When my husband received orders for Guam, I sent my resume to every private school on the island. Thankfully, I was offered a teaching position, but it came with a staggering $15,000 pay cut. With the $2,000 economy fare to visit my family in Virginia and the cost of groceries double or even triple what I was used to, I acutely felt the difference.
A year later, we started a family, and I felt called to create work for myself that was portable, aligned with my passions, and would let me stay home with our daughter. I have always enjoyed blogging as a hobby, so, after five years of teaching others to write, I became a freelance writer.
I am by no means alone in creating my own business opportunities in Guam. Many of the women that I’ve met here have transformed their hobbies into businesses to help them be present for their families, combat the high cost of living, and have a fulfilling outlet for their skills and creativity.
Limited options
For Brianna Gigliotti, a mother of two, finding employment in Guam presented challenge after challenge. She originally worked in Social Security disability claims law, but she could not find an equivalent position in Guam. While she received a remote offer from her employer, the 15-hour time difference clashed with her family’s needs. She researched other law firms, but “the pay cut was astronomical.”
“The cost of living here is significantly higher than what we were used to, especially when it comes to childcare,” Gigliotti explained.
Additionally, her husband’s schedule “changes constantly, which makes traditional part-time work extremely difficult.”
While she could rely on her family and friends to support her while they were in the States, the 7,000 miles of distance initially left her with no trusted support network. Gigliotti loved her new role as a stay-at-home mother, but she missed “the sense of accomplishment I had working in the corporate world and the confidence that brought me.”
Making opportunities
Taking matters in her own hands, Gigliotti created a hand-painted banner business that allows her to be present for her children, bring in additional income, and have a sense of fulfillment that she was missing. The owner of Paper Pop has surrounded herself with a “sisterhood” of entrepreneurs who are also creating their own businesses, like Shiloh Stone, the owner of Designs by Shiloh.
Stone, an active mother of one, began creating bracelets, cake toppers, and other customized items to “connect to a different part of myself outside of being a mom.”
Like Gigliotti, Stone is often a solo parent because of her husband’s work schedule, but owning her own business gives her the flexibility to care for her son and to “put my full creative energy into something.”
As a military spouse, finding employment that aligns with your interests, availability and skill level is challenging, but with entrepreneurship, you can create your own flexible opportunities. Transforming hobbies into a career can help you have employment stability while also allowing you to say “yes” to active parenthood — especially overseas.
