Impact – You have to be in to win

Kim and I entered ourselves in the Trade Me Impact Awards that were presented at the end of July at Ahi Restaurant in Auckland. We put our names forward for the ‘Innovation Award’, outlining the work that we do around our systems and processes that allow Independent Agent to successfully execute what we do to a high level in a distributed working environment, at scale. 

Out of the 800-odd entries for the awards we were honoured to be selected as one of three finalists in our category. Up against Sam McIntyre from Ownly – a business with many similarities to ours, and Harcourts Grendier with their superannuation product for real estate agents. 

Kim was away, and I attended with my wife Bel. 

For someone who likes his own company and doesn’t drink, so has no way to take the edge off the nerves, these events are quite terrifying. 

And of course once I get there, as I am rubbing shoulders with some big names in the industry, the old “imposter syndrome” kicks in. Should I even be here? 

The cocktails were great apparently, too good for some maybe! The food was superb. 

But enough of my insecurities. 

It was fun to be sharing a table with the Salesperson of the Year, Kristen Gould. I was very happy to see Cristina Casares picked up the people’s choice award. (Cristina was the volunteer at NZREC who helped me muddle my way through my first ever Instagram video on stage.) 

Congratulations to Sam, for picking up the Innovation Award. It is well deserved.

I am really grateful to have been selected as a finalist, it is much appreciated recognition for some of the huge challenges, deep thought and work that has gone into what we do. A big thanks to the team at Trade Me, and congrats to all the other winners and finalists. 

The only thing I would say is that next time, we really really really want to win. #MotivationForMore