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Overcomplicating ideas isn't just poor communication - it's often a sign of insecurity or incomplete understanding. True experts make things simple. Controversial? I don't think so. Here's a quick story that formed my perspective on this... I once bombed a training class. Badly. There I was, standing in front of a room full of users, attempting to teach a new software application. I struggled, I stuttered, and despite the audience's supportive looks, we all knew I was floundering. The issue wasn't just lack of preparation – I simply didn't know my topic well enough to communicate it simply. And in that moment, I realized: my overcomplication was masking my own insecurity and incomplete understanding. Any experience with this? You're confident in your knowledge, but when explaining to others, you lose your audience with convoluted information. My attempts to fix the situation - sharing technical details, speeding through explanations, repeating points - only made things worse. The experience was humbling and the lesson I learned that day crystallized my thinking: true expertise is revealed through simplicity. ----How I turn complex ideas into clear, digestible concepts--- ? Master your material beyond surface level ? Don't just know it – understand it so well you can explain it to a 5-year-old. This depth allows you to adapt your explanation on the fly. ? Know your audience's perspective ? What's their background? What do they already know? Tailor your explanation to bridge the gap between their knowledge and the new information. ? Start with the 'why' before the 'how' ? People engage better when they understand the purpose. Frame the complex idea within its larger context and importance. ? Use relatable analogies and metaphors ? Compare the complex idea to something familiar. I once explained a database system by relating it to a well-organized file cabinet with labeled file folders. ? Break information into manageable chunks ? Don't overwhelm with a firehose of information. Present bite-sized pieces, allowing time for questions and processing. ?Practice the "Beginner's Mind" approach ? Forget what you know and approach the topic as if you're learning it for the first time. This helps you identify and address potential confusion points. Mastering these techniques transformed my communication and training approach. The ability to communicate simply is the difference between an idea that falls flat and one that inspires action and innovation. Bottom line: if you can't explain it simply, you might not understand it as well as you think. Think about a time when you struggled to explain something you thought you knew well. Was it possible that your complex explanation was hiding gaps in your own understanding? ---- Acknowledging Matt Abrahams for this fantastic graphic!

I used to struggle with getting my tech projects approved until I learned to present their benefits as an irresistible offer. ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????????? - ?????? ??????????: Using data means you're 23 times more likely to get customers, 6 times as likely to retain them, 19 times as likely to be deliver a profitable result. (McKinsey) - ???????? ????????: Top teams - who finish >80% of their projects on time, on budget, and meeting original goals - are 2.5 times more likely to use quantitative management techniques. (PMI) - ?????????? ????????????????????: Clear numbers and ROI make 60% of stakeholders more confident, leading to faster approvals and more robust support throughout the project lifecycle. (Gartner) What steps are you taking to demonstrate the value of your tech project? I've got a 5-step plan that'll make your project impossible to refuse. ??. ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?? What makes your project shine? List every benefit. Increased revenue? Cost savings? Improved efficiency? Group these gems into clear categories. ??. ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ?? Collect data that will make your pitch rock-solid. Internal reports, market trends, industry benchmarks - get it all. Relevant, fresh data is your best friend. ??. ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?? Time to flex those analytical muscles. ROI, NPV, payback period - calculate it all. Solid financials turn skeptics into believers. ??. ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ??? Every great plan needs a reality check. What could derail your project? List potential risks. Then, craft strategies to neutralize each one. ??. ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?? Package your project in a compelling presentation. Use clear visuals and concise explanations. Make it so convincing, they'll wonder how they ever lived without it. ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????: - It transforms your tech vision into a business essential. - It shows you've considered every angle and potential hurdle. - It gives decision-makers the hard data they need. In the world of project approvals, vague ideas are like trying to pay with Monopoly money. But a well-prepared, data-driven proposal is gold. What's your top tip for creating an irresistible project proposal? Share your wisdom below!

