Category: Advice

Using confidence to lead

I started working proposals for a small business directly out of graduate school with no knowledge of federal contracting and about 3 hours of on-the-job-training. Increasing the pressure, 4 months… Continue reading Using confidence to lead

Learning about brain syncing with SMEs from Instructional Design

Interviewing SMEs for course design has several parallels with interviewing SMEs for proposal content. Course designers and proposal writers are usually content neutral, and both designers and writers need enough… Continue reading Learning about brain syncing with SMEs from Instructional Design

Capture and proposal innovations: activate your listening campaign

What do customers really want? As capture and proposal professionals, that question haunts us. We work very hard to understand customer hot buttons and craft our solution accordingly. However, too… Continue reading Capture and proposal innovations: activate your listening campaign

5 ways to give thanks (without saying it)

I had to chuckle at one of my favorite Mad Men episodes, The Suitcase. Peggy is miffed because Don is not being a thankful boss. Don: It’s your job. I give you… Continue reading 5 ways to give thanks (without saying it)

Implementing healthier choices into our proposal development environments

The federal proposal development environment is not conducive to good health; we often experience lack of sleep, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. We diminish our cardiovascular capabilities day-by-day, sitting in… Continue reading Implementing healthier choices into our proposal development environments

Improving the quality of proposal content with a writing model – Part 1

Proposal managers are frequently faced with the challenge of proposal resources who can’t write well. We are often assigned technical resources with a reputation for poor writing and new resources… Continue reading Improving the quality of proposal content with a writing model – Part 1

Q&A Part 4 from The end of the incumbent empire – 10 ways to unseat the incumbent

In the past several years, incumbents have lost their advantage in the Federal Government market. Industry studies show that incumbent contractors now have approximately the same win rate on rebids… Continue reading Q&A Part 4 from The end of the incumbent empire – 10 ways to unseat the incumbent

20 ways to reduce B&P costs and still win

Many companies have experienced flat or declining sales in the prior year and, consequently, are dealing with reduced bid and proposal (B&P) budgets this year. This begs the question, can… Continue reading 20 ways to reduce B&P costs and still win

Q&A Part 3 from The end of the incumbent empire – 10 ways to unseat the incumbent

In the past several years, incumbents have lost their advantage in the Federal Government market. Industry studies show that incumbent contractors now have approximately the same win rate on rebids… Continue reading Q&A Part 3 from The end of the incumbent empire – 10 ways to unseat the incumbent

APMP releases new Body of Knowledge (BOK) – Lohfeld Consulting Group staff contributions

APMP International just released its new APMP Body of Knowledge (BOK) to its members. Per APMP: [The APMP BOK gives] you instant access to the most comprehensive, diverse representation of… Continue reading APMP releases new Body of Knowledge (BOK) – Lohfeld Consulting Group staff contributions