.
Whatever Your Role, Open the Window
Whether you're a credit union executive, a CUSO leader, a fintech innovator, or a trusted vendor, now is the time to engage.
Credit Unions: Look across the industry for partners who can help improve growth, efficiency, compliance, employee engagement, and member experience. The right collaboration can create lasting value for your institution and your members.
CUSOs, Fintechs, and Service Providers: Make yourself visible. Credit unions are actively looking for ways to solve today's challenges. If you have the expertise to help, now is the time to tell your story.
Howard Beale urged America to open the window and shout. We're suggesting something different. Open the window. Reach out. Make the connection. Because the future of our industry won't be built through anger. It will be built through collaboration.
Don't get mad. Get connected. Get noticed.
Attention CUSOs, Fintechs, and Credit Union Service Providers: You already have products and services that many credit unions need. The challenge isn't who you know, it’s who knows you.
CUinfluential | COLLABORATION CENTRAL can help make those introductions by showcasing your business to tens of thousands of credit union decision-makers who are actively looking for innovative solutions and trusted partners. Visit us at https://www.cuinfluential.com.
When credit unions and solution providers connect, everyone benefits—especially the members we all serve.
