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.