• To Whom do I Outsource? (Part 4 of 9 in Outsourcing Proposal Development)

    Now your work becomes much more difficult. Who is the right choice for outsourcing your complicated and important proposal? There are many sources out there for finding proposal consultants. The professional association for proposal development and &helli

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  • How to Outsource – and What to Outsource? (Part 3 of 9 in Outsourcing Proposal Development)

    If you have decided that you need to outsource some or all of your proposal development work, now you need to decide: What do I outsource? To whom? How do I structure the arrangement? How do … Continue reading How to Outsource – and What to O

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  • Compliance Review for Healthcare Proposals

    We are frequently asked to review our  client’s proposals for compliance with the request for proposal (RFP). It’s a detailed task – our reviewers have to look at every response and determine whether that response is compliant with &hell

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  • Impact – The power of intent

    What is worth doing if you don’t do it with intent and impact? My favorite quote, as said (in Spanish) by author Paulo Coelho, is “how many things do we lose for fear of losing?” Meh. … Continue reading Impact – The power of intent →

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 49

  • Integrity – When fantasy tries to become our reality

    It’s critical to me that I, and Optimetra, demonstrate integrity in everything we do. It’s often hard. Constantly changing requirements, imposed by institutions over which we have no control, make it difficult to keep up. Work … Continue reading In

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  • Judgment – One rule to rule them all

    As we were identifying and discussing our core values at Optimetra, it became very apparent that judgment would make or break any of the others. Curiosity without good judgment can be a waste of a client’s … Continue reading Judgment – One rule to

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 49

  • Stop Writing Manuals – Start Solving Problems

    The technical writing profession has been battered for several years – often perceived as a “nice-to-have” item with a product, rather than a “must-have”, product developers and manufacturers sometimes give short shrift to comprehensive and accurate

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 52

  • Creative uses for the Microsoft Surface tablet

    I use Windows 7 on my working laptop, and have been using Windows – and living in Microsoft Office Professional – for years. Yes, I do have an iPhone and and iPad. But if there was … Continue reading Creative uses for the Microsoft Surf

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 48

  • All together, or together separately?

    Recently, we heard about a company that plans to centralize its disparate proposal units into a single group. While such initiatives are not new in health care – we have seen centralization of claims, call centers, … Continue reading All toge

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 49

  • Corporate Introspection and the “Win Theme”

    When I interview people for jobs within our company, one of the questions I ask is “what do you do better than anyone else you know?” I do this for two reasons. First, I find out … Continue reading Corporate Introspection and the “

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 41

  • Preparing for “The Big One” – Apathy, Too Little-Too Late, or Meaningful Effort?

    Every few years, organizations who are incumbents for public sector health administration contracts are faced with “The Big One” – the must-win, central contract on which a majority or all of their revenue depends. We’ve seen &hell

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  • Where have all the donuts gone?

    Marissa Mayer’s recent call for Yahoo! employees to return to the office sparked a discussion with a colleague. In the early 80’s (!), when I worked for HP, there were twice-daily breaks with coffee, tea, and … Continue reading Wher

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 41

  • Passion – A Valuable Part of Every Engagement

    My passion for telling a story drives my love of proposal development. With a background in communications, I strive to help my clients tell their story in a way that demonstrates their core values and distinguishing … Continue reading Passion R

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 43

  • Thoughts on Integrity

    In its simplest form, the integrity of a person is shown through their actions when no one else is looking. A person’s true character is a reflection of every action taken or word spoken on a … Continue reading Thoughts on Integrity →

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 53

  • Communication – So Much More Than Just Words

    The value of communication is priceless. It is the basis of every type of relationship whether it be personal or professional. Good communication is essential to strong relationships, collaboration, and ultimately, to success. Without being willing &helli

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 42

  • Communication – The seatbelt for your chaotic ride

    Under the best of circumstances, proposal communications can be challenging. Communication can be especially challenging when working remotely with a large and diverse team of writers, subject matter experts, managers, and business development professiona

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 45

  • Integrity – How you treat people always matters

    When thinking about Optimetra’s core values, it’s our value of Integrity that resonates strongest with me. Sometimes, it’s hard to do the right thing or handle those tough conversations with compassion, but it is in those … Continue reading Integri

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 41

  • Teamwork – There is no I in teamwork

    One of the hallmarks of the Optimetra approach to proposal development is an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts (SMEs). While a team of proposal developers with extensive and complementary skills and experience may not be … Continue r

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 44

  • Curiosity – Who’s on first: the left or the right hand?

    I’ve always been curious about how things work and how the pieces of a complex organization work together toward a common goal. Wherever there are gaps, I like to propose creative strategies to fill those and … Continue reading Curiosity ̵

    2018-11-17 09:55 admin 39

  • Impact – It’s what we leave behind

    What I love most about doing business development is that it feeds my curiosity. I constantly seek to learn new subjects and apply my knowledge in new situations, and share the learning experience. Optimetra affords me … Continue reading Impact – I

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