tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64131917751017885922011-07-31T05:56:30.043+01:00Aligned Solutions BlogAligned Solutions Ltd is one of the leading bid writing training companies. We also provide bid mentoring, consultancy support, project management and strategic planning skills to businesses in the UK and USA. Our innovative on-line bid writing workspaces are helping dozens of companies overcome the challenge of writing the winning bid. See our new website at www.alignedsolutions.co.ukDavid Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-3914057554580899532009-09-11T14:54:00.008+01:002009-09-11T15:25:14.702+01:00Dirty TricksThe article shown at dirty tricks is a very sad reflection on today's business environment. Although this story comes from the USA, we have had experiences of similar misfortune in the UK. Over the years, we have helped clients who have had their money stolen, websites stolen, domain name ownership stolen (that happens a lot - do you really own yours?) and businesses wrecked by so-called service David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-60891124188349329712009-09-11T14:51:00.002+01:002009-09-11T14:53:20.676+01:00Quote of the week"In the business world, the rear view mirror is always clearer than the windshield".Warren Buffet.Peering out through the windscreen at 21st Century Britain, I see only one word - "Tax".David WardDavid Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-61925652615760101302009-02-09T14:16:00.006Z2009-02-10T17:03:33.301ZThe seven immutable laws of negotiationYes, we had to look it up as well. Immutable - according to the Oxford English Dictionary - means: "not subject to or susceptible to change. Unalterable." It dates back to 1621, which explains why I haven't used it down the pub.Seriously, the subject of negotiation skills is particularly important during these depressing times. If you don't have the skills, you will leave profit on the table or David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-65319571429236180112009-02-08T20:39:00.004Z2009-02-08T20:53:27.255ZYes, we know it's been a while!The New Year is upon us, the snow lies deep and even, depending where you are in Britain. Here, it's just cold.We haven't been lazing around since our last blogpost. Indeed, we've created a new website at http://www.alignedsolutions.co.uk/ to act as your first point of call for all commercial management consultancy and training needs. Have a look and let us have some feedback.Using Google David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-23832406726670998812008-12-16T10:22:00.003Z2008-12-16T10:27:53.614ZButch Cassidy was a Geordie Our friends at bdaily (see bdaily.info) have been doing some geneology. American outlaw Butch Cassidy had Geordie heritage, according to newly discovered records. The leader of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang carried out countless robberies across Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and Nevada.But census records show his roots lie in the North East of England, reports the Daily Telegraph (11th Dec 08). His David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-66992677668588703712008-12-05T13:20:00.001Z2008-12-05T13:58:59.325ZThe RSC Northern Star awardsAligned Solutions was delighted to be a sponsor of the Northern Star awards night of RSC Northern, based at the University of Sunderland (see http://www.rsc-northern.ac.uk/). We sponsored the 'Outstanding e-Learning Achievement Award in Work-based Learning' which was won by the IT department of The NETA Training Group (see http://77.68.36.168/AboutUs/tabid/105/language/en-GB/Default.aspx. David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-84245148742803670192008-12-04T11:03:00.000Z2008-12-04T11:12:32.642ZInternet Street fails to live up to nameOur Chief Executive, David Ward, came across this story from bdaily, an Internet news company based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, see www.bdaily.infoDavid explains; "This gave me a chuckle and Si Bales, who runs bdaily, has allowed us to share it with you. Perhaps it will raise a smile in the middle of all this snow!" The image shows a picturesque Grey Street in Newcastle. The story goes like this:A David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-81870985560910086792008-11-11T17:21:00.000Z2008-11-11T17:52:32.644ZWriting with passion - lessons from ObamaYou may ask what this has to do with bid writing, but let me come onto that in a moment.In his victory address, Barack Obama spoke with passion, "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy - tonight is your answer."Stirring David Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413191775101788592.post-73825004361042447662008-10-22T12:01:00.000+01:002008-10-22T12:12:23.806+01:00The Bidwriters Guide to the GalaxySo here we are, on what could be a long journey....We're bid writing consultants and trainers based here, at the Fabriam Centre in North Tyneside, England, quite close to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We also get involved with some interesting people who need help with strategy development, mentoring (both bid writing and more general mentoring), project management and public sector support (business caseDavid Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08199238934938795272noreply@blogger.com0