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.
Get off sinking ships
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A friend of mine works for herself as a 1099 for her previous company (outside of government contracting). She tried negotiating an increase in her rate for the new contract period but was unsuccessful. Her client says she submitted the budget in June for the following year and this year she was asked to cut it down. This is not a good sign for my friend. It's not that my friend's work is not valuable to her client. She easily outperforms the other team members. BUT, the fact that there are budget cuts in that department is a serious issue. It likely means that segment of the business is in trouble, either financially or due to internal politics. I advised my friend to start looking for other gigs while she still has time on this contract. Similarly, if you are working on a project or for a government organization that seems to be underperforming or seems to be losing their influence on the parent organization, start looking for another project. There's nothing you can really do to save the client or their organization. You can do the best you can while you're there, but you have to look out for your own interests. Even if your position is safe for a while, the act of finding other projects may result in something more interesting and lucrative, and most importantly, reduce your personal risk. It's actually best practice to ALWAYS be looking for your next gig for this reason. Remember, you can't save a sinking ship. Get out while you can. If you're interested in learning how to get your first solo 1099 federal sub-contract, check out my book: |
I'm Dale, the author of Going 1099
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.
Rocky was a 1099 If you're a decently skilled employee in the government contracting world, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to go 1099. The main differentiator I've seen between people who claim they want to go 1099 and the people that actually do it, are that the people who pull it off are just a little more aggressive (assuming they are equally skilled, in desirable fields, etc.). The successful ones "pester" their network a bit more, negotiate a bit harder, and push to go 1099 for...
Offering half a muffin can often be helpfulvia X When you're trying to go 1099, you're largely focused on what you want. Imagining getting what you want is highly energizing and motivating, so it's easy to focus our energies there. But it's important to focus on what you can do to help others. For example, when you network with people, see if there are ways you can assist them. Maybe they have a friend looking for a job in your field, and you can meet them for coffee and make an introduction...
Treat Yo Self ... to non-billable funvia Reddit One of the fun parts about going 1099 is find opportunities to increase your billable rate. My own billable rate progress sent from something like $85 -> $100 -> $110 -> $115 -> $160 ->$180 per hour over an eight year period. Those early rate increases made a big differences. Actually all of them made a big financial difference. But the thrill of bumping up your rate wears off quickly, and then you're left with figuring out how to make your work...