Congratulations to all the winners and
finalists in the Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics. George Chamberlain was
magnanimous as usual in doling out these prestigious and sought-after awards. And
I must admit, Coach John Robinson was a delight. His slightly salty description
of the ethical dilemmas he faced as a coach, from financially helping a player
get to a grandmother’s funeral to really wanting those steroid abs (perhaps
more for himself than his players!), John’s message about the importance of making
good choices came through loud and clear.
My staff won’t tell me the winners in
advance of the ceremony. Part of “starting with trust” is knowing when, where
and how to appropriately lay that trust. If I don’t know the winners, my face
won’t deceive me when I’m asked, so I am just as excited as everyone else when
I recognize the outstanding companies called to the stage to receive their
awards. The award entries are generally a couple of inches thick, and reflect a
year’s worth of dedication from companies of all sizes. The pride of entry and
earning the award is infectious, and I always leave the event with some added
lift in my step.
We are passionate about our mission at the BBB. And at
the Torch Awards, we find not only a passion for that common commitment, but a
dedication to a belief system that declares the importance of strong values and
strong leadership to instill and foster those values. It serves as a refreshing
reminder about what is important in business and life.
