I have a lovely day ahead of me today. Meeting one of a client's board of directors: it's great when the C-suite really starts taking notice of the benefits of proposal best practice. And this afternoon I'm working with two colleagues, Amanda and Andy, to put the finishing touches to the recordings for a new online training programme for another client.
But last Monday was more fun. More fun that proposals, I hear you cry? Well, centre court at Wimbledon takes some beating!
Two things stood out: first, seeing the great Serena Williams en route to the final, in a year when she was battling against a low seeding thanks to a points system that, disgracefully, doesn't recognise that women should be entitled to take maternity leave without being penalised in their career.
And then: the first set of Roger Federer's match againt Adrian Mannarino. Won by Federer. 6-0. In sixteen minutes. I've rarely seen such a demonstration of concentration and power on any sports pitch. As the demolition continued, other fans around me were hoping that the underdog might claim a game. Not me!
See, I recognised in that performance on the tennis court the same desire that characterises great proposal managers. Winning every game; wanting to score highest on every single section. Winning almost every point; wanting relentlessly to score highest on every single question. Recognising that merely 'good enough' isn't 'good enough' if you want to win: you have to tower above the competition.
But last Monday was more fun. More fun that proposals, I hear you cry? Well, centre court at Wimbledon takes some beating!
Two things stood out: first, seeing the great Serena Williams en route to the final, in a year when she was battling against a low seeding thanks to a points system that, disgracefully, doesn't recognise that women should be entitled to take maternity leave without being penalised in their career.
And then: the first set of Roger Federer's match againt Adrian Mannarino. Won by Federer. 6-0. In sixteen minutes. I've rarely seen such a demonstration of concentration and power on any sports pitch. As the demolition continued, other fans around me were hoping that the underdog might claim a game. Not me!
See, I recognised in that performance on the tennis court the same desire that characterises great proposal managers. Winning every game; wanting to score highest on every single section. Winning almost every point; wanting relentlessly to score highest on every single question. Recognising that merely 'good enough' isn't 'good enough' if you want to win: you have to tower above the competition.
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