The Shortlist

MacGyver Proposal Hacks

Proposal deadlines have a way of testing even the most seasoned AEC marketers. No matter how carefully a pursuit is planned, you never know when you'll have to defuse a ticking time bomb, minutes before the deadline. In this episode of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by designers Becky Ellison and Lauren Jane Peterson to discuss the “MacGyver moments” that happen when proposal teams are racing against the clock. From InDesign crashes and corrupt exports to oversized PDFs, emergency printer fixes, and hand-assembled printed proposals, Becky and Lauren Jane share stories from the trenches along with practical troubleshooting tips that can save a submission in the final hour. They also explore strategies for making impossible amounts of content fit on the page, compressing files under strict upload limits, and knowing when to make a sacrifice to the "proposal gods" rather than missing the deadline entirely. If you’re a proposal manager, designer, or marketer who’s ever submitted with seconds to spare, this episode offers equal parts practical advice, camaraderie, and comic relief for surviving the chaos of pursuit work. CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4

The Short(er) List: We'll Do it Live!

No notes. No outline. No edits. No regrets. (Okay, maybe a few regrets.) In this episode of The Short(er) List, Becky and Kyle are going live. After deciding on the episode topic approximately four minutes before hitting record, they just ... went for it. The result? An unfiltered, unscripted, and unrehearsed conversation about one of AEC marketing's most quietly complicated relationships: the interplay between graphic designers and content writers. Listen to find out if they pull it off. No safety net and nowhere to hide—just raw, organic, and all-natural AEC marketing talk without the artificial colors, preservatives, or added sugar. Sneezes included.

Project Management Tips for the Busy Marketer

Strong project management isn’t just for the construction jobsite—it’s a critical skill for every AEC marketer. In this episode of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by Melissa Richey and Lauren Jane Peterson to explore how marketers naturally step into project management roles across proposals, events, and campaigns. From defining scope and managing risk to leading communication and keeping teams aligned, the MO6 team breaks down practical strategies that keep work moving. We also dive into effective kickoff meetings, visual communication tools, and how project management platforms like ClickUp, Basecamp, and Asana can help streamline workflows.  Ultimately, successful project management comes down to clear communication and team accountability to stay organized, efficient, and ahead of deadlines—and this episode is chalk full of tips for day-to-day project management. CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 6

The Short(er) List: The 10 Unoriginal Words and Phrases You Should Stop Overusing

On this episode of The Short(er) List, we're leveraging innovative and collaborative solutions to provide comprehensive expertise that's both strategic and sustainable. And we're passionate about it, too. If that introduction sounds both nonsensical and completely normal, then you're in the right place. Don't worry, we're also guilty. Becky Ellison and Kyle Davis are back to call all of us out, including themselves. From world-class delivery to holistic experience, they're unpacking the words that have been doing the heavy lifting in AEC marketing for so long that they've become tired and worn out. We dig into the phrases that have taken over proposals and websites, what we actually mean when we use them, and what to say instead. Because the selection committee just read 12 other submittals that said the exact same things. Here’s the deal: your people and your firm actually are unique—so let's start writing like it.

Mural: Sticky Notes but Better

Collaboration is at the heart of how the team at Middle of Six works—and being fully remote means finding tools that keep ideas flowing and groups aligned. In this episode of The Shortlist, MO6ers Kyle Davis and Lauren Jane Peterson share the ins and outs of using Mural, their favorite digital whiteboard platform. From internal brainstorming sessions and design charrettes to client workshops and presentations, Mural serves as a shared workspace where ideas can be captured, organized, and refined in real time. They also share how Mural's user interface makes it easy to onboard first-time users, encourage live note-taking, and import and export to PowerPoint. With this tool in your toolkit, you just might experience more efficient meetings, stronger alignment, and a shift from presenting ideas to actively building them alongside your team. CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 2