In this Business Blast Podcast episode, host Tyler Wagner interviews Sierra Lilly, Director of Business Development and Diversity at a major minority‑owned facility services firm and founder of Higher Ground Consulting Group. Sierra shares a defining career story about confronting her greatest fear—public speaking—when she joined the firm, illustrating how embracing discomfort can unlock personal strength. She emphasizes the critical role of thorough preparation for small and diverse businesses (minority‑owned, veteran‑owned, etc.) before seeking opportunities with Fortune 100/500 companies, noting that many lack basic tools like business cards and capability statements. Sierra offers broader business advice centered on confidence, knowing one’s worth, and recognizing one’s unique value as a superpower. Reflecting on personal growth, she advises her younger self to slow down, avoid burnout, and savor life. She defines happiness as being present, a practice she’s cultivated through meditation. Sierra recommends the classic self‑help book Riches Within Your Reach by Robert Collier, highlighting its message about mindset and the power to create one’s life. Her favorite quote, “Forward always, forward always” from Marvel’s Luke Cage, serves as a reminder to keep moving forward. The episode concludes with her contact information: Instagram @Sierra_Lily and the Higher Ground website www.hiredgroundconsult.com.
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Welcome to the Business Blast Podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Wagner. This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with the support you need to finish your book. Best part is, after you finish your book, they take care of the entire publishing and marketing process 100% for you. So if you want to become a successful author, make sure to check out authorsunite.com. Now let's jump into the episode.
All right everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host Tyler Wagner, and over the last 6 years Sierra Lilly has served as the Director of Business Development and Diversity for one of the largest minority-owned facility services companies in the United States. In this position, Lilly has successfully generated over $13 million in revenue and has built relationships with a number of leading Fortune 100 and 500 corporations. With a passion for helping businesses access opportunities and achieve sustainable growth, Lily launched Higher Ground Consulting Group to expand her reach and impact in the business community. Equipped with an entrepreneurial business development and corporate diversity background, Lily provides her clients with a well-rounded perspective that lends itself well to solving a broad range of operational and business growth challenges. So welcome to the show.
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Of course. Grateful to have you on. So, Sierra, the first question that we ask on this show is, what is the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?
Excellent. So when I first started working with the facility services company, I had a list of wants, things that I wanted in a career, be it the salary range, it was the scope of responsibility, responsibilities, just several things that I wrote out prior to interviewing with that company. And when I got there to interview, all the stars aligned. Everything that was on my list, you know, fit this opportunity. But there were a few things that I had not put on my list that was a part of this opportunity, the main thing being public speaking. So at time, 6 years ago, public speaking was probably my greatest fear. And now I have this opportunity that, you know, aligns with everything that I want. But there's this also this huge fear that I'm going to have to conquer in order to fulfill these responsibilities. And so fast forward 6 years and the story is remarkable in that not only did I have everything that I wanted in this opportunity, I also had an opportunity to conquer the fear of public speaking, to get comfortable with speaking to large audiences. And looking back, I still have moments when I'm in presentations and I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe that I'm actually doing this. And what that shared with me is that, you know, Sometimes you can have these really perfectly laid out plans for your life and you can attract those, but you also want to expect that there are going to be some fears that are going to be wrapped in there or some areas of growth that you're going to have to conquer in order to not only fulfill all of what you're seeking, but also to grow. And so that was just one of those stories that has really been defining for me in that it exposed the strength that I had in this area, and I never would have explored it had I not been presented with all of these, you know, this opportunity that encompasses everything. And then they were just one little thorn in my side. Looking back, I'm glad that it was there. So that's my story.
Yeah, I love that. Actually, public speaking is something I've just recently gotten over the fear of. It's interesting. It's like a mindset shift one of my buddies helped me with. And he basically explained that, like, feeling nervous and excited are very similar feelings.
So, yeah.
So he's like, instead of, like, focusing on you being nervous, just change your mindset to you being excited. And also realize that, like, you know, he says this, like, a car doesn't go 0 to 60 in 0. Meaning, what that means is like, first off, have the mindset you're excited. Second off, realize that in the beginning of every talk you do, you're not going to be at 60 right at the beginning. It takes 20 seconds to a minute to really get into the groove. If you can kind of just accept that fact and be excited, then it works out. Now I'm giving talks in front of hundreds of people and I'm really not that scared anymore.
Yeah, isn't it amazing once you start to kind of unlock and unpack some of the, you know, the root of the fear and then from people who are comfortable kind of establish some best practices, you realize, okay, the best way to get over this is to actually practice. And I certainly remember those opportunities where, you know, you're practicing in a room of, you know, 15 people at that time. That was it, 15 people. They're all looking at you. And your voice is cracking, you know, I'm sweating. It was brutal there, Tyler, I'll tell you, it was very, very brutal. Oh, okay. You know, but just like your friend said, giving you those little tips helped to, you know, really refine your craft. So that's good feedback.
Uh-huh. And the next one I got for you is, what is the most valuable piece of information we should know that's within your expertise or industry?
