Tag: success

MasterMind Monday: Get in Front of Your Federal Buyer and Win!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

In this blog, we list our new MasterMind Monday highlights for you to get in front of your federal buyer and “win” in your meeting!

SET YOUR GOALS THIS 2021!

As the year 2021 starts, it’s also best to set your goals as early as now.

Also, aside from just wishing it on the stars, write these down and increase your odds of success.

You can write it on your notebook, on your phone, and anywhere else where you can see it. 

Also, if you think you need to change something in your goal, then you are free to change things. You can restructure it depending on your preference. Just be committed about what you’re doing and keep all your goals in mind. 

“When we start to process this stuff in our mind, we make a shift and we look at what we’re doing and we start doing things a little bit differently to create the lanes and the pathways, so these things can happen.”

LOOK AT CURRENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Be your own pundit. Do your own detective work and make a guess. What do you think is gonna happen in your marketplace?

Consider what President Joe Biden said:

“Remember, our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solutions lie in the attitudes and the actions of the American people.”

This is where government contractors play a tremendous role. If you have seen the inauguration, the organizations that provided the scaffolding and helped in everything in the inauguration were government contractors. 

We ushered in that change too. We, as a community, were represented right there on that stage, whether it was your company specifically or not.

In terms of the new administration, remember that everyone is also trying to figure everything out. So, while new appointees are figuring certain rules and regulations that might matter to you, do your own research as well. 

There’s new rules coming out all the time that you’ve got to be aware of, so stay on top of these and remain compliant.

It is also recommended for you to follow budgets and agency forecasts. Luckily, these are published and can be seen by the public.

So, look at the data that are showing up in these reports and analyze your business strategies. Do you need to pivot? What companies are getting all the work and how you can work with them?

CHANGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK

1. LPTA

If the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) contracts are making you poor, then better check the recent changes made in the rule. 

Analyze why LPTA has been hurting your business and get to know the new rules. 

2. Pandemic Response

With the COVID-19 pandemic still terrorizing the world, you might need to check what are the federal government’s requirements related to pandemic response.

You might have the needed products and services that can help, so don’t just wait to quote something you see on SAM or anywhere online, go directly to the agencies needing it the most. 

Besides, what’s the worst thing that can happen aside from them saying no? So, call them up and say that you wanted to help. 

3. Telework and Virtual Outreach

The federal government is also doing virtual outreach, so take advantage of these activities. Find out the next one by contacting small business specialists and other decision-makers. 

Also, remember that most people are doing telework right now, so call your potential government agencies and provide them something of value while also building relationships with them. 

4. CCMC

Those of you who are in the IT industries and those who are doing business with the Department of Defense should already be tracking your Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CCMC).

You should also learn more about this matter and pay attention in order for you to become compliant. 

5. Diversity Inclusion Trainings

The prohibition on diversity inclusion training has been rescinded, so those that are developing these kinds of training are once again welcome and encouraged in the federal agencies.

FEDERAL CONTRACTING IS A RELATIONSHIP GAME

There’s no such thing as doing business with the government. There’s only doing business with people.

Remember, there’s a real federal human behind every federal agency who puts everything on the line when they choose you.

In fact, it is recommended for you to reach out to your local Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, your target agency’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), and other government decision-makers. 

Apart from that, why not work with other government contractors? If you are a small business, you really want to expand your network and work with primes. 

Consider that these primes also need to reach their subcontract requirements. They need subcontractors that are familiar in a specific facility and that can provide the product or service that they need to fulfill the overall contract. 

RESOURCES

In doing business in the federal marketplace, you should learn to be a detective. Track the changes in the govcon policies and analyze how these affect your business and the future.

If you want to learn more about how to get in front of your federal buyer, then check the full Mastermind Monday video with Judy Bradt. 

You can also visit the GovCon Giant website or the new GovCon Edu where you learn everything about government contracting!

How to get in front of your Federal Buyer and “Win” your meeting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbLqQWtFiZE

Cesar Nader: Master the Process and Gain Success!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Master the process of building a successful business with Cesar Nader!

BACKGROUND

Cesar Nader is a retired U.S. Marine who served the country for over 20 years.

