Wow! Wow! Wow! My first ever business award – little ol’ me took out the Margaret River Chamber of Commerce’s “E Marketing Strategy of Excellence” award!

Being quite tech savvy and a gadget goddess, I thought I had a pretty good chance… until I heard the list of entrants being read out on the night. 

Holy cow – I was up against online directories and guides (one that I subscribe to, and one that has an app to welcome visitors to the region, amongst others), a tour operator who was also a 40Under40 contestant, and even a consultant teaching dozens of businesses how to do this stuff!

I broke out in a sweat, my breathing got shallow, and I recall gripping my husband’s hand as though I were in labour and it was all his fault. It felt like a movie scene where time stands still and I can hear the hammer in my ears slowing down to a thud… thud… thud…

“And the winner is…” (thuuudddd… thuuuddd… thuuuddd…) “Anita Revel, YesIDoWeddings.com!”

I have never felt so relieved to hear my name being announced on a loudspeaker. And do you know what went through my head as I tried to control my shaking knee caps as I walked to the podium? Not, “I’ve won!”, but… “This is the nervousness my brides describe to me as they’re about to walk down the aisle!”

Almost instantly I remembered the advice I give a nervous bride as I her at the bridal car – it’s a pressure-point technique that helps reign in panicky emotions.

Works every time. Within moments the bride has suddenly become more relaxed, is smiling naturally, and actually looking forward to stepping into the spotlight. The bridesmaids notice and they clamour to find out this secret magical touch that will calm them down. It’s every celebrant’s secret power tool for keeping key players “present”.

Anyway, remembering this I quickly applied the technique to my own trembling wrists on my way to collect my award. By the time I arrived at the podium I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat and feeling like an Angelina Jolie. Awesome stuff. (Wish I could bottle it!)

Anyhoo, despite this award being sponsored by the Augusta Margaret River Times, and despite it boosting my self-confidence no end, little was reported in the local papers. All I could find was this little excerpt from the Augusta Margaret River Mail…

In the other awards, Anita Revel of Yes I Do Weddings pipped The Margaret River Guide for the E Marketing Strategy of Excellence award, The Margaret River Guide and Cape to Cape Explorer Tours were equal winners of the New Business of Excellence award, Willcox Associates won the Excellence in Environmental Sustainability award, Natural Olive Oil Soap Factory took the Outstanding Local Produce Marketing Strategy award ahead of Bettenay’s Margaret River Nougat, and Augusta-Margaret River Times took the Corporate Citizen of the Year 2011 award, with a special Recognition of Achievement award presented to retiring shire councillor and accountant Brian Middleton.