[00:00:00] Voice Over: Welcome to Room at the Table, [00:00:06] an opportunity for you to join me, Betsy Cerulo and my guests for conversations about [00:00:12] creating equitable and inclusive workplaces where leaders rise above mediocrity and our [00:00:18] teams thrive. Pull up a chair. There's always room at the table.

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[00:00:22] Betsy Cerulo: Welcome to another Meaningful [00:00:24] Conversation on Room at the table.

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[00:00:26] Betsy Cerulo: I am Betsy Cerulo, your host, and welcome to my guest [00:00:30] today, Shelly McGuire, owner of Shelly's Events and Chief Strategy Office officer [00:00:36] of Orange Slices. Today we're talking about how to prosper through change and what that [00:00:42] means. So pull up a chair, enjoy your favorite beverage, and let's get [00:00:48] started.

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[00:00:48] Betsy Cerulo: Welcome my friend.

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Shelly McGuire: Thanks, Betsy, for having me. I'm [00:00:54] excited. Me too. And you know what, given how crazy times are I, my beverage should [00:01:00] really be filled with vodka, [00:01:03] Shelley McGuire (2): but we'll go with water. I know we won't reveal what's [00:01:06] really in here,

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[00:01:08] Betsy Cerulo: so I know we are gonna have a fun conversation. [00:01:12] We, uh, we both travel in the world of government contracting and, um.[00:01:18]

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[00:01:18] Betsy Cerulo: You have been so instrumental to bring people together. So, you know, real quick, [00:01:24] let's tell the audience what you do in your company for, for the government contracting industry.

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[00:01:29] Shelley McGuire (2): [00:01:30] So, yeah, so it's been a journey, you know, um, I [00:01:36] started sort of doing this whole gathering and connecting the dots with people.[00:01:42]

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[00:01:42] Shelley McGuire (2): Back in 2016, um, you know, just really putting [00:01:48] on events for people to get together to learn about each other. Kind of learn about who your frenemies [00:01:54] are, uh, in a certain particular space. Our favorite space, good word. What's that? Good word. Frenemies. [00:02:00] Frenemies, right? They're friends, sometimes they're enemies.

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[00:02:02] Shelley McGuire (2): You know, it all depends on the day. Um, and the [00:02:06] contract. Um, so that started back in 2016 and, um, from there it [00:02:12] just kind of morphed into this bigger and better and more curated [00:02:18] type of, um. Business per se, because I was just doing it for fun, [00:02:24] uh, when I worked along with a small contractor. And now, um, more than ever, [00:02:30] it seems like people are still very interested, um, in getting together.

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[00:02:34] Shelley McGuire (2): So four years [00:02:36] ago, uh, I, well, four and a half years ago now, I started my own company called Shelly's Events, and [00:02:42] it was, um. Birthed out of, you know, kind of like what was happening in the world, you know, [00:02:48] back in the covid days, 20 20, 20 21, where really government wasn't able to come out [00:02:54] and speak. And then, you know, my former, who I was consulting with to do events, um, [00:03:00] was sold so.

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[00:03:02] Shelley McGuire (2): You look at yourself, you're like, all right, what am I gonna do? Am I gonna go with the sale or [00:03:06] am I gonna start something new? So I just started my own company, and it's [00:03:12] been going since, uh, January of 2021. Um, we focus on bringing [00:03:18] people together, whether they are government. Former government or contractors in [00:03:24] particular spaces.

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[00:03:25] Shelley McGuire (2): My favorite space, of course, how we know each other is CMS. Yes. But of course [00:03:30] we're branching out into, you know, the VA and especially DHS and, you know, in fed civ [00:03:36] areas. 'cause you know, it's not all about CMS even though they have a big budget. But, um. We're doing, we're [00:03:42] doing some good stuff here. 

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[00:03:43] Betsy Cerulo: Yeah. And I can tell you, you know, you were so [00:03:48] giving and kind to let me speak on, uh, one of the panels last year and actually that event that you [00:03:54] had last year that was focused on CMSI was able to connect with a, uh, a [00:04:00] large prime that I did business with probably 10 years ago.

