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Entrepreneur Soundoff!86--Top 10 Startup Mistakes to Avoid--No 2: Playing the Wrong Numbers GameOver the past two decades, I've launched led and sold multiple GovCon companies and during this time, I've discovered that every struggling small business in the GovCon market space...is struggling because of one or more of the SAME ten mistakes. Here they are…•They don't address the assumption that everybody in the GovCon industry makes…and that is that they’re risky to work with just because they’re a small business•They "fish from the same pier as everybody else" instead of pursing markets where billions of dollars in small business earmarks are left on the t...2025-02-1929 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!85--Top 10 Startup Mistakes to Avoid--No.1: Ignoring Your Risk PerceptionOver the past two decades, I've launched led and sold multiple GovCon companies and during this time, I've discovered that every struggling small business in the GovCon market space...is struggling because of one or more of the SAME ten mistakes. Here they are…•They don't address the assumption that everybody in the GovCon industry makes…and that is that they’re risky to work with just because they’re a small business•They "fish from the same pier as everybody else" instead of pursing markets where billions of dollars in small business earmarks are left on the table bec...2025-02-1021 min
Ghost Cult Magazine PodcastPODCAST: Episode 625 - PODCAST: The Weekly Ritual Rock and Metal News Show Live 12-12-24Catch up on what you missed in the world of Rock and Metal news this week!
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https...2024-12-141h 40Entrepreneur Soundoff!83--The Winning Strategy for Consistent Small Business Growth!Here it is...The Holy Grail of Small Business Set Aside STRATEGIES for consistent and rapid growth! Although it took me many, MANY years to figure it out...the strategy is remarkably simple and intuitive. 1. Find Markets Where Your Set Aside is Under-represented (And there are MANY of them...just check the SBA Small Business Utilization Scorecard for each FedGov Agency for your specific set aside.2. Differentiate your company from the limited competitive field by obtaining Corporate Credentials, such as ISO Certification and CMMI Appraisal. These corporate credentials will immediately place your company in the Top 1% of you...2024-07-0417 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!84--Use AI to 10X the Number and Quality of Your Bids!Artificial Intelligence is one of the most transformative technologies of our age. It is a force-multiplier… an accelerant…a gamechanger. It will help you achieve your wildest dreams if you successfully harness its power. On the other hand. Whatever you knew before. Whatever you did before to be successful, here's a good chance that it is now obsolete. Business as usual means...out of business. The Government Contracting industry is no longer "business as usual." AI has completely changed the proposal writing game. Now, a one-person company that knows how to effective...2024-07-0413 min
Left FaceGovernment Contracting AcademyI speak with the founder of the Government Contracting Academy, Randy Wimmer. Randy is on a mission to teach people how to land contracts with the world's #1 purchaser of goods. The US Government. As vets we have a leg up, and Randy explains how he leveraged his Navy experience into a couple start-up companies. (One of which he sold for 8 figures!) Find out how Randy did it.Randal Wimmer Contact Infohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/Randall.wimmer@gmail.comhttps://governmentcontractingacademy.com/Send us a text...2023-07-2042 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!82--Fostering Your Entrepreneurial PerspectiveIf the perspectives of those you listen to and surround yourself with don’t share the same entrepreneurial goals and ambitions, you may find yourself falling behind in your own efforts. Surround yourself with mentors and people that share your same entrepreneurial energy!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.c...2023-05-2601 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!81--How to Keep Track of Your Bid Effort’s ProgressUnless you have a proper way to track your proposal writing process, you’ll end up with a mess of a final product. Your proposal writers need to have a good measure of what their work is. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck editing, writing, and compiling the proposal at the last minute._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.link...2023-05-2501 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!80--Manage Your Proposal's Real EstateAs you get towards the end of your bid effort, companies often realize that they don’t have enough space to fit everything they want to convey. Learn how to make the most of your proposal’s real estate from the get-go so that you don’t have to cut content!Make sure you understand and read Section L and Section M of the RFP going into your proposal writing effort to make sure you’ll have enough space!