This is a 1099 who maximizes billable hoursSource I'm currently in Portland, OR for a little over two weeks. Taking long vacations is one of those great perks about going 1099. But people who go 1099 can get a little antsy about planning vacations, because every hour they're on vacation is an hour they're not billing. You are "losing money" As a 1099 in the government space, you have the benefit of getting longer term, stable contracts while also having flexibility in terms of how much...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Me aging out of analytics skills I never cared all that much about analytics. I just happened to stumble on it and had a moderate interest in automating tedious stuff in Excel. Turns out this was valuable to my company and government clients, so I was able to use these skills to become a 1099. But because I am not super interested, I don't care to keep improving my skills beyond necessity. The problem is, there are people (many of whom are younger) who are SUPER interested in this stuff! They...
2 days ago • 1 min read
I had to leave Dunder Mifflin and go 1099Source I recently joined the board of my daughter's Co-Op pre-school as the treasurer. I attended my first informal board meeting as the member and gave a short update about finances. Then, I listened to the other members' updates and the various complaints they had and I was...so bored! The feeling was familiar to me. It was the same feeling I've had at most work meetings I've participated in, particularly as a W2 employee. The company wants me to...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Why would you want to work in #GovCon?Source I wrote my book because I wanted to help current W2 employees of government contractors become solo 1099s. But, I have had a few people who worked in other industries ask how they could break in. My response to them is usually, why would they want to? I've found that almost no one in the government contracting industry deliberately pursued it. They just stumbled into it coming out of the military or because they happen to live in DC and that's...
6 days ago • 1 min read
How I introduce other people: "Mike meet Bond, James Bond."Source One of the core principles of networking is that you need to be helpful. If you're always just asking for stuff, people are going to start avoiding you. One way to do that is to introduce people to each other. For example, if you know someone who is looking for a new job, introduce him to a PM you met who may need his skills. Or say your government client needs to learn more about a topic and you know an expert in said topic,...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Halt and Catch Fire @HaltAMC The realization. #HaltAndCatchFire 1:0 PM • Oct 19, 2017 79 Retweets 360 Likes Read 17 replies When I first went 1099, I applied to grad school thinking I'd use the extra money I would save to fund my living expenses if I got in. Well, I never got into grad school, and then I ended up doing the 1099 thing for a long time. The thing is, my goal was to never become a 1099 for its own sake. It was to buy myself more time and resources to go to grad school and do what...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Most days for me My company was recently awarded a contract on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Now, this doesn't mean I actually won any work. It just means that if the government wants to do business with me, they can use the MAS as the administrative vehicle. There are two ways I can get work now using MAS: I can bid on stuff on GSA eBUY, where government agencies put out RFPs specifically for GSA MAS contract holders I can persuade government agencies directly to do business with me...
9 days ago • 1 min read
At least this guy is honest!Source When you're a solo 1099, you don't have to do any recruiting. You just have to find projects for yourself. When you try to grow a government contracting business, you will have to recruit people. It's tough! It's particularly tough in the early stages. Here's why: You don't have recruiting processes in place. You are probably reliant on your personal network, which will run out eventually It takes a lot of time. Reading resumes, meeting people, interviewing...
12 days ago • 1 min read
My life is a mess, I know, I should go 1099!Source In my book, I not only teach you how to become a 1099, but also help you decide whether or not you actually want or should go 1099. I think I can summarizein a few sentences what you get out of going 1099 and what you have to give for it. You get more money, more time, more control, and maybe a little excitement. In exchange, you have to put in a little more energy into your 1099 career, and take a little more risk. That's it. It won't...
13 days ago • 1 min read
