The Proposal Guys Jon and BJ's proposal blog
  • Home
  • About
  • SP Website
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • SP Website
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

“There’s nothing in This Book I Meant to Say.”

3/24/2009

1 Comment

 
Posted by BJ
The title of this post sounds like something said to justify the quality, or lack thereof, of a proposal that had been produced in what Jon or I would term an “ad-hoc” manner. You know the type – no previous knowledge of the customer, the release of the RFP was a complete surprise, there wasn’t enough time, the necessary resources weren’t available, etc. As I said, you know the type.The title of this post is also the title of a delightful book by Paula Poundstone (one of my favorite comedians).Within the book, among the many great observations Paula brilliantly relates, I came across the following piece about Paula seeking help with a computer for one of her three children.​
​A teacher informed me that my daughter was eligible to receive some computer stuff through the school district. So, some guy from a place called the Computer Access Center called me to set up an appointment.Right away I said to him, “I really appreciate your help, but I need you to know I do not do computers. I know nothing about computers. I don’t even like computers. Please don’t ask me anything about what my child might need, because I simply don’t know.”He said he understood.We set up an appointment and I asked him for directions to the place.He said, “It’s on our website.”
​Jon and I often see responses within proposals that are very similar to this.
1 Comment
Jonathan H.
3/26/2016 02:23:25 am

Wait – so you’re saying that some people actually get RFP’s with previous knowledge of the customer, forewarning of the release, adequate time and resources, etc.?? Point me towards this Shangria-La!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Articles by Topic

    All
    APMP & Accreditation
    Interviews And The Panel
    Musings
    Processes & Best Practice
    Proposal Guys News
    Proposal Panda
    Proposal Training
    Purchasing Insights
    Word Play & Writing

    Authors

    BJ Lownie and Jon Williams are the co-founders of Strategic Proposals.

    Subscribe



    * Required fields

    SP News

    Strategic Proposals News

    RSS Feed

Picture
Website by Digital Media Design, Inc.