How To Make Money In Government Contracting If You're Broke

I, unfortunately, have a lot of experience with being broke. There was a point in my life where I had to get money for my plasma to buy the ingredients I needed to make my meals for the week. 

It was a concoction I would throw together with a protein, rice, some type of sauce, and maybe a little bit of frozen vegetables. It was absolutely disgusting. But getting that $25 was what I needed to help get by because all of my money went toward my expenses.

At the time, there was no Twitter, no TikTok, no Instagram. And so thankfully, for each and every one of you here today, you have the number one thing that's needed to make money in the government contracting space - which is technology. 

Goal Setting and Resilience 

Even if you're broke, as long as you have a device, you are able to make money. A lot of fast food restaurants and hotels have free guest Wi-Fi. Starbucks and other coffee places may have it too. So, you can use your mobile device, tablet, or computer to implement what I am going to share with you.

The “broke” Kizzy was years and years ago. This version that you see on your LinkedIn feed with the amazing popping curls is the Kizzy that has been awarded over $75 million in federal government contracts. 

I have a long way to go and big goals. But one thing is for sure, and that’s the fact that I'm not broke financially. My spirit was never broken, though it was definitely in a negative place a long time ago.

What you have that most government contracting professionals don’t is your time. And I’m going to show you how to use your technology to trade your time to help a federal government contractor.

Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great resource. It shows you everything you need to know about a person's professional life. You can go in there and check out all the federal government contracting companies. 

Search by industry space and you’ll start to spot different names. I encourage you to zero in on what the federal government labels as a small business. Don’t bother reaching out to the big guns like Lockheed Martin or Boeing. That’s not the way to go.

Power of Small Businesses

Now, something important I want to share with you is that you should contact a business owner like me. I’ve gotten emails and DMs where someone says, “Hey, here’s my resume, I’d love to help with marketing, admin work, or whatever you need.” Just the fact they reached out puts them ahead of the pack, even if I’m not currently hiring. 

It’s super important because small business owners, especially those just starting out, don’t have much time. Using an outsourcing company like Upwork or Fiverr can be scary. People worry about language barriers and think, “Oh my gosh, I don’t want to deal with that.” I’ve heard concerns about problems with overseas workers, like in the Philippines. So, if you’re in the United States, this can actually work to your advantage.

Many small business owners often prefer working with someone from the United States, especially if they’re government contractors. So, head back to LinkedIn and start identifying these small businesses. Plus, check out the SBA dynamic small business search. You can search by state, business size, and more. Combine all the info you gather from LinkedIn and the SBA. And hey, all this searching on the SBA is totally free.

Reaching Out and Making an Offer

Now, what you're gonna do is start emailing and calling the people you've found and offer them a service or product - something you can do to make money. You’ve got to put like 95% of your effort into turning all of your research and outreach into actual sales. 

And don’t worry about being totally perfect. Make sure you’re offering something valuable, so you can make a sale. And don’t get discouraged if the person on the other end says “no” or doesn’t reply at all. 

Building Confidence 

Going through this process is going to boost your confidence. There’s someone out there thinking, “I really could use that help. I can’t believe they reached out to me.” 

In fact, this is something Gary Vee talks about, especially for artists. For example, if you’re a musician, he suggests creating a piece and DMing it to 100 different artists and producers daily across different social platforms. 

If you’re a graphic designer, create something that’ll grab the attention of a brand, a well-known person, or an agency you’re eyeing, and send it directly to them. Why? Because you've got the time, that’s why.

Be cautious with the SBA. There are so many companies listed that you may hit an error message saying you've exceeded the limit. You’ll probably need to tweak your search criteria, like looking for 8(a) businesses in Georgia, Idaho, or woman-owned firms.

Have a Proactive Approach  

Afterwards, get into action. Reach out to these businesses, call them and email them after checking out their website. Tell them, “Hi, my name is [XYZ] and I'm here to offer you something I know you need which is [XYZ]. Let me help you get some of your time back.” You must focus on what they need. Your goal IS NOT to land a job immediately or get promised $25 an hour right off the bat. That's not how it usually works. But this outreach can open the door for a conversation, letting them see you're genuine and not a scam. 

Ideally, you want a Zoom meeting to connect face-to-face, but if you're really in a pinch, even a phone call can make a big difference. Also, find common ground to create a personal connection. Maybe you have similar backgrounds, interests, or experiences. A personal touch can make them like and trust you - and consider giving you a chance. 

Doing your homework and reaching out can lead to quick financial wins. And don't think of it as desperate or a last resort; it's smart and proactive. Most people won’t take this path because they're looking for shortcuts. But real success, like effective weight loss, doesn't come from shortcuts.It comes from real, consistent effort.

In the end, know you’re not broke. There are business owners out there looking for someone exactly like you to reach out. 

Hopefully, you’re ready to start making bold moves in government contracting. If you’d like more tips from me, then I recommend subscribing to my official YouTube channel. 

Click here today to subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

______________________________________________________________

I’m the author of the newly released book “The GovCon Winners Way: How To Win Government Contracts Faster Than Trying to Do It Alone!” At 28, I was awarded my first 5-figure federal government contract. I own and operate multiple government contracting businesses and have over $50 million in federal government contract awards. Today, I’ve helped my students win over $3M in Federal Government Contracts in less than 6 months, and I’ll help you, too! 

-#EverythingIsPossible