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governme...2023-05-2001 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!79--Convince the Government WHY They Should CareLearn the 4 Key Phrases that will convince the Government why they should care about components of your proposal. If you can’t explain why what you’re saying is important, the Source Selection Board will never know!Answering the “So What?” question makes it easy for the government to see why what you’re saying will add value if you’re awarded the contract._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the lates...2023-05-1901 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!78--How to Define Value in Your ProposalDon’t let the Government pick what does and doesn’t add value in your proposal. Decide for YOURSELF! Learn why it’s so important to define value in your own terms.By defining value, you can gain the strategic advantage on any proposal and play to your own strengths._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/go...2023-05-1801 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!77--Brand Your Bid Team for Success!Learn how to establish and utilize a team brand for your next proposal. Having a clear team brand to use throughout your proposal keeps your bid easy to read and if done right, you can actually BORROW capabilities from your partners!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randa...2023-05-1501 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!76--Why you NEED to Organize Your Proposal RightProposal organization is crucial yet often overlooked. Learn how to prepare your bid effort to set yourself up for success. Properly planning and organizing your proposal to stay inline with the government’s scorecard is an easy way to maximize your bid’s score. A simple but organized proposal will beat a complex but messy proposal every time!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:G...2023-05-1001 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!75--Tips for Your Proposal's Executive SummaryOn large contracts, you’ll need to write an executive summary of your proposal. This video covers how to correctly tailor your proposal’s executive summary.It’s key to understand who will actually be reading this executive summary and what they care about. Emphasizing your understanding of your own risks will show key senior government officials that you’re mature enough to complete this work._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to da...2023-05-0901 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!74--Make a Good First Impression with Your CoversheetThe first thing that’s seen on your proposal will be your coversheet. Learn how to set the right tone for your bid!Keep both your credentials and your customer’s logo on the coversheet to show that they’re your focus. Also make sure include the correct source selection information and everything else that is needed to keep it compliant._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips a...2023-05-0801 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!73--Keep your Proposal's Cover Letter CompliantMake sure you keep your cover letter compliant on your next bid effort. While you can include a lot of extra value in your cover letter, you still need to make sure you cover your bases with the requirements.If you have some extra space, make sure to add a feature benefit table to help emphasize your win themes!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips...2023-05-0401 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!72--How to Crush your Proposal's Cover Letter!Your Proposal’s cover letter is an often overlooked section of the proposal. Learn how to use your cover letter to emphasize your proposal’s win themes!The cover letter can do a lot to provide the source selection board a good idea of how professional of a company and how capable you are at just a first glance. Make your proposal’s cover letter work for you!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to...2023-05-0301 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!71--Addressing Transition RisksYou can’t win work from an incumbent contractor unless you show that you can safely take over the work. Learn how to address this risk using an ISO 9001 program that includes a change, risk and knowledge management program._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The En...2023-05-0301 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!69--Ghosting Your Competition with a Customer Satisfaction ProgramSaying that your customer comes first means nothing unless you can back it up with action. Learn how you can use a customer satisfaction program to prove that the customer is always at the center of your bid effort!This is something that most of your competition won’t have, but with an ISO 9001 Quality Management System, you can knock this out of the park! In a proposal, proof points and action are always needed to back up statements like “the customer comes first.”_________________To get on the fast track to government contra...2023-05-0301 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!64-Proposal Color Team Reviews Part I_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-05-0231 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!66-Proposal Color Team Reviews Part II_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-05-0255 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!62--Strategies to Penetrate the GovCon Market!