Why OrvinKimbrough.com?

You know that I have been on a journey to write my first book. This journey has been more than 30 years in the making, but I really dedicated the time and attention over the last 18 months. As I started the process of writing, I knew I wanted a channel to talk about the book and more this is how orvinkimbrough.com was born.

Step 1: I hired a brand manager to help me think about the site. Initially, my goal was simply to freshen up The Accidental Banker site and use much of the existing digital assets, like the logo, on orvinkimbrough.com.

Step 2: I quickly learned from my brand manager, Tiana, and my son, Matthew, who manages all of my video content (more on this next), that I needed to start over with the branding. I was admittedly disappointed that I had invested so much in that site only to see it sunset! The other big challenge that I had to embrace was using my name for the website. I was hesitant to use my name as the default branding but was convinced over time. How was I convinced? I was told, "Your name is uniquely yours this is true, I don’t have a common name like Bob," I thought.

Step 3: So here we are. We started the process by really focusing on increasing my video and blog content production. You have likely seen this over the last several months. I have been asked countless times, often with awkward humor, if I am planning to exit the bank because of my increasing public profile. Absolutely not. I love my work at the bank and you should be a client.

Back to the point in my videos and written content, I haven’t deviated from faith, finance, and leadership which have been the topics I have spoken and written about for years. With my video content, my son has been working with me to try different ways of conveying information. I must admit, I am still trying to find my rhythm with the video content. We have debated what content belongs on which platform. “Dad,” he says emphatically, “young people don’t like the boring stuff. You need a hook.” I decided with the videos to just be myself, and I hope over time the content speaks for itself. Written blogs are easier for me.

Orvinkimbrough.com, which as you know is live and still being tweaked, will be focused on providing motivational and inspirational content that uplifts and educates a diverse audience on faith, leadership, and personal finance. This site will continue to serve as a beacon for those seeking guidance and encouragement in their personal and professional lives.

My goal is to release a newsletter once a month. Also, you should note that I generally post all content on the blog a day or so prior to it showing up on social media. For those who have signed up for premium content thank you. My goal is also to refresh this monthly as I get into a rhythm—thanks for your patience.

What is the Plan for TheAccidentalBanker.com?

While I have been advised not to divide my audience by maintaining The Accidental Banker, I have decided to keep and maintain the site. There are a number of topics that I write about, speak about, think about, and engage with audiences on that are different from what happens on orvinkimbrough.com so this is where I am going to house all of that content.

The Accidental Banker, inspired by my unconventional career path, volunteer service, education, and experiences, will slowly be updated and will cover personal interests, service, economic development, small business, banking, and more. Yes here I will opine on the economy, bank regulation, health care finance and access, and more. This is something that I have typically avoided, unless I am publishing for a local or national paper, but I believe it will help me have a more informed voice by soliciting your thoughts.

My thoughts will not be scholarly. I will approach this as if I am talking to you because you have asked me a question, creating a space where I can think out loud and benefit from your insights. When I write and engage, I try to remember and to help you remember that there are different perspectives discourse doesn't always have to devolve into debate.

How Do I Manage It All?

I get this question a lot. Do you write your own content? Yes, I have been writing for my entire career and if you look back (some of this old writing is still circulating), you will find that my topics haven’t changed that much how I say things has evolved. I manage this process like you manage your time. I allocate certain times for certain things. I write all the time, but my writing and thinking upticks on the weekend. This is also when I outline and do my video blogs, which have been a nice addition over the last several months. Going forward, my goal is to write one or two articles per site per week, which means I have to get ahead. Out of those articles, I am able to cut them up into smaller blogs for social media this is why sometimes you see duplicate content that has been changed just slightly with the introduction. My son taught me this technique with my videos. He added, “Some people will see the content the first time around and others will see it the second time around.” It's been working.

How Do Your Personal Sites Conflict with Your Work as the Leader of a Bank?

The short answer is, they don’t. I try to do things that flow with the current, so to speak. "Flow with the current" means to go along with the prevailing conditions or trends without resistance. It suggests adapting to the circumstances as they are, moving smoothly and effortlessly in the direction that things are naturally going, rather than fighting against them. This phrase can be used both literally, such as moving with the current in a river, and metaphorically, such as adapting to changes in life or work. I am able to get more done this way. But let’s be clear: I pay for and manage my sites and social media independently of my day job and the views are my own.

Check out more updates and my recent blog on forgiveness at orvinkimbrough.com!