Game Changers For Government Contractors

The difference between success and failure is razor-thin. Often, it's the little things that you don't know or don't understand that can trip you up. This episode of Game Changers exposes and discusses these challenges in the form of blind spots. Carroll Bernard breaks down three of these blind spots, how to recognize them, and how to overcome them.

Did you know that if you buy or sell a company that already has government contracts, you have to get approval from the government to KEEP those contracts? In fact, you have to get approval from EVERY government agency/organization individually. This is part of a process called contract novation. In this episode of Game Changers, we sit down with Steve Meredith from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to discuss the basics of contract novation. If you are involved in the sale or acquisition of a company (currently or in the near future) that has government contracts, you don't want to miss this episode.

Typically, when we talk about succeeding in the government market, we tend to talk a lot about things like sales, marketing, business development, proposal writing, and other "fundamentals" of business. What we don't talk a lot about, is the PEOPLE that make all of that work possible. At the end of the day, it's a person performing sales tasks, writing your marketing pieces, executing a business development/capture strategy. People are the most important aspect of your business. So how to cultivate a climate in your company that is both healthy and productive? That's exactly what this episode is about. ----- Do you have a copy of our Checklist for Government Sales? I'd like to give it to you. In fact, I'd like to give you 20 documents at no cost. We recently celebrated the release of our Federal Access version 3.0 release. This upgrade features a brand new FREE for life version that comes with: * Our Checklist for Government Sales * Three Capability Statement Templates * Core Business Concepts for

A common challenge for all business owners is finding, hiring, and maintaining quality employees. Most companies tend to go through "rounds" or bursts of hiring. This model relies heavily on job boards and short-term marketing strategies. The biggest drawback to this model is that you get a limited number of applicants over a short period of time AND you don't get a chance to build a relationship with these people. The alternative is to always be recruiting. This podcast is directed heavily at the cybersecurity industry, but all of the strategies we discuss are applicable across all industries. ----- Do you have a copy of our Checklist for Government Sales? I'd like to give it to you. In fact, I'd like to give you 20 documents at no cost. We recently celebrated the release of our Federal Access version 3.0 release. This upgrade features a brand new FREE for life version that comes with: * Our Checklist for Government Sales * Three Capability Statement Templates * Core Business Concepts for Governme

What separates the winners from the losers in business? It's not what you think. It has little to do with being the best in your industry, having the highest quality, or even the best service. Winners and losers are often separated by their ability to consistently perform a handful of critical tasks. In this podcast, we discuss three of these tasks and how to use them to maintain profitability. ----- Do you have a copy of our Checklist for Government Sales? I'd like to give it to you. In fact, I'd like to give you 20 documents at no cost. We recently celebrated the release of our Federal Access version 3.0 release. This upgrade features a brand new FREE for life version that comes with: * Our Checklist for Government Sales * Three Capability Statement Templates * Core Business Concepts for Government Sales * A Step by Step Market Sales Strategy * Bid / No Bid Qualification Process and Instructions * Hiring a Business Developer - Interview, Recommendations, and Responsibilities * IDIQ and Task Or

If you haven't noticed, 2019 has been a very busy year in government contract acquisition changes. A lot of changes have been percolating for years, but we witnessed a major shift in the market in 2019. This episode talks about category management, GSA Schedule consolidation, contract bundling, pitch day competitions, the 809 Panel, the new SAM website and a lot more. Joshua Frank breaks down what's going on, what to expect, and our gut reactions about these changes. The changing landscape and graphic mentioned in this episode can be found here: bit.ly/ChangingLandscapeGraphic ----- Link to Amazon Book - The Insiders Guide to Winning Government Contracts: bit.ly/InsidersGuideBook ----- Checklist for Government Sales Do you have a copy of our Checklist for Government Sales? I'd like to give it to you. In fact, I'd like to give you 20 documents at no cost. We recently celebrated the release of our Federal Access version 3.0 release. This upgrade features a brand new FREE for life version that comes w

