Do you ever feel like you are caught up in a whirlwind? That happens every so often, when there is so much change that it is challenging to absorb it all. It is hard to know what is meaningful and attention-worthy, and how to distill the important nuggets into strategic decisions that best position you for the near term and beyond.

The payments world is experiencing one of those whirlwind periods: fintech innovation, mega-mergers, ramped up competition from non-financial brands, and new payment networks. One thing seems certain: the winds of change are not slowing, and thinking it is safe to wait for the storm to pass might be a dangerous plan.

I’m tired.

We just moved, and I grossly underestimated the work involved.

I had prepared for the pain of packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking everything we own; but I hadn’t accounted for the real work of establishing new relationships for everything we need. Things like utilities, Internet, garbage pickup, grocery store, dry cleaners, dentist, dermatologist, pharmacist, eye doctor, doctor doctor (sic), barber, hair stylist, manicurist, pedicurist – don’t judge, I require a lot of pruning to be presentable.

But what about a new financial institution? Do we really need one?