 Hello hello hello We going live. Can you guys see me? Can you hear me? Let me know who's out there? All right, my man truly bless first one on what's up? Barber world I See my man call and jump it on. What's going on brother? Hey y'all gonna ask me some hard questions today. What are we gonna do? How's everyone? Actually, uh it's funny Marie and I we just left from a the site visit over here by the Space Center and So we were It's really cool. I don't know if you guys saw the pics that we put on here, but You know, we were at the Space Center and some people That recognized me was like Eric. So we hooked up and it was great seeing Folks out here actually, you know attending site visits It's the first site visit Physical site visit that we've been to that I can remember and like since COVID happened So it's the first time we actually went to a like a real site visit. So that was really neat We were happy about that. That was cool. And then of course to see some other You know, Govcon Giants on a site visit was even better I was more incredible and it hit our story and and to like it was it was just an awesome feeling I Was really really really thrilled to see other people out there. So and it's what I told them They're like, Eric, we did not expect to see you out here. I go look you're telling me You're gonna look there's a four million dollar contract in my backyard and you don't expect to see me So they were we thought it was funny But listen, oh Yeah, so you like Maria shirts so you saw that Maria's MJ global shirts Maria's coming up Colin you see little Maria's he's coming up Yeah, we had MJ global shirts so we're actually We're in Jupiter now and we're going to look at another project tomorrow, so we're in Jupiter and we're gonna go look at another project tomorrow So Yeah, it was I thought it was nice. I like I like the shirts What's up piggy banks? So but no Maria has a lot of opportunities she Received some more opportunities as today. We're on the road in between site visits So things are looking really really good for her I can I guess I can see a day in her near future Even though she doesn't she may not want to hear it, but I can see a day in her near future did anyone um Catch last week last this past Monday's YouTube live Anybody anybody have anything they're working on that they That they have any challenges with I know it's the we're getting closer into the fiscal year out there, so anybody has anything they're working on any challenges any You Graduated a day Wow What what did you graduate? Oh, hold on hold on So I heard you guys talking about my shirt, so I had to share it. Oh You might share your shirt. Oh There you go. There's a global And also to thank everyone. I know I said I was nervous and it's true. It's it was a huge project, but I reflected and I have to do it I have to make that jump in order to Achieve more and like you said I have to have bigger goals so they could come to me. So today has been a very exciting day Nice nice, so tell you know, it's interesting. We were talking Okay, that's the real be nice. We were talking Last week about smaller projects versus the larger projects By the way, so everyone knows we did not plan this Maria did not tell me she's gonna jump on live So I just want to let you guys know that this is totally out of the blue She did not plan this at all, okay, but I'm happy she didn't come on live so Since everybody's so quiet like everyone's nervous by the way Maria's to be nervous to just don't make some video so now she's like So it's cool But yeah, talk to us. So tell us about the you know, we were we're talking about the smaller contracts and then you know the bigger projects and And work and amount of work it goes into and I think that's one of the biggest reason also that I'm taking a chance and going into The bigger project was because the smaller projects have been They've been great trust me have given me past performance and everything but they bring headaches like dealing with subcontractors on something That's like four grand versus the then I see you dealing with the same issues at like other prices. It's like You said four grand, so what are my other prices? Your prices are like millions four million So use zeros to yours, but like subcontractors not showing up or them they coming and saying Oh, there's a change order like oh, we didn't see that in the scope of work Nobody gave us this like all those things are like it it drains you like physically and mentally Like I've learned that I have to put my foot down and be more stern And I think that's one of the biggest lessons. I'm taking away from being in business is that you can't just be like Okay, like oh you're gonna be late. It's okay. And like hear all these excuses. So I'm gonna get headaches I'm gonna get Worth headaches are gonna be worth it like it's okay. You're gonna be a headache if this is something huge So I think that has been the biggest pivot point in Trying to go for these bigger contracts and also like the small projects gave me a little bit of confidence, but Okay, small headaches big headaches. It's the same Frustration that you go through so you you don't you don't so you're not equating the dollar amount with the amount of headaches No, I think people are still gonna frustrate you and And I just got to make it worth the frustration at the end of the day Well, let me ask Okay, okay continue of course No, and like I was like somebody told me today Like you said I had an opportunity to come up and this the owner of this company He's like i'm on a bear hunt. I'm like what he's like So he's up there in north carolina enjoying his life