What I’m focused on is costs and prices: the costs of the various binding options for my book, and the implications of those costs for the price of said book. Continue reading“Cost + Markup = Price”
Best Practices
On-time delivery of compliant, responsive, persuasive proposals for RFPs requires advanced teamwork and best practices. Lessons for both can be found in many venues, not least military training. Continue reading“Best Practices”
Comma Chameleon
Project management talks about the triad of “cost, schedule, performance.” RFP responses must subordinate standards (performance) to schedule. That’s hardly unique to proposal management, but it takes on a particularly compelling aspect given the hard deadline nature of the work. As demanding as those deadlines seem, at least they offer an external voice that we all need sometimes. Continue reading“Comma Chameleon”
Ta Da!
Part of managing proposal teams – especially those with members who go from one RFP response to the next, without a significant break – is taking the time to celebrate the milestones, to acknowledge the accomplishments. Continue reading“Ta Da!”
Sharp Like Bowling Ball
I logged 56 hours this week. It’s been twelve days since I took a whole day off. I’m on top of my game.
Or not.
Yes, I know that some folks work like this routinely, but I can’t. If ever I could, at age 61 I can no longer.
On my breaks, I find that I have no idea what to do with my time. Having been absent from my life for what seems like forever, I no longer know what it should look like. It isn’t only a question of the time, of course, but also the intensity. Always working against a deadline, trying to respond Now when a writer needs help Right Now – it takes a toll.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tools for thee.
– John Donne, No Man is an Island
So here I am, slightly less than fully with it, hoping to recover enough today to be able to perform tomorrow.
There’s something wrong with this picture, but I can’t quite make it out.