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Episode 38 - Part 2: Did Anything Change After Winning the RICS Matrics Awards with Zoe Baker and Joe Ellison
33 Plays1 year ago
In part two of this week's episode, Zoe and Joe share their experiences of life after winning the prestigious RICS Matrics Awards. Zoe recounts the overwhelming shock and opportunities that came her way post-award, including speaking engagements that pushed her out of her comfort zone.
Joe reflects on the confidence boost and professional advancements the award brought him, like joining the RICS professional group panel. Both emphasise the importance of seizing opportunities and staying motivated beyond the accolade itself. They also dispense valuable advice for those considering applying for such awards.
00:00 Introduction to Life After Winning the Award
00:23 Zoe's Experience: Overcoming Shock and Embracing Opportunities
04:01 Joe's Perspective: Confidence Boost and Professional Growth
08:51 The Impact of Winning: Motivation and Future Goals
11:51 Conclusion and Next Steps
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Transcript
Life After Winning the Ricks Matrix Awards
00:00:00
Speaker
In part two of this week's episode with Zoe and Joe, we're going to look at life after winning the award, um or the Ricks Matrix Awards. So um with part one, if you missed it, we we've looked at why did they apply some interesting sort of thoughts in there. So take a look at that. But um yeah, let's take a look at life after the award. So um I don't know if maybe you want to go first this time, Zoe. But um I suppose, well, how did you I think I know how you felt about the award? I was on your table, luckily for that that particular event. um But yeah, what were the benefits being? How did you feel about it?
00:00:28
Speaker
I just remember the tension building just just before my name was announced at the table and I think, Matt, you actually said I felt the tension. just you put I think I stopped breathing. and I was like, you need to go up now. yeah I was in complete and utter shock.
Opportunities and Challenges Post-Award
00:00:50
Speaker
I don't think I've ever been shocked in my own entire life. but um But yes, life after the award. Well, initially winning it, it was very overwhelming and it was an amazing feeling just to feel that I'd been recognised
00:01:07
Speaker
by an external review system, you know, which isn't with me every day, but I've been able to put across, you know, what I've been doing and it's been recognised, which was incredible. um But I also did get some opportunities after that, talk so I spoke at a ah couple of events at the Sava Careers Fair, which was at the Coventry Stadium, and I spoke at the RPSA annual conference um at the British Mostor Museum.
00:01:37
Speaker
And actually, although I can speak quite well and confidently, speaking on a stage in front of hundreds of people, I actually felt quite difficult. But that's another thing that I had that impostasis syndrome and I was like, I can't do this.
00:01:57
Speaker
but I pushed myself the first time I was a nervous wreck. The second time I felt like a bit more relaxed because I'd done it before. and So ultimately, you so you're still going to feel a bit nervous here and there, even if you win something and you think, right, I'm onto it now, there's, you know, that don't turn down the the opportunities that come your way after just because you're not used to doing something.
00:02:26
Speaker
You know, and but I think that's really important because when you apply for the award, you're you're not really behind the screen. You know, you don't yeah do anything in regards to a physical interview or anything like that. And then after you win, you become someone that people want to, you know, take on and and do things with. And then you're thinking, oh, God,
00:02:49
Speaker
can I do that, but actually just go and do it because it would be really good for your professional profile to continue that momentum.
Experiencing the Awards Night
00:02:59
Speaker
Oh, definitely. I can imagine, actually, it's a good point. You go from sitting behind the computer doing the application to you're in a room with a hell of a lot of people on awards night and you've got the mood lighting and the dinner and all that stuff. So suddenly it's like, oh, what have I done?
00:03:13
Speaker
Yeah, what have I created? A big ball of anxiety. so it It was brilliant and it definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone um and I was able to build on skills that I had probably not really worked on for for a few years. you know from When I was an employee, i I stood up and talked in front of people Well, that all went when I became a business owner and you know when you're starting a business, it's quite small and then you you know you're only talking to people at work and you're not really engaging with many other people. So, um yeah, it was like, oh, wow.
