It seems as though talking about planning for 2021 can invoke some very strong feelings right now.  Recently we saw a post suggesting that if you weren’t planning out 2021 you were already falling behind.  There followed a stream of comments – some strongly agreeing whilst others suggested that posts like that are just not helpful.

To be fair we have sympathy with both views.  2020 has been a nightmare when it’s come to planning out award strategies for our clients as deadline dates, award ceremonies and even award entry opening dates have bounced all over the place.  Certainly the early part of 2021 is still showing signs of extreme flexibility shall we say when it comes to opening / deadline dates let alone award ceremonies.  So is the best tactic to sit back and wait till it’s all sorted itself out?  Our view is no and for one very simple reason.  By planning out what you’d like to do / enter / achieve in 2021 you’re keeping yourself very firmly in the driver’s seat and maintaining as much control as possible.  Whether an award opens for entries or moves its deadline date is almost incidental IF it’s an award that you definitely want to enter.  The entry still needs writing, supporting material still needs to be gathered etcetera so as long as the award is definitely going to be running and you have the correct entry form / access to the award portal and are clear on the criteria for the award / category there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t get ahead and start writing.  Let’s not forget that just because an award entry is written (and approved) doesn’t mean it has to be immediately submitted.  We have a number of clients who prepare early, sign off and approve their entries but ask us to submit them on the last day.  That’s their call of course and we’re happy to oblige – but the hard work has already been done; they are ahead of the curve.

Whilst we absolutely acknowledge that it’s as frustrating as hell when things move around, as they have done in 2020, we also accept that’s just where the world is right now.  It’s nothing personal and there is, after all, a pretty big reason for it.  This may or may not continue going forwards – none of us really knows – so let’s control what we can and focus on that instead?

Here at The Awards People we’re determined to have the best year ever next year and are putting plans in place to support that with the launch in January of our first Award Challenge and online fully coached Awards Course called ‘The Awards Blueprint’.  An eBook is also in the mix for publication as is our very first Membership and Mastermind Group.  None of this takes away from what is at the core of our business which is to help clients understand what awards are out there that helps them to achieve their goals and objectives… and that, friends, all starts with a very clear Awards Plan.  As someone very wise once said, “If you know where you’re going, the steps you need to take to get there become oh so very clear!”

Happy planning for 2021 and if we can help in any way you know where we are! x