If you are a small business owner looking to grow your client portfolio, a Signature Services Proposal might be the best next step in your business process. But what is it? ​

We at Once Upon an RFP often like to joke that RFPs covertly run the world. They really are the best kept secret. Billions of taxpayer dollars filter through procurement processes and result in the exchange of goods and services. ​

As a small business owner, you likely understand what it means to wear many hats and that your unique set of competencies are what drives clients towards your specific business.

Are you searching for a proposal consultant or simply interested in becoming one? What makes a good proposal consultant? In short, the ideal proposal consultant combines their expertise with the following 4 traits to provide high-quality deliverables to their clients.

Are you having trouble engaging SMEs or struggling to assign tasks to disinterested team members? Are you missing project milestones? You may be a victim of the proposal bystander effect.

“Agile is defined as “quick and well-coordinated in movement” and “marked by an ability to think quickly.” How, then, do we become agile in our careers and finances? We can expand our options by exploring what it takes to become a consultant using the skills we have mastered in proposal management.”

“For 23 years Caryn Kent Dean has worked as a proposal writer and manager for corporate and government bid opportunities. She has been a proud member of the APMP for six years and supports the APMP Greater Midwest Chapter as a chair for the consultants virtual networking group.”

Thank you so much to the Proposal.Works Podcast for bringing on Once Upon an RFP founder Caryn Kent Dean to discuss the importance of strategy and why strategic business and proposal management always triumphs over chaos.

Building your business and stabilizing your revenue may seem like a daunting task. Responding to public sector RFPs offers you the chance to gain experience while leveraging your position as a small business.

Does your organization have a Proposal Content Library?

If so, does it have the information that you need when you need it?

Is it formatted consistently to play nicely with and flow into your templates?

Do you have a team that nurtures it?

Does it reflect how amazing your organization is?

Does it help you win business?

RFPs in focus: defining winning. Winning is ubiquitous in business talk. And we hear it in so many different contexts. When you’re in the trenches

Last week Caryn Kent Dean, founder of Once Upon an RFP, attended the Association of Proposal Management Professionals Greater Midwest Chapter (APMP-GMC) Symposium in Chicago.

Welcome to the Once Upon an RFP Blog! We are so happy to have you here.