Specialize for a fast turnaround to success. Either solve a small problem for a big market or a big problem for a small market for easy profits. Most contractors new to the game that specialize or provide innovation to their field can get wealthy the fastest this way.
Elon Musk is a government contractor that uses SpaceX to get contracts, and if you have been paying attention to the news the last 10 years you know the company isn’t established or pedigreed like Boeing. But he is now a top competitor in some of the most lucrative contracts in American history, and it only took some marketing and innovation (+ a whole bunch of luck).
Individuals who have a jump on an emerging market with scare providers historically have scored big due to supply and demand. All it takes is a nonmetallic ink pen in some cases to get huge lucrative contracts. Demand is everything here.