GCSL: GovCon as a Second Language
Mark Amtower
Preeminent GovCon Marketing and LinkedIn Strategy Advisor offering the BEST in-depth LinkedIn training for the Federal market. GovCon Influencer, Top Rated Speaker, award-winning consultant, and Best-selling author.
We don’t make a secret of it.
We don’t hide it.
In many respects, we actually rejoice and revel in it.
After all, it is ours, an arcane argot that is unique unto itself.
GWACs, SDVOSB, BPAs, PSC, SIN, ODCs, COTR, 8(a)s, KO, WOSB, and on and on.
The language of GovCon. An intricate and esoteric dialect native to, but not limited to, Washington DC.
Newbies have to learn it before they are accepted into the community.
Occasional visitors to our market, like those event producers that visit on rare occasion, will usually embarrass themselves by misusing it. It is unlikely they will ever learn it as their visits are short and infrequent.
General business publications will invariably confuse MACs, Schedules, GWACs and IDIQs...(are you listening For....?)
If HQ is in Silicon Valley or some such hinterland, and you are the federal island in DC, I wish you good fortune...
When I was writing Selling to the Government my editors at John Wiley wanted to know why 36 pages, 15% of the text, was devoted to a glossary. My answer: you wanted a book for C-levels new to the market. My book is full of Gov-speak. The glossary is the Rosetta stone. Their response: Oh, OK.
Would you care for some SEWP?
Copyright 2020, Mark Amtower
CEO / Forbes Contributor / Inc Author
4 年?? ?? ??
So I can now tell folks I'm bilingual and not be FAR from the truth? That's great stuff, Mark. Thanks
You forgot to layer on DOD speak! Its a different dialect - different handshake!
Technology Sales Advisor working to make your Microsoft renewal a better experience.
4 年Very relevant comment. Once in the middle of a long and difficult sales negotiation the manufacturer asked me what my value was in the transaction. I told him, "I speak GovSpeak, and you are badly in need of a translator." Together we won the business and satisfied the client.
Federal Sales Guide/Senior Executive who Builds Industry Intel & Customized Winning Federal Sales Action Plans for Contractors through her ‘Three-Step Program.’ Over 10,000 people and 350 companies trained since 2002.
4 年I love talking about what I call "GovieSpeak" from the field. We can't just cover the acronyms - but what they say when we're in the room to Each Other -- as Inside Jokes. Pay attention because if you asked a question, then they say, "I can't tell you that" and then turn to a co-worker and share an inside joke - your answer is within that joke. Pay Attention to what I call "GovieSpeak" and if you don't know what they meant -- just remember what they said and decipher it when you get back to the office. One time a Fed Employee shared intel with a co-worker in front of me - and it took a drive home from WPAFB in Dayton to Chicago - six hours - for me to think about what they said in front of me enough for it to dawn on me that they did, in fact, answer my question and provide me the intel that they couldn't tell me directly. IE; "Who are you working with these days on this challenge?" "Eileen, I can't tell you that, (to a co-worker) but they like to wear Khaki, heh heh." Answer: CACI.