Isabel Gibson - Proposals: Getting Started, Getting Better

Proposals:

Getting Started, Getting Better

Your Indispensable Guide to Surviving (and Thriving!) in Proposal Land

Isabel Gibson, MBA

I have been involved in procurement for almost 30 years and I have known and worked with Isabel Gibson over the last six years on a number of major proposal submissions. I can safely say that the content of this book is absolutely accurate and should be read and applied with diligence. Isabel is a consummate professional whose skills and knowledge go far beyond that of an editor. This book provides sage advice on all aspects of proposal/bid organization, training, schedule, needed resources, and commitment.

Ron Buck, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Canadian Navy

Having worked with Isabel on responding to some complicated and resource-intensive RFPs, one of the biggest challenges is aligning what the service provider thinks it is good at with what the client actually wants. Isabels organizational skills, clarity of vision, and ability to keep the team focused on deliverables all combine to deliver responsive RFPs. This book brings all these variables together in a concise and logical order.

Larry Sie, Vice President Asset Management, Revera Living

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Isabel on two very complex government-issued RFPs. Not only is she infused with humour in the face of such turgid documents, she is an excellent editor who can wade through the most complex texts and determine the essentials. There is no better person to write such a book. It will be well appreciated in Proposal Land, I have no doubt.

Carolyne Van Der Meer, once-proposal-editor and current public relations specialist

Isabel Gibson is one of the most sought-after proposal professionals/gurus in Canada today; the fact that she somehow found the time to compile her years of wisdom and expertise into a succinct document is a credit to her ability to manage her time and share her knowledge and leadership. A must-read if you want to be successful in todays world of crafting winning proposals.

Ian Hargrave, ATCO Group executive (retired)

As a recently retired senior officer from the GOC Department of National Defence, I was introduced to proposal writing and proposal management by Isabel Gibson. When I joined the private sector, I quickly learned, under Isabels mentorship, that creating proposals was both an art form and a science. Isabels understanding of what to look for in client requirements and how that needs to be translated into a proposal were valuable tools she imparted to all who worked with her. As an executive in the camp and support services industry with ATCO Structures & Logistics, I was directly involved in leading large proposals, and to this day, I lean heavily on the lessons and experience I gained from working with Isabel.

Gerry Walsh, Vice President International Operations (Retired), ATCO Structures and Logistics

Isabel Gibson taught me how to be a winning proposal manager.

In the heat of a proposal battle, Isabel always found a way to reduce team stress and create an atmosphere of cooperation and calm. She was particularly adept at preparing for executive reviews of a proposal, called Red Teams. She was able to rapidly familiarize the executives with key requirements and risk areas. In so doing, she was able to extract maximum value from the Red Team in a very short period.

I highly recommend Isabels guide, Proposals--Getting Started, Getting Better, both to those new at proposals and to those who have experience. I believe there is something there for everyone.

Sandy Taylor, MEng, Colonel (Rtd)

After retiring from the Canadian Forces, for a number of years I had the pleasure of participating in the preparation of numerous proposals under Isabels guidance. One is never too old or too wise to learn from a pro. This book is an easy read! For the inexperienced, it provides an invaluable leg up; for the experienced, it provides a memorable set of tips for upping their game and training new staff.

Michael T. Saker, Rear Admiral (retd), former Chief of Engineering and Maintenance, Canadian NDHQ

As a consultant for the past twenty years, I have worked on hundreds of proposals of all sizes. Many of my proposal responses over the years have been ten times as big as they should have been, and taken ten times the effort and frustration--because we didnt understand the RFP as well as we should have and we didnt keep it simple and answer what they wanted. Needless to say, those proposals never won.

Isabel is a great simplifier. She has an unparalleled ability to take very complex ideas and break them down into their essence. This skill is extremely useful while understanding an RFP and in responding to it. She has taken her ability to dissect and simplify, and given us an easy-to-use and enormously helpful guide to proposal responses. This book will be dog-eared and within reach for any future proposal work: to save myself time, anguish, and effort, and to increase my win rate. This will also be on my highly recommended list for all my clients who are starting their own businesses.

Melissa Creede, P.Eng, CPCC, Career; Leadership, and Executive Coach and Trainer; Sapis Insight

In Proposals: Getting Started, Getting Better, Isabel Gibson has created an invaluable guide. The key to Isabels impact and success in developing proposals has been the thinking behind the words, logic, and processes, and her brilliant sense of humour. This guide delivers structure, clarity and simplicity. Frankly, in this business of responding to an RFP or a proposal request, its true value is helping to transform the complex into something reasoned, smooth, and understandable. Without hesitation, I endorse Isabels work and this important guide.

Paul Trayner, President, SALT Consulting Group Inc.

Isabels Proposals: Getting Started, Getting Better is a must-have for every proposal coordinators desk. A proposal coordinators most important lessons are in this book, from understanding the RFP and just answering the question (ATQ), to managing the process and knowing ones limits.

I had the pleasure of attending one of Isabels proposal workshops and watching her masterfully articulate the process challenges I had unknowingly struggled with and against. Her book brings structure to a seemingly chaotic process, and her wit and voice of experience lend much-needed humour and sympathy to the sometimes hard reality of living in Proposal Land. I may need two copies--one for me and one to lend out.

Christina Mate, Proposal Writer and Editor

Isabel manages to excel at both assessing the big picture and attending to minute details. Her excellent communication skills and her ability to discern how best to present a topic to ensure that others understand it allow her to convey a complex or subtle idea in just the right way for any particular audience. While most proposal team members attended to only their own discrete contribution, Isabel tracked the entire project to ensure that the final product was a coherent document that was as well written and compelling, in both content and style, as a proposal can be. Isabel is the ideal mentor, manager, and team player.