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-04-2438 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!67--Addressing Your Proposal Risk RatingSolution and price begin to mean less and less as your contracts grow bigger. Instead, your risk score becomes more and more important. Learn how to ace this section of your proposal!As a small business, risk is the largest hurdle you must overcome. Small business set aside contracts weigh risk as one of the most important parts of your bid score. Having a risk management plan will allow you to show the source selection board that you are aware of your risks and have plans to mitigate them._________________To get on...2023-04-2301 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!63--Proposal Tip: Using Images to Make Space in Your ProposalWant to learn how to best use images in your proposal? Using pictures, you can make your proposal easier to read. Using diagrams often is a better way to explain something to the source selection board.Tactically using images to provide some space in your next proposal can help you win your next government contract!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s...2023-04-2101 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!65--Proposal Tip: Citing Reference Material to Compensate for Lack of Customer ExperienceCite source material as often as possible to go beyond the requirements of the RFP! Citing reference material can help overcome a lack of past performance, showing that you truly understand the proposal reqs.Your bid NEEDS to prove that you understand the requirements and citing source material does that and more._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Li...2023-04-2101 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!61--Proposal Tip: Using Call-Out Boxes for Emphasis in Your ProposalMaking your proposal easy to understand makes it easy to award you a contract! Use call out boxes to highlight the most important parts of your bid._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com...2023-04-1901 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!60--Transition Management...Or How to NOT Win Yourself Out of Business!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-04-1439 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!59--Proposal Tip: Using Feature-Benefit Tables to Connect Win Theme Dots!Make your proposal stand out to the source selection board by connecting the dots for them. Including a feature benefit table gives them a good summary of your proposal.This part of your bid is so important that you can even include this table in the cover letter for your next proposal to help win large government contracts._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon...2023-04-1201 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!58--Leveraging Joint Ventures for Small Business Success_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-04-0738 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!57--Proposal Tip: Using Numbers as Proposal Proof PointsJustify the numbers in your proposal by using the Government’s own info. These proof points will give your bid the edge over your competitors and show you’re a lower risk option.Any info without a proof point is useless to the source selection board. Its always to add numbers to anything you state to provide concrete evidence._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovC...2023-04-0501 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!56--Finding REAL BUSINESS MENTORS...and Not Celebrity CEOs or Navy SEALS_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-2927 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!55--Proposal Tip: Adding Value to Your Proposal OrgChartLearn how to add value to your next Government Contract proposal through your organization chart. Your org chart is an often-overlooked part of a bid, but can add a lot of customer value if you create it right!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-w...2023-03-2401 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!54--Breaking All the Rules and Creating a Proposal FACTORY!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-2228 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!53--Proposal Tip: Putting the Customer at the Center of Your ProposalAvoid this proposal writing landmine by putting the customer’s mission first. Writing your customer into your next proposal shows that you understand that their mission is your focus.Your bid needs to show that your small business is capable of meeting the contract requirements, but don’t fall into the trap of making the proposal all about your company._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips...2023-03-1701 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!52--Maximizing Bid Profit!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-1529 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!51--Proposal Tip: Demonstrating Your UNDERSTANDING of Customer Requirements_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-1001 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!50--Advisory Boards...Essential or a Waste?_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-0830 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!49 Proposal Tip: Include Your Credentials in Your Proposal Header/Footer_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2023-03-0301 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!48-Risk Management--The Difference Between a Bid Win and LossMany small business bidders don't really know how proposals are ACTUALLY SCORED. They read the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) in the Request for Proposal (RFP) and their eyes get really big. WE CAN DO THIS! Then they write, what I call, an "I love me" proposal, stating how great they are at doing what was stated in the proposal. In this euphoria, they never consider how their proposal is going to be scored. As such, they have ZERO concept that RISK is literally HALF of their Combined Technical/Risk Rating! Most s...2023-03-0126 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!47-EVERYBODY Faces Career TRANSITION--EMBRACE IT TO GET AHEADThe one constant to life is change. That can be said about a person's career and professional success, as well. Although the term "transition" has been largely associated with the military community, every successful professional experiences at least one major career transition. In fact, some of the largest career transitions have nothing to do with changing industries. Instead, it has to do with changing your role in an industry. Transitioning from a customer-facing contributor to the corporate office is a massive change. Similarly, transitioning into a leadership role can be just as daunting. In fact, accepting a positio...2023-02-2315 min
