I recently started doing some work with my local YMCA. Yesterday we were doing a multi-branch meeting when Helen Brena Foley, the CEO,  challenged the group to a contest to see which branch was doing their best to incorporate the mission and values “Living the Cause”, as it were, of the organization. She started with questions like: “What is our purpose, what are we for?” Answer: Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility!  She went on in this vein for awhile and each correct answer got a prize: big cheers from the group and their choice of YMCA apparel. And then she threw in a ringer: “Who has read ‘The Switch’?” Surprised silence.  Mine was the only hand in the room to be raised. “What are the three main components in the book?” I felt like I was in high school again but I went with it. “The Elephant, the Rider and the Path”. “What’s the function of the Elephant?” At this point people were turning around to look at me….”The Elephant is the part of us that resists change, the Elephant doesn’t want to be healthy, the Elephant wants donuts.” A few snickers rippled around the room- lots of personal trainers present. “And the Rider?” she asked – not letting me off the hook just because I had a strong start. “The Rider has the Map – the Plan, and sees the need for change – but the Rider needs to motivate the Elephant”.  More heads are turning around now…there is some surprise here that we are spending this much time on something not on the agenda.  I’m feeling some wind in my sails now, so I continue unprompted…”And the Path is the context, the environment, what surrounds the change with various obstacles and supports”.  Helen smiles…. the people sitting at my table send up a cheer – and I win my choice of YMCA apparel. But the bigger win for me is that suddenly, people are interested in this book – they want to talk about “The Switch”, which as some of you know – is one of my favorite group facilitation reads. And I discover that the YMCA wants to begin actively and consciously incorporating these principals to promote healthy lifestyle change in their communities, so that next time she asks about who has read the book, many hands will be raised. In my experience, that makes the YMCA a big winner.