We’ve come a long way baby!
I first started working on proposals in 1982 (just a couple of years before you, eh Jon?)
Back then -
- Knowledge base automation tools weren’t available (and wouldn’t be for another 14 years!)
- Word processors were in their infancy and much of the work was done on a typewriter.
- Spell check? What’s that?
- The only people with a computer in their home were true ‘geeks’ (as these computers had to be completely programmed manually… and they were about the size of a washing machine!)
- Laser printers were just being introduced (and had a nasty tendency to catch fire if the paper jammed!)
- ‘Cut and paste’ was often just that, literally. Pieces of paper and artwork were cut out and glued to another piece of paper and then copied.
- Color copiers? Yeah, right.
- Graphics were done by hand, either drawn or again, true cut and paste.
- E-mail was just getting started, and was largely only available intra-company, if at all.
- FedEx was the only viable shipping option.
I had reason to reflect on just how far we’ve come regarding today’s capabilities to produce proposals when I presented recently at a conference in NY.
As I stood at the back of the room, I noticed the phone that the person next to me was using. This was a new model, one which was fully enabled with MSWindows and applications for mobile.
And are you ready for this, folks?
This person was able to create a complete proposal – start to finish – on their phone. It was even able to access their knowledge base.
Man but we’ve come a long ways.
And I wonder what this profession will look like in another 10 years. :)
This article was written by BJ on 6 December, 2006 and filed under Musings. If you found it useful, you can with others. To receive automatic updates, subscribe to The Proposal Guys via 
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Something I’ve always wondered, BJ: when you started out on proposals, did you ever have problems getting hold of enough papyrus for the documents?