Don’t even think about not entering the Drogheda Business Excellence Awards this year. It was never more important to enter than it is in 2009!

Do you, like me feel there are times when you have too much to do to be bothered about what appears to be trivia, especially at present when so much in the economy seems to be conspiring against you every single day and most of it completely outside your control? If so then these awards are made for you and your company and they were never more relevant than they are today.

One of the most irritating things about clichés is they are so frustratingly truisms hence the cliché. Here’s one that keeps on running through my head ‘when the going gets tough the tough get going’ and that is exactly what you and your company is doing right now. We want to share your strength and determination with the rest of the world so you can inspire others. We want to celebrate your resolve to triumph in these unequalled and difficult times. Please give us the chance, enter the Drogheda Business Excellence Awards 2009.

Every business in Ireland is feeling the pain and the strain but our sponsors even in these cash strapped times believe in these awards. They are still with us when so much has had to go by the wayside they back us with their superb sponsorship. What does that mean? It means they believe in this ceremony and they believe in you and your business so go on prove them right enter now.

We have a whole new line up this year, new venue, new format a few new surprises to keep you on your toes and most of all we have the old the tried and the trusted to boot. We have all your friends and business colleagues set and ready to celebrate your success, your endurance and your steely determination to succeed even in the hardest of environments. After the year we are all experiencing we all need an opportunity to celebrate and let our collective hair down and this is it. What are we celebrating? We are celebrating the fact that despite everything we keep on keeping on.

Rocky Bilbao in the first, and in my opinion only Rocky movie worth watching, said of winning ‘it is not your ability to throw a punch that matters it is your ability to take a punch and keep coming forward that makes you a winner’. I echo that sentiment we have all taken some serious punches this year and we keep coming forward so let’s tell the rest of the world that we are winners.

Make a note in your diary today for Saturday 14th November at City North Hotel and make sure your company is entered into the DBEA before 2nd October closing date so we can celebrate your ability to keep coming forward. Share your story with us, share the night with everyone else like you who has just done 12 rounds with the toughest economy in history and is still standing – still fighting!

The very best of luck to you and see you on the 14th November … I cannot wait!

Patricia