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Game Changers was designed BY government contractors FOR government contractors. The focus of every episode is to give listeners a new tip, trick, or strategy that will help them find and win more contracts. Each episode features Subject Matter Experts (SME), companies that are successfully winning contracts, or nationally recognized professional speakers and authors. The show is hosted by government experts Michael LeJeune from Federal Access and Joshua Frank from RSM Federal. Their award-winning program Federal Access has helped their clients win over $2 Billion in government contracts. Game Changers releases a new episode every other week.
Keywords: Government Contractor, Government Sales, Government Contracting, Government Contracts, Government Subcontracting, How to Win Government Contracts, Where to Find Government Contracts, Government Contract Support, FPDS Training, The Government Sales Manual, How to Respond to RFPs, How to Write a Proposal, Capability Statement, Government Trainer, Government Coach, Government Consultant.
Keywords: Government Contractor, Government Sales, Government Contracting, Government Contracts, Government Subcontracting, How to Win Government Contracts, Where to Find Government Contracts, Government Contract Support, FPDS Training, The Government Sales Manual, How to Respond to RFPs, How to Write a Proposal, Capability Statement, Government Trainer, Government Coach, Government Consultant.
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“Got a minute?” Those three words are quietly draining your business. In this episode, I break down why five minute meetings are the most expensive thing on your calendar. They fragment your focus, destroy strategic thinking, and send you into what I call the productivity death spiral.
You’ll learn how context switching kills performance, how interruptions secretly cost you revenue, and how to retrain your team to respect structure without becoming the “unapproachable” leader. If you want deeper work, higher quality decisions, and more revenue without working longer hours, this one is mandatory.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
What if building your business in a small town is actually an advantage?
In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Mullins, co-founder of Personality Pool, to talk about what startup life really looks like outside of big cities and venture-capital hype. We unpack the real pros and cons of building a company in a smaller community, from cost of living and mental health to networking challenges and unexpected opportunities.
Lauren also shares how her own hiring struggles inspired Personality Pool, a video-based screening platform designed to help businesses hire for culture and personality, not just resumes.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to move to a big city to grow your business, or how to build something meaningful exactly where you are, this episode will challenge a lot of assumptions.
This one’s honest, practical, and refreshingly real.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here:
👉 https://federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, I’m New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?
👉 https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here:
👉 https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
What do you do when everyone around you tells you your idea is ridiculous?
In this episode, Michael LeJeune shares a hilarious but powerful story from a recent small business conference that sparked the unexpected creation of “Cups and Chaos,” a fictional drive-through coffee shop featuring baby raccoons. What started as a joke quickly turned into a lesson about vision, courage, and why most people abandon their dreams far too early.
Michael breaks down why big ideas almost always sound crazy at first, why employees and institutions resist risk, and how momentum and belief can transform ridicule into opportunity. If you’ve ever let doubt, fear, or other people’s opinions stop you from pursuing something meaningful, this episode is a reminder that every dream deserves a fair fight.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Technical SMEs are critical to winning government contracts, yet many dread proposal work. In this episode, Michael LeJeune sits down with Dawn Ward, former technical lead on $100M contracts and founder of Trusted Insight, to unpack why engineers resist proposals and how leaders can change that.
You’ll learn how poor onboarding, unclear expectations, and lack of feedback create frustration, and what to do instead. Dawn shares real-world stories, practical frameworks, and leadership strategies to turn proposal participation into an engaging, high-impact experience for technical teams. If you want better proposals, stronger collaboration, and higher win rates without burning out your best people, this conversation is a must-listen.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Public speaking isn’t just for keynote stages, it’s a foundational life skill.
In this episode, Michael LeJeune breaks down practical, real-world strategies to become a more confident and effective speaker, whether you’re presenting on stage, leading a meeting, selling, or simply communicating ideas clearly. You’ll learn how to own the room before you say a word, why stories outperform data, how to trim your message so it lands, and how to use your voice as an instrument instead of a monotone delivery system.
Michael also explains how to structure talks around heroes and villains, why slides should be on a strict diet, and how to practice in a way that builds lasting confidence. If you want to stand out in business and in life, this episode gives you tools you can use immediately.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program is one of the most powerful and misunderstood growth tools in government contracting.
In this episode, Michael LeJeune sits down with Lisa Mays and Victoria Tripiano from the Catalyst Center to break down how the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program actually works, how it differs from the SBA version, and why it’s not the right fit for early-stage companies. They explain where the funding really goes, what makes a strong protégé, why mentors participate, and the role authorized subcontractors play in delivering real value.