while he sends other people to go to site visits So it's just that level that I want to get to like i'm not the one traveling and going to site But it says i'm not the one sitting down writing proposals. I'm not the one Having to get the phone calls and having to tell the commander engineer like oh the guy's not coming again So it's just so much that someone could take first What we're getting Right, right, right, right, right. No, that's interesting. Um But yeah, Collin says bigger budget headaches. I'll take bigger budget headaches any day I agree, but uh, so it's interesting that you know, and I have And I know I don't know how many people have read ever read the book like the secret Is it I don't know if anyone out here read the book the secret but it's really I do believe that when you start setting your mind to something that the world Conspires to help you to assist you and it comes together and Um marie was very worried or very concerned about this particular project And how it was going to all come together and you know when we went up here Did the star started lining for you? Yeah, um I reached out. Yeah, it started like from the beginning like I didn't think I was going to do it I was like how am I going to pull this off and even coming here. I was nervous and even being on the site visit That place is huge That is a huge base like I was telling my mom like just in the bus It took us 30 minutes just to circle it so um So then that came up and then one of our Greatest podcast guest says that he'll help me because that's what he does So that alone called my nerves a little bit then getting here again I got nervous again because how am I gonna know numbers and somebody else like oh if you want I'll help you out. He was one of the other people here. So it's like People come to you when you need them and and like I was telling you earlier You can't do this alone. There's no way like and I tell other people like we have to work together if not We're gonna get stuck. Okay. So when we say that right one Two of the people that attended the site. So how many people at cyber? They're like six of six people six groups I thought it was more like 10 All right, let's say let's say 10 people. All right 10 people. Let's say 10 people But out of the 10 companies, right? Um, two of the companies agreed to work with us Yeah So like just by us showing up and being present Um, two of the companies agreed to work with us and one of the companies actually said they weren't even gonna bid it Yeah, he's like, you know what? I don't know if I'm ready for that headache. He's like, it's a good one and everything He's like, but if I'm not putting my hat in there, but if you want to do it, he's like, I'll give you my people He's like, he told me about what he knows that what the issues are going to be already Issues are facing what I'm going to need like he has project managers because he does like other Landscaping projects somewhere else like campley june and stuff like that. So he's like, I'll give it to you He's like, I'll help you put it together and we just go for it Nice no, no, I like it. I like it. I mean again, I I mean, I couldn't predict that I didn't know that was gonna happen Uh, I always say just trust like just trust that faith You know and that's and you know, that's how I live. I tell people look don't Go forward take the first step go to the stop sign after you get to the stop sign go to the next stop sign So many people are and I always say we're brainwrestling about how am I going to do this and how am I going to handle that and Maria was like, well, Eric But the guy who was supposed to come is that going when I set a site is it the guy who was supposed to Help us bid it and he didn't call us back and this person And I was like so many Um, I don't want to say excuses, but just so many reasons to have Like you can't allow the excuses to stop you because I could easily stay at home because I left a project in Miami Like I was like, I can't deal with you guys right now. I'm like, I need to be on the road And even the people at the coast guard like my engineer was excited Like the maintenance guy was excited for me and things like that. So it's like I just had to Keep going just show up like because I said I'm like even if I think it's too much and it's overwhelming Like if I show up at least I I don't have to what if it what if I would have went what if I what if that? so What if I put it in I got put my name in the hat in order to even have a A little chance a little chance actually we um one of our podcast guests It's not out yet carol craig craig technologies. She's coming out with a podcast and She submitted an rfi NASA had some equipment that they didn't want to use they wanted someone to take over the nasa equipment Have it for five years and then give it back to them And uh, so she submitted an rfi to actually be the recipient of this nasa equipment Um, and she won it and she's like we just didn't think that we would win it And I mean she literally got access to this free nasa equipment for five years to use it and then return it back to nasa and that's kind of where The manufacturing side of our business took off and she just really started doing some incredible things and and now When you guys hear the podcast when it comes out in a few weeks you'll hear about now she's working with nasa and she's actually helping with some of the The satellites the launches the manifest If you want to send your product up in space and you want to get it on the space station She's you know, you go through her company and and she can do it at a very affordable cost versus using spacex