Law Number XXXVI: The thickness of the proposal required…
“Law Number XXXVI: The thickness of the proposal required to win a multimillion dollar contract is about one millimeter per million dollars. If all the proposals conforming to this standard were piled on top of each other at the bottom of the Grand Canyon it would probably be a good idea.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Complex proposals become impractically thick when scaled to massive budgets.
In simple terms: Large contracts need thin, focused proposals.
Key Takeaway
Keep proposals concise regardless of size.
Themes
efficiency
budgeting
project management
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
technical
advisory
When to use this quote
- government contracts
- construction bids
- software procurement
Key Concepts
Systems engineering
cost control
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you simplify large proposals?
- What risks arise from overly thin proposals?
A Different Perspective
Over‑detail can stall progress.