Winning Isn’t Everything

After the untimely demise of my iPod, I’ve been trying to get caught up on all my favorite podcasts.  I’m making progress, but still have a way to go.  Unlike yours truly, most podcasters are pretty faithful about getting their programs out on schedule, which makes catching up that much more difficult.

Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite shows, The Podcast Sisters.  Episode 67 features a discussion on Heather Gorringe’s company, Wiggly Wigglers, and their recent win of the Global Del Small Business Excellence Award.  This is a biggy and well-deserved.  The award includes a lot of free Dell computer merchandise, free public relations service, and other goodies.

But as I’ve pointed out previously, on my former blog, the process of applying for an award  can often be worth much more than the award itself.  For example, the Malcolm Baldrige Award, the one I’m most familiar with, begins with a section of self-description.  The applicant must tell the award examiners who they are, what they do, what their marketplace looks like, and who their competitors are.  Also included in this first section are the company’s mission, vision, and core values.

If the company never goes further than this Organizational Profile section, they will still be substantially ahead of their competitors.  Describing you organization in such detail is a real eye-opener for most owners and managers.

While you may think that such a process is only for large companies, think again.  Small organizations can benefit even more than large ones through this process.  If you’re not familiar with the Baldrige criteria, you can download a copy of the application booklet from their web site.   There is other good material there as well.

Most states also have  a local program based on the Baldrige Award and usually offer assitance at little or no cost.  Check it out.  It could be the best time you’ve ever spent on your business.  Even if you don’t win a trophy, the improvement in your business could be priceless.