How to love tendering

My last post was about opportunity cost, what's lost when you choose to do one thing over another basically.

Now I get why it's so vitally important to make those choices with your heart not your head. I am currently putting together a proposal for a really exciting small project in Cornwall. I am spending HOURS on it, literally. I'm doing what in my last post I was arguing against - giving the client everything in the tender.

But here's the thing. I'm enjoying it, loving it in fact, because I believe in the project, the client and I really want to do the work. Hey I'd probably do it for free if I had to!

What's also great is that I'm planning to collaborate with two people: one of whom is entirely new to me in a business sense and who is running her own small business creating beautiful illustrations. See her work on tumblr Millie Wilkins

I met Millie at a business training event and thought to myself, next opportunity that fits, I'm going to give her a shot. Hey presto! Within days this current tender came along and I was frantically trying to get hold of her contact info - Millie if you're reading this you need to make yourself more visible online!

And my other collaborator, nameless for now, will work with me on creating exciting short films and other exciting content.

What I've found is that when you actually genuinely want something it doesn't matter how much effort you put in. Now I realise that if I'd gone for those other contracts and maybe even been successful, I would have to say no to this one and another couple that have come up that I'm equally excited about.

Now all I have to do is win one of them!!

(PS, the image with this post is by Millie not me!)