Two of the organizational goals of Future
Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. are to promote competent,
aggressive business leadership and to understand American business enterprise.
Competition in the state and national awards programs for FBLA and PBL is one
of the greatest opportunities that members in the association have to reach
these goals. Competition serves as a focal point of the American
free enterprise system; therefore, entering and competing in individual, team,
and chapter events on the district/regional, state and/or national levels aid
members in bridging the gap between the classroom and the business world.
Winning in a competition is too
often associated with an award of some sort -- plaque, trophy, certificate,
medallion, etc. Everyone is a winner in FBLA-PBL when he/she enters a
competitive event and uses the business skills and knowledge learned in the
classroom and/or the leadership skills developed through participation in the
association. It is true that a limited number of competitors
"win" by receiving awards for their events at the leadership
conferences. However, all members "win" by representing
their local chapters in competitive events, by interacting at the conferences
with other members, advisers, and businesspeople and by participating in the
experiences of the entire conferences.
It is essential that one enter a
competitive event with the proper attitude--"to try to do the best one
can." That in itself is winning in its simplest form. One can
couple this winning attitude with motivation, hard work, interest in a
competitive event, and knowledge of subject matter. Success will likely
follow.
Once the winning attitude has been
set, there are many paths one can travel to apply this trait and prepare for a
competitive event on the district/regional, state, and/or national levels.
Care should be exercised in preparing for each level so that appropriate
materials are used, as guidelines may vary between state and national awards
programs.
