Not Just a Trophy Company . . . .

MTM Recognition was born in 1971 as Midwest Trophy Mfg. Co., Inc.  There, we have said it.  It is out on the table. 

For some reason, since we became MTM Recognition in 2001, we have tried to minimize our roots as a trophy manufacturer.  Maybe it is because in our initial transformation to a Recognition Provider our competitors tried to negatively characterize us as “a trophy company”.  As we compete in our industry, this still happens.

Today we are celebrating our history and declaring that we are proud to have been and still are a trophy manufacturer.  We are not only “a” trophy manufacturer, we are “the” trophy manufacturer.  We manufacture some of the most unique, high-profile trophies today from all of the NCAA Championship Awards, to 22 annual Bowl Game trophies, to multiple NASCAR trophies, to many major collegiate awards.  Nothing inspires like a championship trophy.   

Beginning today, we will no longer minimize our heritage.  In fact, what better heritage could there be for a recognition company to have had the privilege of celebrating achievement for decades.  What better understanding could there be of what it takes to motivate and engage when we have been motivating sports and other types of performance since our inception. 

Many motivational speakers either have a sports background or use sports metaphors when explaining how to motivate.  I recently heard Jack Welch use a baseball analogy.  Vince Lombardi is often quoted.  In hiring we talk about building a winning team with effective role players. 

Winning sports teams are often great sources of analysis for determining what it takes to win in all phases of life.   No matter our occupation, we are all reaching for the trophy – whether it is the “trophy car”,  “trophy house”, or “trophy spouse”.  I recently saw a McDonald’s billboard that promoted a trophy burger.

Clearly trophies are not just sports related – they are achievement related.  The entertainment industry awards Grammys, Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes.  The Hugo Award for science fiction is a space ship.  The Collier Trophy is awarded for outstanding work in aviation engineering and the Harmon Trophy is awarded for outstanding achievement in ballooning.

In ancient Greece trophies were made on the battlefields from captured arms and standards hence the meaning of the name “a spoil or prize of war”.  They were often inscribed with a story of the battle.  Thankfully, trophies have evolved to a less bloody symbolism.                    

A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement and afterward serves as proof of merit.  Often the reward of the trophy is not simply in winning it, rather, those who win it cherish the legacy that comes with it.  

Whatever the award, from points recognition, to lifestyle products, to symbolic trophies, MTM Recognition is honored to have the privilege of contributing to celebrations of achievement and memorable moments worldwide every day.