40under40 submission writing workshop

SubmissionWritingWorkshop

www.omthreesixty.com.au

AGENDA

Your submission

Writing and editing tips

The application form

Q&A

CONSIDER THE WHOLE APPLICATION 

Why you?

(300 words)

Success factors

(250 words)

Set backs

(200 words)

Values

(200 words)

Professional

recognition

(250 words)

Contribution

to WA

(100 words)

Community

contribution

(100 words)

Top business tip

(50 words)

100 word

summary

Describe org

today

Describe org

history

Describe

future of org

(1-3 years)

Think about which category to submit to. 60% oflast year’s entries were in small business.

TAILOR CONTENT TO YOUR FIELD

Small or Startup BusinessMedium-sized BusinessLarge-sized BusinessFamily BusinessIndigenous BusinessIntrapreneurProfessional ServicesCommunity, Social orNot for Profit

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR

Standout application to cut through and reach interview

stage

How you deal with adversity

All questions completed

A clear direction, vision and mission

Is making a difference

Has evidence to back up claims

For overall winner, need to be positioned as the bearer of

the Business News brand and represent 2015 for years to

come. Who are people going to look up to in the future?

WEIGHTINGS

Why you – 25 pts

Success factors – 20 pts

Set backs – 15 pts

Values – 15 pts

Personal

Achievements

75 pts

Professional recognition – 5 pts

Community contribution – 10 pts

Contribution to WA – 10 pts

Wider

Community

25 pts

WRITE FOR THE READER, IE THE JUDGES

Write initial drafts in Word to get thoughts out, rather

than into the online submission form directly

Focus on what you need/want to write first (key

messages), before worrying about how many words you’ve

written – you can always edit later

Ensure all answers are aligned and tell an overall story

about you

WRITE FOR THE READER, IE THE JUDGES

Explain the concept and provide evidence while being

careful not to get caught up in minute details

Write with confidence, not arrogance.

Also, don’t undersell

Each sentence needs to have a clear purpose. Sentences

that are merely padding should be avoided.

If getting started is difficult, try writing about yourself in

the third person first. You can revise to first person when

editing

AVOID COMMON CLICHÉS

One thing led to anotherIt is what it isParadigm shiftAt this point in timeUps and downs / rollercoasterLast, but not leastExplore every avenueGame changerIn order to

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY (100 WORDS)

Link to your LinkedIn accountIf you haven’t updated your LinkedIn in a while, now is agreat timeWhether you provide a link to your LinkedIn or not, youronline presences will form part of the judges’ assessment Google, publicly available social media accounts, press,third party endorsements will all be looked at

ACHIEVEMENTS

Why should you win award and/or

category

Use metrics, quant, data if possible

Why you

300 words

Detail the factors that you consider had

the most impact on achieving your

success and why you consider them so.

Back up your points with evidence.

Success factors

250 words

ACHIEVEMENTS

Explain how you dealt with your biggest

business/career set-backs or challenges

and what lessons you consider were learnt

from the experience.

Consider highlighting the entrepreneurial

and innovative actions

Set backs

200 words

ACHIEVEMENTS

How have your values and behaviours

guided you in your professional

endeavours?

Values relate to your inner beliefs that

guide your behaviours. Behaviours

describe how you act or conduct yourself.

Refer to OM ThreeSixty’s ‘10 essential

core values of a leading personal brand’

Values

200 words

WIDER COMMUNITY

Detail any industry recognition, peer

recognition, areas of professional

expertise, scholarships, honours,

awards, published works, professional

partnerships or similar

Professional

recognition

100 words

Describe the positive contribution your

actions have had on WA business and/or

community. Ensure a clear and logical

connection. Discuss this with colleagues

and friends

Contribution

to WA

100 words

WIDER COMMUNITY

Past or present involvement, active

service and membership in community

organisations, honours and awards for

community involvement or for which

the community is the beneficiary

Community

contribution

100 words

TOP BUSINESS TIP (50 WORDS)

Describe briefly those "special words" or"inspirational quotations" which havemotivated you to succeed. Can be a tip you’ve written, a mantra, aquote from a role model or inspirationalfigure, or unattributed motivational saying.Ideally your tip will have a directconnection to your narrative.This should be apparent without youhaving to explain the link in detail.Not part of the grading, but may form partof the Gala Awards Night.

100 WORD SUMMARY

Think of this as your personal brand value propositionEnsure your summary encapsulates all previouscontentDon’t introduce new ideas or aspects about yourselfhereRemember this summary is not marked but will beused for the People's Choice voting page if you wantto be included and will be visible to the public. In the case of successful entrants, the summary maybe used during the Gala Awards Night.

BUSINESS ORGANISATION

Describe the organisation today

Description about the history of the organisation

What are the future plans or ambitions of the

organisation over the next 1-3 years?

YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

A leader’s ‘personal brand’ can be considered theimage or persona perceived by their stakeholders,which can include Board members, investors, directreports, staff, current and prospective customers andeven competitors.When approaching your personal brand strategically,a deliberate process can help you tailor the perceptionyour stakeholders have when it comes to your values,reputation, skills, attributes, achievements andstature in the most direct way possible.

LEVERAGE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES

Use your submission as the starting point to takinga strategic approach to your personal brandBe proactive with your reputation and how youwant to be perceivedLook for connections and leverage opportunitiesbetween your personal brand and the brand ofyour organisation (organisational brands alsoinclude the summation of the personal brands of itsleaders and people)Monitor, review and adjust

IN SUMMARY:

1.RTQ/ATQ2. Easy to read/follow3. Use evidence4. Don’t use jargon5. Take your time6. Involve your staff7. Practice your pitch8. Be yourself9. Enjoy it!

Charlie’s advice

Q & A

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Handout: Awards Entry GuideHandout: Advice for enteringBusiness AwardsHandout: 10 personal brandingmistakes that are easy to fixHandout: The Personal BrandingCanvaswww.omthreesixty.com.au/category/personal-branding