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[00:04:04] Betsy Cerulo: And I hadn't seen them [00:04:06] in a really long time, so we were able to reconnect. And also by being on the panel, [00:04:12] I connected with a couple of folks because some of the things that I said, there were people [00:04:18] in the audience that wanted to continue conversation. So your work really [00:04:24] supports us, and I am really happy to see that you're moving into other agencies because.[00:04:30]

[00:04:30] Betsy Cerulo: When you go over to the Department of Defense or Homeland Security, it's different than [00:04:36] CMS. And also the requirements for those of us that are government contractors is a little bit different. [00:04:42] And I feel that when you, when you bring everybody together in an environment where, [00:04:48] you know how some of the stuff that we go to, it can, it can be a bit of a snore at times.[00:04:54]

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[00:04:55] Betsy Cerulo: Yours are not. Yours are. Vibrant and fun. [00:05:00] And then you donate money to organizations in need and we [00:05:06] need to see that.

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[00:05:07] Shelley McGuire: Yeah.

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[00:05:07] Betsy Cerulo: You know, so. Let me go over [00:05:12] to, part of the reason why I wanted for us to talk today is the government [00:05:18] contracting industry has gone through some changes. So from your perspective, what are you [00:05:24] seeing with the different executive orders that came out in January, [00:05:30] 2025 and are continuing?

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[00:05:32] Shelley McGuire (2): So I think the first biggest thing I'm seeing is a, a [00:05:36] lot of contractors, people are kind of like in this freak out mode. 

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[00:05:40] Betsy Cerulo: Mm-hmm. 

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[00:05:41] Shelley McGuire (2): And don't get me [00:05:42] wrong, like it's, it, it trickles down, right? Yes. Even though I do events, it still trickles [00:05:48] down to even myself, even to orange slices. Like, you know, you have to start kind of [00:05:54] looking at your budget and figuring out, okay, I.

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[00:05:56] Shelley McGuire (2): You know, related to, do I really need this subscription [00:06:00] or do I really need to go to this event? Or, you know, it's like all these things and do I really need [00:06:06] these people who are helping me build this business? You know what I'm, it's just a lot to [00:06:12] consider. Um, but I think all in all. You know, it, it gives us a [00:06:18] reason to kind of reset and kind of refocus and [00:06:24] reimagine like what we're really doing in government contracting and [00:06:30] makes us kind of dig deeper within ourselves to figure out like, why did [00:06:36] we get into this particular subsection, right?

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[00:06:39] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes. Why did we come into [00:06:42] government contracting? Why are we focused on particular agencies? Why are we just [00:06:48] particular in, focused into, say, CMS, like how we know each other, right? It's, it's the [00:06:54] mission, it's the goals. It's what the outcomes are for. You know, who is [00:07:00] serviced or who is being serviced by the government.

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[00:07:03] Shelley McGuire (2): You know, my people who I live [00:07:06] around, you know, I live in Florida. My, um, average age down here is 67, [00:07:12] so everyone's on Medicare. And so like, I think it's caused a lot of [00:07:18] people anxiety, but I think also too, it's caused them to dig like within [00:07:24] themselves the core to figure out okay. Let me regroup. Yes. [00:07:30] Let me refocus and let me move ahead.

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[00:07:33] Shelley McGuire (2): Keep my head down and do what I'm supposed to [00:07:36] do and keep it moving. 

[00:07:38] Betsy Cerulo: Exactly. And you know, I can tell you [00:07:42] there were some areas where my company was impacted and did I have [00:07:48] those freak out moments? Heck yeah. You know, I would, uh. I would come [00:07:54] downstairs at the end of the evening and my wife would say, 'cause I would be like, ah, and I won't say [00:08:00] those words here.

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[00:08:02] Betsy Cerulo: She'd say, you have five minutes to complain. 

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[00:08:05] Voice Over: [00:08:06] Uh, yeah.

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[00:08:06] Betsy Cerulo: And I'd let it out and then I would be fine. But what I noticed, we had a [00:08:12] couple of contracts that were, I'll use the word paused, and also [00:08:18] the reinstated. Thank God. But what that time, that period of [00:08:24] time did for me is it gave me an opportunity. To see, well, [00:08:30] how would the business be impacted if those contracts were either not recompete again [00:08:36] or if I lost them.

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[00:08:38] Betsy Cerulo: So in that period of time, [00:08:42] I was able to move our company towards some different initiatives or rethink [00:08:48] some things, you know, look at some things. So on the other side of it, excuse me, when those, [00:08:54] uh, when those contracts were reinstated. I really looked at it, that the universe [00:09:00] just gave me an opportunity, you know, could I, could I be freak out?

