When the 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette asked the King of France to finance his journey to assist in America’s fight for freedom, the king refused. Lafayette secretly purchased his own ship, adding the words Cur Non? (“Why Not?”) to his family crest to serve as his motto. The Latin phrase Cur Non guides Lafayette College today in challenging students to move beyond the comfort of their familiar environment and experiences.
Why not use your intellect, talent, energy, and humanity to find your place in the world and make an impact. Why not have the courage and confidence to take risks, connect ideas, and care deeply about community. Why not engage in every aspect of campus life—leadership, internships, clubs, service, research, athletics, global study—to create your own destiny. Why not take pride in working hard and achieving results.
I saw the above this morning while looking at Lafayette's website. CFMA, or any organization for that matter, should always be asking itself "Cur Non?". That simple phrase, whether it is in Latin or English, should challenge the status quo, take us out of our comfort zone, both personally and as an organization.
Effective Leaders should be “Cur Non-ing” constantly. That is how we get better at what we do. Staff and volunteers, if they want to effect change, must utter the phrase “Cur Non”.
When's the last time that you "Cur Non'd"?