All of the business owners in his episode have been recognized as the "Small Business Person of the Year" for their own state.

To find out about how you can be the next winner, go to sba.gov. Think ahead as the deadline is usually in the Fall of the year before the awards are given.

Also, whenever there is an opportunity, submit your work for peer review within your national trade association. Mike Neary, owner of Oregon Log Homes, built his dream home for himself utilizing all the techniques he had tried to get others to buy from him. He included character logs, which are logs that on the surface seem damaged but when finished out can be works of art in and of themselves. He included carvings, logs with the root base still attached, river rock at the foundation, and a suspended staircase. The people who saw the home were so impressed that he decided to enter this home in the National Homebuilders annual contest. To Mike's surprise, it won the "Best In American Living Award."

The prize was given to him at a huge convention in Las Vegas and pictures of the home appeared in a number of construction publications. After the award, hundreds of inquiries flooded into his office including a request for proposal from the Disney Corporation.

Topic for Discussion: Should your small business seek recognition for excellence from its trade association or the SBA?

Answer: We think so. Something happens to you and your team when you ask others to look at your business. It is not business as usual. There is an edge created that was not there prior to the request. If you are doing well, contact your local SBA office -- listed by state at SBA.gov.

And, compete for local, regional, and national recognition sponsored by your own trade association. If you are not a member of a trade association, find one and become a member. If they do not have an awards program, recommend it and offer to coordinate it.

You think about it: How would your customers, your employees and your vendors react if you were recognized as an industry leader? Do you think going after that recognition is worth the effort it would take to get it?