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[00:09:05] Betsy Cerulo: Could I get [00:09:06] angry? Sure. A lot of emotions occurred for me, but I, you know, I've been in [00:09:12] business for 35 years. It takes a heck of a lot to paralyze me, you know? [00:09:18] 

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[00:09:18] Shelley McGuire (2): Yeah, no, and I agree with you because, um, you know, I haven't been in business that long, [00:09:24] however. My background, you know, as you know, I was a teacher.[00:09:30] 

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[00:09:30] Shelley McGuire (2): I taught business. I taught entrepreneurship on a college level. I didn't know that. [00:09:36] 

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[00:09:36] Betsy Cerulo: Huh? I didn't know that. 

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[00:09:38] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes, yes. I have a lot of [00:09:42] hats that I've worn, which is really nice. Yeah, absolutely. But it's like you have to weather the [00:09:48] storm, right? Yes, yes. It's just like relationships, you know? So I equate [00:09:54] it to, I.

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[00:09:55] Shelley McGuire (2): Is again, you have to look at from within [00:10:00] and Totally. I had the same thing. I mean, you know, flashing to events. [00:10:06] I had a huge event planned for February, you know, 250 people [00:10:12] paying people. And I had, I had to hit the refund button. I mean, like [00:10:18] seriously. Yeah. Right. So it causes you to kind of think, regroup.

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[00:10:23] Shelley McGuire (2): Like [00:10:24] I said, refocus and why you got into the business. Why the [00:10:30] why? So like you have to be able to get through it. And also too, it's a good lesson for [00:10:36] people to make sure on an accounting side that you have money [00:10:42] Yes. In reserves so that. If some hits the [00:10:48] fan. Right. And you can't pay your bills like you have reserves.

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[00:10:53] Shelley McGuire (2): And [00:10:54] I think this is something that, you know, we saw, I can remember a couple years ago [00:11:00] when government decided to, um, what did they do? They, they [00:11:06] didn't pay people for like six weeks, remember? They couldn't Yes. 

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[00:11:08] Betsy Cerulo: Oh yeah, 

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[00:11:09] Shelley McGuire (2): yeah, yeah. And like. People are [00:11:12] freaking out. Yes, but I think that's the other piece of the puzzle is that.

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[00:11:17] Shelley McGuire (2): You just [00:11:18] can't be living paycheck to paycheck. 

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[00:11:19] Betsy Cerulo: No. 

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[00:11:20] Shelley McGuire (2): And you can't run your business that way either. 

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[00:11:22] Betsy Cerulo: No. 

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[00:11:23] Shelley McGuire (2): And you have to have [00:11:24] someone who is, and thankfully, like my husband is my, uh, CFO, [00:11:30] he's an accountant, financial planner. So he is always like looking [00:11:36] at, you know, what's happening and what's coming up, and.

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[00:11:39] Shelley McGuire (2): Telling me like shell, like this is what [00:11:42] needs to kind of happen. Like dial it back here. Can you cut a little bit here? So like, [00:11:48] these are times where you need to like reset, right? And to look at your bottom line. What [00:11:54] can you live with? What can you live without? And how can you sustain and maintain [00:12:00] if some, like I said, it's the fan, right?

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[00:12:03] Shelley McGuire (2): And you, you need like a, some [00:12:06] runway, right? 

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[00:12:08] Betsy Cerulo: Yes, I, I share that I was [00:12:12] brought up to be frugal and save. And [00:12:18] I found that over, over the years, I just would sock the money [00:12:24] away. So when things would, there would be a shift. I wasn't worried about [00:12:30] money. Uh, and I always, I still follow that, you know. I [00:12:36] need to make sure, I wanna make sure that we're always on solid ground.

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[00:12:40] Betsy Cerulo: Yeah. I know other [00:12:42] business owners, the things they run through their companies. I would be like, are you kidding me? [00:12:48] Really? Yeah. Uh, there's other ways to do that. You know, boats, [00:12:54] houses, I'll go down the list. Well, you know, I'm not a boater. But nonetheless, I was [00:13:00] always really careful and mindful to keep the books crystal, crystal clear [00:13:06] and clean, and I'm a finance person, so I.

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[00:13:09] Betsy Cerulo: You, you always have to say for a [00:13:12] rainy day, and, and business in general is volatile, so I know we've, we either, it's [00:13:18] been fast and furious this year in 2025 with the changes, but that's what [00:13:24] business is all about. And if you can't handle change, then maybe this is not, [00:13:30] entrepreneurship may not be your thing.