During his service, he completed two combat tours and graduated from three undergraduate majors, two minors, two master’s programs, and studied Chinese and French.

After living abroad, he returned to the country in 2011 and built X Corp Solutions, providing professional services support including cybersecurity, counterintelligence, information technology, and training and education. 

Apart from this, Nader is also the acting Director of the American Cyber League, the Executive Director of the Cyber Bytes Foundation, and an executive coach teaching businesses in mastering the process and gaining success.

“We never think of what we do as a money-making proposition, but rather as a fulfilling thing that will permeate and create ripple effects for others. So, we thrive on the success of others.” 

BUILDING X CORP SOLUTIONS

When Cesar Nader retired from the Marines, he built his company, X Corp Solutions, with the goal of doing something greater while also making sure that it can sustain her five children. 

During that time, Nader became interested in real estate and in that process, he also learned about government contracting. He was then inspired by a mentor who also got out of the Marines, built a company, and hired his fellow veterans. 

At first, he modeled his company on Booz Allen, but he realized that these two companies were not really in the same category; so, he researched and persevered and found that he needed to master and improve the process. 

“You take these components and you build it together more efficiently, and then your success in how you exceed expectations. And so you start cranking the engine. So, for me, it was learning the process, mastering it, then making (it) more efficient, and then hitting it again and again, and just going after it in a more efficient, with more partners, more robust pipeline, you name it, right?”

GOAL OF AMERICAN CYBER LEAGUE

Through the Cyber Bytes Foundation, Nader also built a Cyber Security Center of Excellence in Stafford, Virginia.

With the use of this cyber ecosystem, they can help train people and provide a place for individuals to build their own technology.

Apart from this, they can also be a member of the American Cyber League wherein they, together with other companies, address research and innovation issues within their industries.

“It’s essentially a place for any company to come… We will help you. No cost, no expectation of payment. We want to bring the solutions to the government and let the government pay for those solutions and fund the projects.”

THE KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS

In building and managing his business, Nader also faced a handful of hardships and problems with other individuals whom he trusted. However, he continues to believe that the sun will always come out. 

“We never stay in the Valley of the shadows. And if you are willing to just keep walking in either direction, at some point, the terrain starts to go up, no matter how low you think you’ll go, it starts to go up. But if you stop in sulk and suffer and ask yourself, Oh my God, where am I? What am I going to do? You’re going to just get stuck. And you’re going to camp out in the Valley of the shadows. And then you can become a nomad in the Valley of shadows.”

Aside from that, he continuously masters the process and becomes efficient at what he does. He was not the number one but he managed to be on the top. 

“It’s like, listen, if I did it, you can too, it’s just follow the process, become disciplined, obsessed with it. And once you master it, find ways to make it more efficient. There lies the real success, because when you make it more efficient, you have something you can sell better than your competitors.”

Ultimately, he knows how to ensure that he does what he should do as the leader of his company, as well as be an inspiration for other people. 

“You may make yourself a CEO at the beginning, but you will only remain a CEO if you’re able to solve those problems that people expect you to solve, because that is your most important job to take care of your people and make sure that the company is there for them to continue.”                                                   

ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

1. Master the process.

You can’t grow your business when you don’t even know the process, deal with it in the right manner, and create an efficient pipeline out of it. 

“A lot of people think that you got to where you did by just walking around aimlessly and you got lucky. ‘Oh, he got lucky because he’s got a great, look at his smile, that’s how I get business.’ Or, ‘He got lucky because she came from the right school.’ You learn the process, mastered it, improved it, and then work on making it, you know, exceed expectations.” 

2. Respond to RFIs. 

A request for information or sources sought notice may not get you a contract award but it will get you into the game.

And if you’re persistent and consistent, you will continue to become one of those thoughts in their mind. 

3. Don’t be afraid of rejections.

You’ll be in so much pain when you receive your first rejection, but, instead of crying over it, you should use it as a motivation to focus on your first win. 

“To me, rejection is a joy because we know that the more we get the closer we are to a win. If you’re afraid of rejection, you already started on the wrong path. It’s like, I, and I say this to everybody, don’t focus on success, focus on rejection, because if you’re okay with rejection, you will be less sensitive to the no.”

