The profundity of Tay Tay
By Frosanna Kelso, Tender Specialist, Sydney
As a multi-Grammy award winner, Taylor Swift’s songwriting prowess is undisputed. There is a Taylor Swift song (or lyric) to help you through every situation in life, including tendering.
In honour of Taylor’s lucky number, here are 13 Taylor Swift lyrics to guide you through the messy world of tendering.
1. “NEVER BE SO CLEVER, YOU FORGET TO BE KIND” marjorie, evermore
Kindness wins every time; create a positive environment and better tender response by being kind. (Kindness and empathy win every time: tendering essentials)
2. “ARE YOU READY FOR IT” ...Ready For It?, Reputation
Make sure you are win-ready – increase your chances of success by planning and preparing before the tender is released. A great way to do this is with a tender library. (How to build a tender library)
3. “SOMETIMES WALKING OUT IS THE ONE THING, THAT WILL FIND YOU THE RIGHT THING” it’s time to go, evermore (Deluxe edition)
Sometimes it is strategically better not to tender. Before committing to the tendering process, verify if your tender will be positioned to win. (When No-Go is the Go)
4. “I AM AN ARCHITECT, I'M DRAWING UP THE PLANS” I Think He Knows, Lover
Establish a solid plan from the outset – tendering is a marathon, not a sprint, so plan for it. (Tendering. It's a marathon, not a sprint.)
5. “STRATEGY SETS THE SCENE FOR THE TALE” Mastermind, Midnights
A strong tender is underpinned by a strategy that evolves across the tender process and continuously considers the key audience (the client) and the competition. Play the wrong strategy and your torch will be snuffed. (Will your torch get snuffed?)
6. “I WANNA BE YOUR A-TEAM” End Game, Reputation
Successful tendering is a team effort so make sure you have the A-team. (Relationships win work: 5 steps to build your tender dream team)
7. “I WON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS” betty, folklore
Don’t make assumptions; seek clarification from the client when you are unsure, and always answer the question asked. (Please, answer the question posed.)
8. "THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS" peace, folklore
The difference between success and failure is often as simple as just paying attention to detail. A style guide will help with this. (It’s all a matter of style)
9. “SHE NEEDED COLD HARD PROOF, SO I GIVE HER SOME” Vigilante Shit, Midnights
Support your tender submission with cold hard proof. Testimonials and case studies are a great way to do this.
10. “THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS BLACK AND WHITE, BUT WE WERE IN SCREAMING COLOR" Out Of The Woods, 1989 (Taylor's Version)
Graphics are a powerful tool that can make tenders stand out in screaming colour. (Stand out from the crowd: A Graphic Designer's perspective on bids)
11. “BREATHE IN, BREATHE THROUGH, BREATHE DEEP, BREATHE OUT” Labyrinth, Midnights
When you feel overwhelmed by the tender process, remember breath in, breath through, breath deep and breathe out, and then carry on tendering. (Keep calm and carry on tendering)
12. “I CHECK IT ONCE, THEN I CHECK IT TWICE” Look What You Made Me Do, Reputation
Always review your tender submission. A structured review process will ensure you produce the highest quality tender submission possible, one that is both compliant and compelling. (The ‘A’ that haunts me to this day)
13. “LET'S CONSIDER THIS LESSON LEARNED” Girl At Home, Red (Taylor’s Version)
If your submission isn’t successful, treat it is as a learning opportunity – seek feedback and identify areas that need refining. (Run from it or learn from it.)