I had an interesting coaching call this morning. With a client who's building his first retainer. In 30 minutes, we walked through the pieces ???? Anytime you're building out a retainer offer for a new - or existing client - it's important you include these elements in a proposal: 1. Payment terms - I would always push for 'Net 0' - payment is due at the first of the month for the upcoming month (upon invoice receipt) - and not go anything past Net 30 at the most. Net 60 and Net 90(!) are absolute insanity. You run the risk of never being paid at all in those scenarios. 2. Preferred communication methods - Outline how you'd prefer to communicate - email, Slack, etc. - so that it's crystal clear. Be willing to negotiate here so you get aligned with your client. If you don't set this expectation, you'll have to conform to what your client wants, which can lead to frustration from both parties. 3. Review cycles - To ensure there aren't 'too many cooks in the kitchen,' it's essential to establish the number of review cycles you'd prefer and who the reviewers will be for each content piece you develop. 3. 'Out of Scope' rate- You should clearly outline the scope of the retainer—whether that's a set number of hours per month or a specific package of deliverables—and also what's out of scope, not only in terms of the work but also what you charge per hour to do work outside of scope. 4. A 'wind down' clause - This one has bit me in the past, so I recommend that everyone include it. The wind-down clause outlines what you expect should the client choose to end your working relationship. Typically, that would be something like 30 days written notice and a final month's payment, so you have plenty of time to replace the lost income, turn over any remaining items due, etc. Most importantly, provide three pricing options in your proposal: 1. Entry - an entry package at a low price point 2. Standard - the one your client is most likely to pick - your typical service level for the money you'd like to earn on the retainer 3. Premium - a high-end option that secures more of your time and offers more deliverables, more available hours, etc. Ok, there you go. Now go write some retainer proposals and get your long-time transactional clients OFF THE TREADMILL. What else do y'all add to your retainer proposals? Tell me about it in the comments below. --- ?? Hi y'all, I'm Kris. ?? A former startup guy who now runs a successful content studio. ?? Building my business has been hard. I want it to be easier for you. ?? To learn how I work more closely with clients, check out the links I share in the comments of these posts and the Featured Section of my profile.

3 Mistakes I Made when Asking for Funding As a faculty member, I'm no stranger to the challenge of writing grant proposals — an integral part of securing support for my research group’s activities. The process is intricate and fraught with potential missteps. Through the years, there have been lessons learned from the challenges I've encountered along the way. Here are three top mistakes that I've identified: 1. Tell a Clear Story: Be sure it’s easy to understand what problem you’re trying to solve and why it's a big deal! When you ask for funding, you need to be super clear about what you’re planning to do and why it matters. Think of it like telling a story where you want to solve a problem. Keep your story simple at the beginning and then go into more details later. Make sure anyone can understand what you want to do, how you will do it, and how long it will take. You wouldn't want the program managers or the reviewers to get lost or confused! 2. Go Easy on the Fancy Words: Avoid using too much "insider language" that might confuse people. It's great to know all the special words that relate to your project, but using too many of these words can make things really complicated for someone who doesn't know about your work. You want everyone, even people who aren't experts in your field, to get what you’re saying. So, use simple language as much as possible, and if you have to use special terms, make sure to explain them. Your goal is to make it easy for everyone to understand your plan and goals. 3. Keep Promises Real: Don't make huge promises you can't keep! It’s exciting to think about all the amazing things your project could do. But be careful not to make promises that are too big or impossible to keep. If you tell people you can do more than you actually can, they might not believe you can do any of it. What you should do instead is tell them about the real things you can achieve with the right amount of funding and time, and show them that you’ve really thought things through. To wrap it up, when you're writing to ask for funding, remember these three tips: tell a simple and clear story, don't confuse people with too much fancy talk, and don’t make promises you can't deliver on. Do this, and the people with the funding will see that your project is worth investing in because they’ll understand your vision and believe in your plans! And what about you? What mistakes have you seen in writing funding proposals? #engineering?#science?#research?#security?#graduateschool?#graduatestudent? #mtvconsortium #phd #phdstudent Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences—University of Michigan University of Michigan College of Engineering

I analyzed 20 successful pitches that have gotten our clients into publications such as The New York Times, WIRED, TechCrunch, and Forbes. Here’s what I found: Landing top-tier coverage is about ruthless efficiency in answering three core questions upfront: 1. Nail the Value Proposition (Answer: "What's in it for their audience?") Crystal Clear Offer: interview, data, exclusive, op-ed. Examples: "May I forward [NAME]’s exclusive article on how overlooked bathroom accessibility is quietly impacting restaurant profitability?” (Modern Restaurant Management). Audience-Centric Angle: Frame the story around the publication's readers, not your client's news. Examples: “How employers like Coca-Cola and CVS are using credit-building tools to support underserved workers—and why it’s the new frontier in employee benefits” (Employee Benefits News). 2. Establish Immediate Credibility (Answer: "Why listen to this source?") Signal Authority: Clearly state the source's relevant expertise, title, or company. Example: “[CLIENT NAME] was the youngest [INDUSTRY] founder to raise VC at 18, a Thiel Fellow, and a Forbes 30U30 honoree” (CNN, Forbes). Show, Don't Tell: Use specific proof points–funding amounts, user numbers, notable clients/investors, past awards. Examples: “Over 50,000 users and $41M in payments processed” (Business Insider). Leverage Validation: Mentioning previous high-profile media hits or partners adds weight. Example: “He’s previously been quoted in Reuters, Bloomberg, and CNBC on high-profile trademark cases” (TechCrunch). 3. Demonstrate Urgent Relevance (Answer: "Why now and why me?") Timeliness Hooks: Connect to breaking news, current events, trends, data releases, or awareness weeks. Example: “Neuralink filed a trademark for ‘TELEPATHY’ yesterday—here’s what it could mean for brain-computer interfaces” (WIRED). Laser-Focused Targeting: Show you understand the journalist's beat and the publication's focus. Example: “I know you’re all over the EU startup scene, so I wanted to offer you an exclusive on [CLIENT NAME] atom-by-atom printer” (TechCrunch). Brevity & Clarity: Deliver the core message quickly and make the call-to-action easy. Short paragraphs, clear language, direct asks, etc. Example: Ending with a simple question like “May I forward the article?” or “Interested in speaking?” Here’s a checklist that puts it all together: ? Value Proposition Clear? (Offer + Audience Focus + Assets?) ? Credibility Established? (Authority + Proof + Validation?) ? Relevance Obvious? (Timeliness + Targeting + Clarity?) Questions? Ask me in the comments section ??