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[00:13:32] Shelley McGuire (2): So I'll piggyback on that. So yes, I [00:13:36] agree with you 1000% because, you know, teaching entrepreneurship. [00:13:42] Yes. You have to have that mindset, right? And you can't be like a [00:13:48] micromanager, like you are the big thinker, right? Yes. You surround yourself with people who are, I mean, 'cause I do, [00:13:54] I can tell you that right now.

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[00:13:55] Shelley McGuire (2): If you saw my SAT scores from back in high school, you'd be like, um, oh, me [00:14:00] too. 

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[00:14:01] Betsy Cerulo: I, 

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[00:14:02] Shelley McGuire (2): and I took them more than 

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[00:14:02] Betsy Cerulo: once. 

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[00:14:03] Shelley McGuire: I took them twice. My husband's like, [00:14:06] Shelly. Did you even go to the test? I'm like, shut up. Yes, I did it.[00:14:12] 

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[00:14:13] Shelley McGuire (2): But, but, but like I say this because like, you know, when I taught, kids would come in [00:14:18] and they thought it was, like, they're like, Ms. McGuire, we're not, I'm not gonna do anything with my life. I'm like, listen, girl or guy. [00:14:24] Uh, if it was a determining factor of like, your success, like I'd be scrubbing toilets.

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[00:14:29] Shelley McGuire (2): That's, and [00:14:30] just trust me, I scrub my own toilets every once in a while, but. With that being said, [00:14:36] you have to kind of look at yourself. So for, to have that entrepreneurial spirit, I feel like yes, you can [00:14:42] run a business. Two, um, you have other things you've done to [00:14:48] get here. You are not just a one man show or a girl show, right?

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[00:14:53] Shelley McGuire (2): Correct. Like, [00:14:54] you either have a partner that's kind of like helped you, you know, move to that particular [00:15:00] entrepreneurial side of you, or you've done something where you worn multiple hats. So for [00:15:06] me, you know, I have my own business. My husband and I share a business together. [00:15:12] Then I have a real estate business that I do on the side.

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[00:15:15] Shelley McGuire (2): I have rental properties that I do on the [00:15:18] side. Then I have, you know, like. The orange slices piece of the puzzle, [00:15:24] you know, to keep that moving. So it's like all these different things. I was doing a, um, car [00:15:30] rental type of business. Oh yeah. I could go on for days on the things that I've done on the side just to see if they, you're a [00:15:36] serial 

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[00:15:36] Betsy Cerulo: entrepreneur, 

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[00:15:37] Shelley McGuire (2): right?

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[00:15:37] Shelley McGuire (2): So it's like you have to have those multiple streams of income. So you [00:15:42] know, people who are used to like a W2, that's that fine. [00:15:48] That's good. However. You being a business owner, you honestly have to [00:15:54] kind of, sort of diversify your portfolio [00:16:00] and, and, you know, you hit the nail in the head with having, you're saving that [00:16:06] money.

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[00:16:06] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes. Instead of like. Right. Freaking doling it out everywhere and buying all these [00:16:12] things and Correct. It's not, and buying a yacht. 

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[00:16:13] Betsy Cerulo: Oh, yeah. Let me, my, my yacht will pull up and pick me up. I, I, [00:16:18] and, and during these tough times, once in a while I still hear people [00:16:24] brag about the stuff and, and I just think to myself, you really have [00:16:30] to dial it back because people are hurting and you need to [00:16:36] find.

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[00:16:37] Betsy Cerulo: Gratitude. So if you're on solid ground, be grateful. And I can tell [00:16:42] you one of the beautiful things about my internal team is we do focus a lot on [00:16:48] gratitude. Some people may think it's corny, but that's, that's the stuff that gets you through the hard times when you [00:16:54] look at, okay, this might be exploding over here, but let's look at the good stuff.[00:17:00] 

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[00:17:00] Betsy Cerulo: And that's where we focus, not, not discounting things that may have shifted [00:17:06] unexpectedly, but you're, you have to then look at, okay, what's my strength? Where [00:17:12] can I diversify? And I, if anything, a lot of these changes now really tell us you [00:17:18] have to diversify your business. And sometimes it takes a big clunk [00:17:24] over the head, but.

