Spiderman, a Cement Floor, and the Story Behind SalesCU

SalesCU celebrates 10 years of empowering credit unions and honors the journey by giving back to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

By Nick Brown, SalesCU Founder
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When I was a little kid my favorite superhero was Spider-Man. He was so cool—climbing walls, shooting webs, saving people. I wanted to be just like him.
 
One day, I tried. There was a mattress leaning against the wall in our unfinished basement, and in my three-year-old imagination, it became the side of a building. I grabbed a chair, climbed up, and began my superhero mission. But as soon as I put my weight on the top of the mattress, it gave way and flipped me backwards, sending me headfirst onto the cement floor.
 
My parents rushed me to the local hospital. After a brief evaluation, they were told I’d be fine in a day or two and sent us home. But I wasn’t fine. I got worse. After again calling my doctor and hearing the same message, that I’d be fine, my parents took me to Primary Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
 
There, a doctor decided to take a closer look and ordered a CT scan. It revealed that I had a subdural hematoma—bleeding and pressure building inside my skull. I was taken into emergency surgery where the medical team relieved the pressure and repaired the damage. Their quick action and skill saved my life.
 
Despite what some people might say, I’ve suffered no lasting brain trauma—though depending on who you ask, that might still be up for debate.
 
My memory of the events is understandably limited, but what has never left me is the impact of what those doctors and nurses did. They saw what others missed. They knew what to do. And they did it. That experience taught me something I’ve never forgotten— expertise and the willingness to act can make all the difference.
 
Ten Years of SalesCU
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of SalesCU. Reaching this milestone has given me time to reflect on how far we’ve come as a company, and why we started in the first place.
 
SalesCU began with the goal to help credit union teams develop the skills, confidence, and mindset to serve their members better. In my work with credit unions before starting the company, I saw too many great people struggling to connect their desire to help with the tools and training needed to truly make a difference. I believed that if we could bridge that gap with clear expectations, practical training, effective coaching, and meaningful accountability, we could unlock incredible value for members and growth for credit unions.

Over the past decade, that vision has come to life. We’ve partnered with credit unions of all sizes across the country. We’ve seen front-line staff grow into confident professionals. We’ve watched sales leaders become coaches who inspire lasting change. And most importantly, we’ve seen members receive the kind of service and solutions that improve their financial lives.
 
It’s been humbling and energizing to watch our clients’ sales initiatives grow and thrive. SalesCU has never been about pushing products. It’s about empowering people to recognize needs, to serve with gratitude, and to offer real solutions when it matters most.
 
Giving Back: Supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
As we celebrate ten years of SalesCU, we wanted to mark the occasion by doing something meaningful, something that reflects the values that have guided us from the beginning. That’s why we’ve chosen to partner with Credit Unions for Kids and support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals throughout this anniversary year.
 
This decision is deeply personal. As I mentioned, my life was saved at Primary Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Without the care, expertise, and fast action of the medical team there, I wouldn’t be here today. Supporting this organization is one small way I can say thank you and help ensure that other families have access to the same life-saving care when they need it most.
 
A portion of our earnings in 2025 will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Our clients, partners, and team members are all part of this effort. Your support makes this possible.
 
In many ways, this donation is more than a gesture, it’s a reflection of what we stand for. Just as those doctors and nurses stepped in to make a difference in my life, we believe in stepping in to help others through the work we do every day. Giving back to an organization that saves lives feels like the right way to honor the journey we’ve been on for the past decade.
 
Credit Unions: Helping People Get What They Need
What has always stayed with me from my experience as a child is how important it is to have experts who know what to look for and who are willing to take action when it matters most. That same principle is at the heart of what credit unions do for their members every day.
 
Members often come in with questions, confusion, or even stress about their finances. They’re looking for someone they can trust. Someone who sees beyond the transaction and understands what they really need. Credit unions have the opportunity to provide experts who recognize opportunities, offer meaningful solutions, and help members move forward with confidence.
 
This is why SalesCU exists. We train teams to have better conversations, to listen more carefully, and to offer the right products and services, not just what’s easiest or most obvious. When credit union employees are trained well and feel confident in their role, they stop simply completing tasks and start solving problems. And that’s when the real impact happens.
 
It’s a privilege to work in an industry where people genuinely want to do the right things for the right reasons. Credit unions aren’t driven by profit margins or shareholder pressure. They’re mission-driven, and when that mission is paired with strong skills and purposeful coaching, the results can be life-changing for the members they serve.
 
Gratitude and Vision for the Future
Reaching ten years with SalesCU is something I don’t take lightly. I’m incredibly grateful for the credit unions and the leagues and associations who have believed in us, for the credit union leaders and team members who’ve embraced the training and made it their own, and for the team at SalesCU that has worked tirelessly to deliver meaningful results to every client we serve.
 
This anniversary is more than a celebration of time; it’s a reminder of purpose. We’re here to help credit unions do what they do best: serve their members with care, competence, and integrity. And we’re here to keep raising the bar on what that can look like.
 
As we look to the future, our focus remains the same: to equip credit union teams with the skills, tools, and mindset to make a lasting difference. We’re proud of what the last ten years have brought, and even more excited about what’s ahead.
 
If you’d like to help us extend this spirit of giving, consider reaching out to Credit Unions for Kids to learn how your credit union can support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Together, we can continue doing the right things—for the right reasons—and make a difference where it truly matters.

Transform the way your credit union trains employees to sell and boost product penetration with SalesCU’s Credit Union Sales Intensive Workshop an interactive, live online training designed specifically for credit unions. This two-day or three-day workshop helps frontline staff and leaders develop the mindset, skills, and processes needed to achieve consistent sales results. The two-day Lender Sales Success Workshop is ideal for frontline staff who open accounts or process loans ($499 for DakCU members), while the full three-day option includes transformational leadership training for sales coaches ($749 for DakCU members). Daily sessions run from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT. Don’t miss this opportunity to register for one of SalesCU’s upcoming webinars to learn more—and be sure to catch their founder, Nick Brown, presenting at our New Ideas Conference this October! For questions or additional information contact George McDonald, Senior VP/Chief Officer Partnerships & Engagement at 701.250.3942.