We all need to feel connected.
Having a sense of “belonging” to a group or body of people is an integral aspect of the human experience. We all crave it to some extent and we each find unique ways to build connection and develop a sense of belonging.
Typically, we seek membership into groups and communities of like-minded people, perhaps with similar interests and ideological belief systems.
Membership in these groups should (in an ideal situation) enhance your life in some way. Otherwise, what’s the point of joining?
A membership opportunity may provide you with information or education that you need to further a particular goal or endeavor. It might offer you particular services only available to members. Or perhaps the connection to others simply helps you to feel understood, valued, and significant.
Membership groups come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Some are probably obvious to you, like:
- Political parties
- Church communities
- Service organizations (Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Peace Corps, etc.)
These groups bring together people of similar belief systems and they typically ascribe to a focused mission or work. For example, political parties are dedicated to furthering the goals of their particular platform, and members work together to achieve these goals.
Memberships aren’t always ideological. Sometimes they revolve around a particular activity. For example:
- Membership to a gym
- Yacht Club
- Sport Club
These groups provide individuals with an experience of doing something they love with others who share a common interest or passion.
Other memberships provide people with access to particular services that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to have. These “member perks” are often the primary or sole motivator for joining this type of membership group.
Examples include:
- Subscription-Based Services (Amazon Prime, Netflix, Food delivery subscriptions)
- Travel Clubs (AAA, Delta Sky Club, Marriott Vacation Club)
- Shopping Clubs (Costco, Kroger Plus, Sam’s Club, Fuel Points)
Alright, now that we’ve broken down a few of the types of membership groups you may be involved in, it’s time to do the real work!
I want you to take some time to audit the membership groups in your life. Remember when I said that each of the groups you are a part of should ENHANCE your life in some way?
It can be pretty easy to “collect” memberships without really asking yourself, “Is this helping me?”
If you are anything like me, you may even be signed up for memberships or subscription services that you are not currently utilizing or maybe even don’t remember that you have. This is a waste of resources. After all, why spend money on a service you don’t need…am I right?
So let’s evaluate! Here’s what I want you to do:
Step 1: Identify Your Memberships
Make a list of each membership group, subscription service, group club or organization you are a part of. If it’s helpful, break it down by category.
Step 2: Evaluate Frequency of Use
Give each membership a score 1-5 based on how frequently you partake in this membership group or service.
1 = I don’t remember the last time I utilized this membership.
5 = I use this every day!
Step 3: Evaluate Usefulness
Ask yourself: How much benefit do I derive from these groups? What would I do if I didn’t have this membership?
Step 4: Purge Unnecessary Memberships
If, after your evaluation, you determine that there are particular membership programs or subscriptions that you are not actually utilizing or don’t truly need, get rid of them! In doing so, you will free up time, money, and energy for activities and memberships DO benefit your life.
I want to hear from you!
How many memberships/subscriptions do you already have? What do you get the most benefit from in your current membership experiences? What do you value most in the memberships you choose to be a part of?
Let me know in the comments below.
PS – I am doing this audit exercise as this goes out to you. So far, I’m opting out of (at least) four, and joining two (both are higher priced and I use them every day).
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