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[00:17:26] Betsy Cerulo: Diversifying is important. Like for instance, uh, [00:17:30] we lived through the recession in oh eight and oh nine. Mm-hmm. I was all commercial then. [00:17:36] So what do you think dried up commercial hiring? 'cause we're in staffing. I thought I was gonna lose the business. [00:17:42] I was just watching everything just kind of, uh, to such a great, I moved us towards the federal government.

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[00:17:47] Betsy Cerulo: [00:17:48] Best thing I ever did. So when you're in the federal government as a government contract, you've gotta [00:17:54] diversify. Look at, okay, well what are the agencies? Who's got the money? Where are you a [00:18:00] good fit? Ask questions, don't be a victim. Nobody is a victim. [00:18:06] No. No matter what happens, you're not a victim. You can, you can take diversity, or I'm [00:18:12] sorry, adversity.

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[00:18:13] Betsy Cerulo: Mm-hmm. And you can expand upon it. Agree. Don't get, don't [00:18:18] get, don't get paralyzed. Don't go down the rabbit hole of sadness and misery. 

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[00:18:23] Shelley McGuire (2): Grow. And I [00:18:24] think that's the other piece of the puzzle is that, you know, related to, you know, circling back to like events and [00:18:30] getting people together, it's not going down that rabbit hole, number one.

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[00:18:34] Shelley McGuire (2): And number two, [00:18:36] surrounding yourself with people outside of who you really talked to. So like, you know, when you [00:18:42] came on back in October to speak, you know, at the CMS event that I put together every single year, [00:18:48] um. You know, you pushed your limits, right? Mm-hmm. You were up on stage, like yes. You don't [00:18:54] usually do that.

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[00:18:54] Shelley McGuire (2): You, you've been like, tucked, tucked away. Nobody's like you, you do your own thing. Yeah. [00:19:00] You know, you keep it moving and. You know, it, it forces you to do something [00:19:06] that you probably wouldn't have done. But then it opens up this whole new [00:19:12] world to you and connections to you and gives you like a voice.

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[00:19:16] Shelley McGuire (2): Mm-hmm. So, [00:19:18] yes, that is what I love because, you know, I've had plenty of, especially women [00:19:24] CEOs, like we're very good at keeping it together, keeping it moving. [00:19:30] We don't really need our ego stroked. Usually, um, we, we [00:19:36] usually, we do like a good pat on the back and a good, like high five from each other.

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[00:19:41] Shelley McGuire (2): Absolutely. Which [00:19:42] women tend to either do or they don't. Not good at it. Most of 'em don't. So ladies out there, let's be better [00:19:48] about this, right? Thank you. Um. But like putting yourself out there as especially [00:19:54] a woman and handling like your business and showing people like, [00:20:00] this is what I've done, this is how I pivoted during tough times.

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[00:20:04] Shelley McGuire (2): 'cause there's people now who are [00:20:06] wanting to go the opposite way and wondering, so for instance, at my last event, [00:20:12] you know, on April 1st, what was happening during then? You know, was hitting the fan. Ooh [00:20:18] boy, right? Bad day. It was hitting the fan there. Little did I know that was gonna happen. Like [00:20:24] could I have scheduled that any worse or better?

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[00:20:26] Shelley McGuire (2): Not really sure. But these people were in the room together who [00:20:30] care about CMS and who wanna learn from each other and you know, they were there to discuss [00:20:36] what was happening. I mean, in real time. But they were connecting and putting [00:20:42] together the dots and you know, outside of their usual little silo that they [00:20:48] stay in and who they talk to.

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[00:20:49] Shelley McGuire (2): So it's nice when you get together with people who are not like [00:20:54] you. So, yeah, 

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[00:20:54] Betsy Cerulo: absolutely. And you know, sadly over the past couple months, [00:21:00] some of the people we all know and care about who have supported [00:21:06] us. Were released from their roles in the federal government. This [00:21:12] is a time that you stay in close touch with people like that.

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[00:21:17] Betsy Cerulo: I have, [00:21:18] and you know, I'm in the business of putting people to work. So we have, uh, been [00:21:24] working with some of our contacts to make sure their resumes look good. You know, when they're making the, the [00:21:30] transition out of the federal government, which has resumes that are bazillion pages long, that doesn't work in the, in.[00:21:36] 

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[00:21:36] Betsy Cerulo: Non-government, so you have to shorten it. So I've advised a lot of my [00:21:42] colleagues from the federal government on how to put your resume together because we can't, we can't keep. [00:21:48] Hanging out with them because we want something from them. So I look at it that some [00:21:54] of these people who have lost their jobs have been so good to me.