00:03:54
Speaker
All these people now know me and what I've done. This is scary. But take the positive from it because there's, you know, for your career, it can really help teleport you to the next step and opportunities start flying at you. And yeah, it's fantastic. Definitely. What about you, Joe? I was, have you found it sort of winning the award and and and the benefits after? Have you noticed the difference?
00:04:23
Speaker
Yes, I think just firstly reflecting on the awards night, whether or not you're you're nominating yourself or whether you're shortlisted or or whatever, think about going to the awards night is something that I would also suggest to everyone because it's such a good night.
00:04:42
Speaker
And it's not often that we as residential surveyors get to get together and meet each other. Residential surveyors is full of of people working in their own small companies. And particularly for the people that the Matrix Awards are for, the people up to 10 years qualified, it's great to be able to just get together and have a chat with different people.
Impact of Recognition and Motivation
00:05:07
Speaker
But yeah, I think, like Zoe says, when when your name's called out, you ah go into a state of shock. How do I walk again? Yeah. Yeah. You're suddenly in a room that is full of tables and you don't really know how to get to the stage. I'm glad you said that. You've won it twice, Jo, so you might have knocked that boat down. And the first time I was sat at the very back of the room and working out how to get all the way to the front was difficult.
00:05:35
Speaker
but rather like that yeah yeah You get an an immediate rush, an immediate buzz, and I got an immediate boost of confidence as well. And that sort of propelled me through. And what I did almost immediately after that, we ah the applications had just come out for the RICS professional group panels.
00:05:56
Speaker
So I and applied for that. A lot of that was based, my application was based on the fact that I'd just won the the matrix residential surveyor of the year. And I got onto the residential professional group panel. And and it's probably from that that i've I've used my award. It's probably that that I've used my award most for. But like with Zoe from that, I've sat on stages and stood on stages in front of hundreds of people talking and I get the imposter syndrome too and I you you sort of have to go back and think about what you wrote and what got you the award to then think yes I can do this but
00:06:45
Speaker
suddenly people know you and I was at a conference recently and people were coming up to me because they knew who I was and that was just a ah very strange sort of of feeling for me because I'm not the most vocal when it comes to to social media but people still they' they've recognized your photo from from the RICS publications and it is a great feeling.
00:07:13
Speaker
Oh, definitely. yeah I'm similar to you. I don't put much online. I tend to sort of try and keep keep myself off there. just I don't know why. I've sort personally hidden on there. But um but I completely agree. It's it's a really it's a really good night. I've been a couple of the times, and I'm not going for awards. I'm not surveying myself. But it's a really good buzz, and it's nice to to see the industry together. And um yeah everyone's very relaxed because it's not a work environment.
00:07:42
Speaker
um and you just suddenly see that it's there's a lot of people that you can talk to and then they relate to you, so you have those conversations. so But I imagine the the same boost that you got from winning, did you get that? um I suppose from being nominated initially because you're still being recognised at that point and there's about six or so people in each category generally that will get the nomination. So I imagine that feels quite good too.
00:08:05
Speaker
Oh, yeah, definitely. like from from the From the outset, and you you get a buzz and it's it's exciting. and i am i we When I went down to the wars last year, I i was actually on the train with some other and nominees and we were all there was just a buzz about everyone because it's just an exciting thing. It's something that we all look forward to.
00:08:32
Speaker
Definitely. It was the same for you, sir. And that is something to be just as proud of, to be honest, because you've already been recognized to be shortlisted. So, you know, in a way, you have won something because you've still been recognized. So, yeah, I remember receiving the email and, you know, gobsmacked.
00:08:58
Speaker
okay and But yeah, but you're right, it's nice. But then that then there's a build up because you get that news and then there's a bit of a wait until the night. So does it does the feelings do build up over that time? andation Yeah, Yeah, absolutely. And there's been a wait before then. So after you've pressed the submit button, waiting for the shortlist to come out is also the build up. So if you go through these sort of ups and downs all the way through it. If anyone wants to slow their life down, this is the way to do it. That's good advice, I think, because everything does go so quickly now. I suppose, yeah, my last question on this topic is is having having, you know, you got into position where you've you've gone for the award you've you've won. is Is it motivated you to to continue to do things consistently or differently? Or um is it changed the sort of the next goal you've got for sort of what you want to achieve within your role or?
