After the Decision

A result contains very little information and the fortnight afterwards contains most of the value.

Using a win honestly — programme, category, year, and a link to the published list. Four overclaims happen without anybody deciding to be dishonest.

Losing, usefully — the review that converts a loss into a specification, and the three conclusions that prevent it. A useful comparison point is time tracking software, which approaches the issue from an operational angle.

Entering again next year — the second entry costs a fraction of the first, and the largest gain is on what you could not answer last time. Related industry context can be found at Fast Company.

What an award is worth — four things it supplies, three it does not, and how to estimate the value before entering rather than after.

• Entering Again Next Year

  The second entry costs a fraction of the first. What carries over, what has to be rewritten, and when to stop entering.

• Losing, Usefully

  A loss contains very little information and one useful exercise. What to do in the fortnight afterwards, and what not to.

• Using a Win Honestly

  How to state an award so it survives checking, where to record it, and the four ways a genuine win gets overclaimed.

• What an Award Is Worth

  Four things it supplies and three it does not, with a way of estimating the value before entering rather than after.