I grew up on a farm in Norther Illinois. I was in 4-H and FFA. I also bought calves in the fall, trained them over the winter to be led and showed, and then took them to the local, county and state fairs throughout the summer. Each year, I spent hundreds of hours only to be informed in a matter of minutes whether my project was best of class, or simply okay. And along that journey, I learned many valuable lessons.
- I needed to evaluate my projects objectively, not subjectively
- Focus and determination were direct enemies of laziness and procrastination
- Expectations often led to disappointment, although hope was often rewarded
- Long term view and commitment was essential to success
- Try to have fun while doing your best work
You may have had similar experiences and lessons along the way. Approximately 3-years ago I started a different journey. It was a journey I was uncertain if I wanted to complete, nor compete. After all, I had to be my own critic, which is difficult. But along the way, the basis for a book started to unfold, and it was different than my competition. Six months ago my book was born. Then I had to ask myself, and the world, how good is it - really? The other day I just received notification that it was named a Finalist in the Business: Leadership & Management category at The National Best Books 2009 Awards. I guess that means, I received a Blue Ribbon.
Awards are a nice way of saying, “Job Well Done.” How do you award your employees for a job well done?
Tags: book awards
