Recognition on the Road: Recognition takes the red carpet

By Thad Peterson

Millions of people around the world love The Oscars. I’m not one of them. To my way of thinking, in an industry known for self-indulgence, this is the night when that self-indulgence hits its annual crescendo.

But my disparaging personal view notwithstanding, last night, tens of millions of people tuned in for the Oscars. It’s one of the most watched shows on television every year. And needless to say, virtually everyone in the entertainment industry views it as a hugely important event.

But the one thing I do pay attention to (being from the recognition industry) is that the Oscars are about one simple thing: Recognition for a job well done. Being nominated for – or better yet, winning – an Academy Award is acknowledgement for someone who has done a superb job in his or her craft.

Think about Meryl Streep getting up there to accept an award last night. This is a woman who has money, power, fame, and lots of career awards world. Yet even with all that, she was touched by the recognition he got last night.. In fact, many actors/actresses and filmmakers cite winning an Oscar as the highlight of their careers.

And as a side note, I’m sure many of them are also gratified by winning a Screen Actors Guild award. After all, that is recognition from their peers in the industry, and we certainly know the power of peer-to-peer recognition.

Now think about the hundreds of millions of us who have slightly less glamorous jobs – on factory lines or in back offices or out in the field or answering phones all day. If the great Meryl Streep is so touched by being recognized, you can rest assured the recognition and acknowledgement is gratifying and motivating to the rest of us.

By the way, few things bring to life the power of recognition like Cuba Gooding, Jr’s acceptance speech a few years back.


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