In this episode of the Peaking Podcast, host Bryan Mikolaitis speaks with Mazarine Treyz, an accomplished author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. Mazarine shares her extensive background in the nonprofit sector and her transition to helping small business owners secure government contracts. The conversation delves into the importance of embracing failure, the nuances of government contracting, and the resources available for entrepreneurs. Mazarine emphasizes the significance of networking, understanding RFPs, and the benefits of COVID certification for minority-owned businesses. She also shares success stories of clients who have thrived through government contracts, highlighting the potential for lucrative opportunities in this space.

Takeaways

Embrace the magical power of quitting and failure.
Failures can be more instructive than successes.
Online advertising may not yield the best ROI.
Government contracts can be accessed for free through local programs.
Teaming and subcontracting serve different purposes in proposals.
COVID certification can enhance contract opportunities for minority businesses.
Networking is essential for building relationships in government contracting.
Focus on local and state contracts for quicker results.
Requesting previous winning proposals can provide valuable insights.
Government contracting can lead to significant income opportunities.

Sound Bites

"Embrace the magical power of quitting and failure."
"I love talking about my failures."
"Don't put your money in online advertising."
"You can get government contracts for free."
"Focus on state and local first."
"Government contracting can be extremely lucrative."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mazarine Treyz
01:09 Mazarine's Journey in Nonprofit and Business
03:23 Embracing Failure and Learning
05:02 Failures in Marketing and Advertising
08:20 Leveraging Government Contracts
11:34 Understanding Government Contracting Programs
14:01 Teaming vs. Subcontracting Explained
15:54 Getting COVID Certified for Government Contracts
18:40 Networking for Government Contracts
20:58 Political Climate and Its Impact on Contracts
23:10 Navigating RFPs and Upcoming Contracts
28:43 Success Stories in Government Contracting
32:15 Resources and Support for Entrepreneurs