00:09:58
Speaker
um you know but like Joe, you mentioned you like that you've went through a period of going for awards. Have you got um your eye on the next the next thing potentially? You don't have to say what that is. ah yeah You might not want to, but um but yeah, does does that change your motivations? I think for me, i I'm a I'm a very motivated, career motivated person anyway, so I will always push for more. And one of the things that you probably don't expect after an award or is to win the award and then within a couple of weeks start thinking, well, what's next? Is is there, how how do I?
00:10:34
Speaker
beat this, how do I and improve on this? Because you sort of feel like there's there's nowhere else to go. and But then I come back to the the the different categories that you have to write about. And and something that I'm particularly interested in is is innovation. And that's that's one of the the categories that you have to write about in submission.
Reflection on Achievements and Self-Confidence
00:10:56
Speaker
And I think innovation, because that is just continuing onwards then you've always got something to work towards and you can always push for more. That might not be awards. You don't have to be consistent consistently going for awards throughout your your career.
00:11:15
Speaker
and But it's definitely a good springboard to then be able to push yourself further and further, either in your business or like Zoe did in setting out your own business and the the sort of the world's your oyster once you've got that that baseline. and But there is a fear. there There is certainly a fear straight after the awards of thinking, what do I do now?
00:11:41
Speaker
Yeah, it's interesting. work so I saw a comment off the back of the Olympics. I think it was Simone Biles, the um ah US gymnast. As you said, can we stop asking people when they just want to matter what's what's next? I haven't finished celebrating yet. Yeah. um Which I completely understand. What about you, Zoe? Has it changed? yeah You had the business already before you applied, but has it changed the focus on, or did it change straight after the focus on what you wanted to do? It's been a couple of years nearly now. so Yeah, well, it definitely motivated me to think about other things I wanted to do with the business and and that's when I thought about writing a book and developing a product. so you know But that wasn't a motivation to do that because of all these ideas, then you win an award and you go, ah other I could do it. so Also, it's important to understand that you don't have to win an award to recognise that you've got ability.
00:12:37
Speaker
So it's using it in the right way, not relying on it to fuel you, but using it in the right way to so push you. and Yeah, I would say that my mindset did change after that. um It's natural for for it to change. and And I think that, you know, like I say, it's not getting to obsess with it to the extent where you're sort of relying on it to fuel your motivation, but the it's it's sort of like ah a nice thing to have attached to you. um And maybe it might help progress you a bit quicker, but you would have got there anyway type thing, you know? Yeah, definitely. think I think the the the key takeaway I've got from this, and correct me if I'm ah hearing it wrong, but for from both of you, it um apply it's It's good to reflect on
00:13:28
Speaker
what you've done and whether you whether you actually submit the application, um you know, there's another thing and whether you wins another thing, but but actually even just reflecting on what you've done can be enough of a confidence boost to go, actually, yeah, I can do what I wanna do next. um or you know And brilliant, if you get nominated, that's a recognition itself and obviously the cherry on the top of winning is another, but that that isn't the be all and end, or at least reflecting on where you've come from. It can be a real motivator. You can't always get a yes to everything.
00:13:57
Speaker
It's completely impossible. You know, you you're going to have various knockbacks in your careers because a lot of things are out of your control. um However, you've just got to be confident in yourself. It all goes back to that self-confidence and consistency and just a passion for what you do. If you love what you do, that that will come across and in every in everything that you do and other people will see
Invitation to Next Part: Application Tips
00:14:23
Speaker
it as well. And then that's when you start to get recognized, I think.
00:14:28
Speaker
Definitely. I think that's a nice ah nice round off to this topic. So join us for part three. If you are looking to um go through the application process, we're going to look at tips for for applying.