Some Companies Have a CFO… we have a CFNo!
Many small businesses in the FedGovCon space have a CFO, who is accountable for a litany of activities in the business – Accounting and Finance, Treasury Management, Banking, Risk Management, Contracts, Legal, and more. Here at ICS, I have the luxury of not only having a CFO on my leadership team, but, as I fondly […]
Slow and Steady Wins the Race? More like Fail Fast, Intelligently
In an ever-evolving business landscape, the adage “slow and steady wins the race” is becoming obsolete. At ICS, we’re championing a shift towards “Fail Fast, Intelligently,” as detailed in our CDIO, Tom Brazil’s seminal work, “IMPLEMENTING AN AGILE INNOVATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.” This approach is fundamental to thriving in the competitive GovCon arena, where agility and […]
Elevate Accountability, Elevate Outcomes
In the dynamic sector of government contracting, accountability is paramount. As leaders, we must recognize that accountability extends beyond the individual to entire business units and teams. At ICS, our approach to fostering accountability is based on our core values and clearly written functions for every part of the organization, from leadership to Backoffice to […]
Using Core Values to Avoid Breaking the Camel’s Back
There’s an old fable about a camel that could carry heavy loads without complaint. One day, its owner, trying to maximize his profits, kept adding just one more straw to the camel’s back, believing it wouldn’t make much of a difference. But eventually, there came a point when one last straw was enough to break […]
Communicate Like a Pro: Talk, Don’t Type
In my tenure as a CEO in the government contracting arena, I’ve observed a pivotal trend: the over-reliance on email communication often leads to poor outcomes in Government and Industry. This isn’t just about miscommunication; it’s about the real costs incurred when trying to communicate and understand mission requirements. The Over-Reliance on Email Email and […]
How to Craft a Clear, Executable Vision
A clear, galvanizing vision serves as the bedrock for enduring business growth. We instill unity by articulating our niche, ideal customer, and commitment to guarantees. Documented strategically, this aligns our entire organization. Niche: Our niche establishes our special value. Rather than generic positioning, analyze the precise market gaps you fill better than anyone. Refine that […]
Overcommitted leaders struggle to focus
As leaders of small businesses, we wear many hats and juggle countless responsibilities. It’s easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of day-to-day operations, putting out fires rather than moving the needle on strategic goals. This prevents us from dedicating time to high-impact activities that actually move our companies forward. To thrive in today’s […]
The Short and Frantic Life of my AI Superintelligence Agent
Tom Brazil, CMI-CIO Chief Digital & Innovation Officer, ICS, Inc.; Chief Innovation Officer, Red Team Engineering I’ve been creating custom GPTs (AI Assistants) since the capability from OpenAI was released. In the last month, I’ve created and trained over a dozen that have drastically streamlined my day-to-day work life. I’m talking 50x improvement. My CEO, […]
Stop “Doing”. Start Leading
As leaders of growing organizations, we often wear many hats and juggle an endless list of tasks. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day work, putting out fires, and doing whatever it takes to keep the business running. However, in our quest to do it all, we risk losing sight of the big […]
The $10,000 Mistake Rule: Evolving from Doer to Strategic Leader
The $10k Mistake Rule For small business owners and CEOs, the transition from doer to strategic leader is both rewarding and demanding. In enterprise IT services, this evolution becomes particularly essential, as growth mandates a shift from hands-on tasks to a focus on strategic planning and execution. The Importance of Clarity in Roles and Responsibilities […]
