Q: In writing a proposal for a prospective client, where do I draw the line between giving away my ideas and protecting my intellectual property?
A: I always err on the side of giving away.
1. When you’re competing against others, demonstrating your expertise is a surefire way to stand out. Understanding the problem and outlining your credentials are table stakes; to win the work, you usually need to strut your stuff.
2. Knowledge is different from execution; just because you know how to do something does not in any way guarantee that you’ll be able to do it. Indeed, no matter how many times I watch YouTube videos about repairing appliances around my house, I’ll never be handy enough to fix a running toilet. Nor do I want to be; I’d prefer to hire a plumber.
