If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I wish someone could help me write my business award submission,” you’re not alone – and there are a few things it helps to understand first.
As a business awards strategist and writer who has worked on countless submissions across different industries, I’ve never believed that great award submissions happen by accident. They’re not the result of a last-minute scramble, a recycled template, or a few polished buzzwords stitched together to “sound impressive.” Instead, they’re built with intent. With clarity. With a deep respect for both the business behind the submission and the judges reading it.
Chances are, you’re busy, very close to your own story, and worried about wasting a good opportunity on a mediocre entry. Deep down, you know your organisation is doing great work – you just don’t know how to translate that into answers judges actually care about.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on Donald Miller’s StoryBrand philosophy – the idea that strong brands are clear about what they stand for by being equally clear about what they stand against.
And when it comes to business awards, I realised something important:
What I stand against is just as important as what I deliver.
Every weak award submission I’ve ever read… every missed opportunity… every business that deserved recognition but didn’t quite land their story… tends to fall into the same patterns.
So here it is, clearly.
I’m Against Fluff-Filled Submissions
You’ve seen them. Maybe you’ve even written one.
Submissions packed with phrases like “we pride ourselves on excellence” or “we are passionate about delivering high-quality services.” They sound nice, but they don’t actually say anything.
Judges don’t award intentions. They award evidence.
Fluff is what happens when businesses try to fill space instead of answer the question. It’s often a sign that the real story, the measurable outcomes, the specific challenges, the tangible impact -hasn’t been fully explored.
When someone comes to me and says, “Can you help me write my business award submission?”, this is often what they’re really asking for: to strip out the fluff and replace it with clear, specific, evidence-backed responses that get to the point and prove value. Submissions that respect the judge’s time and make it easy to see exactly why this business deserves to win.
I stand for something sharper – so your answers actually prove why you deserve to win.
I’m Against Generic, Reused Entries
One of the fastest ways to lose a judge’s attention is to sound like every other submission in the category.
Think of entries filled with generic language, reused answers, and content that could belong to any business, anywhere. This happens when businesses treat award entries as a form to complete rather than a story to tell.
Judges are reading dozens, sometimes hundreds, of submissions. If yours doesn’t feel distinct, it disappears.
My focus is on tailored submissions that sound unmistakably like you.
Your voice. Your journey. Your decisions. Your results.
That means digging deeper than surface-level answers and shaping a narrative that reflects what actually makes your business different, not just what you think judges want to hear. If you’ve ever thought, “I need someone to help me write my business award submission so it actually sounds like us,” this is the kind of work you’re looking for.
I’m Against Last-Minute Rush Jobs
This one is incredibly common and incredibly costly.
An award deadline approaches, and suddenly it becomes urgent. The team scrambles. Someone pulls together a draft the night before. There’s no time to reflect, refine, or gather strong supporting evidence.
And the outcome?
A submission that might be “good enough” but never truly competitive.
Strong submissions need space.
Space to identify the right stories. Space to uncover meaningful metrics. Space to refine language so it’s both clear and compelling.
I stand for a calm, structured process.
My preference is always for a calm, structured process. One that allows ideas to develop properly. One that removes the pressure of panic and replaces it with clarity and confidence. When people tell me, “Next time I’d rather get you to help me write my business award submission from the start,” this is the shift they’re ready to make.
I’m Against Jargon and Corporate Speak
There’s a persistent belief that award submissions need to sound formal to be taken seriously.
Because of that, businesses default to dense, corporate language. Long sentences. Industry jargon. Abstract phrasing.
The problem is, it doesn’t make a submission sound more credible – it makes it harder to read.
Judges are human. They respond to clarity, not complexity. If they have to work to understand what you’re saying, your message loses impact.
Plain-English, human storytelling is what I stand for.
Writing that feels natural, confident, and easy to follow. Language that communicates ideas clearly without stripping away professionalism. The most effective submissions aren’t the ones that sound the most “impressive” – they’re the ones that are the easiest to understand.
I’m Against Underplaying Your Real Achievements
This is one of the most overlooked issues – and one of the most frustrating.
Many businesses, particularly here in Australia, have a tendency to downplay their success. They soften their language. They avoid sounding “too proud.” They leave out strong results because they don’t want to appear boastful.
In an award submission, that instinct works against you.
If you don’t clearly articulate your impact, judges can’t infer it. When you dilute your achievements, they lose their weight.
What I stand for is confident, grounded storytelling.
That means presenting your results clearly. Highlighting transformation. Showing before-and-after outcomes. Backing it up with data where possible. Not hype. Not exaggeration. Just honest, well‑articulated impact that helps you talk about what you’ve achieved without feeling like you’re bragging.
If your business is genuinely making a difference, it shouldn’t miss out on recognition just because the story wasn’t told well enough.
How we can work together on your next award submission
You don’t need a complex process. A simple, clear plan is enough:
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Start with a conversation – We’ll talk about the awards you’re targeting and what “help me write my business award submission” looks like for you.
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Uncover your best stories – Together we’ll draw out your strongest achievements, metrics and examples, then shape them into sharp, judge‑friendly answers.
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Refine and polish – I’ll craft and refine the submission so it sounds like you at your best, while you stay focused on running the business.
What I really stand for
Being “against” these common pitfalls isn’t about criticism – it’s about raising the standard.
Strip away the fluff, the templates, the panic, and the jargon, and something far more powerful emerges:
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You end up with a strategic, well‑written submission that tells a clear, compelling story
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The entry positions your business properly in the eyes of the judges
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Your value becomes easy to see and understand
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Judges have a concrete reason to remember your submission long after they read it
At its core, this is what I stand for:
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A thoughtful, structured approach to award writing
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A commitment to clarity over complexity
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Strong emphasis on evidence, not assumptions
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The belief that every business has a strong story – when you know how to find it
Business awards aren’t just a box to tick. Done properly, they’re a tool. A way to build credibility, attract better opportunities, and create momentum in your business.
That kind of result only happens when the submission itself is strong.
Rushing, guessing, or copying what everyone else is doing won’t get you there. Strong submissions come from doing the work properly.
If you’re at the point of thinking, “I really do need someone to help me write my business award submission,” it’s a good sign you’re ready to take your next entry seriously.
Reach out if you’d like expert support to help me write my business award submission style entry for your organisation – together, we can uncover your best stories and shape them into a clear, compelling submission that gives you the strongest possible chance on awards night.
