Credit unions talk a lot about their philosophy of people helping people, which they are humbly proud of. Too humbly. Typically, when one is proud of something, it is something one would like to share with as many as possible. For example, trying to keep our award winners, featured on pages 25-35, mum until after the ceremony has been quite an achievement. But finally, we've unveiled the Credit Union Times Trailblazer winners, and we congratulate them all on their significant achievements and successes in line with the credit union movement.

Some credit unions are beginning to ride the wave of the positive press they have been receiving in numerous outlets. They are using it in their own marketing campaigns, touting it in their member newsletters and making news in their local venues. This is all well and good for the credit unions that are able and willing to achieve these feats, and I would strongly argue that many more that could aren't.

According to existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, "Today, however, we are having a hard time living because we are so bent on outwitting death." This statement is particularly true for financial institutions and other companies right now that figure they'll weather the financial vortex if they just don't die. However, the ones that will be successful are the ones that continue to live, the ones that continue to invest in their products and people, and the ones that are far-sighted enough to know how to more than merely survive.