The good folks at N-TEN informed me this week that, along with some other nonprofit technology professionals, I'm going to receive an award at the upcoming Nonprofit Technology Conference.
I feel a little nervous about this, partly because they haven't told me what sort of award it is, or what I've done to merit it. The other reason I'm nervous is that I'm ambivalent about awards. I think it's far too easy to confuse recognition with achievement. It's lovely to be acknowledged by one's peers, but my idea of real success is a series of daily opportunities to do something that makes a difference. My idea of a real reward (in addition to fair pay) is the privilege of going home at the end of each working day feeling excited about what I've done.
I'm not sure I can articulate this without sounding ungracious, so let's just hope that no one hands me a microphone!
