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GRIP’N GRIN AWARDS SHOW OBSERVATIONS
Saturday Mar. 7, 2015
“I’d like thank the Academy …”
As most Musings readers already know – real estate transactions, far more than writing and publishing, pay my bills.
2014 was a great year at MaxWell Realty. Particularly good for me. Last night’s annual awards function – cool venue, Heritage Park’s Gasoline Alley (I’ll be back for certain to see those exhibits). You know the drill – name announced, handshakes, grip’n grin photos. Next. Next, etc. Group photos. Story swapping – cocktail hour, dinner hour, speech hour, awards hour – then after-stuff. Rarely start on time or stay on schedule – one can only observe how late they run.
They rarely offer surprise or suspense.
Our event, better than many.
Not good enough, not as good as it could/should be.
Kudos to those who conceived it, who tried – but while your efforts were obvious, they underwhelmed …
To all those actors/actresses in supporting roles, who worked so hard to create an event to celebrate those who worked so hard, your hard work was so completely evident and appreciated.
In terms of observation (OK, most awards functions trigger my gag-reflex) of peers, of this process whereby we celebrate similarities and differences at the same time, but when we do so, we do minimally – everyone’s polite applause, nobody learns anything new, and those takeaway tokens are so symbolic of ‘doing what all companies in our industry do’, what we’ve always done with cosmetic variations. Who needs another pen with their name on it, another pin to put in a drawer, another certificate to gather dust?
Sure, we all do, at some point.
For those who’ve never had one – ever – it is a very big deal.
For those who get another line for their CV, for marketing materials – sure, it is that, but is that meaningful?
1st/top ... that matters.
Do the rest?
My 3rd place is satisfying too – as it would be if it was 33rd or 133rd.
I learned a long time ago that I get out of things what I put into things. I put lots into many things – and rewards are lovely.
So is cash.
But not all rewarding work attaches directly to immediate cash rewards or recognition.
OK, 3rd is very much OK.
Gala?
In name, but not in fact.
Awards?
Yes, but nobody was surprised. Subset groups had already been acknowledged once, in some cases, twice before. Everyone there has already been celebrated – twice already in my case – so to call it an Awards Gala is self-aggrandizing.
What was everyone else observing?
Were they observing the same thing at all?
We see things, and people, as we see them.
By critiquing I’m probably volunteering to hear these words: “if you think you could do so much better – why don’t you lead it next year”.
I propose a committee of six – the top 3, the bottom 3 – to flesh out what is worth our time and create something sensational, moving and worth everyone investing an evening for …
Finally, observations, of my date (apologies for under-whelming experience – you were a good sport). She’s a custom home builder – a very accomplished one. She greeted me with a hug, but said goodnight with a handshake. Grip’n grin! Oh well. I doubt there will be a second date, but maybe I’ll win her next listing.
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -4C/26F, another mostly sunny, mostly warm, day ahead – Gusta sniffing so many things she couldn’t wrest from frozen turf – I love the firm non-icy footing.
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