Thursday, October 23, 2008
“A Few of My Favorite Things”
As our readers know, Jon and I are “Passionate about Proposals”. And we know many of you are as well. But about which part of proposals are you most passionate?
Is it the competitive element? Developing a winning strategy? (This is certainly high on Jon’s list.) Or perhaps it’s putting together and managing a high-performing team. (This is an area I really enjoy.) For many of you I suspect it’s writing, crafting powerful sentences and playing with words until you get it just right. (Our writer Rickie would definitely have this on her list.)
We’d like to know where your passions regarding proposals lie.
I know it may be tough for many of you to do, but if you had to choose just one aspect of proposals as your favorite, which is yours? No fair “waffling” and providing a list or stating “The things I like about proposals is that it encompasses so many different areas…etc.” ☺
Jon and I will follow with an entry to let you know ours.
BJ, as I’m sure you’re not surprised, my favorite part is putting it all together and making a high powered team that has a visible effect on the sales force and on the Firm’s bottom line. It just so happens, it was announced this morning that the team was awarded “Department of the Quarter;” so, others are seeing that impact as well. -Connie Sanford
getting the “win” notification after a month of hard work and late nights
For me it is taking the abstract and sometimes sprawling information available and crafting concise and individualized tools used in the overall sales process.
Very thought provoking. I actually had to think about this one for a day. When I used to work on defense projects my “Ultimate RFP Bliss” was in the pre-release period. Combing through the Federal Register, picking the perfect project, convincing the division head to sign-off on a budget, trying to get face time with the government’s contracting officer. Hearing about the project from the CO’s perspective (talk about passionate!) and learning every detail from their team before the RFP was released. Using every opportunity to impress the CO with how reliable and responsive we were, how engaged with their pet project.
As soon as the RFP was released, it was about choosing the perfect engineers, programmers, writers, etc. for your team and trying to convince them to work for peanuts during the RFP stage in exchange for a place on the team when we ultimately won the award. I wish the commercial side was as exciting. The military is always so excited and passionate about their projects. It makes it so much easier to speak to their passion in the RFP response.
As you said, for me it’s definitely the writing. Finding the perfect combination of words that position our company/product just right.
Great comments! Here’s what gives me the biggest buzz:
1. winning: I’m exceptionally competitive!
2. getting great customer feedback
3. getting great internal feedback
4. the sense of pride when looking at a really great proposal that’s just been submitted
5. watching the development of people I’ve worked with and coached / trained.
Jon, I’m disappointed! You disobeyed your own instructions by providing a list!!!
“choose just one aspect of proposals as your favorite…No fair “waffling” and providing a list”