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[00:21:57] Betsy Cerulo: Not just gave me business, but [00:22:00] gave me direction, gave me encouragement. Were, you know, patch on the [00:22:06] back. Come on girl. Keep going, keep going. So. When the times get tough, we [00:22:12] need to also support those people and don't always look at it like, go around the room. Well, who, who's got a dollar sign on their head [00:22:18] that I can get something from?

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[00:22:19] Betsy Cerulo: Because when you give, you get, the universe [00:22:24] just brings it back to you. It does. 

[00:22:25] Shelley McGuire (2): A thousand percent. I, yeah, wholeheartedly agree with that because. [00:22:30] You have made relationships with these people. Yes. Yes. You know, so those relationships [00:22:36] will carry and will circle back around to you. Yeah. Everything, it [00:22:42] just keep, if you keep helping them, they'll help you and That's right.

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[00:22:46] Shelley McGuire (2): And you'll come up in conversation. [00:22:48] I mean, it's totally happened to me since like, and, and I've had the same thing, like a lot of [00:22:54] my speakers, a lot of the people who were my champions inside. Yeah, I have now left. [00:23:00] So it's like, I kind of look at it as, okay, like we're still friends and I'm still gonna call [00:23:06] upon you because I wanna help support you in what you are doing outside.

[00:23:11] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes. Of the [00:23:12] federal space. And how can I elevate you? Because I know it's gonna circle back around. 'cause you still have those [00:23:18] contacts. 

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[00:23:19] Betsy Cerulo: Right? And don't discount someone because they're not. [00:23:24] Your contact anymore because now that they are outside of the federal government, it's [00:23:30] easier for them to share information on some of the inner workings that may, they may not have been [00:23:36] able to share.

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[00:23:37] Betsy Cerulo: Now they're not. They can tell you. You know, stay away from that person. Yep. Go [00:23:42] work with that person. And so don't cast people off to the side. And I, and I [00:23:48] see that, you know, having been in business a long time like yourself, you see how people use each [00:23:54] other? No. You have to collaborate, be with invite. Yep.[00:24:00] 

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[00:24:00] Betsy Cerulo: And that attracts prosperity. 

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[00:24:03] Shelley McGuire (2): It, it does wholeheartedly. I can't [00:24:06] agree with you more. You know, I tend to. You know, things have changed in the landscaping as far as [00:24:12] bringing people together and who can speak, who can't speak. I mean, even they can speak [00:24:18] Yeah. A lot of people don't wanna speak now. Yes. So that's another piece of the puzzle, especially with government.

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[00:24:22] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes. Um, so you have to be [00:24:24] kind of sensitive to that and be able to kind of shift and maneuver. So, you know, [00:24:30] you, some people kind of tend to poo poo on formers. But, [00:24:36] mm-hmm. Like I have someone who in the VA, literally I reached out to him. I was like, Hey, you know, I know you [00:24:42] love to speak at my events. I know you know you have a travel restriction.

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[00:24:46] Shelley McGuire (2): Long story short, he's [00:24:48] like, Hey, just to let you know I'm going to be leaving government. I don't know if you still [00:24:54] would look at me the same. And I'm just like, I wrote back. Um, I like your look [00:25:00] even more. Absolutely, absolutely. I have to fill out less 

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[00:25:04] Shelley McGuire: paperwork. 

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[00:25:05] Betsy Cerulo: Yeah. [00:25:06] Yeah. And you know what, and they are just, they are just such an incredible bucket of [00:25:12] wisdom.

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[00:25:13] Betsy Cerulo: You know, and I, I just think back over the [00:25:18] years since I've been in the federal government, the people that I have worked with and have championed me, [00:25:24] they have gone on to do some really cool stuff. And even the folks that [00:25:30] completely retired, I can still reach out once in a while to some of [00:25:36] them for advice or just tap, Hey, how you doing?

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[00:25:39] Betsy Cerulo: So, but you know what, shell, [00:25:42] as we start to, to wind down the conversation, I just wanna ask you, in your opinion, tell [00:25:48] me common sense. What's a good, what's an important do and [00:25:54] what's a don't that you do in, in this space now in order to [00:26:00] thrive? Give me a good, do. 

