The Covid-19 pandemic was a catalyst for major changes in workplace culture, and societal behavior. Many types of businesses and business opportunities were gained and lost, but I’m not certain which way the scales ultimately tipped. During the pandemic, I had an opportunity to participate on the Clubhouse audio platform, a service that carved out a niche and following because of the pandemic. It was here I first experienced what I refer to as the “Fuhgeddaboudit” syndrome.

Do you know fuhgeddaboudit? You might remember if from the movie Donnie Brasco, or maybe The Sopranos series? It’s a stereotypical New York City Mafia wiseguy line, the likes of characters played by Deniro, Pesci, or the late Ray Liotta. Dictionary.com describes it this way:

contraction of forget about it (used especially to emphasize improbability, and often used as an interjection

The improbability is the reason I’m using fuhgeddaboudit because nothing more eloquently describes the condition of many aspiring federal contractors preparing to jump into this segment of the public sector. In far too many instances, someone with a remarkable background decides fuhgeddaboudit is the best approach when it comes to their core expertise and experience. Somehow, they have come to believe what they have done, isn’t relevant. I spoke with a number of these folks when I used the Clubhouse app, and I encounter them today via LinkedIn, email, and phone calls. It typically occurs after they’ve seen videos on YouTube, where some character is espousing their latest get-rich-quick schemes for anyone can find success in federal contracting, just by signing up for their coaching program.  The very negative effects of this syndrome has someone starting a business based on a product or service brand new to them, and completely contrary to anything they’ve done, or learned previously. The issue is not that they are doing something new, but the fact they are starting from ZERO with a new entity, new offering, new customers, new rules, and just a brand new environment all the way around. This is the epitome of stacking the deck against yourself. It sounds like a punchline to a really bad joke.

But, this is not a joke. People are betting the livelihoods on this gamble.

Some I’ve spoken with during and since the pandemic, have embarked on their quest to stake a claim of the untold riches “owed to them” by the Government, for nothing more than showing up. This is what they are led to believe by these YouTube channel-wielding snake oil hucksters. The things is, I don’t see this as the fault of the folks consuming this nonsense, they’ve been duped by these opportunists. I have discussions with detractors of this thing called the “middleman strategy,” and we all agree, it’s a little scary. The detractors I reference, are folks from Government and Industry vested in quashing the ill-advised mindset for similar and different reasons. Mainly, they want to ensure people know the truth. What they are learning, and who they are learning it from, is a fraud

The tactics being shared seem totally preposterous to most of us already in the business, but totally believable to the unknowing, and the desperate. Let me add, many of the people falling victim to these charlatans could easily be someone you or I know in federal contracting. Were I just starting my government contracting journey today, it could be me. Think about it. What would be the basis of doubt or scrutiny, if this misinformation was the first (and incredibly persistent) information received? It sounds ridiculous to those of us already in the business because we’ve developed context. This is me trying to build a defense for the good people being played, but I have a hard time totally exonerating them. Here’s why.

With all of the snake oil such as the flashy YouTube videos shot with a magnificent Caribbean resort as the backdrop, and tales of individual explorers venturing into this unknown (to them) but highly lucrative new world re-emerging as millionaires in a matter of months, why doesn’t someone get the “too good to be true” Spidey sense tingle? You know, the one that would have started right about the time the idea or discussion of abandoning their history, and starting something brand new, with a brand new company, in a brand new marketplace took place. Nah. No weird vibes here at all.

I offer this. If you are interested in federal contracting, know our Uncle Sam buys everything. No kidding. That knowledge and skill you developed doing that thing for the last 10 or more years, they buy that, too. Spend a little time understanding the relationship between what you have done, and what federal agencies need. If you decide to fuhgeddaboudit you might want to also apply that to federal contracting. From a cost, complexity, and risk to the customer mission standpoint, the federal sector is not the ideal place to test drive your new thing.

Peace,

Go-Go-To-Guy Timberlake