Absolutely. So this is— I'm glad you asked that question. I love that question. So I am always talking about the importance of preparation, no matter what it is that you're doing. For me, with Higher Ground, what really birthed the idea for Higher Ground was this, was seeing how many small and diverse businesses— and when I talk about diverse businesses, I'm talking about your minority-owned businesses, your veteran-owned businesses, any diverse business classification. And I saw that they were starting their businesses and they were traveling, going to all of these conferences, and they had these very high hopes of meeting, you know, your Fortune 100, 500 companies and interest in just getting opportunities. They really wanted opportunity, access opportunities. And so they got, they, They spend the money, they spend the time, and they would come and they weren't prepared with the business cards or the capability statement or even clarity around what their value add would be. Right. And so, you know, it again, just emphasize the importance of preparation that before you can really grow your business, before you can even really effectively launch your business, there's some preparation that has to be taken to really make sure that you're crossing every T and dotting every I and that you're inviting other people that can serve in an advisory capacity to really assess your business, to identify your blind spots or some gaps that you may not have even seen that would help you really build a strong foundation. So the valuable piece of information is just take the time to prepare. You know, sometimes it can be a little laborious. A lot of people just want to get there excited, they want to launch their business. It's very easy to do that, to just launch a business. But I think in doing that, higher ground is created because people did that, they just launched their business and there was no substance, no foundation. And we help those businesses, but we help them after they've started. They have to make that investment because they did not take time to prepare in advance, whereas we'd much rather see them take that time before they launch their business to really make sure that that foundation is solid and they can really support all of the business that they're wanting to go after.
Mm-hmm. And then what is your best piece of overall business advice? You're not necessarily industry— not necessarily, like, industry-specific.
Yeah, so I think that, you know, confidence is something that is so important. You know, knowing who you are, knowing your worth, the value that you bring as an individual, I think that that is incredibly important. Just knowing, you know, that when you walk in the room that you have something to contribute is invaluable. And people actually, I think, are drawn to people who have that confidence. And so I would say, you know, just being confident, being confident in your value, that your worth, and especially in the workplace, that's incredibly important. But also, you know, understanding that there is no one like you and that is, you know, can be a superpower that you can take with you anywhere.
And then if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?
Oh gosh. So, you know, I have so many things, but I would say it's okay to slow down. It's okay to slow down. I was one of those people that from the time I could get my worker's permit, I was working. 14 and a half, working, you know, fast food chain restaurant. And, you know, and I never stopped. Interned, and, you know, I did as much as I could so early in, you know, life so that I could ensure that by the time I reached 30, I had that in my mind. I was like, 30 years old, I want this, this, and I had this list, and I was so laser focused on that. And, you know, once you get there and you accomplish all the things, there's still a point where you're like, okay, now, now what? And what all did I miss? Because I was so laser-focused. And so, you know, it creates— it can create some anxiety, some stress that, you know, I don't think we talk enough about when we're talking about the grind and this hustle, you know, and all of this that you hear sensationalized. There's also a thing called burning yourself out, and I think you have to really be realistic about that and just I would tell myself, slow down, you know, smell the roses, you know, because you'll get there. If this is destined for you to reach that place, you're going to get there. But it's important to also just take the time to enjoy life and be present. So that would be my, my piece of advice to my younger self.
I agree. And then probably ties in, in your opinion, what is the key to happiness?
Gosh, being present, being present. That is probably, and I'm learning this, you know, here recently I've learned this. I can't say I've mastered it, but I've started to meditate here recently and it has completely changed how I view happiness. I think it's important to just be present in the moment, to be grateful for where you are right now and where you've come from. And, you know, but for me, the biggest thing is just being present in the moment, quieting all the distractions and just coming to a place of stillness where you can really check in, check in, check heart, mind, soul, and say, okay, how do I— how am I feeling? Just taking that time, slowing things down and being present. I think it's certainly what I would define happiness to be.
And then what is the best book that you've read and what was the number one thing you learned from that?
Absolutely. So I have a book that's called Riches Within Your Reach by Robert Collier. I found this book, it's a very, very, very old book, but it connected me to the power that we have to create the lives that we want to live. That was the number one takeaway from that book. I'm a big law of attraction person. I believe in that. And this book really just put, you know, a seal on that to say it's possible. So it talks about just the power of the mind, the importance of your mindset, your thoughts, your words, and how we all have the ability ability to create life, create the things that we want to see in our lives, and some good tools on how to do that and how to identify when you may be off track with your thinking, your thoughts, and how to just autocorrect when you find yourself in that position. So Rich Is Within Your Reach, Robert Collier, you can probably find it on Amazon. It's an amazing book that I would highly recommend.
And then, what is your favorite quote and why?
So my favorite quote is— this has changed here recently— so it's from Marvel's Luke Cage, and it's "Forward always, forward always." And it's just a reminder that you have to keep going, you have to keep going, you have to keep your focus on, you know, what's ahead and not what's behind. And I think it's very easy to get stuck when we're looking at what we could have done better, or especially at this point when we're concluding the year and we're looking at all the goals we set, you know, January 1, 2018, and we're looking at where we are and disappointment and all of that sets in. And I just think it's so critically important that you always look ahead, look ahead and say, okay, I've got an opportunity to do my best today. And so I can't take credit for it, but Luke Cage says it and it resonated with me and that became my kind of quote of the quarter, so to speak.
So I love it. Um, well, thank you so much for coming on. Uh, the last one I have for you is where can our audience best find you online?
Absolutely. So, uh, Instagram. I am very active on Instagram. You can find me at Sierra_Lily. You can also, for Higher Ground, our website has everything on it. So our website is www.hiredgroundconsult.com. I certainly welcome the opportunity to connect with all of your listeners. And thank you, Tyler Wagner, for this opportunity to share.
Of course. Grateful to have you on.
Thank you again. All right. Thank you.
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