Mission Oriented166 - Randal Wimmer - Navy Veteran, Government Contracting Academy FounderRandal Wimmer - Navy Veteran, Government Contracting Academy Founder Randal Wimmer is a Naval Academy graduate. It was his father’s service in the Navy and influence that led to that decision. He didn’t know the impact that decision would have on his life. It truly set Randal on a new trajectory. He served 10 years as a surface warfare officer. Little did he know the training that the military provided, set him up for a successful path of entrepreneurship. He originally began as an entrepreneur to help support his growing family. His first attempt to la...2023-02-1728 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!46-Manage Your EFFORT...Not Your Time!"Just putting in time" doesn't cut it for anything that really matters...and this holds especially true for entrepreneurship. In most companies that I worked, it was taboo to shut your office door. Why? The boss couldn't tell if you were looking appropriately engaged in your work. When I was the CEO, I actually encouraged my team to shut their doors so they could focus better. Was I concerned that they weren't working hard? Absolutely not. Here's why. In a small business, you can't coast or "phone it in." As soon as you take your hand off the sausa...2023-02-1507 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!45-Don't Rent Your Life Due to Insecurity. BUY IT...It's a Hell of an ROI!Most people rent their time... They will waste large portions of their life, expending countless hours of meaningless time because they're scared that if they try to make those hours really count...and fall short...then they'll be crushed. To avoid that pain, they throw those hours away by not investing any emotional equity in them. That way, they can avoid all possibility of failing because they never tried. For example, people will work for 40-50 hours per week just for a paycheck to pay the bills. In some cases, they may not be in a position to do...2023-02-0705 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!44-Buying a Franchise--It's Not the Proven Playbook to RichesThere is nothing more sought after than finding a roadmap to riches...Or a Playbook that guarantees you success if you just follow the checklist. And that is how franchisors prey on aspiring entrepreneurs! The old saying that if it's too good to be true, then well...it usually is. Franchise Disclosure Documents provide real up-front costs. And these costs are usually BRUTAL. However, people are will to pay them for the "secret roadmap to riches" because Franchise Disclosure Documents will frequently list estimated potential annual income like this Estimated Income: "3,000 to $300,000."Here's the FACTS:The AV...2023-02-0214 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!43-What 9 out of 10 SUCCESSFUL GovCon Companies Are DoingWould you do what 88% of the MOST SUCCESSFUL GovCon small businesses are doing? 99% of small business owners don't..._________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si...2023-01-1506 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!42-Recording of HOW TO WIN GOVERNMENT SET ASIDE CONTRACTS WebinarThis is a recording of the Government Contracting Academy's Webinar, How to Win Government Set Aside Contracts. _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b...2023-01-121h 05Entrepreneur Soundoff!41-Really Good CEOs are NOT Heroes!It all begins at the top with great leaders. However, leadership doesn’t always look like people think it does. Being a great CEO does NOT mean that you must be able to come through with heroics, time and again, to be successful. In fact, the opposite is true. The driving forces behind business success are documented processes, well-defined roles & responsibilities, management oversight, and data-driven decision-making. Good leadership is documented. Bad leaders heroically respond to non-existent policies, undocumented processes, and ill-defined corporate roles. As a first-time CEO, I learned this the hard way when I discove...2023-01-0914 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!40-Transition Management as a Proposal STRENGTH!The transition management plan section, whether explicitly or implicitly required in the RFP, can be a major discriminator...if you write a great one! In fact, small businesses usually win their first prime contract by demonstrating their ability to transition the contract AND successfully rebadge the incumbent employees...while pricing the proposal significantly less that the incumbent. The Source Selection Board will accept the risk of going with a "new company's" if they feel confident of getting the same incumbent people at a worthwhile