Awards

Every month I receive at least one e-mail for an award that my company is eligble for; typically I just delete those e-mails, if they even get past my spam filter into my inbox, and forget about them.  However, in 2022 I was invited to join a 40-Under-40 list, which I immediately thought was odd as I was born in 1976.  That caught my attention and I did some more research into this list and other awards that I and my company could receive, and then I received notification that JCB Engineering is the 'Best of Best' of American companies in 2023 and I was invited to Dubai to attend a gala in my honour and for others that are the best of best from around the world.

This was an award I could not pass up - finally someone has acknowledged that I am the best of best in America!

Unfortunately there was a catch, just like with the 40-Under-40 I was actually only invited to be nominated for this award, I had to still fill in a nomination form.  Who short listed me for this opportunity to nominate myself for an award?  It was the 'management team' at Golden Tree Awards in Dubai, UAE.  I had no idea that my company had such reach internationally.  I only practice engineering in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, but someone in the UAE learned about my projects and recognized right away that my work is the best of best in all of America.  I am thinking it was the time I helped one of my neighbours build a cul-de-sac at the end of a lane when he subdivided his property - that is a project that gets the attention of people in the other side of the world.

Step 1 - Self-Nomination

I followed the link to the Golden Tree Awards website (no Google warning of the website being unsafe) and found that this is a legitimate organization that provides awards to companies all over the world in various categories.  You can nominate your company for free, but it is recommended that you buy a nomination plan; the best deal is the 'Pro' plan for $1,190 US (on sale from $1,490), which is a good deal from the free plan.  With the Pro plan you can nominate yourself for awards in 3 categories in 2 award programs, and it said in my introduction e-mail that I am competing at the 'Gold / Diamond' level, so obviously I need one of these premium plans.  No point in being cheap when it comes to my nomination.  They will even post on LinkedIn if I go Pro, not just Facebook and Instagram; I am the best of best, I need people on LinkedIn to know about this.  I am sure everyone I know follows Golden Tree Awards on social media and will learn about my success.

Step 2 - Winning Time

So, after I nominate myself I just have to sit back and wait to win, after all it sounds like purchasing that Pro plan will guarantee success, and then I just have to purchase my Winner Package.  That is correct, if I win I then have to buy my award, in addition to the nomination I paid for.  I really want the 'Royal' package but it is in limited supply, and if the UAE is famous for anything it is their limited supplies, so I will go with the 'Super Deluxe' package as it is the most popular choice amongst us winners.  But, I better be quick with my ordering as my complimentary pass for the gala may be snatched up.  

It says that once I purchase a winner package (after I win of course) I will receive digital items such as a 'Winner Badge', but I just downloaded that off the Golden Tree Awards website and attached it to this webpage above.  I know I should wait to actually be confirmed as a winner, but after paying almost $3,500 US, I am confident that I am a winner and so I see no problem with showing off my badge now.

Step 3 - Attending the Gala

I am so pumped for my trip to the UAE, on December 8 I will be honoured for being best of best in America; and look at the picture below from the 2022 gala, that looks like a party.  Actually it looks like a lunch at a conference that everyone is attending for professional development credits, but it is in the UAE so I am sure there will be lots of alcohol and cannabis to help with the celebration.  Too bad my travel and accommodation costs are not included, but why stop spending money now, I have an award to win.

So, why did I post this?  The reason is that I see all the time people bragging about various awards and honours, and when you dig into them they are almost all purchased for clout.  I am not saying that all awards are 'pay to win'  but many are, as Golden Tree Awards demonstrates there is a lot of money to be made in selling awards to people that want to look successful.

I am still a winner though, I get e-mails every month telling me that.