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It’s that time of year. Gather round young people – you Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen LMNOP, to hear the story of Festivus. It may not be the holiday we want – but it is holiday we need.

First made public on the Jerry Seinfeld sitcom in the 1997 episode called “The Strike.”

From Wikipedia:

“…The non-commercial holiday’s celebration, as depicted on Seinfeld, occurs on December 23 and includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength”, and the labeling of easily explainable events as “Festivus miracles”.[3] The episode refers to it as “a Festivus for the rest of us”.

And for my grievance I give you…

Awards are earned. Prizes are won.

Too often when we talk about incentive and reward programs, we reference the “prizes” or that the participant “won” a “prize” in an incentive program.

I’m going to split hairs here because it’s my Festivus…

Prizes are won – like lottery prizes.

Awards are earned through effort and action.

I believe when you say someone “won” a prize in a program you deem the effort. They EARNED it as John Husman would say (that will go over almost everyone’s head).

That is my grievance for 2019 Festivus.

Prizes are won. Awards are earned.