discount! _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our...2023-01-0629 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!39-Contract Transition: The Most TERRIFYING Part of Government ContracingThe only thing more terrifying than the first day of a large prime contract transition period is the first day after a poorly managed transition period...Transition management is vitally important to the success of any contract award. In fact, the 30-day transition period is the time with the highest probability of being terminated by the customer, especially if the losing incumbent contractor isn't playing nicely...which is most of the time. Listen in to learn the risks and critical components of a successful transition management plan. This podcast discusses the importance of an infrastructure plan, a kno...2023-01-0526 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!38-Business Resolutions That WORK!The New Year is an ideal time to rejuvenate your entrepreneurial efforts, pursue ambitious small business goals and affect positive changes in your company! However, you must have "better" resolutions to produce "better" results! Here are three tips that will significantly improve entrepreneurial goals:1. Create "resolutions with bite!" Or, as I call it, "Dream with Consequences." You should fully document the NEGATIVE repercussions of NOT attaining your resolution/dream/goal. If you consider your resolutions as simply "icing on the cake" then they have very little probability of accomplishing them. Either you're woefully wrong or your resolutions are relativ...2022-12-2816 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!37-FIVE FACTS Every Vet Should Know About Gov't ContractingFIVE FACTS that every veteran should know about Government Contracting:FACT 1. A MASSIVE amount of spending occurs each year in areas that are most relevant to Veterans’ experiences (DoD, Intel Community, DHS, VA, DoE and DoS)FACT 2.The Small Business Set Aside Program of 23% of all GovCon dollars being awarded to small businesses is being EXCEEDED! The FY2020 SBA Scorecard reports small businesses were awarded:a.$145B in PRIME contractsb.$83B in SUB contractsFACT 3.However, over HALF of the 24 Government organizations that fall under the purview of S...2022-12-0723 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!36-The Three Contractor CommandmentsSupporting a Federal Government customer can be one of the most rewarding professional experiences that you may have has a billable contractor. However, it can also be challenging. Like any industry, you can always have "difficult" customers. Knowing and following these three "Contractor Commandments" will provide you the mindset to excel, regardless of your alignment with your customer. However, the mindset they they engender is the most important thing. This mindset will have you cheerfully supporting even the most challenging customers on your way to achieving your real goals and objectives! _________________To get on the fast track...2022-12-0533 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!35-How to Engender Trust in Your BidsEngendering trust is one of the most important, unstated aspects of any proposal effort. If the Source Selection Board does not trust your company or your bid, then they will find away to lower your score. Low trust usually results in a lower confidence assessment, enabling the Source Selection Board to award the contract to a trusted bidder! Trust and confidence are very closely related. The five Cs of trust include: CareCommunicationCharacterConsistencyCompetenceThese components of trust are not always easy to convey...however, one easy way to engender trust is through the attainment of ISO 9001 Quality Manage...2022-12-0130 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!34-*Special* Founder Interview with Jeffrey Payne, CEO of Accordant FederalMeet Jeffrey Payne...Serial Entrepreneur, USNA, MIT and Wharton graduate and now Founder and CEO of Accordant Federal! Jeff has a ton of valuable insights and experiences that he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs.Contact Info:www.AccordantFederal.com jeff@accordantfederal.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreycpayne/_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company...2022-11-2930 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!33-Subcontracts vs Prime ContractsThere is no such thing as a "bad dollar" when you're a small business. However, when you're award a subcontract or prime contract, the value of these awards are tremendous...but different. Knowing what you're getting from each type of contract award will help you optimize the value of each one! _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company...2022-11-2525 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!32-Factoring...It Could Be a Necessary Evil!Bottom Line Upfront: Factoring is very similar to "white collar loan-sharking!" In a factoring arrangement, you are selling your unpaid (approved) invoices to a third party who buys them for less than their dollar amount. The good news is that you get your money faster than waiting for the government to pay you, so you can do vitally important things like "make payroll." The bad news is that factoring arrangements are usually worse than a moderately bad credit card! Knowing how to avoid factoring landmines can save you a bunch of money because many rapidly growing small businesses are force...2022-11-1819 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!31-Your Startup's Bank Is EXTREMELY Important!Is there really much