If you had to gamble with your own money…

When I buy a lottery ticket, I know I'm going to lose.

But the chance of winning a big number with loads of zeros is, perhaps, worth the £1 investment.

Entering an RFP without speaking to the client is a lot like buying that lottery ticket except the stakes are much higher. You're going to lose.

Ok, maybe, and it's a big maybe, one day you'll win the RFP lottery and land one. But be honest with yourself, it's probably not going to end well.

It's pretty much inevitable.

And how much did you invest in your pitching gamble? £10,000, £20,000, £50,000, more?

What was the prize?

I can guarantee if you had to gamble with your own money you'd run a mile.

Pitching is bad at the best of times but if you can't talk to the client, you need to walk away.