Effective communication is often the only barrier between turmoil and peace. It’s complicated because the impact we seek to make is affected by the type of communicator we are. And our communication type is molded by who we dialog with and how we communicate.

People in small towns seem to show up for each other, and they most certainly know each other. There is a cadence to the way they do life, which was especially true in my grandparent’s small farming town that reverberated with “this is the way we do things around here.”

Back when I was a new military spouse, on the job hunt after our third PCS, I decided real estate would be a good fit for me. I was interviewing with firms, but there was one boutique firm I really wanted to join. The founder really knew her stuff. And she was the kind of woman who was inspirational and generous . . .

Be human. I think we can all agree that the youngest of the Lannister heirs knows how to keep it real. Tyrion is known for his love of wine, women, and debauchery, and because he isn’t lacking in self-awareness it makes him all that more loveable. Here’s why it is good for business . . .

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending the Milken Conference. I received a last minute invite and within 12 hours managed to stuff all my things in a suitcase, fly to LA, and found myself seated next to high ranking senior officials in the military at an appreciation breakfast. This was the kind of conference that had the most high profile people in the world, and throughout the week I was just inches away from spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, more angel investors than I could count, and world changers of all types. 

There are so many layers to the military spouse experience because we are so much more than just “married to the military.” We’re moms, sisters, daughters, business owners, caregivers, volunteers, veterans, and the list goes on and on. 

Everyday life as an active duty military spouse can feel like we’re that operator. We are the teammate working behind the scenes for the ultimate good of our service members, often times trying to put the puzzle pieces together with little time and information.

Milspo Project believes in equitable partnerships that further and transform both parties, while staying true to their core values. If you’ve ever traveled to Portland, Oregon you’ve probably read about, or most likely visited, Salt & Straw. It’s hard to miss their little craft ice cream shop, as the line is often wrapped around the block, especially on a summer day. This little storefront is an ice cream paradise for foodies. Flavors include Rhubarb Crumble with Toasted Anise, Wildflower Honey with Ricotta Walnut Lace Cookies, and even vegan options like Orange Blossom Sorbet with edible flowers.

Something my friends used to like to do as teenagers was night fishing. If the moon was just right, and the sky was full and spotted with stars, you could see the water and the fish biting. Actually, the biggest trout on the river often come out after dark. Standing knee-deep in the lapping water, blanketed in that certain serenity that only comes in the early hours of the morning, is one of the closest things to magic I’ve experienced.

Just as our health is greatly impacted by our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, the same is true about our journey from baby biz owner to successful entrepreneur; mindset truly is everything.

When I first learned French, it was in an oversized textbook closet that had been converted to a classroom (I wish I was joking), and my teacher was a French-Canadian Jesuit Priest, honestly, you can’t make this stuff up. He used to smack us on the side of the head with a bible when we pronounced our French homework incorrectly. Yes, if you are doing the math I went to high school in the 2000s, not the 1950s. Point being, that style of high-pressure learning really doesn’t serve me.

There are many effective sales tactics swirling around in the biz world. One thing to remember is to keep sales a human thing. It should not feel forced and robotic, you need to keep the customer's dreams and desires at the heart of the sale.

When I first became a business owner, I gave myself a self-appointed MBA through business books, online programs, and free webinars. Since Elizabeth, businesswoman 1.0, didn't know a lick about being an entrepreneur when she got started, it often felt as though I was drinking out of a fire hose in those early years.

Lately, I've been receiving many questions about what kinds of businesses to start as a military spouse. While I do believe that starting the right business is very important and takes a lot of soul searching, sometimes it helps to hear about different types of businesses before deciding. Here’s 17 ideas . . .

In today’s noisy, hyper-competitive business world, it really does matter that people are giving you their time, attention, and hard-earned cash, and that time, attention, and hard-earned cash should make you feel very grateful.

Do you plan to PCS this year, take time off before or after your service member’s deployment, or enjoy a military leave block with your spouse? If so, you need to be brutally honest about the days you are going to actually be working, and then reverse engineer your revenue goals from there.

Imagine leaving on a white water rafting trip without a compass or a map. You might sense what basic direction you are heading, but without a river guide you will get bumped and bruised in the rapids.

Like an inexperienced river rafter, you will flail around for the better half of the year wondering why things don’t add up until you wake up and realize your revenue goals are out of whack because you never calculated them correctly in the first place!

Maybe you have heard about the new Ohio state law that allows spouses of transferred military members to collect unemployment benefits if the move forces the spouse to quit their job?

While legislation of this nature shows military families that Ohio appreciates their service, it does little to help military spouses find lasting and meaningful employment.

Since 2018 was a real kick in the proverbial pants, we didn’t want to wait until 2019 to get started on strategically and joyfully doing less, and achieving more, as a result

Below is a simple method that helped us tremendously, and will also be helpful for your own future goal planning.

All these teachable moments, whether they appear in my life as procrastination, unrealistic optimism, or even forfeiting pay in my own company for my team, or ‘the greater vision’ just reeks of a worthiness complex. I mean, does anyone really want to follow the person who chooses themselves last into battle?