Content provided in partnership with

Automotive Industry

Editor's Report

Motor, Dec 2004 by Lypen, John

'Tis the season for pats on the back. Here's some practical advice on awards from someone who's judged some, presented others and even won a few.

Several years ago I wrote about the importance of industry association memberships and ASE certifications and suggested the benefits of posting the related plaques and certificates where people can see them. Just like a doctor who proudly displays his diplomas on the wall, you should be equally proud of the things that show customers your business is a professional one, staffed by professionals.

In addition to these items, there are many types of industry and business awards that you can look to earn. And, if you're successful, they'll go a long way toward projecting a superior image.

Most Popular Articles in Autos: Service Slants; 2007 utility vehicle buyer's guide: Side-By-Sides are popular; here's who ...; Transmission considerations: beyond the manual gearbox; Buell Motorcycle engineering, innovation, & dedication: in an industry ...; 100 + 10: America's oldest automotive magazine celebrates its 110th year ...; More »

The end of the year seems to be prime time for awards in our business. With a little preparation, you might find yourself shaking hands and smiling for the camera this time next year.

Over the years I've been fortunate to have many opportunities to serve as a judge and presenter for various industry awards. With the support of my coworkers, I've also been the proud recipient of a few. Based on my experiences, allow me to offer some simple advice to any shop or technician-and that should be all-interested in pursuing formal acknowledgement of noteworthy achievements.

The first thing you'll need to do is identify award programs that make sense for you It'll take a little work on your part, but you'll find that many local community organizations, program jobbers, trade associations, trade magazines, parts manufacturers and others sponsor any number of award competitions for shops and individual technicians. One thing you'll want to do is keep an eye on the F.Y.I. page in MOTOR every month, where we often publish announcements of competitions.

Once you've identified a competition to participate in and you're ready to complete the necessary paperwork, follow the instructions. It sounds painfully obvious, but I can't tell you how many times as a judge I've had to disqualify an otherwise excellent entry simply because instructions weren't followed.

Be prepared for the fact that you'll "lose" many more award competitions than you'll win. That said, always be a gracious loser. Angry letters and phone calls to sponsoring organizations and/or judges will definitely not improve your odds of winning the following year.

Whether you win or not, let award competitions inspire you to improve After all, that s what awards are all about. From personal experience, the greatest joy I receive from MOTOR Magazine s Top 20 Tools award program is when an applicant-whether or not he won-tells me that the competition motivates his company to develop superior products for our industry.

If you are lucky enough to win an award, accept it with pride and humility There's a reason that performers often bore their audience to death with a litany of names to thank when accepting an award on TV. It's because they realize that, even though they've earned personal recognition, it wouldn't have happened without the support of others. It's no different for an award-winning technician whose boss lets him attend training on the clock, or for an award-winning shop owner whose business is only as good as his employees make it.

Don't be afraid to put awards to work. Show off the award in your waiting room, contact local newspapers, include it in your ads and on your stationery. Showing off the accomplishment you've earned should be all gain and no shame.

Whether you never win an award or fill a room with them, keep it in perspective. There's not a single award out there that will make or break your business. Sponsoring organizations invest in award programs largely to give something back to the people working in our industry. Striving for an award can help make us better at what we do. Winning one can be a highlight of one's career. Not winning one will never be the end of the world.

On behalf of all your friends at MOTOR Magazine, we wish you a happy holiday season and best wishes for an "award-winning" 2005!

John Lypen

jlypen@motor.com

Automotive Industry

Editor's Report

Motor, Dec 2004 by Lypen, John

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Sports

Most Popular Articles in Autos

Most Popular Publications in Autos