??Tips for writing a winning GRANT PROPOSAL ?? Grant writing can feel overwhelming, but it is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Phenny A. Omondi, MSc, and I began writing grant proposals during our undergraduate days at Universidad EARTH. Over the years, we’ve secured funding from organizations like the Mastercard Foundation, Wege Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Changes for Humanity, etc. to support the operations of a community-based organization we founded in Kenya (Kilimo Jijini). When I started graduate school, I further polished my grant writing skills by enrolling in a transformative 3-credit Grant Writing course taught by Dr. Jaret Daniels, and since then together with my advisor, we have submitted small and huge grant proposals worth millions of dollars to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), etc. Here are some key lessons I’ve learned along the way: 1. Start early Give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, and revise. Rushed proposals often lack polish and clarity. 2. Know your audience Research the funding agency’s mission, priorities, and target outcomes. Align your goals with their vision. 3. Focus on impact Clearly state how your research will address a problem and make a meaningful difference. Highlight real-world applications. 4. Tell a compelling story Proposals aren’t just data - they’re narratives. Make your introduction engaging and persuasive. Show passion for your work. 5. Define clear objectives Be specific about what you want to achieve and how you’ll measure success. Funders want results, not vague ideas. 6. Plan a realistic budget Outline costs with transparency and accuracy. Avoid overestimating but don’t undersell what you need to succeed. 7. Highlight your team’s expertise Funders invest in people as much as ideas. Showcase your team’s qualifications and past successes. And how that adds value to your idea. 8. Provide a timeline Break down your project into phases with deadlines. A clear timeline shows you’ve thought through the process 9. Proofread and seek feedback Ask mentors or colleagues to review your draft. They can spot weaknesses and suggest improvements you may have missed. 10. Follow instructions Carefully read and follow the funding agency’s guidelines. Missing a formatting detail or word limit can disqualify your proposal. ?? What’s your experience with grant writing? Repost ?? to help someone else! #GrantWritingTips #ResearchFunding #AcademicSuccess #Mentorship #STEMResearch #WomenInSTEM #ResearchProposals University of Florida

Architects: Stop treating proposals like contracts. The fastest ways to lose a client? Send them a 15-page proposal packed with legal terms before they’ve even said “yes.” I used to do this. I thought if I sent a comprehensive document upfront, it would show how professional I was. It didn’t. It overwhelmed people. It gave them more to question. Your proposal should be used as a selling tool, not a legal document. It should do two things: 01 // Get the client excited 02 // Make it easy to say “yes” That’s it. Keep it simple: - A short summary of outcomes - Proof you can do it - Options for working with you - An invitation to move forward That’s it. You can send the formal contract after they’ve agreed to move ahead.

I am currently supporting a contract doing merit reviews of grant proposals for economic development programs. It has reinforced my practices of strategically designing proposal documents and narrative to make it easy on the reviewer. The proposals are all over the ?? Part of the problem is the government’s instructions don’t align easily with the evaluation criteria, which has every proposal just a bit different and results in the reviewers hunting all over the application documents to find the information we need to score them. It is painful, tedious, and incredibly inefficient. (BTW – I wrote the proposal that won this work, never thinking I would have to be part of the implementation team.) Here are my takeaways. ?Zero in on evaluation factors, particularly if the instructions are minimal and/or they don’t align well with the evaluation criteria. ?If the evaluation criteria calls out specifics, make sure the reviewer can find them easily, and I don’t mean buried in an endless paragraphs and bolded. Put it up front or in a call out. ?Don’t provide extraneous information that you think is cool. You are just wasting space, distracting the reviewer, and clogging the information pipeline. ?Don’t make assumptions about anything. You have no idea who is going to be reviewing and scoring, so speak to the novice and the expert. ?You can’t always assume the reviewer is seeing your other submission documents, either. So, make sure each volume directly addresses it’s specific requirements and evaluation factors, including context as needed and space allows. ?Last, structure your paragraphs strategically, assuming the reviewer isn’t going to read every word. Put the information most important to the reviewer first, then explain your how and why. ??Remember you want to make it as easy as possible to find the information they need and articulate their justifications for their scores. Be reviewer friendly. ++++++++ This is exactly what Writing is Easy does. We help make your responses easier to read and score, through carefully crafted language and document design.

