Hidden Gems: Meet Lisa Rehurek of The RFP Success Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Rehurek.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
I started my business after coming out of a toxic business partnership. I was ready for a change and didn’t feel like I could wait any longer, so I leaped! I didn’t know what I was doing at the time and planned to figure it out along the way. It was scary, but the alternative was to stay in an ever-deteriorating business relationship. I was banking on the hardworking, positive mindset principles my parents had instilled in me. So I leaped! Initially, I decided I’d be a freelance “business consultant.” And, I got a nice contract right out of the gate. But after a couple of years, I lost that contract, and things got complicated. I realized then that I didn’t have enough focus or a solid niche – 2 key foundational elements that I know are necessary for entrepreneurial success. After I nailed down those pieces (and some trial and error), the business began to shift in the right direction – with new clients and new direction.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a journey! And a road that wasn’t smooth at all. I was on a rollercoaster for the first 6-7 years of my business. I didn’t have enough of a niche and didn’t focus on a single area. I was trying to be a “jack-of-all-trades” because I thought that would make our services more desirable to more types of clients. It turns out that’s not how this business works! I had just come out of making a 6-figure salary in corporate positions, and I was also used to succeeding in pretty much everything I did, so my mindset was a mess at that point. I went broke and had to scratch and claw my way back into making some money. It wasn’t until I focused on the RFP niche that things started to take off.

We’ve been impressed with The RFP Success Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The RFP Success Company has been the elephant in the room since its inception, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! In an industry of black, white, and blue branding, our neon orange, pink, and teal stand out loudly. When people are first introduced to us, they instantly know we’re bold, fun, and confident in our knowledge. Our team trains, works and plays hard, which comes through in our branding. One of the things I’m most proud of brand-wise is that we’ve kept it true to what we want the company to represent. I didn’t want it to be buttoned-up and stodgy. I wanted there to be an element of fun and simplicity. To ensure we never lose sight of that, we developed our Ride or Die principles to guide our client approach, internal processes, and team culture. It is our go-to when hiring, signing new clients, internally meeting – everything! Check out our Ride or Die: https://www.therfpsuccesscompany.com/ride-or-die

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is making an impact. Companies constantly struggle with getting government contracts because RFPs are complex and confusing. There’s a false narrative in the market that you can easily stumble your way into these contracts, but the fact is – it’s hard! Mid-market companies that don’t have professional proposal teams often experience major challenges when attempting to create winning RFP responses. It breaks my heart because they waste too much time and resources only to achieve a very low win rate. That drives me: I want to impact those businesses so they can shift from surviving to thriving.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therfpsuccesscompany.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RFPsuccess
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RFPSuccess
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/therfpsuccesscompany

Image Credits
For the “Joan Jett T-Shirt” Photo: Karianne Munstedt