I can’t for the life of me understand why there are women who go searching for a “Man in a Uniform”. To be honest with you, I had a lot of goals and dreams but a man in a uniform was NOT one of them. I wanted to be a correspondent. I could be found speaking at the latest red carpet event or even covering presidential news. I wanted to travel the world! Well I do…with the army…as a stay at home mom/ Army wife! Eh! This is not the life I envisioned but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
If you’re a military spouse then you know a couple of feelings all too well.
- The one where you get a new job the same day that PCS orders come in.
- The “I can’t believe I went to college and got into debt to not be able to follow my career goals” stomach churn.
- The Bang your head on the table feeling you get when talking to family members about “when you’re finally going to use that degree?”.
- That “I just want to be invisible” when you run into an old classmate who talks about their amazing 6-figure career
Finally…
- That “Holy Crap I’m a Mom now my life is over “bout of anxiety
If a military spouse told you that she has never felt like this before then GIRL… She-was-lying! We have all been there at some point but I have GREAT news. You don’t have to stay there. There are ways to achieve all your goals and dreams while being supportive of your spouse’s career and yes, it is still accomplishable as a mom. Being a wife and mom doesn’t stop your show…YOU DO! Okay, that was harsh but we’re girlfriends so I had to be honest with you. Now, I am not here to drop that bomb then walk away. I am here to help you! So…here are some ways that you can stay focus and accomplish those goals of yours.
Planning your Goals
I hate to tell you but it is NOT as simple as day dreaming around the house all day about the amazing business you want to start. Dreams don’t manifest themselves! However, something as simple as pen and paper can change the entire ball game for you. When you take the time to write down your goals, you begin to hold yourself accountable. It’s just like the grocery list, if you don’t write it you’ll walk aimlessly around Walmart for all eternity. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound fun to me. You need a clear direction for the path in life you want to take and it starts here.
Do something to progress yourself each and every day!
Okay, you have your list…now what? Well, you must put it into action. I know that no one can run full force into a career overnight especially with kids. However, waiting for the weekend will turn into next month and next year and Holy Crap I’m old and my kids are gone. What have I done with myself? As tired as you may be you may have to sacrifice the laundry to put in some work for yourself. That college class you’re interested in…Take it! That mompreneur group…Join it! That blog you want to start…write a post! Do you realize that dreams are mere figments of your imagination until you put in an effort to check off your goal list? Whoa!
Find a Group of Like-minded Spouse Friends!
Okay, what I am about to say will be controversial…oh well! There are literally military spouses who want nothing more than to be a military spouse or at home mom. Hey! There is NOTHING wrong with that. If that’s the kind of life they want to live then it’s fine but if you’re not that kind of girl (or guy) then that’s not the crowd for you. Being business minded as a military spouse is already hard enough so you need a group of people who are headed in the same direction with their goals and aspirations. You will push each other to reach those goals and thrive together.
Don’t Give Up on Your Dream…Alter it!
Do you know the number one reason most businesses never leave the ground? Because people psych themselves out of even trying! A lot of military spouses think that their business goals are not attainable because we move so often or that they are not qualified. This could not be further from the truth. The journey is hard but it is possible and worth the ride. Long story short, my junior year in college I asked myself what the heck I was thinking wasting my time completing a degree in a field that I could never work in with the military. It wasn’t until I changed my mindset that I realized that I had the tools, I just had to apply myself. I use every single college class I took to run my business now and the best part is, I own it and it comes with me! I say all this to say, don’t give up on your dreams, just alter them to fit your lifestyle. There are plenty of resources out there to help you get started in your dream career and make it work for your lifestyle. Think creatively…OUTSIDE THE BOX!
Never let go of a positive mindset!
Okay I’m about to tell you some profound information so listen up. Military have a super advantage over civilians when it comes to entrepreneurship (Jaws Drop…Mind Blown)! What do I mean by this? Well, while “regular” people are expected to graduate college and rush into working for others to make ends meet, military spouses have an AMAZING ability to dive into entrepreneurship without many of the consequences. Think about it like this, entrepreneurship takes time to work…a lot of time! However, if you don’t make a sale in your first three months, there is much less pressure on you to run back to that 9 to 5 job. You won’t lose your house, you won’t lose your benefits and while still completely nerve wrecking, you can still maintain your lifestyle comfortably. Plus, there are tons of resources out there to help spouses and veterans start businesses. Don’t get me wrong, you still must work extremely hard to start your business but have come confidence is where you are in your life and keep those positive vibes going instead of focusing on the troublesome parts of military spouse entrepreneurship.
Okay Girlies (Or Boys) these were just some of the ways that you can fulfil your dreams and deepest desires as a military spouse. If you’re a military spouse business owner/ entrepreneur I would love to hear about your journey in the comment section. Also, if you’re looking to start this journey, what are some questions you have about entrepreneurship and goal planning? Leave all that in the comment section below. Let’s start a conversation! Until next time, Happy dream chasing!
To read more on military life click the links below!
Why Military Moves are So Hard
Mistakes you will make as a new Military Spouse
How to fall in love with your new duty station
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