Month: September 2017

Lessons from the Real World 3: Applying Business Examples to Opportunity Development

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NOTE: This post is the third and final in a series of three posts expanding on ideas in a recent webinar I conducted for the APMP California chapter with the same title.

be known for something

When you are known for something, you create a better connection with the customer and increase satisfaction. Companies look to build solid reputations based on an area of expertise. Many companies have great reputations based on what they do well. For example, Honda makes a lot of products, including cars, trucks, lawn mowers, and more. But if you ask Honda, they really want to be known for high-quality engines.

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Lessons from the Real World 2: Applying Business Examples to Opportunity Development

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NOTE: This post is the second in a series of three posts expanding on ideas in a recent webinar I conducted for the APMP California chapter with the same title.

customized standardization

In today’s fast-paced world, being able to provide high-quality, repeatable processes can be the difference between success and failure. Nowhere has that trend seen greater resonance than in dining. People, especially millennials, are abandoning both ends of the spectrum (fast food and traditional sit-down dining) in favor of “fast casual” establishments. Firms like Roti and Chipotle have benefited from filling this space.

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How Humanities Graduates Excel at Communications

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In anticipation of the release of my upcoming book The Well-Rounded Professional: Translating Humanities Skills to Career Success, I am writing blog posts about four of the critical skills developed in a humanities education. This week, I look at what might be the most obvious skill: written and verbal communications.

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Lessons from the Real World 1: Applying Business Examples to Opportunity Development

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NOTE: This post is the first in a series of three posts expanding on ideas in a recent webinar I conducted for the APMP California chapter with the same title.

Many people working in proposals think proposal development has little if anything in common with other professions. How often, for example, do you feel at a loss trying to explain your job? I know when people ask me what I do, I always struggle for a simple, easily understood answer. I usually end up saying I help companies try to win business with the Government, which usually generates a response of, “oh, so you’re in sales” (which is another post altogether!).

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Churchill and Orwell: A Review

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I know this is a departure from my normal blog content, but I felt I needed to post a review of a book I just finished. George Orwell is my favorite writer. Every year I re-read Animal Farm (usually in a day or so) and 1984 gets re-read every 2 or 3 years. And anyone who attended my Ignite Talk at the 2017 APMP International Bid and Proposal Conference knows about my adoration of Winston Churchill.

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Being a Well Rounded Professional

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As many of you know, I have a non-traditional background for someone engaged in senior management in business. When people find out that I have a PhD in history, they respond with either (or both) of the following reactions:

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Lessons from the Real World – Webinar Notes

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On 30 August I had the pleasure of delivering a webinar for the APMP California chapter entitled, “Lessons from the Real World: Applying Business Examples to Opportunity Development.” I plan to write a couple of blog posts later in September that detail what I presented. Those posts will build on the main theme – that capture and proposal professionals can learn from a wide range of industries and business leaders to improve how we do our job. Below, I provide some links to things discussed in the presentation.

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