You’ll also hear real success stories, common misconceptions, and practical advice for companies considering the program. If you’ve ever wondered whether the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program is worth pursuing, this episode will give you clarity before you invest the time and effort.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Most people think they’re failing at their goals because of discipline, strategy, or time. That’s rarely the truth.
In this episode, Michael LeJeune breaks down the real reason high performers still miss their biggest goals: they haven’t assigned enough value to them. Drawing from personal experience, psychology, and real-world examples, Michael explains why vague goals don’t demand action, how comfort quietly sabotages progress, and why every meaningful goal requires sacrifice.
You’ll learn how to get painfully specific about what you want, identify what you’re protecting instead of pursuing, create daily non-negotiables, and design your environment so the right behaviors become automatic.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain goals stay stuck on your list year after year, this episode will help you finally understand why, and what to do about it.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Many federal contractors are looking to diversify into state and local markets, but most approach SLED proposals the wrong way. They approach it just like Federal proposal and that's a recipe for disaster.
In this episode, Michael LeJeune sits down with proposal expert Michele Atkinson to break down the real differences between federal and state/local contracting. From vague scoring criteria and numeric scorecards to the outsized role of presentations, relationships, and local presence, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how SLED awards actually happen.
You’ll learn why compliance looks different, how evaluators really score proposals, why being “technically correct” isn’t enough, and how local politics and community impact can quietly tip the scales.
If you’ve been treating SLED like federal contracting and wondering why you’re not winning, this episode will change how you think about proposals entirely.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Most government contractors aren’t limited by the market, certifications, or competition. They’re limited by an invisible cage they’ve built around their business.
In this episode, inspired by a powerful moment from The Equalizer, Michael breaks down the mindset shift that separates reactive contractors from strategic builders. You’ll learn the four “worlds” most contractors operate in, why chasing bids is not a business model, and how scarcity thinking quietly forces you into bad work and thin margins.
If you’ve ever said “that won’t work in government contracting,” this episode will challenge you to rethink what’s possible and show you how to intentionally design your pipeline, positioning, and growth strategy.
If nothing changes, nothing changes. It’s time to change your world.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, I’m New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start? Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
If you think rebranding means “new logo, new website, done”… this episode will convince you otherwise. Michael sits down with Erica Dobbs, CEO of Dobson Solutions, to break down why a company with a strong reputation chose to rebrand and why timing matters when your business matures. Erica shares how her team shifted from speaking pure DoD language to building a more universal message that attracts commercial clients, without demolishing what they already built. They cover the research process, how long a real rebrand takes, why internal ownership beats outsourcing sometimes, and the three-part narrative they built to anchor the new brand: Think Partnership, Think Performance, Think Power.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
In this episode, Michael calls out a growing problem in the government contracting space, too many people are whining about FAR changes, small business rules, and politics, and not enough people are focused on winning. He breaks down why winners do not obsess over whether the rules are fair, they simply ask, “What is the new play, coach” and adapt. You will hear why your only real job is to understand the rules, build a sound strategy, and execute while everyone else is distracted and complaining online. Michael also explains how fear of the unknown, attachment to the old way, and believing that change is a disadvantage are quietly killing otherwise good companies. If you want to win more contracts in any administration, this episode is your wake up call.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaillejeune/govconstrategysession
Over 400 episodes and a decade in, we step back and ask a big question: how has government contracting really changed, and what is coming next?
In this special fireside chat, Michael LeJeune, Joshua Frank, Rich Earnest, and Tom Prokop break down the shifts that matter. We talk about rising simplified acquisition and micro-purchase thresholds, the VA and contract vehicle strategies, market maturity, and how private equity and M&A have reshaped the competitive landscape.
We also dig into data driven BD with SAM.gov's Data Bank and USAspending, the higher barrier to entry for new GovCon's, and why AI is a powerful tool, not a magic proposal button. Finally, the team shares blunt advice on who should start a government contracting business, how to prepare financially, and what it will take to win over the next ten years.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Ep 399: Winter is Coming for Your GovCon Strategy by RSM Federal
1In this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, Michael LeJeune speaks with Alexa Tsui about the industry shift from traditional business development and capture toward disciplined go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Alexa explains why top tech entrants (Palantir, OpenAI, etc.) hire “go-to-market” leaders, not old-school BD roles, and why GovCon companies must stop piling up tools and start building a repeatable story, capability portfolio, and process. Learn the essentials: define what you sell, clarify your “why,” craft case-study-driven stories, use LinkedIn strategically, and prioritize painkillers over vitamins. If you want a focused pipeline, clearer decisions, and faster scale, this episode shows where to start.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
AI is no longer a buzzword, it is quietly reshaping how companies work, hire, and compete. In this episode, I sit down with AI and automation expert (and repeat founder) Luke Thompson to unpack the real state of AI and what it means for business leaders.