[00:26:02] Shelley McGuire (2): So what you do. To me [00:26:06] is you, you gotta stay on top of what's kind of happening around you.[00:26:12] 

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[00:26:12] Shelley McGuire (2): You know, you don't have to dig into the weeds to see or to [00:26:18] read what is happening, but just making sure that [00:26:24] you're, you're aware, number one, yes. Number two, you're checking your own [00:26:30] self with people. Not just the people in your silo, but [00:26:36] outside of your, you know, common network that you have. Because I think that is really [00:26:42] important at this particular, um, stage in the game.

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[00:26:46] Shelley McGuire (2): Absolutely. And [00:26:48] just maybe the last piece of the puzzle doing is really [00:26:54] reflection on yourself. Why the why? Like, do [00:27:00] I stay in this particular agency or do I need to kind of [00:27:06] start educating myself, which is always. Number one for me when [00:27:12] I, you know, put on events and things like that. Is the education piece, like [00:27:18] knowledge is everything.

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[00:27:18] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes. So like the more that you can learn about other [00:27:24] agencies and what other people are doing to penetrate a new agency [00:27:30] for potential opportunities, I think is really key because you know as well as [00:27:36] I do these next four years. We can learn from history. So that is number [00:27:42] four? Yes. Is learn from history.

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[00:27:44] Shelley McGuire (2): Yes, I am no history person. I will, I [00:27:48] will tell you that hands down. My husband will tell you that I'm terrible. However, if [00:27:54] you look at what has happened with each presidency, right? Yes. And what, what [00:28:00] tends to happen when you have a Republican versus a a Democrat in, I mean, it's kind of like [00:28:06] black and white, almost.

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[00:28:08] Betsy Cerulo: Sometimes. Yeah. And I have, I [00:28:12] have, my company has thrived through both Democrats and [00:28:18] Republicans and because whenever, you know, whenever there's an election, some people say, well, were you better off? Were, and I [00:28:24] said, well, answer is the same. It doesn't matter to me who is in the White [00:28:30] House. It's about strategy.

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[00:28:32] Betsy Cerulo: It's about wise thinking, putting [00:28:36] yourself in the right place, and above all, you take care of your people and you be kind to the people [00:28:42] around you. So yeah. Is there always gonna be a shift? Is there gonna be drama? Of course, some [00:28:48] of us, some of us, uh, support it more than other times. Whatever the case. [00:28:54] To survive and thrive, the responsibilities on me as the business owner.

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[00:28:59] Betsy Cerulo: Yes. [00:29:00] And you have to diversify. Yes. Have to, have to have to. And when you, when you go [00:29:06] into a new agency, that seems daunting. I've looked at it that it's a new puzzle and [00:29:12] given my years of experience, it's something new for me to learn. 

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[00:29:15] Shelley McGuire (2): It. No, I, I [00:29:18] 100% agree. It's, um, you're chartering new territory. You are being the entrepreneur [00:29:24] that you started to be.

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[00:29:25] Shelley McGuire (2): So don't get comfortable. Yes, don't get comfortable. And I think that's the [00:29:30] other piece of the puzzle is you have to push the envelope and that's kind of like [00:29:36] what. Where, I mean, that's how you become a little bit more successful and, and, and look kind of [00:29:42] like, look under the hood just a little bit to kind of understand like, what about these other [00:29:48] agencies That can translate from what I do here to there.

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[00:29:52] Shelley McGuire (2): It doesn't always, [00:29:54] but like something that you said related, it doesn't matter who's in office. It doesn't. It doesn't. [00:30:00] These government workers and government contractors. Need to really [00:30:06] look and dissect themselves. You are there for the [00:30:12] mission. Yes. You don't care whose butt is in that seat up in the pearly white gates.

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[00:30:17] Shelley McGuire (2): [00:30:18] Right. Like, I mean, it is what it is. Right. It is what it is. That's right. It's what it's, you gotta make do. You [00:30:24] gotta keep doing 

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[00:30:24] Betsy Cerulo: what you do. Right. And. Stop complain. You can complain. [00:30:30] We all do, but for the most part, stop complaining and take action [00:30:36] because every administration has initiatives. Some you may agree with, [00:30:42] some you may not, uh, but you, that's what you follow.

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[00:30:46] Betsy Cerulo: You follow the [00:30:48] initiatives that either are good for your business, makes sense or matter to you. 

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[00:30:52] Voice Over: Yes. 

