In two days, a client we have been working with collaboratively on drafting a proposal for a super-large project, will be submitting the final version for grant funding consideration. This has been a proposal many months in the making with much hard work on both ends, and now it’s in some else’s hands to decide if it will ever come to fruition.

The funniest part is, after making the last changes requested of us and receiving word that it’s ready to go, I had the same feeling that I do when a project is complete, relief and happiness. Except in this case, the project hasn’t even begun.

Thus are the trials and tribulations of proposal work. I do not have children but I imagine there are similar feelings as a mother — a lot of hard work with the prospect of never getting anything in return.  But much like motherhood, from what I can gather, those times that you do receive validation or when a proposal is accepted and grows into a fully-completed project able to stand on its own, are well worth it.

Like the tradeshow graphic for a haircare company that made its debut at a Las Vegas show, or the dazzling logo now featured on a storefront right around the corner, or the websites that are just in the crawling stages, some of which are ready to roll.

So now, as in the past, comes the waiting. Only this time, it’s about 100 times the typical angst, as this is a big one. But just think what a beautiful full-grown project it will someday hopefully turn into.

We get all kinds of requests from different companies, for different industries, and different technologies.

One of the best parts of working for a full service company like DDA, is that regardless of what the request is, we can do it, unlike many advertising and marketing agencies.

Today, we have a few inquiry calls to make. One in particular inquired yesterday if we do any additional services like websites or logo development. The answer is “Of course. We do everything,” but you can’t exactly put it like that. So I broke it down:

“We are a full-service company with capabilities in website development and design, graphic design and logo development, as well as all of the services you originally requested. We also do marketing and print materials, like brochures, sell sheets, and catalogs. All of our services are done in-house by degreed professionals who specialize in those individual areas. We also have a video department with a full in-house studio. DDA is unique in the way it’s designed. We are unlike any marketing or advertising agency, and because of this we can easily meet any of the needs of our clients in the most cost effective and innovative way possible.  We also believe strongly in long-term relationships, and our wide variety of services offered, allows us to grow with our clients as their needs change and their business expands.”

It’s common to get these type of questions. So many companies are used to having to shop around and employ multiple vendors just to complete on project. But coming from the other side of it, working in an environment where integration, innovation, and multiple technologies is the name of the game, it’s sometimes easy to think that what we do is the standard. It should be but it’s certainly not.

These days with technology becoming so involved, integrating video, website, tracking mechanisms, training tools, illustrations, animation, and so much more is becoming more and more necessary to stand out from the rest.

So whenever, I get a follow up call or e-mail asking if we just so happen to also offer this service or that, I take great pleasure in saying, “Yes, we do and then some.”

It’s easy to get stressed when you know you have a full day ahead of you.

Today is one of those days where it’s 8 a.m. and I am already worrying about how it’s all going to get done. I have several proposals that were promised for today. These run the spectrum too, from video, to website development, logo design and development, medical illustration, a video game, sell sheets, and search engine optmization (SEO). It’s been a mixed bag lately.

There are also writing projects and some project coordination details that need to be monitored. So as I am sure all of my fellow DDA employees are contending with, I am trying to snap myself out of weekend mode and get down to business. Not always easy, but when you look at it from a task to task perspective instead of a mountain of work, it makes it a lot easier to deal with.

Busy though is good. DDA has proved itself as a leader in innovation within the marketing and advertising industry, and our full-service capabilities add a lot of value, which means that when it comes to inquires and companies looking for the right people to make their animation, graphic design, programming, or essentially anything else, project a reality, they’re going to be looking at us.

This means the mountain may not dissipate anytime soon, but that’s OK, I’ll keep tackling it task by task.