We talk about why free AI tools give you a false sense of security, why executives must lean in instead of banning AI, and how to build simple automations that tame your inbox and free up real time. Luke breaks down digital twins, MCP, agent workflows, and security risks in plain English, with practical examples you can apply this week.
If you are a CEO, founder, or executive trying to decide what to do next with AI, this conversation is your roadmap.
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Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
In this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, Michael LeJeune is joined by Kim Koster (VP of GovCon Strategy at Unanet) and John Sisson (EVP of CRM at Unanet) to discuss the newly released 2025 GAGE Report. Built from the input of over 1,200 GovCon leaders, the report benchmarks government contracting performance across compliance, accounting, utilization, growth, and efficiency.
The conversation highlights why 65% of contractors remain optimistic despite tighter competition, how 79% identify pipeline performance as their top challenge, and why firms with centralized PMOs submit 10+ more proposals annually. Kim and John also explore the rapid adoption of AI, where it’s adding value, where it’s overhyped, and how integration across BD, project management, and finance is becoming a true game changer.
If you want to benchmark your business and sharpen your GovCon strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
In this solo episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, Michael LeJeune breaks down the federal government’s OneGov strategy, a move that centralizes enterprise agreements with giants like Microsoft, Oracle, AWS, and Google. For years, many contractors relied on the “middleman” model, making margins by simply reselling software and hardware licenses. But those days are coming to an end.
Michael explains why OneGov eliminates the need for traditional resellers, how it will save taxpayers billions, and why contractors must pivot from pass-through deals to high-value services like integration, customization, and managed solutions. He also shares strategies for teaming with vendors, building outcomes-based offerings, and shifting to work with higher margins.
If your business depends on reselling, this episode is a wake-up call. But if you’re ready to evolve into a true solution provider, OneGov could open massive opportunities.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
Struggling to hire elite, often-cleared technical talent in GovCon? In this episode, Jessica Oliver shares practical ways to source beyond the usual platforms and cut through the noise. Learn where top engineers actually hang out online, how to personalize outreach with transparent offers and real-life perks, and how to assess both technical skill and culture fit. We also cover managing remote teams, using employee-driven branding on LinkedIn, keeping momentum in the interview process, and when to leverage niche recruiting agencies. If you need a faster, smarter hiring engine for government contracting, this playbook will help you land the right people, faster.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
In this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, host Michael LeJeune welcomes back legal expert Steven Koprince to dissect the latest wave of proposed federal contracting changes. From GSA’s push to raise thresholds and alter the “Rule of Two,” to the potential expansion of veteran-owned small business opportunities under the NDAA, this conversation dives deep into what these changes could mean for small businesses. Michael and Steven debate the risks, share strategies to adapt, and highlight how innovative contractors can still thrive, even as giants like Amazon enter the competition. Whether you’re a seasoned prime or a newcomer navigating subcontracting, this episode gives you the insight you need to prepare for 2025 and beyond.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
In this episode of Game Changers for Government Contractors, host Michael LeJeune welcomes back Lori Revely, CEO of Cavalry Consulting and chair of SAME’s Small Business Council, to preview the upcoming SAME Small Business Conference in Phoenix, AZ. With more than 6,000 attendees last year, SAME SBC has become the premier government contracting event for the AEC industry and beyond drawing small businesses, large primes, and government partners alike. Lori shares insider tips on how to prepare with pre-conference webinars, maximize matchmaking sessions, and take advantage of capability statement reviews with experts. They also discuss the importance of SAME’s regional posts, industry days, and how one well-planned conference can fuel your business development pipeline for the entire year. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned SBC veteran, this episode will help you make the most of one of GovCon’s most valuable networking and learning opportunities.
-----
Frustrated with your government contracting journey? Join our group coaching community here: federal-access.com/gamechangers
Grab my #1 bestselling book, "I'm New to Government Contracting. Where Should I Start?" Here: https://amzn.to/4hHLPeE
Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession
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