It’s that time of year again when messages from business owners and staff  requesting a vote for their companies in the Tally Awards begin filling our inboxes and blanketing our newsfeeds.

Maybe your business will win; but, man, what if you get absolutely NOTHING?!

Before you go bunching your panties, think about what it takes to win a Tally Award. It takes getting more people to vote for your business than any other business in that category. I don’t know what that tells you, but that tells me it’s a popularity contest. It also tells me that a mediocre business with a well-networked staff can easily beat out an exceptional business whose staff prefers doing business beyond the perimeter of the spotlight.

I’m not saying don’t enter. I’m not saying don’t vote. I’m saying keep it in perspective. And seriously, if you have the ability to get a few hundred people to click some buttons on the internet, consider directing them here, here, or here. Maybe you can help change the world, or even a small part of it. Now that would be something deserving of an award.