You don't know what you don't know. In business, not knowing something can significantly impact your ability to grow and scale. In this episode of Game Changers, we talked with Jenny Clark from Solvability about The GovCon Small Business Growth Model. This model walks through seven stages that every government should go through to achieve success. Listen now to learn about each stage and some of the significant milestones in each one. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we spoke with Erin Andrew, the Managing Director of Government Contract Lending at Live Oak Bank about Preparing for an Exit. Many entrepreneurs start a business with the ultimate dream of one day selling their company and riding off into the sunset. If that is your end goal, you need to be thinking about this right now. Erin breaks down the five P's of properly planning for an exit and the steps you need to take to get the most for your company. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we sat down with Mario Burgos to talk about The Value of SAME (The Society of American Military Engineers). Mario has achieved the type of success in government contracting that we all dream of. He’s won millions in contracts, built his company to 165 employees, and landed in the top 50% of the Inc. 5000 list for five years in a row. What does he attribute a lot of the success to? His membership with SAME and the value that the organization, conferences, and volunteering opportunities have created for him and his company. --- Thinking of attending the SAME Small Business Conference in November 2019? Click here http://bit.ly/30pPjLl and use promo code SBC19_RSM to receive $50 off your registration. --- Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Rob Rosenberger of Blackdragon to talk about Crowdsourcing Your Way to a Better Win Rate. When most people think about improving their win rate, they think about things like techniques, strategies, templates, better writing, etc. But what if there was a way to get the inside track on every opportunity by having the right people on your team? That's exactly what this episode talks about. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Courtney Spaeth from Growth[Period] to talk about Bouncing Back from a Losing Streak. If you are in any sort of slump, this session is going to give you some of the most practical and simple advice that you will ever get. You will also learn fundamentals that will help keep you out of a slump. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

Would you like to speed up the pace of your government sales? Of course, you would. Ask any business owner this question and the answer will always be a resounding YES! This is exactly what we talk about in this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors. We sat down with Carroll Bernard of Govology.com to discuss tips and tricks that will accelerate your sales. This is an absolute MUST listen to episode of the podcast. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we talk with Matthew Schoonover about The Small Business Runway Extension Act and how it is impacting small companies. If you are not aware, this act changes the look-back period on small business qualifications from three years to five years. On the surface, we can't see a downside to this act. However, there are a few scenarios that could harm your company. Listen now to learn more about this and gain some insight into what the SBA is thinking about the timing of adopting the act. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

This is a fast-paced episode with Michael LeJeune breaking down how to plan for the upcoming government Q4 spending spree. If you want to win more contracts this Q4, you need to listen to this one right now! We cover goal setting, breaking down your goals, sales and prospecting, and a whole lot more. This episode is designed in a way that you can use it to build your 90-day plan by following Michael's direction and answering his questions. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we sat down with Douglas Monticciolo of Brevet Capital Management about Getting the Capital You Need to Grow. We discussed some of the most pressing financial issues facing contractors, common misconceptions about financing contracts, the impact of the 2019 shutdown, a potential recession, and the much-anticipated infrastructure projects that are expected to send an influx of capital into the market. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we talk with Michael McNulty, the Founder and President of McNulty and Associates about Price to Win or PTW. Without giving away any spoilers, price to win isn't just about coming up with the lowest possible price to win. So don't be fooled about the title of this episode. This episode will help remove some of the mystery from PTW and how you can successfully apply PTW to your proposal process to win more contracts. Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, I sit down with Michele Atkinson to talk about preparation strategies that help companies win proposals. If you are a government contractor, proposals are a core business activity for success. If you want to increase your win rate, you need to learn what goes into Michele's preparation for a proposal. Often times, a proposal is lost before you even start writing it. Avoid common mistakes and set yourself and your company up for success by learning how to come out of the gate fast and strong.

In this episode, Michael LeJeune talks about three big concepts that no one is talking about in government contracting. People are always talking about getting your certifications, a GSA Schedule, or mastering a system like FPDS to get to the next level. Don't get me wrong, those are important issues, but there is literally NO ONE talking about the fundamental principles that will help your company grow super-fast regardless of your current stage. Listen now to find out what these three principles are and how you can apply them to your business to grow faster. ------ Have a question about this episode? Email me at michael@michaellejeune.com ------ Does your business need a breakthrough? Are you stuck and just don't know what or how to get to the next level? Schedule a Business Breakthrough Session today. Just click here: https://rsmfederal.com/breakthroughcoaching

In this episode, we sat down with Carrie Ann Williams from Andana Consulting to talk about Getting the Maximum Value out of an SF330. We talk about what this form is, when it’s used, and then dive into tips, tricks, and strategies that you can apply to get every drop of value out of this form. We also hit on several best practices for proposal writing.

In this episode, Kevin Jans and I talk about Acquisition and Execution Time Zones. One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is understanding WHY these time zones matter and learning how to tell which one you are in. Most government contractors don't know what they can and can't do in each of these time zones. Therefore, out of fear, many contractors throw up their hands and do nothing when a contracting officer says they can't speak to you. Stop getting frustrated during the acquisition and execution of a contract by learning more about each phase of the game.