The experience of being a Metro Atlanta Small Business Person of the Year Finalist was an interesting one for me. While I have no illusions that I am one of the 5 best small business people in all of Metro-Atlanta, a feeling that I am sure is shared by the other finalists, we were the top 5 of those that were nominated to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for the honor. I can rattle off several other business owners, many unconcerned and/or uncomfortable with such publicity, that could run circles around me – some of which are my clients. With that idea in the back of my head keeping me humble, I was left to think what such an honor really means to me… if anything.

While I certainly appreciate the publicity that such an honor has bestowed (…and the complimentary business class airline tickets from AirTran), it occurred to me that regardless of how important, or unimportant I found this award to be, there are others who probably consider it important, such as other members of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, my staff at Carceron, my family and others.Thinking back to the event, I recall the final seconds before they announced the honor and was so nervous and choked up (a feeling that I definitely had not anticipated having) that I was extremely relieved when Debbi won. If I had won and was forced to get on that stage, it would have been a very “un-manly” moment for me.

More than a week has passed and I have had time to reflect on all of this: my feelings of modesty relative to my being worthy of such an honor; how important I viewed the award relative to others;  the unexpected emotions that I experienced just prior to the announcement. I have found a sort of mental compromise that reflects my modest impression of the honor and the reverence that others hold the award in. Here goes:

I must now live up to the award’s name and truly be amongst the top 5 small business persons in Metro Atlanta as viewed by all of Atlanta – not just the Chamber.

It’s a lofty dream, but achievable I think.

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My article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle

My promotional video created by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Business Video for the event.

Web Sites of the other Metro Atlanta Small Business Person of the Year Finalists:

Debbi Shapiro, Henderson Shapiro, (#1 Small Business Person of the Year)

Shelly Justice, Convention Models + Talent Agency (finalist)

Susan Bixler, Bixler Consulting (finalist)

Shannan Russo, Kinetix HR (finalist)

Tags: aitran, atlanta business chronicle, Atlanta business video, atlanta small business person of the year, bixler consulting, carceron, chad massaker, cmt agency, convention models and talent, debbi shapiro, henderson shapiro, kinetix hr, metro atlanta chamber, shannan russo, shelly justice, small business, susan bixler

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