Advice Archives

The Gift of Expertise

Note: This post was updated 12/13/2022 Ever feel like you have no clue how to solve a problem in your GovConor that there has to be an answer out there, you just don’t know how to find it?  Do you google randomly trying to figure it out, only to not be satisfied with the results?  […]

Budget: Preparing for FY19

As GovCons grind through the rest of the year, it is hard to think about 2019.  We’re a little worn out from proposal season and if you are lucky, new contract awards.  We’ve been recruiting hard in a difficult market, transitioning from incumbents, and getting new starts off the ground.  Depending on which agency you […]

Wrap Rate Government Contracting

Even if you are in a less competitive field or have a unique offering for a customer with a ton of funding, government contractors must monitor and maintain their wrap rates. Companies can sometimes view this exercise as an annual corporate budget where you occasionally look at how you are doing and often look back and ponder, “What […]

Seven Tips for Navigating 4Q18

As we start into the last government fiscal quarter, it is feast or famine time. Some have hit the beaches, getting some much-needed R&R and family time. Some are heads-down in proposal mode, worried about when the next one will hit. Others are in purgatory, the stretch between proposal submission and proposal award, with their fingers crossed thinking […]

Accountability

GovCon Accountability - BOOST LLC

Editor’s Note: This Article Has Been Updated November 23, 2022 “Accountability breeds response-ability.” -Stephen Covey Recently we were rear-ended by a hit and run driver on the DC beltway.  Thankfully, we weren’t hurt and no one else was involved.  Yet I am really ticked that I now have $500 worth of damage on my new(ish) […]

Work…Life?

GovCon Work-Life Balance - BOOST LLC

Editor’s Note: This Article Has Been Updated November 29, 2022 As we grow our GovCon companies, we often forget the value of having downtime or activities other than business. As we see each other at networking events, a common conversation is comprised of how busy we are. But does busy equal profitable? Does busy equal productive? Why do we […]

GovCon Hiring from the Gut

GovCon Hiring from the Gut - BOOST LLC

“Have faith in your intuition and listen to your gut feeling.” Ann Cotton

Ask any Government Contractor CEO, and 90%+ will tell you that their biggest hurdle is people. Hiring the right team, making sure they play well together in the sandbox, work together to meet the mission, and generally push the company forward. The dynamics of a strong, diverse team are invaluable in the progression of your company. So how do you hire the right person? Do you rely on proven experience, or do you go with your gut?

No

“When you say yes to something you don’t want to do, here is the result: you hate what you are doing, you resent the person who asked you, and you hurt yourself.” – James Altucher, The Power of No: Because One Little Word Can Bring Health, Abundance, and Happiness There’s a lot of power behind the word […]

Frenemies

In this world, we all need close friends. Our tribe, our peeps (as I affectionately call them). People you know you can count on to help support your growth. This includes your teammates. As a small business in government contracting, you cannot feasibly do everything. Your list of core capabilities should not be 2 pages single spaced. Heck, it shouldn’t even […]

Peeps

​“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations.” – Charles Kettering Who do you consider your tribe, or what I affectionately call, your peeps? With whom do you surround yourself, work, do business, and get advice? Who is your inner circle and what is the value of the relationship? Personally, I’ve come […]