Or blue origin and I mean just think if you're comparing yourself and your company to spacex You are like Some people know that i'm the one that helps put Find the guest for the podcast when I heard carol speak at the us women's chamber of commerce I was like, oh, she's the beast Like I heard her speak and I came back to you and I told her and I even told her I'm like Here you speak because it wasn't like You're your typical speech like oh, I do this I do that and like you typical soft spoken Like she's out there and saying if you're a woman owned business You better be in the forefront of your business. You better know what's your business How you're running your business everything she's like don't let other people think that you're in the admin side And it's funny because like today when I got there the people from miami Like they're very like it's hard being a woman in business Especially like construction and all this stuff like people look at you I'm all by five too. So as soon as people look at me, they're like, oh And even though he's like you're a gc I'm like like do you need me to show you something to prove that I am So it's like hearing her speak and telling people like just do it and I and that was before I knew she was even with robot arms and stuff like that so That she's awesome Uh, all right. Well, listen, thank you for coming on Bye guys I have some chance to talk. I want some miles to jump. I want someone else to jump All right. See you. Take care All right. Good stuff Landscape south where y'all at I must must have jumped in Come on By the way, I'm not I'm not I'm not hanging out with y'all for an hour tonight. So I'm telling y'all now By the way, um, I'm gonna go ahead and plug it because it's my gig every Monday At 6 p.m. Eastern time we do YouTube lives So and now what I've been doing is every Monday We set up around the theme and I think last week was proposal writing. I gave some examples of proposal writing We talked about r5's before We've talked about subcontracting So every night and now coming up. We're gonna do management consulting joint ventures team of arrangements But hold on. Let me see somebody wants to join hold on Let's forget this thing out Hey I'm fine. How are you doing? Excellent. That's good. That's good Bangro's these mosquitoes bite me up. Oh, yeah, I had to come inside. I was outside for a second I was like, no, this is not gonna work out You know, I keep like being cute with my face. Like, you know, this I'm nice. Nice. I wanted to join because I was like, let me come online. Let me request this thing Um, first, I really really really want to appreciate everything you've done concerning your resources I know I keep digging you up. Like, yo, you're doing like you are my mind each time Like I was like, I think what was the last of you are like every single thing I have a video of I was like, no, he doesn't So like I would go online and I'll and then I'll get directed to your video. I'm like, damn it. He's right I Use it use the I mean, I I was telling someone today 336 videos and counting online Use the knowledge base. Just type whatever you think it is Yeah, so my deal is I'm beginning to get a little more discouraged Because um, it's an engineering firm. So my husband is the engineer and I am operations, you know, so I'm working and I'm trying as much as possible to put us out there and put us in front of people and I know the first couple of months is going to be hard. But like it's sometimes I just need to encourage me, you know, like and I'm just like I might not go. I did not see me Do I need to put a placket up? Do I need to hold signs? Do I need to weigh you from my phone? And I'm guessing and then someone said you're not the only one you got to do something to show some I was like, but I don't know what else to do. Should I just go into landscaping to start? I don't even know anything about landscaping. I'm an engineer Carol. Although I'm not really an engineer We know no no no no I look I don't One of the the uh, I think misconceptions and or you know, is that we all have to go into Landscaping or janitorial. That's a big misconception. Um, if you're an engineer, like I just mentioned that Carol Craig one of my guests, I mean, You know, she's got 400 engineers working for her that sends stuff up to space Like I mean that that's something that everyone can't do Right, like someone just can't jump into that field and like all right. I'm gonna start an engineering firm And by the way, I don't know if you heard my comment She received when she set up her manufacturing business. They gave her NASA equipment for free Can you imagine? But but you know, but again if you're looking at right, uh, You're juggling between well, I'm an engineer where I'm a janitorial where I'm a I'm a land You know If you're juggling through three to four of the things you're going to miss out on those opportunities that come Specifically for you that are meant for you that no one else sees Yeah, so a couple of things. I mean you were great. So you had us reach out to our ITAC person we did great resource. He is really super awesome. So In that sense that would be with um department of transportation So he's like complete certain things get your free. Um It's like a prerequisite for some pre qualification thing going so we're in set to fill it out this week Um, we've been delayed on it because we saw some things that kind of held us back when he asked for, um Maybe we need to go back to him he asked for prior jobs and I'm like We don't have any Just said okay, there's two things you mentioned you said that you reached out to p-tech Yeah, but