different between banks? Most provide little to zero interest on checking and saving accounts. So why is my corporate banking institute so important? It can literally save you HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS...if you choose a bank wisely! Randy is living proof that poor banking decisions can cost you tons of dollars and that all banks are not the same... _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the l...2022-11-1127 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!30-As a Startup, Invest in an Infrastructure Plan...Not InfrastructureAs a startup, you should have TWO "Golden Rules of Infrastructure." First, never invest in infrastructure until you absolutely need it! Cash is too important to be spending it on things that you can't fully leverage yet. Second, infrastructure should NEVER be a risk. Why? Your infrastructure requirements can be fully known if you're "looking forward." These rules may initially appear to be contradictions, but they don't have to be. Creating a robust, detailed Infrastructure Plan that can be immediately executed will both prepare your company for future performance demands while saving your vitally important cash! _________________To get...2022-11-0419 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!29-ISO Certification Provides a GREAT Return-On-Investment!A FedGov proposal typically contains several different section that are evaluated by the Source Selection Board. Most of these sections have very little to do with the actual solution being proposed and when their evaluated values are combined, these sections are worth more than the actual proposed solution! ISO Certifications tremendously strengthen these non-solution proposal sections, such as your proposal's Quality Control Plan, Management Section, Transition Plan, Risk Management Plan, Staffing Plan, etc. A corporate investment into a single RFP's solution will be worth less than these "non-solution" sections and will be largely useless on future bids. An investment in I...2022-10-2815 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!28-How ISO Certification Can Help You Win Prime ContractsAs a small business bidder, the first and largest obstacle that you must overcome is the perception that all small businesses are inherently risky. This fact is especially true for larger small business set asides where the small business prime bidder is expected to manage up to tens of millions of dollars in work, a complex prime contract and various subcontractors. ISO Certification demonstrates corporate maturity. ISO Certification ensures that your business processes are compliant with globally-accepted industry best practices and that you have formal risk management, change management and quality management programs to ensure low-risk, high-quality contract performance! ...2022-10-2115 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!27-How ISO Certification Can Help You Win SubcontractsLarge business bidders are frequently required to subcontract ~ 30% of the value of their contracts to small businesses due to the Small Business Set Aside Program. However, to be selected on a large business' bid team as a small business partner is non-trivial, considering that tens of thousands of small businesses are vying for the same opportunity! As such, large business bidders only select small business partners that ADD VALUE TO THEIR PROPOSALS...and this value must be 100% tangible. Simply "being good" at something doesn't count. ISO Certifications add value in the form of additional evaluated points or as proposal "stre...2022-10-1410 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!26-Why ISO Certification...NOW!A startup, by definition, is a new company, possessing no past performances or ongoing customer relationships. Without any corporate experience, corporate credentials are EVERYTHING! The most recognized and prestigious corporate credentials that can be legitimately obtained my startups are ISO Certifications. These certifications include ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 27001 Information Security Management System, and other globally-recognized industry best practices. ISO Certification conveys corporate maturity, a validated adherence to industry best practices and low performance risk. When you need help to penetrate markets the most...now is the time to obtain ISO Certification! _________________To get on the fast t...2022-10-0708 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!25-Using a Startup Business ModelInstead of downloading and populating a massive, largely useless business plan template, this topic discusses how a living, breathing business framework (or model) is tremendously more useful. A business framework or business model can be 100% customized to your specific industry and company. Most importantly, it is a dynamic tool that is intended to be iterative, allowing you to revisit past decisions and data points!