Have you ever had the idea to start your own business? Holding down a career as a military spouse is tough. Getting orders to move every two to four years makes it almost impossible to keep and find jobs that pay you what you’re worth. If you have a family, working outside the home doesn’t always make sense financially when you factor in the cost of daycare.
I get it, I started my career over three times in three different cities before I finally had enough. There is a way to have a career, work from home and not have to start over every single move. Never in history has it been so easy to create your own business. I’m going to share seven reasons to get started today.
1. You’re brilliant.
No, really. You are. You have your own set of unique skills, talents, experiences, and areas of expertise. All you need to do is bottle up everything you know, all the things you love to do and make a business out of it. You can teach what you know, solve problems for other people or create something that fulfills a need for someone else. Think about all the conversations you have with your friends. What are they always asking you about? What do you know more about than anyone else you know? Take some time to explore all of your skills, all of your experiences, and all of the things you like to do.
2. You can work from anywhere.
It doesn’t matter where you’re stationed, you can create a business that allows you the freedom to work from anywhere. Now you can easily operate a business with a smartphone and a laptop. There are even ways to automate your business so that you can literally make money while you sleep. Your office can be your kitchen, the coffee shop, base housing or the Bahamas! Having the freedom to work from anywhere is amazing. It’s absolutely possible and a lot easier than you think to accomplish.
3. Self-fulfillment.
As it turns out, you’re more than just a spouse, a mom, and a perpetual diaper changer. You have skills, experiences, and talents that make you unique. Maybe you went to school and studied a particular field or perhaps you’re really skilled in your craft. But, this military life has made it quite the challenge for you to continue being you, in all that entails. Having your own business can provide you with that sense of fulfillment knowing that you’re making an impact out in the world and at home.
4. You’re the boss.
You get to make your own schedule. For instance, you want to work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you can do that. Want to only work during naptime, that’s okay too. Having your own business allows you the freedom to work when you want to work. You report to yourself, so you can decide how you want to run your business. No more calling in sick, no more adjusting schedules that don’t work for your family. You’re the boss, you run your business however you want.
5. Generate income for your family.
It’s time to stop stressing over the family finances. Maybe it’s difficult to visit family far away from your current duty station or perhaps you want to send your kids to private school, but it’s way too expensive. Maybe you just want to go out on a fun date night with your spouse and not feel so guilty about it! Or, you need to hire a babysitter so that you can have a few moments to yourself. These are all great reasons to want to generate more income for your family. Start your own business, promote your products and services and make money. It’s fairly straightforward, you just have to take action.
6. You get to help people.
Whether you’re solving a problem or fulfilling a need, your business can make an amazing impact. Is there a group of people you want to help, or a special type of person that could truly benefit from your services? What if a product you have an idea for could make someone’s day a little brighter or help them through a difficult time? What if you could be the light someone so desperately needs to find? You can help so many people with that brilliant mind of yours. Don’t be selfish and keep it all to yourself!
7. It’s fun.
Creating a business is seriously fun. When you start your own business based on the things you love doing – and the people you genuinely want to help – then you’ve created a winning combination for the perfect business. You want a business that you can’t wait to wake up each day and get to work on. It’s fun to open your laptop and see the sales pouring in overnight, the emails from happy customers thanking you for doing what you do and knowing that you’re making a difference in the world. Plus, you get to meet so many wonderful people both online and offline, so you’re never lonely.
If you’re ready to create your own business, it’s time to take action. You can do this. Don’t wait another day thinking about your dreams. Get out there and make it happen. If you’re interested in starting a business but not exactly sure where to start, be sure to check out the free resources and classes for military spouses.