then you said you reached out to d.o.t Well, it's under d.o.t Yeah, but there you should have a p-tech that doesn't fall under d.o.t Well from what from everything I've seen he's under d.o.t. Even his email address is under d.o.t In fact that's local to your area. Yeah He should be they should be tied to a college or university Okay, I'll look again, but Just pretend like you you know one thing I would say is Children are very curious. We we should all be more like a child to be more curious and keep asking Well, why and well why and so it's like wait did I do the right thing because you're you know You're saying you're frustrated, but I can tell you this one of the things that I I encourage people to do with the p-tech specifically was to have your p-tech help you find Existing contracts That's exactly what I said So maria was very successful her p-tech actually Sends her a list of existing contractors that had one contracts that she could reach out to for opportunities to sell Okay, and that's what I said and I so I want very clear because Uh, it's easy and what I found for my being online for three years talking to people is people will hear me talk Then they'll go listen to somebody else talk and they'll go listen to somebody else talk And then they'll try to mesh up all the information Right, and then they'll be like, hey, what did Eric say again? So you're fault, you know, they'll follow three or four different people and they'll try different messages Exactly barbara IDPs, right? See barbara quoted me IDPs. So I was very specific in the request So I was just so one of the things like I said for me Uh, I would say use your p-tech to help you identify Engineering opportunities and engineering contracts Yes, if you try to go as a prime with the DLT, they're going to ask for past performance in history But I know a lot of engineering companies that are Contracting out some of their smaller engineering jobs that you guys can start and get past performance Okay, and they will count your husband's work or his history working as a 1099 or as a consultant. They'll count that Okay, because they just really want to get it done Okay And I think that's really a distinction a lot of folks believe that we have to go out and Like even I tell people you don't have to be registered in sam The only reason you need to be registered in sam if you want to be a prime contractor Right and you want to get a kind of direct with the government but The my podcast guest that we posted today heather from savvy links out of main She was the ink 500 award winner. She had 9 000 revenue growth in three years and she was a subcontractor She's just now she started business 2013. It's 2020. She's now seven years later Starting to do prime contractor work So it's not required that you go and work directly with the DLT. That's not the only avenue In fact, I think that's the hardest Probably avenue that you could take because not only is the DLT Um, a difficult entity to do business with but uh, depending upon whether you're and I and I'm Pretty sure just my assumption that you're talking to DLT, which is state side. They have more stranger requirements Yeah, they do so it's like to be that's the path. That's the hardest path you could possibly take I would be discouraged Yeah, because I would never give you some back from some back information So I did the p-tax and then we spoke with someone from the from nico and then he was really helpful Also, he gave us some of the um contractors that had won some of the contracts In in um in the navy area Okay, and especially in the engineering field and he gave us the contact information How much and everything like that told us to reach out and also reach out to the one in our state Okay, to make sure and then we found this one company that just won like I think 64 million a billion That's to build equipment. Okay So like we're just we're right now. We're trying to look at how do I approach those people? Do I just come like hey, I'm an engineer. How you mean? But I'm okay. So so so so okay. All right. So good thing is so you've already you're already you already have the information You just haven't reached out to them. No, I haven't because I'm okay. So there's nothing there's nothing So there's why would you be discouraged? No, because I don't know what to put in the email like do I just go in there like, yeah It's your girl. Uh I would put in the email. Do you have a capability statement? No, not yet. I'm not done yet. See and and then that's what throws me off is the capability statement in my mind I'm thinking as a statement when I see other people I see it's a pdf. It's It's this whole graphic. Yeah, but yeah, but but but but again the thing is, um You can't worry about what other people are doing. First of all, you can't compare yourself to other people You have to have to be had doesn't have to have graphics I've never no we I've never I've never seen one graphics on it. Um, okay Um, listen, uh a resource template capes statements dot com. Maria. Just put it in there Um, or you can even google sample capability statements. There's no reason why You know, you should be afraid because if this is your industry and you know what you're doing and That's the engineer I'm trying to stand in the light Get stuff get stuff. No, that's awesome. Yeah, this is really all Education and stuff man. Thank you so much No, no, I'm glad I'm glad you enjoy. Um, you know, I was telling I'm talking to your wife here And like I said, what I would encourage you to do is really Don't be don't don't be so concerned about Um The issue I'm hearing is you're not you're not putting