Can you imagine the role of Luke Skywalker being played by Kurt “Snake Plissken” Russell? How about Tom “Magnum P.I.” Selleck as Indiana Jones? Maybe it’s Daniel “Bond, James Bond” Craig as The Mighty Thor? Each actor was offered the part before the actors who finally donned these roles, but for various reasons, Russell, Selleck and Craig opted to take a pass.

Let’s go one step further. Hugh Jackman was originally offered the role of Bond for Casino Royale (the one that went to Daniel Craig), but declined it because he wouldn’t have a say in the script. In this case, it worked out just fine for Jackman who did well as Logan/Wolverine and in other productions. But how many other acting professionals missed a shot because the script wasn’t right for them? In federal contracting, a lot of companies never realize their “shot” because they’re reading from the wrong script. It might be a script perfect for someone else, or it could be a script that just doesn’t make sense at all. It happens.

In the context of federal contracting, I regularly see companies and their people operating from bad scripts that thwart their efforts to win. We developed Ethical Stalking for Government Contractors® Bootcamp fourteen years ago to help companies rewrite their scripts, and regularly see positive results for them. Our friends, Vanessa and Mike Cantave of 2 Lyons Aerospace, rewrote their federal contracting script after attending Bootcamp in August of 2022 and started seeing positive results that same month. One year later, they continue to reap the benefits of taking control of their script, having experienced consistent growth described by me and others as “nothing short of amazing.”

But rewriting your script requires more than just creativity and decent writing skills. It needs to start with a fundamental change to your belief systems to include:

• why the government will buy from you

• how they buy

• who are the best POCs

• why NAICS Codes are a distraction

• and more.

It can be done, but it takes work. We’ve been teaching companies how to do it for fourteen years in our Bootcamps. The most difficult aspect of it is upgrading the “soundtrack” many folks are playing in their heads. Soundtrack?  A few years ago, Maggie introduced me to Jon Acuff, author of:

Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking (Overcome Toxic Thought Patterns and Take Control of Your Mindset)

I’m still working through Soundtracks, but what I’ve heard and read so far, really makes sense. As I learn more about toxic thought patterns, I realize we’ve been working to help change the soundtracks of federal contractors for many years. We provide better information to those whose federal contracting belief systems are shaped by the zero experience money-grabbers on social media, while others need a reboot related to their understanding of contract vehicles, NAICS Codes, set-asides and more. So many buy into the belief their success depends on these, only to find out the truth after too much time and money have slipped through their fingers.

If you’re interested, remind me to tell you about the limiting beliefs known as set-asides and small business goals in my next blog.

Start making changes today to set yourself up for a tomorrow you really want.

Peace, Health, and Thriving in FY 2024,

Go-To-Guy Timberlake

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