Supporting Late Career Milspouses with Jayla Rae Ardelean

Meet Jayla Rae Ardelean: milspouse mentor, writer, speaker, and host of The Heart of a Milspouse Podcast. She is originally from San Diego and has lived or attended school in Utah, Oregon, and Colorado. But it was in Fort Collins, Colorado where she met her future husband and was shortly whisked away to Rome, Italy for their first duty station together. 

From there, she has experienced five PCS moves in six years, one deployment, and countless existential crises in between. Talk about a crash course into the milspouse life!

As a late-career milspouse, her work focuses on supporting the milspouse with former dreams to re-spark their inner purpose using empowered action and personal growth tools, the Enneagram and Human Design being among them. I was able to sit down with this AMSE Member and talk about her mission, focus, and business.

Tell us about your journey as a milspouse mentor. What inspires you to support military spouses as a speaker and podcaster?

There’s a large group of military spouses out there who are in-between - they’re not young adults or seasoned, but they may be new to military life. I call this group “Late Career Milspouses” because their partner may have had a military career before they began their relationship, and they almost always had a career of their own, too. Because I know the challenges I experienced as a Late-Career Milspouse myself, I work to build support for this group through my podcast, speaking events, and support.

How has AMSE influenced your entrepreneurial journey? What are some of your favorite resources they provide military spouse entrepreneurs?

AMSE has helped me level up my networking game. Before I found AMSE in 2021, I was struggling to find a group of milspouse entrepreneurs who have similar goals and ambitions. As soon as I joined, I realized that they had been right under my nose for an entire year in business!

Before AMSE, I wondered to myself where the other milspouse entrepreneurs were out there in the world. Being plugged into a community of military spouses with similar goals has been amazing. Supporting entrepreneurs is now a part of my life. Most significant for me personally, it helps me understand the late-career military spouses within the group, especially by connecting with fellow members in the Slack workspace, the Cohort, and the AMSE Member Dashboard.

AMSE has an amazing community of military spouse entrepreneurs. How do you use this incredible network to build up your own professional network?

My work supports milspouse entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. What AMSE has made clear is that Late-Career Milspouses can be found in a lot of different places, and once I was plugged into this network, I realized that everyone has a wealth of connections at their fingertips, too. I’ve been exposed to so many new relationships that may not have happened if it weren’t for this group!

We’d love to hear about your podcast. Why should Military spouses tune in to your show? What are three things they would get out of this great platform?

The Heart of a Milspouse podcast focuses on sparking inner purpose through empowered action and personal growth tools. The podcast started with a deployment series and will branch out from there. If you tune in, you’ll get an honest examination of military life challenges, ideas for how to incorporate tools for personal growth into daily life (such as using the Enneagram), and a space to feel more connected to who you are.

As a motivational speaker, what has been one of your most memorable experiences?

The speaking isn’t usually what’s most memorable - it’s the private messagea that come from military spouses afterward! Hearing how much impact I had on someone lights my heart on fire and simply encourages me to keep going. It reminds me that there’s so much power in letting others know they aren’t alone.

The person after the event who speaks out to me after is what really makes what I do worth it. The moments afterward are what matter the most to me. As a motivational speaker, it is more than a stage. I find so much value as a guest speaker on podcasts/LIVEs, and again making those connection points from those experiences.

Can you share one piece of advice you would give a military spouse who wants to be a military spouse advocate or entrepreneur?

Put your heart in, and don’t lose the connection to why you’re doing it in the first place—we all need your idea or support or creativity!

There is room for all of us to do what we are doing as entrepreneurs. This is our solution if traditional employment isn’t working out.

If considering entrepreneurship, jump in! Be all in. I wish I had jumped in sooner. This is definitely my hope for other military spouse entrepreneurs.

Where can we find you on social media? What is the best way people can reach out to you?   

I love hearing from y’all and checking in via Instagram: @mil.spouse.

You can also check out my website for ongoing updates about services, sign up for my email list, see what’s happening on the pod, etc. 

If you’re interested in booking Jayla Rae for a speaking event or guest expert session, see here.

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The All-Access Pass gives you even MORE!

✨ Group Coaching every month, with the opportunity to be an AMSE Group Coach yourself!

✨ An exclusive discount in the AMSE Shop!

✨ A FREE 20-second snippet on our official podcast, Owning Up, to promote your business!

✨ A feature on the AMSE Blog - all about you and your business!

✨ Access to the AMSE Cohort, an immersive 7-week course with hands-on coaching through the Building Your Business the AMSE Way coursework with Moni Jefferson.

Learn more about the All-Access Pass and sign up here!

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Meet Christina – Army wife, boy mom x 2, lifestyle blogger, and military spouse entrepreneur. It’s a Military Life is an upcoming nonprofit and lifestyle blog for everyday military life – sharing lifestyle content, personal stories, collaboration opportunities, and military child resources. We are a supportive milspo and vet networking community! My passion is writing about and for the military community, and it is such an amazing opportunity and a great honor to be an AMSE writer! Find me on Facebook (@itsamilitarylife & @christinaetchberger), Instagram (@itsamilitarylife, @itsamilitarychildlife & @christina_etchberger), and Twitter(@itsamil_life).

