Sirena Moore-Thomas is a “mompreneur,” author, and business strategist. She is the CEO and Founder of The Highmark Group LLC, a management and federal contracting and consulting firm that has partnered with industry leaders, former procurement officers, and sought-after consultants to support businesses looking to provide goods and services to the federal government. Sirena is also a speaker and executive coach whose entrepreneurial proficiency has been recognized by several accolades, including Philadelphia's Top 40 Under 40 and SBA Region 3 Young Entrepreneur of the Year.She is the author of Water Walker: How to Embrace Uncertainty and Do What Seems Impossible and hosts the B.M.W. Life Podcast.

Sirena joins us today to outline how you can get federal government contracts without writing a single proposal. She differentiates between state and local government contracting and federal contracting. She defines the Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP) and specifies the ways the federal government buys products and services. Sirena also reveals the best government agencies to go after for contracting and underscores why going for government contracts at the federal level is a great way to expand a business.

“Go to where the money resides—and the money resides at the federal level.” - Sirena Thomas

This week on SmallBizChat Podcast:
The genesis of Sirena’s entrepreneurial journey
Why federal contracting is a powerful way to expand your business model
Getting started with federal contracting
The Simplified Acquisition Procedure and how the federal government buys contracts
How to find buyers in the federal government
How to find government purchase cardholders online
Why federal contract vehicles are not necessary for small contractors
A reasonable sales cycle or timeline for pursuing federal contracts
Making the hard, frightening phone calls
The best government agencies to seek out for contracting
The best small business advice and old-school marketing tip Sirena has received

Resources Mentioned:
sam.gov
usaspending.gov
iThoughts App
Book: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamworkby Dan Sullivan

Connect with Sirena Thomas:
Sirena Thomas Website
Mission 500k
The Highmark Group LLC
The B.M.W. Life Podcast
Book: Water Walker: How to Embrace Uncertainty and Do What Seems Impossible
Sirena Thomas on LinkedIn
Sirena Thomas on Instagram
Sirena Thomas on Facebook
Sirena Thomas on YouTube

Let’s End Small Business Failure - Together!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the SmallBizChat Podcast - the show on a mission to improve small business success. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review. Help us spread the word and end small business failure by sharing your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media. Visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube for more great content, tips, and strategies to improve your small business.

Sirena Moore-Thomas is a “mompreneur,” author, and business strategist. She is the CEO and Founder of The Highmark Group LLC, a management and federal contracting and consulting firm that has partnered with industry leaders, former procurement officers, and sought-after consultants to support businesses looking to provide goods and services to the federal government. Sirena is also a speaker and executive coach whose entrepreneurial proficiency has been recognized by several accolades, including Philadelphia's Top 40 Under 40 and SBA Region 3 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. She is the author of Water Walker: How to Embrace Uncertainty and Do What Seems Impossible and hosts the B.M.W. Life Podcast.
Sirena joins us today to outline how you can get federal government contracts without writing a single proposal. She differentiates between state and local government contracting and federal contracting. She defines the Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP) and specifies the ways the federal government buys products and services. Sirena also reveals the best government agencies to go after for contracting and underscores why going for government contracts at the federal level is a great way to expand a business.
“Go to where the money resides—and the money resides at the federal level.” - Sirena Thomas
This week on SmallBizChat Podcast:
<ul>
<li>The genesis of Sirena’s entrepreneurial journey</li>
<li>Why federal contracting is a powerful way to expand your business model</li>
<li>Getting started with federal contracting</li>
<li>The Simplified Acquisition Procedure and how the federal government buys contracts</li>
<li>How to find buyers in the federal government</li>
<li>How to find government purchase cardholders online</li>
<li>Why federal contract vehicles are not necessary for small contractors</li>
<li>A reasonable sales cycle or timeline for pursuing federal contracts</li>
<li>Making the hard, frightening phone calls</li>
<li>The best government agencies to seek out for contracting</li>
<li>The best small business advice and old-school marketing tip Sirena has received</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sam.gov/content/home">sam.gov</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.usaspending.gov/">usaspending.gov</a></li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ithoughts-mind-map/id866786833">iThoughts App</a></li>
<li>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork/dp/B08KYKR23H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A14U9HIMVM67&amp;keywords=who+not+how&amp;qid=1656489892&amp;sprefix=who+not+how%2Caps%2C340&amp;sr=8-1">Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork</a> by Dan Sullivan</li>
</ul>
Connect with Sirena Thomas:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sirenathomas.com/">Sirena Thomas Website</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mission500k.com/">Mission 500k</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teamhighmark.com/">The Highmark Group LLC</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sirenathomas.com/podcast/">The B.M.W. Life Podcast</a></li>
<li>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1072019868?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&amp;pf_rd_r=2EZHP6R9PW4W6H41YWXZ">Water Walker: How to Embrace Uncertainty and Do What Seems Impossible</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirena-moore-thomas-38336ab/">Sirena Thomas on LinkedIn</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mission500k/">Sirena Thomas on Instagram</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/3736908579676116">Sirena Thomas on Facebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR99K-ZBb6on-lstaDGZZFA">Sirena Thomas on YouTube</a></li>
</ul>
Let’s End Small Business Failure - Together!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the SmallBizChat Podcast - the show on a mission to improve small business success. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bizchat-podcast-podcast/id1478923954">Apple Podcasts</a>, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review. Help us spread the word and end small business failure by sharing your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media. Visit our <a href="https://succeedasyourownboss.com/">website </a>or follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/smallbizlady">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/smallbizlady">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindaemerson/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smallbizlady/">Instagram</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/melindaemerson">YouTube </a>for more great content, tips, and strategies to improve your small business.

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 20 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker and expert on small business development and social media marketing. She publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners. Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter.

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America&rsquo;s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 20 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker and expert on small business development and social media marketing. She publishes a resource blog&nbsp;<a href="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1520300757352000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHFXr56HNzQeIZfM3QAFV_yFBNxFw" data-wpel-link="external">www.succeedasyourownboss.com</a>. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners.&nbsp;Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter.

The Small BizChat

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social media and content marketing. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox News.

She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition and her latest book is Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

Melinda F. Emerson, &ldquo;SmallBizLady&rdquo; is America&rsquo;s #1 Small Business Expert. She&nbsp;is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social media and content marketing. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship.&nbsp;In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox News.
She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog&nbsp;<a href="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/" data-stringify-link="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.succeedasyourownboss.com</a>. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of&nbsp;Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months,&nbsp;2nd Edition&nbsp;and her latest book is&nbsp;Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

The SmallBizChat Podcast

Sirena joins us today to outline how you can get federal government contracts without writing a single proposal.

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