How I landed a new client with a killer proposal: When I first started freelancing, I had no idea that I had to send out proposals. Let alone what a proposal entailed. Now I’m landing clients thanks to loads of research and doing courses like Eman Ismail’s Like a Boss. A proposal is all about creating a document that sells you. If you’re winging it (like I was) or relying on your natural charm, let me save you some time (and potential lost clients). ??. ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? You’re not just listing services. You’re selling yourself and addressing every potential objection before it even comes up. Think of it as your highlight reel: ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????: ? ????????: What’s the client struggling with? ? ??????????????????: Why does it matter? ? ????????????????: How you’ll fix it. ? ??????????????: What success looks like. ???????? ???? ??????????????: ? Introduction (brief but punchy: who are you and why should they care?) ? Project scope (clear deliverables = no future headaches) ? Your process (show them you’ve got a plan) ? Client expectations (set boundaries kindly, but firmly) ? Timeline (when you’ll deliver, and when they need to deliver their part) ? Pricing and options (tiers and upsells. Make it hard for them to say no) ? Guarantees (if you offer one, flaunt it) ? Next steps (e.g., “Sign here, pay the invoice, and we’re off!”) ??. ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ????’?? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? Even if you’ve already had a great chat with the client, write the proposal assuming they’ll forward it to someone who knows nothing about you. This keeps it simple, clear, and persuasive for any decision-maker. ? Sprinkle in testimonials or a mini case study for credibility. ? Offer 2-3 pricing tiers so their options are between you, you, and you. ? Build a reusable template you can tweak for future proposals. Efficiency is your friend. ??. ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? A good proposal doesn’t just sell, it also creates urgency. Keep the momentum going with these steps: ? ?????? ???????????????????????? ??????????: Tell your prospect when they’ll receive the proposal and stick to it. ? ?????? ???? ???????????? ????????: I recommend 7 days. Mention it in the proposal and your follow-ups. Urgency drives action. ? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????????????: As the expiry date nears, send polite but confident reminders, such as: “Hey, just a heads-up, this offer expires in two days!” ? ???????? ???? ?? ????????: Clarify any in-depth questions on a call to avoid playing email tag. A killer proposal is part strategy, part psychology, and part presentation. Once you nail all three, you’ll be landing the kind of clients you’re actually excited to work with.?

Proposals to do work for a company would be more successful if the company bidding on them viewed them as akin to marriage proposals. Hang with me on this. Goal 1: When one proposes, one hopes (I assume) that the person to whom they're proposing will stay with them long-term. The same should be true of a client; as we all know, it's much less expensive to keep current clients than obtain new ones. Goal 2: Ensure the person to whom you're proposing thinks you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Goal 3: Show (not tell) that person how much you care. Let's unpack these goals. Goal 1: How do you ensure someone stays with you long-term? Solution: Focus on their issues, instead of focusing on yourself and/or your organization. ? In terms of proposals, I've seen thousands fail, often because the focus is wrong. Let's be honest: people care about themselves, not you or your organization. The truth: Nobody cares about you and your organization. What can you do or say that will put the focus on the reader? >> Goal 2: Ensure the person to whom you're proposing thinks you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. This may sound contradictory to goal 1, but hear me out: I can make you believe that I'm greatest thing since sliced bread IF and only IF I focus on your issues AND how I can solve them. Solution: Present your solution as a partner in terms of providing a solution, rather than as a vendor or someone who's primary goal is to get them to buy. ? If you start with a memoir, your proposal's going in the trash. ? >> Goal 3: Show, don't tell. ? Yes, you can tell your beloved you cherish them, you love them, blah, blah, blah. But showing them is a different story. Whether it's flowers for no reason, cleaning the house or doing the laundry without being asked, that's showing. Yet, many proposals simply list off achievements without showing *WHY* the information matters. Consider this: "We saved Company X $15,000." Here's the issue: maybe $15,000 is a lot to that company or maybe it's not. What did the $15,000 savings allow them to do? Could they reallocate the money to more profitable endeavors? ? And while it might look impressive, it's not enough. ? >> Solution: Be specific and provide the "why" it matters. ? What will resonate instead is detail: - What steps did you take to solve the problem? - How does that relate to your potential client's situation? - What does that say about your problem-solving process? ? If you've researched your potential client, you should have a good sense of the details they'll care about. Make sure you include them. ? The common thread among these 3 problems: ? Your proposal isn't meeting your reader's needs – ? Which is no way to win their confidence. ? Or their business. ? P.S. What's the hardest part of writing proposals for you? ? Tell me in the comments – I bet I can help.