Tequila Dodard: Military Spouse Business Mentor with MadSkills
Hello! I am Tequila Dodard and I am part of a family of four (aka: the Dodard4). My husband and two beautiful children for sure have my heart. I am what some may consider a ‘NextGen’ Military Spouse. I became part of the military community by way of most- marrying the love of my life. After starting our family ten years ago and experiencing a PCS overseas, we made the decision to put my almost 20 years of corporate life on hold. We PCS’d and my work life changed.
What was your first move towards working in a remote capacity and/or becoming a military spouse entrepreneur?
I always had some sort of online remote projects happening. However, early on, it was usually on a smaller scale because I had a full time corporate career. I never did it full time. While living in Europe for three years, I reverted back to working on the internet like I had done in the past, but still on that smaller scale. I started taking on remote freelance projects and writing articles again.
I think what held me back from going all in at that point were the thoughts in the back of my mind that after Spain we would move back to the mainland and I would pick right back up with my corporate career. Close to where I left off. However, as the saying goes, “we go where they send us” and instead of returning back to mainland US, we were redirected to the pacific where I now reside.
Because of yet another overseas PCS, I made the decision to dive deeper into the online world. I have been learning and earning additional income. In my prior corporate life I had the great opportunity of helping people, something I absolutely love and now I get to do it from the comforts of my home office. I am learning a lot and I love to share what I learn.
I am excited because I see us now creating multiple streams of income that can go with us anywhere. So for our next PCS, I am prepared.
What is your definition of military spouses as an ‘untapped resource’?
Once I began improving my skills and building my online presence, I started to run into other military spouses who also have remote businesses. This led me to search for more military spouses who have their own businesses hoping to create an environment where like-minded spouses can talk business. I have learned there are many military spouses such as me with the highest degrees of qualification changing their outcomes. I have met these amazing women who are thinking out of the box, helping their families, being role models, and doing things their way. They are utilizing their talents and skills to start businesses.
If you care to join the business discussion group I’ve started, you can find us at: www.militaryspousebizvoice.com.
If you were put on a panel involved in an initiative to improve military spouse remote employment opportunities and corporate awareness of the MadSkills that professional spouses bring to the workforce, what suggestions would you make?
I would suggest that all parties be reminded that today there are many layers to a military spouse. And each and every military spouse plays an important role in the military. As for the military spouse seeking employment opportunities, I would ask the panel to make greater connections with the corporate workforce. I would ask that both corporations and the military foster better relationships granting more effective and meaningful career opportunities for the military spouse.
It a FACT that military spouses like me today are entering the military with MBA’s, PH.D’s, etc..so continuing to offer degrees with no place to use them doesn’t quite get us to the right place. If we cultivate better relationships between the corporate community and military spouse or even let’s just say the military community, we will all see the astounding benefits that can occur from both sides. I reflect back to budgeting my company’s financials and if I had only had a military spouse to outsource too…Well, I will save that for my next interview!!
What would you tell other military spouses looking to start a professional career?
I would tell them to be open minded. Change your mindset and look for the opportunities that are different. Look to learn new skills coupled with your talents and go after what you want. No one is holding you back and no one will ever be harder than you are on yourself. There is a saying I love: You can never learn less, you can only learn more. Be open to being a life learner and once you learn it, be a teacher. I mentor fellow military spouses at www.ementorprogram.org. If you are on the site, send me a message and let’s chat.
If we cultivate better relationships between the corporate community and military spouses or even let’s just say, the military community, we will all see the astounding benefits that can occur from both sides.
Tequila DodardWould you like to be our next featured spouse?
