My first attempt at starting a company was called TrekDek. It was a deck of playing cards that had a different travel challenge to accomplish on each card. For example, one card would say to eat the street food and another would challenge you to strike up a conversation with a local. I worked on it for a few years and eventually gave up. In the end, I netted zero dollars. I loved the idea, but for a number of reasons, it wasn't successful. What I realized later was that I was confusing my love for novelty and originality with the desire for a successful business. Contrast that with going 1099. With my first shot at it, I earned an extra $40k-$50k. I didn't invent solo 1099 federal sub-contracting and I didn't invent data analysis as a professional service. It was 100% not original. Now I'm also building a "real" government contracting company by hiring qualified people to do the work the government wants done. This is also 100% not original. If you have concrete business goals, being original should be a low priority. You can certainly be original within the business, but usually this manifests in more conservative ways, like being faster at delivering your service or doing it to a higher level of quality. It requires original/creative thinking but within the very unoriginal constraints of a traditional service business. If you're an entrepreneurial/creative type, that's great! Definitely use that side of your brain and personality. But if you want the relatively quick win of working for yourself and making more money, don't focus on originality and instead just focus on fundamentals: being technically competent, actively networking, and pitching 1099 arrangements. If you're interested in learning how to get your first solo 1099 federal sub-contract, check out my book: |
Going 1099 is a book that teaches you how to become a solo federal sub-contractor and gain control of your working life, earn more money and unlock more free time. I wrote it because quite a few people have asked me how they can become a 1099. I figured it was best to write a single book that I can send them and that I can share with others who are interested. This newsletter goes out Monday - Friday and covers topics that will help you succeed in starting and maintaining successful 1099 career.
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...
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...
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...