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[00:30:53] Betsy Cerulo: [00:30:54] So agreed. Agreed. So anyway, well shell, I am really [00:31:00] grateful for this conversation. You have just been a beacon for all of us in the government contracting industry. I love [00:31:06] your events. Whether you do them for whichever agency you do them, you will find me [00:31:12] at them because for listeners out there who are business owners or want to be business [00:31:18] owners, Shelly's got it going.

[00:31:20] Betsy Cerulo: She knows. Where to guide us and [00:31:24] your stuff is awesome. So, Shelly, I, I really appreciate you and I appreciate this conversation. 

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[00:31:29] Shelley McGuire (2): Thanks, [00:31:30] Betsy. I appreciate you having me. I feel, you know, very honored, uh, to be with you here. [00:31:36] And you know, my next question to you is, when are we gonna pickleball together?

[00:31:42] Well.

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[00:31:44] Betsy Cerulo: I can't answer that today,[00:31:48] 

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[00:31:51] Betsy Cerulo: but I think we will. Next time you come up to [00:31:54] Maryland, maybe we find some time to to play pickleball, because you know what? That's the other thing. With all the [00:32:00] craziness out there, do some things that fill your soul and surround yourself with people [00:32:06] that make you happy. If people don't make you happy, I don't care if they're friends, family, whatever, stay [00:32:12] away from the baddies.

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[00:32:13] Betsy Cerulo: Surround with the goodies, 

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[00:32:16] Shelley McGuire (2): sage advice. I do the [00:32:18] same thing. Amen. I've done a lot of cutting. I'm about to be, I'm 48, rolling up into my fifties here [00:32:24] soon, and there has definitely been some, um, trimming of the fat. [00:32:30] 

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[00:32:31] Betsy Cerulo: I literally I hear you sweetie. I hear you. 

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[00:32:35] Shelley McGuire (2): I [00:32:36] can't, I can't let this negative nelly into my world.

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[00:32:39] Shelley McGuire (2): And you know, some people are like, Shelly, it's not all sunshine and [00:32:42] rainbows. I'm like, well agree. However, if you are not bringing something [00:32:48] to the table and if you are really not giving me something to like really think [00:32:54] about, and if you're weighing me down. 

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[00:32:56] Betsy Cerulo: Yeah, no. Because we have to [00:33:00] balance it out.

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[00:33:00] Betsy Cerulo: You know, times are, times are a little craz. Now look, times have always been crazy. I, I [00:33:06] have been, certainly been in business a long time to see craziness and it's a little bit crazier now. [00:33:12] And it is what it's, it is what it is. You learn and you move [00:33:18] forward and uh, you know, the more good people stick together, the more good that'll [00:33:24] continue to get done.

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[00:33:25] Betsy Cerulo: And that's what we're all about, right? I. Yep. So. Amen. That's why we're sticking together. [00:33:30] Amen. So, Shelly, thank you again, listeners. I hope you enjoyed our [00:33:36] vibrant conversation. There will be more, but you check out Shelly McGuire. Shelly, how can people [00:33:42] reach you? 

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[00:33:42] Shelley McGuire (2): So you can find me definitely on LinkedIn, Shelly McGuire.

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[00:33:46] Shelley McGuire (2): You can find me at Shelly's [00:33:48] events. You can find me on arm slices. I do a lot of podcasting on there. Uh, [00:33:54] related to any kind of topics, you know, we have the peel, which is, um, kind of like a pope [00:34:00] on what people wanna talk about, or, uh, my former Fed Friday. Which is [00:34:06] bringing former feds to the table to talk about, you know, the transition, what they're seeing, how to make that [00:34:12] transition.

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[00:34:12] Shelley McGuire (2): So you can find me all different ways. 

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[00:34:14] Betsy Cerulo: Awesome, awesome. Well, thank you so much, [00:34:18] Shelly. And May prosperity and goodness and happiness always follow you. So to our listeners [00:34:24] out there, have a great day and know that you're great. Just go [00:34:30] do some good stuff out there, and thank you 

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[00:34:31] Voice Over: for listening. Thanks Betsy.

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[00:34:35] Voice Over: Thanks for listening [00:34:36] to Room at the Table. If you've enjoyed this episode, follow us on your favorite listening platform and share this [00:34:42] episode with a colleague or two or three for resources to help you lead with purpose and build more equitable [00:34:48] workplaces. Visit room at the table podcast [00:34:54] com.