Making It As An Entrepreneur In Government Contracting

On this episode of Gathering The Kings, Carla James, CEO of Solidus, joins Chaz Wolfe on the queen’s stage. As a woman-owned engineering firm operating in the Government Contracting space, Carla's company provides technical expertise to government organizations, playing a crucial role in securing national security.During the episode, Carla shares her experiences, including the challenges she faced when a prime contractor ghosted her company, leading to layoffs before the holidays. Chaz and Carla dive into the significance of being mission-driven, the art of spotting red flags in business partnerships, and the power of stepping out of one's comfort zone for personal and professional growth. Tune in to this episode and discover the insights from a true boss in the industry. During this episode, you will learn about;[00:00]  Introduction[01:52]  Intro to Carla and her business[03:20]  What is the burning desire inside of Carla?[04:45]  How did Carla’s background in the Air Force shape who she is today?[10:22]  The unplanned experience of starting a business with her business partner[13:27]  The logic and courage that went into Carla’s decision to start a business[17:37]  A good business decision that Carla has made[19:55]  A bad business decision that Carla has been able to learn from[23:31]  What did Carla learn about people after making this bad decision?[28:04]  What does active listening mean to Carla?[32:30]  Carla’s business resource recommendation[35:04]  How does Carla obsess over family and business at the same time?[41:10]  What advice would Carla give to the younger version of herself?[42:45]  How to connect with Carla[43:50]   Info on Gathering The KingsNotable Quotes"There's always the next mission. You know, it might not be serving in the Air Force, but there's always a mission behind everything you do." - Carla James"Getting out of your comfort zone is really the only way you're going to grow." - Carla James"We spend so much of our time at work, so you want to make it purposeful." - Carla James"I think for the most part, people are good, and I've had so many amazing employees and partners throughout the years. But every now and then, you have a bad apple, and I just have to be on the lookout for them and hopefully recognize it sooner rather than later." - Carla James"I'm a big fan of reading, so I encourage all my folks to just be curious and read." - Carla James"Being a CEO can be lonely." - Carla James"There is no king or queen talk here; this is just straight boss." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)"Get out of your comfort zone to find what's fulfilling." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)"You get to go home to your own Mastermind." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)Books and Resources Recommended:Sinek, Simon. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Portfolio, 2009.Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action: Sinek, Simon: 8580001042060: Amazon.com: BooksCollins, Jim. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't. HarperBusiness, 2001.