It's a trap! The notion that doing well on a small contract will net you bigger and bigger ones is a nice fantasy, but I've not seen it play out. I have seen it crush a lot of hopes and dreams, though.
The reality is (IMHO) running a small contract and running a big one requires different skills sets, procedures in place, etc. Doing well at one will not guarantee doing well at another, and I think they know it.
so true. got my ass handed to me chasing a large client and their promises of massive expansion with a bit of exclusivity. We got over exposed because I ignored some of the risks involved, and the large firm ultimately found a similar sized firm that could offer mostly the same product, with the benefit of also being a public company.
The reality is (IMHO) running a small contract and running a big one requires different skills sets, procedures in place, etc. Doing well at one will not guarantee doing well at another, and I think they know it.