The IBM Champion - Dilemma

It’s IBM Champion nomination time once more.  I’ve been extremely appreciative of being made a Champion in both 2013 and 2014 (since the program for Collaboration Services started) but each year it becomes a very stressful experience (not quite on a par with wondering if I’ll get to present in January but close).

The process works by someone nominating you using this URL  on Greenhouse.  Existing Champions reset each year so having been one before is no guarantee you will be one again.  Why the dilemma? Well each year you can nominate yourself because - hey - who knows better what stuff you do than you ? The problem is where that process meets my own feelings about being a Champion, basically that if I did anything worth being a Champion people will nominate me and if I didn’t they won’t.

Nominating myself isn’t something I would feel comfortable doing so I wait and see if anyone out there considers me worth nominating.

So what’s the point of this post?

Last year a few friends who I thought would certainly be “Championed” were not nominated by anyone - not themselves and shamefully not me.  I had assumed that other’s would do it and they, like me, assumed if they added any significant community value then someone would nominate them.  But that’s not how this works and many many people (rightfully) nominate themselves.   So this post isn’t to ask you to nominate me, it’s not to give you a list of things I’m proud of doing or that I hope have added to the community in some way.  It’s to ask you to consider nominating anyone you think should be a champion, even if you don’t know much more about them than you’ve seen them present or read their blog or they’ve helped you out personally when they didn’t have to.  If they made a difference to you, go ahead and nominate them. The form itself is a bit overwhelming although you need only fill in a small amount and the nominee then gets asked to complete any “additional information” they think the committee should know.

And.. (my fingernails are curling back with embarrassment whilst typing this) but if you genuinely feel I added value to the you or the community this year then I would of course appreciate a nomination.  

5 thoughts on “The IBM Champion - Dilemma

  1. You know, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve been working with the Notes/Domino and Connections products for not quite a year now, and your posts, articles, and presentations have been very valuable for a newbie like me. The last Lotus product I had touched prior to being hired for this job was Lotus 1-2-3, and that’s been a “while ago” to say the least!

    I’ve had to learn everything trial-by-fire. And you may not know this, but you’ve helped me tons in learning the products. I met you last year at IBMConnect (my first Lotusphere too!) and told you how much I’d enjoyed your writings, etc. and meant every word. And you were so nice to me; you have no idea how much I appreciated that. Seriously.

    You’re champion-worthy in my eyes, and I’m sure there are other readers who may feel the same way. Best of luck to you! 🙂

  2. Nicely done Gab - and count on a nomination (or two). Your contributions to the larger community make us all better. Thank you.

  3. Don’t worry, you already have at least one nomination. 🙂

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