From the Blog:
4 Lessons We’ve Learned In 4 Years
August 22, 2022, Once Upon an RFP turns four years old. Since 2018, we’ve blossomed from a one-woman operation to a rapidly growing team of proposal consultants, communications coordinators, marketing specialists, operations gurus, and program managers.
Lay the Foundation with Small Business Toolkit
Small Business Toolkit (SMB Toolkit) is the one-stop-shop for businesses that work with Government and Big Corporate.
Designed for solopreneurs, SMB Toolkit will take you from chaos to done. We offer services ranging from anchoring established businesses to a complete overhaul for your brand and company.
Writing Tips: Maximizing Readability
Maximizing readability consists of helping your readers find and comprehend information efficiently. Whether writing blogs or responding to bids, it is crucial to keep your readers in mind and adjust accordingly.
Ask an RFP Pro: What Is Procurement?
RFPs and bidding processes are lucrative options for small business owners seeking stability. But first, what is procurement, and how can these processes help small businesses?
From Chaos to Done: Transform Your Business
Want to take your laundry list of to-dos from chaos to done? We offer comprehensive support for RFPs, proposal professional training, and business certifications.
Networking for Social Moths
If you’re not quite a social butterfly, you might be a social moth instead.
The business world expects entrepreneurs and working professionals to exude confidence and charisma. Being anxious, shy, and introverted is too often looked down upon. However, we can actually leverage anxiety, shyness, and introversion to create meaningful, affirming connections.
Balance and Joy Part 2: Finding Your Joy
Finding joy in your profession is the key to long-term success. But what happens when you lose sight of your priorities or dread each workday?
Proposal Myths and Where They Go Wrong
Proposal myths are rampant in the industry. From misunderstanding compliance to overestimating pricing, let’s set the record straight.
Diverse Certifications: They’re not just for government contractors
Why should small businesses invest in diverse certifications?
Wait a Minute- Is it “A RFP” or “An RFP”?
This is a common question we receive, so we thought we should address it and end the confusion once and for all!
Balance and Joy Part 1: The Balancing Act
Amid burnout, overwhelm, and frustration, it can feel impossible to find balance. In this instance, it is vital to take a step back and assess where you might be experiencing an imbalance.
Lights, Camera, Action! – Make Remote Work Work For You – Part 4
Whether you are interviewing via Zoom or conducting virtual client meetings, your background, lighting, and camera angles can affect how others in your meeting perceive you. In the before times, how we dressed or styled our hair changed others’ perceptions. In present times, our virtual setup can have a similar effect.
Take Care of Yourself – Make Remote Work Work For You – Part 3
It’s all too easy to create an unproductive work environment while working from the comfort of your own home. A little self-care and a workspace free from distractions will boost productivity and enhance your remote work experience.
Stay Connected – Make Remote Work Work For You – Part 2
Working from home can be isolating. Long days without human interaction can make you feel lonely, frustrated, and uninspired. We’ve compiled ways to boost interaction and productivity to combat isolation.
Stick to a Schedule – Make Remote Work Work For You – Part 1
With remote work comes much more freedom than in-office work. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a consultant, or a full-time employee, staying on track with tasks and deadlines can be difficult.
The Great Resignation: 5 Strategies to Fix Your Proposal Talent Crisis
“The Great Resignation” has been a thing for a while now. We think it’s time to call it what it is: a talent crisis. It impacts every industry, including proposals, and there’s more than one cause.
11 Gifts for the Proposal Writer In Your Life
Whether for holidays, birthdays, or as a thank you, here is a list of gifts to surprise and delight the proposal writer in your life!
What is a Signature Proposal?
If you are a small business owner looking to grow your client portfolio, a Signature Proposal might be the best next step in your business process. But what is it?
Potatoes Wedges Oven Ready: There’s an RFx for Everything
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.
Ask an RFP Pro: Why Are Proposal Services so Expensive?
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.
The Ideal Proposal Consultant
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.
The Proposal Bystander Effect
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.
Winning the Business Article Feature: Is Your Career Fragile or Agile?
“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.”
Scribble Talk – Episode 107 – Caryn Kent Dean
“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.”
Proposal.Works Podcast – Strategy vs. Spaghetti: Why Strategy Always Wins
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.
Tips for Beating Writer’s Block: Proposal Edition
Writer’s block strikes at the most inopportune times. In a field governed by compliance and stringent deadlines, there’s no time to be struck down by writer’s block when you’re writing a proposal. Here are our top tips to keep your project on track.
Proposal Managers: Mitigating Risk
When pursuing a bid opportunity, it is of the utmost importance to plan – for everything.
How to Craft a Rockstar Resume
How do you land an interview for your dream job? Build a rockstar resume.
Why should small businesses respond to public sector RFPs?
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.
Are you in love with your Proposal Content Library?
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?