Instant Teams

In March 2016, I launched my business to work from home. With military life, I needed the flexibility. Nine months into this crazy journey, I’ve learned a lot!

I put together a list of things I REALLY LOVE about remote work and wanted to share it with you. It’s a collection of books, tools, resources, and people that have inspired and helped me along the way. Hopefully, you can find something in this list that is helpful to you, too. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Podcasts, Shows, Books

I’m a podcast fanatic. Three that I’m obsessed with are Jess Lively Show, EOfire, and Copyblogger FM. I keep them on repeat as I run, drive, cook, wash dishes, and get dressed. Their words of advice have given me the courage to start and manage a remote career. New to the scene is Drop and Give Me 20. I’m adding it to my 2017 lineup.

When I’m not working, you can find me mesmerized by NBCs new hit show, This is Us. It’s THE BEST show I’ve seen in a long time. Get your tissues ready. It’s a tear jerker.

Every morning I try to read 20 minutes before work. This year I’ve enjoyed The Profits Principles by Steven Bringinshaw. He’s helped me understand the importance of knowing my business numbers. 168 Hours: You Have More Time than You Think by Laura Vanderkam was a game changer for me. I did her time study and was blown away by the results.

A few books I’m looking forward to reading in 2017 are; Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path by Erin Loechner, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, and In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney.

Excellent Online Tools/Apps

Waveapps. Online accounting software for small business owners. It’s the #1 MOST IMPORTANT business tool I use, and it’s FREE!

Dropbox. A file sharing must have for client and project based work.

Klok. Most of the work I do is project based. Some are hourly projects while others are fixed cost. Either way, I like to track how much time I spend on each client. It helps me determine my pricing structure.

Grammerly. Worth every penny, baby. I’m my own editor. After looking at a document for so long, I tend to miss things. Grammerly catches every little mistake.

Hemingway App. Whoa. Mind blown. It has made me such a better writer. And it’s FREE to use!

Inspiring Women  

Andrianna Lupher is an amazing person with a heart of gold. She gives tirelessly of her time and money to support military spouses. She helped me pulled off a major virtual event this year (THANK YOU!). Plus, she always makes time to listen, coach and cheer spouses on to go for their dreams. She’s created a profitable business employing military spouses. I’m in awe. Adrianna is proof that if you work hard, your dreams will come true.

Amanda Crowe is hustling every day to help military spouses network and find jobs. In 2016 she launched the In Gear Career Amplify series. It’s a two-day event that leads military spouses through intensive career preparation. Attendees leave with a completed resume, professional photos, and a polished LinkedIn profile. The next event is in Seattle. It’s worth traveling for if you’re in the surrounding area.

Amy Bushatz is the voice for modern military spouses. She calls it like it is. The editor in chief for SpouseBuzz, Amy covers a variety of topics. Her coverage of military spouse employment is bar none. Read this article to see for yourself. Amy, you are brilliant. Thank you for standing up for what’s right.

Cameron Cruse & Lisa Bradley are two of the most down-to-earth and humble people you’ll ever meet. In February 2016, they crushed it on Shark Tank. Not only did their business explode, they gave us all hope for military spouse career success. Today Cameron and Lisa employ military spouses stationed throughout the US.

Lauren Rothlisberger & Amy Shick are examples of what can happen when given a chance. Two spouses who had a dream and it came true because they were taken seriously. Millie launched this spring and has taken the military community by storm. It’s a team of veterans and military spouses. Lauren and Amy, you two have set the bar for excellence. You showed that military spouses are professionals. Give them a chance and watch them shine. (P.S. You can join the Millie team as a Scout here.)

Organizations Making a Difference

National Military Family Association provides military spouses with education and career scholarships. Their scholarships range from $500 to $2,500!

The Milspo Project is my go-to resources for entrepreneurship. They are membership based. It’s $27 dollars to join. In return, you get workshops, networking, development, and events. Worth. Every. Dollar.

V-wise is for women veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs. It’s a 15-day online class and two-day conference. There is a $75 registration fee. They cover all other expenses. My business wouldn’t exist without V-Wise. They gave me the confidence to try.      

Miscellaneous

Try this DELICIOUS salad for lunch. These easy-to-make snack ideas. Lavender coffee from here. Office meetings with my dog at this park. Gaiam gets me on my mat and moving. Sipping this tea on a cold afternoon is the bomb. Southern Elegance Candle Co. have the best candles that last forever and smell A-MAZ-ING. I enjoy listening to these chill beats while writing. And finally, I work it like a #milspreneur wearing these leggings.

Something Fun 

My 2017 business theme song is The Greatest by Sia. And my motto is “Practice and all is coming.”

Now it’s your turn. What’s on your “love list” for 2017?