Awards recognition gives you an opportunity, don't pass it up!

I attended an awards night last night, put on by the Sunshine Coast Business Women's Network. It was a sensational night, that featured 31 finalists from local business women from the Sunshine Coast (my daughter, Candice Harvey, had been nominated and made it into the finalist stage of Micro Small Business Women of the year category for her business, Candice Harvey Coaching). They all had incredible stories and great businesses or careers behind them.

Around 15 years ago, I was nominated for the Queensland Franchised business of the year award, made the final list, and with many of our staff, attended the gala event held in Brisbane. We didn't win our category (should have!) but the process you go through is an eye opening process, that forces you to review what your business has done, where its going, and what makes it different, so the judging panel, hopefully pick you. But its also about shouting out who you are, banging your drum, to not only create awareness, and interest, but also continue to build confidence in speaking, and telling people about you. A core part of business growth and inevitable success, is the ability to promote and market you!

Last night was definitely a couple of levels up. Finalists completed a thorough application process that questioned many things that most wouldn't even think about, then go through an intense interview panel, then were given direction on what the process to follow was including, getting the speech right, if you won. And the speeches were great.

The point is this process pushes people well and truly out of their normal comfort zones, thinking about and reviewing their businesses (most don't because they might be scared of the answers they get), getting out in front of people and not just networking, but the possibility of delivery an acceptance speech on stage, under lights, and in front of 500 people. All things that probably scare most people to the point of, no way, Im not, or, I couldn't do that! But you can, and should.

Everyone, every business owner, or career professional, should grab every opportunity to accept every nomination (or get someone else to nominate you anyway) and bang your drum, tell people what you do, and shout it out loud. Even if you don't win, the fact that you're nominated, and maybe even considered a finalist, that makes you go through a process to get clarity on your business, what makes it unique, what its, or your values are and the road ahead, is alone worth the experience.

Its not that different to business planning, very few people do it, and if they do, they rarely look at it again. Even the process you go through to win a government grant is the same, you may not get it first time, but don't stop, its a powerful way to reflect of whats going on and how you constantly grow and get better.

And it can be the ongoing connections, media and PR opportunities that come as a result, that all add to the ongoing benefits of being nominated and possibly awarded, "Business of the year", or similar. A framed certificate, a trophy, and maybe a prize, that all make it more than worthwhile.

Keep an eye out for any opportunity to get you and your business recognised, if you need someone to nominate you, then ask them, don't wait! Any publicity is good publicity. As small business owners, sometimes we don't chase it, just because it all seems to hard. Its not, and the benefits of it are long term. Try it, it works!