yourself out there, but you didn't even try So what I'm hearing is you didn't even try Yeah, I'm I'm going to so I I'm using I'm we're going to speak with someone. Okay. You said template someone Maria Just put it up template. Okay. I got it cap statements. Okay. There's There's hundreds of samples on google get someone to help us with our logo and design And then go from there Okay, but but I but you have to try Okay, um, I put up a quote that says most people don't actually They don't actually you don't actually fail. They're self-defeated because they never attempted you didn't you haven't even failed Okay You haven't told me to sit that one email made one phone call Okay, what if the people need to We're doing it this week is just My belief is they need you now not next week Okay, okay, and people need you yes, let me tell you why it's the end of the fiscal year Okay, and I can tell you right now one of my students She is turning down work But she because she doesn't have enough people to help her do it support her So what if there's some engineering firm out there that's turning down engineering projects because they don't have enough people to help support them and they're turning it down and you complaining because you don't have it Thanks, maria. I see that. Thank you Okay, what if they what if the people what if that's happening? Yes, that is true. That's true I well, honestly, I really believe that that's happening out here more so than we think and We are self-defeating Yeah, I'm I'm definitely like I said, we started strong. We're still strong is that my husband is I'm more of the cautious one and he's like just I He's like just do it just and I'm like We just it's like credit to me. I'm like, man. I just messed up my credit. I just said something stupid Nah, you can't mess it up. You're not because because you're gonna be a backup everything that you're doing You're gonna be back up what you're saying. So you can't mess it up Okay. Yeah, definitely By the way, I love that you came on. I'm really happy that you did because I think a lot of people need to hear this because it's not just you you're not on the island by yourself A lot of people are wanting to throw in a towel, but they never tried They never tried And I can tell you maria and she and her own personal journey and her story Uh, the first couple companies you try working with they were not successful I know I know maria. You can't see me. I'm trying to find light Find the light. Find the light. It's all right. You guys can hear me, right? Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Audio is good Audio is good maria. She's like you want me to sit here. I'm gonna bend down in front of my life All right, there you go. Now you can see me. Um, but definitely what I would say is And as fast as you possibly can get your stuff together in terms of your statement and everything like that Your logo whatever you need and start reaching out to those people right away I think that there's opportunities happening That they are literally turning down because they don't have people like yourself to help them do it And I honestly believe that that again until you let them know who you are and you exist and that you could help them Take on some more of these projects You're not going to make that connection Okay, yeah, I'm just taking taking notes too. So I saw some of the things that maria was saying so for the logo um and for the um the statements Some of the places of which i'm gonna try to visit tonight and try to delay this thing Yeah, and try to knock this out and then you know, we have a better Not right. No. No. No. No. We're not gonna try. We're gonna do you're gonna do it. Yeah, right? Right We doing it, right? Yeah, we're doing it all the way. All right. Let's do it. Let me tell you by the way Just so you know One of the stories that motivates me to do what I do was an engineering firm that took advantage of me So you better believe I got your back because I got burned by an engineering firm And they and I lost a lot of money And so I would love to help you guys grow up be big and we challenge those guys one day Yeah, okay With some people help you raise a bunch of money hire a team Oh, okay, and we're gonna stand up to these guys and we're gonna put good people in place and get rid of these bad clowns out here So you better believe I have a I have a particular place in my heart for engineering companies Because I was burned really bad by this big engineering company I'm not gonna say their name pond constructors, but No We didn't hear it. Okay. All right. I go there, you know, I was burned really bad by these clowns and we I want to get them back so Uh, definitely let's let's jump on to it and help you guys build your build up your team. All right Thank you. Thanks guys. Thanks for coming on. Thank you everyone. Be good. Bye. Bye All right, listen I'm uh signing off because I got to get some eat tonight and my camera's going dark. Thanks everyone next week We'll be back on same time same place monday youtube live 6 p.m. Eastern and then uh, we'll come back on hold on someone's Chapping me. What's this? All right So all right, listen, we'll jump back on next week same time I gotta go because I got to get some to eat and there's a lot of curfews around here But I actually I think this is kind of cool the dark Image with my head in it. Yeah. Um, there's curfews around here and we gotta grab some some folks Yes, this will be posted on our ig and our stories for live sessions. Thanks guys. We'll talk. Hey Oh, you owe me lunch. Okay. No, no. We'll listen next week jump on and we'll hop on and do this again