4. Have a positive mindset. 

There will always be challenges. regardless if you’re still on your way up or you’re already on the top. What makes the differences is how you look at it. 

5. Ask tough questions.

Get off the sidelines and don’t be afraid to ask, regardless of how many questions you have, because by the time your questions are answered, you become an expert in the process. 

“The only thing you can do is make those camels drink the water because you essentially have the well to them. You brought the well filled with water, unless you beat them with salt so they can get thirsty, these camels are not going to drink the water.”

6. Help others succeed. 

All of us want success but don’t try to focus on the steps that you’re taking, but on the people that you meet along the way because in the end, you’re not going to be counting dollars but counting relationships. 

“The success that you build is based on what you just saw here, a chemistry shared by a passion to help others. So, try to do the same. And if you are successful, remember one thing and that is to help someone else, reach down, grab a hold and pick them up and get them gone.”

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more on how Cesar Nader mastered the process of building a successful business, then be sure to click the resources below. You can also visit the GovCon Giant website or the new GovCon Edu where you learn everything about government contracting!

074: Cesar Nader – Practical Advice on how to grow your company in the federal arena

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/podcast/074/

Advice on GROWING📈 Your Company in the Federal Arena!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvbZzTXUbVw

I FAILED 3x and LIVE to Talk About It!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Today, I failed three times, but these failures are important and I’m here to tell you why.

MY THREE FAILURES AS OF TODAY

Failure #1:

My first failure is that I purchased new domain names with GoDaddy that cannot be transferred for six months to my hosting company, Bluehost. 

Failure #2:

Then, there goes two hours down the drain of me trying to figure out how to transfer them. And because I’m smart, I decided to purchase a new domain directly with host Bluehost. 

There goes my second failure. This Bluehost domain could not be installed because the version of Prestashop, a software that I need, is outdated.

Failure #3:

So, after figuring out for an hour, I then proceeded to purchase a new domain name with 1&1 hosting company because they are the official hosting company of Prestashop and I also purchased a website template from TemplateMonster to install with my new hosting.   

However, after three hours of trying to install that template, I found out that it was for the old version of Prestashop 1.6 and not with my current version of Prestashop 1.7. 

To convert it, it would be $900 for a $139 template. So, there is my third mistake. 

Luckily, after finding a substitute template with customer service, we exchanged it for the new one and I negotiated free installation with the company.

HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THESE FAILURES?

So, let me ask you, what failure did you face this day and how did you deal with it?        

I know that each person who is on their quest in achieving their dreams may be attempting something challenging and scary on a regular basis. And this is normal and a must. 

I even continuously educate myself in order to increase my skills. In learning new things such as software internet marketing and web hosting, I know I will continue to fail.

However, I know that these activities will only expand my mind, take me to new places, and help me realize possibilities that I’ve never witnessed. So, I will continue to press forward. 

Apart from that, in order to get unusual results, you must become an unusual person.

“If you are comfortable, then you are not unusual.  If you are not unusual, then you are getting standard results. And if you are getting standard results, then you can count on your life being the same as it is today.”

I read a quote in an article the other day that said if you are not working at your job, then you do not have a job.

I am not saying that you want wealth, riches, and fame. But in this day and age, if you want an adequate life, then you need to invest in yourself a little more.

Learn a new trade, skillset, or a language. Besides, there are many resources out there, both free and paid, such as Coursera and Dualingo.  

Start networking with people whom you can’t afford to be around. Volunteer your time at charity events. Besides, with hundreds of events happening in each city across the country, now is a greater time than ever to participate and expand your circle.

“Become a person of value to others and you’ll grow both spiritually and prosper greatly.”

RESOURCES

With that in mind, if you want to grow in the federal marketplace, let GovCon Giants help you. Just visit our website and other social media platforms or check the new GovCon Edu where you learn everything about government contracting!

You can also check these resources below to learn more about the topic:

Listen Here If You Want To Take Action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDjuSKMwE7o&t=1013s

5 Step Formula for Overnight Success

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMMWh5dSbgU

Where do I start?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6-jBNNcc98vgItLSmWLW2nZfNv9gOFeJ