Here in the East, while winter continues to take center stage, Punxsutawney Phil appears to have landed the early spring prognostication right on the nose. Pitchers and catchers have reported to Florida and Arizona. And another sign that indicates spring is right around the corner: our annual call for Difference Maker nominations is in full force.
So, before you get down to some deep home/office cleaning and maybe a fresh coat of paint here and there, we invite you to take a few minutes to put forward a name (or two) of a candidate who you feel is deserving of recognition in the May issue of ENX Magazine. Look, we spend the other 11 months of the year talking about the dealers and the technologies that are propelling our industry forward, so taking one month out of the year to salute individuals is not too much to ask, in our opinion.
What qualities comprise a Difference Maker, you may ask? OK, I’ll walk you through it. First things first, click on this link here, which will bring you to the nomination form. Now, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and ask yourself this question: Who have I dealt with periodically over the past year who really goes above and beyond the call of duty? Think of that special someone who lives up to that level of Difference Maker, either through his/her actions, thoughts, contributions and willingness to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.
We just have one rule: People who were honored the previous year are ineligible for 2020 (here’s last year’s story you can check if you’re unsure as to whether they were selected in 2019). And you cannot nominate yourself.
The nominee could be someone within your organization or an individual from a partner company you do business with. The person might work for a dealer, OEM, supplier, VAR…anyone who falls within the office technology universe. And while top executives have been frequently named/nominated in the past, this program is not open to just the people with the biggest offices.
The ideal candidate loves to collaborate, places the needs of the client and business partners above his/her own, seeks out the ideas and solutions that can bring resolution and satisfaction, and makes dealing with them an absolute pleasure. The value of this person’s contributions is immeasurable, and you intuitively acknowledge the candidate in question reflects positively on the business he/she represents.
OK, so by now you’ve thought of someone. Fill out the basic name/contact information for the nominee. Next, tell us why this person merits recognition. The following is an example of what you can write:
Joe Smith is the SR VP of business development and founder of Technology Inc. He has been involved in the office technology industry for more than 20 years, serving in various R&D capacities with Xerox, Ricoh and LMI Solutions before founding Technology Inc. in 2010. Joe also founded the Same Page peer group in 2012, which enables nationwide Xerox dealers to share best practices. He was presented with the Executive of Distinction award by the Lincoln, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce in 2014.
We don’t expect you to be the person’s biographer, so just jot down what you know and maybe fill out some other details. If it’s an in-house candidate, maybe you have access to their bio, or can glean a few ideas from their LinkedIn profile. We’ll get a more comprehensive backgrounder from the nominees themselves, so don’t sweat it too much.
Finally, there’s the quotable testimonial. This is where you talk from the heart about why “Joe Smith” is deserving of the honor. Paint a picture with your words. Here’s another example to consider for this section of the nomination.
Joe has that infectious enthusiasm that makes you wish he would never stop talking. He takes great pains to ensure that working with Technology Inc. is a breeze for clients. Joe’s voracious appetite for the latest and greatest technologies is unsurpassed, yet he is first and foremost a people person. I’ve done business with him for more than 10 years and would be hard pressed to think of a more professional and genuine businessman who lives up to his word.
Then just fill in your own contact info, and boom, you’ve taken a major step toward showing appreciation for that valued business associate in your life. It’s absolutely free to do, and all it cost you was 10 minutes out of your day. You probably spend more time checking out Facebook Marketplace during your lunch break.
Don’t wait. Nominate someone today. The deadline for nominations is March 13. Feel free to email me if you have any questions, and thank you for your continued support of the Difference Maker program.