_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the la...2022-09-3024 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!24-Finding the Right Startup MentorThere are tons of books, podcasts and social media outlets by successful leaders, business executives, and motivational gurus. Without question, these people are wildly successful. However, does that make them good mentors...FOR YOU? Chances are...no. Finding a great mentor is incredibly important! But they must be aligned with your goals to be truly impactful. Listening to a motivational speaker tell you that you must find your inner self will not help you find low-cost benefits administration support. Similarly, reading a leadership book by a Navy SEAL about a "snatch and grab" mission will not help you ma...2022-09-2322 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!23-LinkedIn Live Broadcast: Startup Infrastructure RequirementsLet's be politically INcorrect for a bit. Regardless of industry, if a startup or ultra-small business bought all of the requisite infrastructure to ensure successful execution of a win, they would go bankrupt. Leadership is not "spending away risk." Heck, anybody can do that. real leadership is understanding what risks must be managed. The easiest way to manage infrastructure risks is to have a robust infrastructure PLAN that can be IMMEDIATELY executed. Are there still risks? Absolutely. But your company will avoid the catastrophic risk of going bankrupt funding corporate infrastructure before it is fully needed. _________________To get on...2022-09-1620 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!22-The Perspectives to Include in Winning ProposalsWriting a winning government contracting proposal is hard. That's why a proposal must by "built." You cannot simply starting writing on page one of a proposal and continue to the page constraint and address all the necessary perspectives to win. These perspectives include: 1. The bidder's perspective2. The customer's perspective3. External perspective4. Competitions' perspective_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin...2022-09-0923 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!21-*Special* Founder Interview with Pramod Raheja, CEO and Co-founder of Airgility Inc.Pramod Raheja is the CEO and Co-founder of Airgility Inc. Airgility is a company dedicated to making a big social impact by creating unparalleled aerial unmanned systems that can fly anywhere, including areas where there is limited or no GPS access and in confined areas. These capabilities allow Airgility to conduct the most important missions which include search & rescue, protecting our borders, delivering medical supplies to remote areas and many more important missions. Our drones utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning so they can perceive their surroundings, which enables them to map areas, track objects and provide analytical feedback i...2022-09-0636 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!20-LinkedIn Livestream Re-Broadcast--Use a Business Model Vice a Business Plan TemplateWhen launching a company, an iterative business model or framework is tremendously more effective that focusing on completing a massive business plan template that are available online. _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/s...2022-09-0128 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!19-"Good Enough for Government Work" and Other MisconceptionsThis podcast discusses the sensitive relationship between customer and business owner/service provider. _________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTu...2022-08-3015 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!18-Webinar: How ISO Can Help your Company Win More ContractsISO certification can be the competitive edge that empowers you to take your business to the next level. In the crowded field of Federal Government contracting, small businesses must show that they're mature, low-risk, and employ best practices. ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification PROVES you embody these traits, setting you above 99.8% of other U.S. businesses.In this FREE webinar, industry insider Randal Wimmer will let you know how ISO certification can expedite your business' growth and ability to scale. With GCA, achieving ISO certification is so much easier than you think! _________________To...2022-08-2542 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!17-*Special* Founder Interview with Rich McCormack, Co-Founder of Viqtory and Founder of Assured LogIQGCA Cohort member, Rich McCormack, is the Co-Founder of Viqtory and Founder of Assured LogIQ. He has over 20 years of experience starting and operating media, marketing and technology companies. Upon leaving the Navy, graduating from business school and a short stint with International Paper, Rich took his short, but impactful experience, and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey. Joining up with Navy friend Chris Hale, in 1998, Rich and team launched a number of companies, most notably a venture-funded startup called Stars & Stripes Omnimedia incubated out of Carnegie Mellon University. In 2001, after the burst of the dot.com bubble, St...2022-08-2342 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!16-E Sound-Off GovCon LinkedIn Livestream 2_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2022-08-181h 02Entrepreneur Soundoff!15-E Sound-Off GovCon LinkedIn Livestream 1_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2022-08-1651 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!14-*Special* Founder Interview with Joshua Skule and Dan "DZ" Dzenitis of Bow Wave_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2022-08-0958 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!13-ROI on an Investment of $500 in the RIGHT Market_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2022-08-0411 minEntrepreneur Soundoff!12- *Special* Founder Interview with Scott Shipman, President of Invicta Solutions Group_________________To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/_________________Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy2022-07-2848 min