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AMSE Partner Highlight: How Wise Advise + Assist Team is Bridging the Gap Between Milspouse Unemployment and Business Needs

When I sat down to talk to Laura Early, Chief Experience Officer and Co-founder of WISE Advise + Assist Team, I thought I knew all about this great organization and person. I have seen Laura at virtual events multiple times; I have heard about the WISE team for years now; the company is established in the virtual milspouse career world.

And yet...I learned even more.

WISE Advise + Assist Team is “a virtual team of military spouses, veteran spouses, and veterans who help small businesses fulfill their needs in public relations, business strategy, bookkeeping, digital marketing, web design, and more.” They have been helping these men and women bridge the gap between military life and employment for over 5 years.

Their approach is supportive to both their clients and their team members. 

They work with small businesses by analyzing their business needs, determining what skills or tasks can be outsourced, and pairing them with team members who can support those needs. By hiring a WISE team member, the business gains more time to work on their business.

WISE also benefits the military spouse or veteran spouse by offering him or her a flexible, remote position that matches their skill sets. Team members are contractors or traditional W-2 employees; they are able to work in an environment that supports them financially and in their careers.

Here are a few new and fun facts I learned from Laura about WISE, the partnership with AMSE, and more:

New Fact #1: WISE Advise + Assist Team was started in a Panera Bread restaurant.

Laura met Diana Jaquith, the other Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, 7 years ago when they both served as volunteers for a non-profit board. They sparked up a friendship and clicked immediately. The duo were both at crossroads in their careers, too. They went from having a weekly brunch to talking about this business venture where they could grow their specific skill sets into one business and opportunity for their community.  

And thus, WISE was born in a Panera bread over a soup and sandwich. 

The company has continued to grow every year, from 2 employees the first year to a company of contractors and employees of 33 (and recruiting!). Every person is a part of the team, regardless of their role or tax status. It is what works best for the employee and military spouse.

New Fact #2: They were remote before “remote was cool.” 

This business has always been virtual, one of the many benefits of employment here! Because of this, they were able to continue to grow and work during the pandemic. Laura did not that they found some challenges within their team. Members were now thrust into multiple roles of employee, teacher, mother, etc. WISE learned to be even more empathetic with the team and flexible to their needs. They only wished they could do more to help! 

New Fact #3: Moni, our CEO, once worked for WISE!

It’s true. Moni’s first career is in PR, and she did some PR work for clients at WISE. That is how she and Laura grew to know each other. She has also worked with Moni in various capacities over the years.

So when AMSE was launching and looking for partners, Laura knew that WISE Advise + Assist wanted to be one of those partners. Both organizations share the same mission to help milspouses in their careers. What better way than through collaboration together? 

As so many other milspouse entrepreneurs have pointed out, Laura wishes that AMSE had been around when she started her business. Diana had previous experience with launching a business, but it was all new to Laura. “AMSE is such a great benefit...to not have to start from zero, to have people to help and support and someone who knows what they are doing.”

New Fact #4: Take a closer look at their company name.

The “WISE” part of their name seems obvious. But what about “Advise + Assist?” This is a nod to the S Fab (Security Force Assistance Brigade) teams from the military. These are specialized teams formed to train, advise, assist, enable, and accompany operations. 

Check closely at their logo! There is more than meets the eye. The owl is indicative of something or someone wise. But there are hidden meanings in the owl that their graphic designer purposefully implemented. For example, the diamond is placed in the logo because “we are the diamonds in the rough.” Look for more and see what you find!

Final Fact: This team will continue to bridge the gap for military spouses.

No matter if WISE Advise + Assist Team is new to you or a name you recognize, we know that we will continue to hear about their great work in the military community for years to come. Whether you are a small business owner looking for some assistance or project management or a military spouse looking to build your remote career, there is a place for you at WISE.

For more information about WISE Advise + Assist Team, click here.

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Rachel is the co-owner and editor of The Military Mom Collective. She has been an Air Force spouse for 17 years and is a mother of four children. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys reading as many books as possible and drinking all the coffee.

Rachel is also the Lead Editor at AMSE and a freelance writer. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, The Beautifull Project, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications. She has been blogging for herself and other organizations for over 10 years. She is always trying to stay on top of SEO practices and loves using the power of experiences and storytelling to empower businesses and individuals.

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AMSE Recommended Course: Demystifying the Entrepreneurial Journey

AMSE provides countless resources to entrepreneurs at any stage of their business journey. My perspective on entrepreneurship, especially as a woman, has been greatly influenced by AMSE founders Flossie and Moni Jefferson and the business they have created together. 

Why should milspouse entrepreneurs hop on the AMSE train? AMSE provides countless resources to build their business the AMSE way! 

Inspiring. Innovative. Resourceful. 

My entrepreneur journey began with an idea, but I greatly needed other people to learn from and to help my idea grow and evolve. A military spouse referred me to AMSE and after joining, I knew I had found a community that supports military spouses and their entrepreneurial dreams. 

One of the life-changing resources included is the private AMSE slack channel. This workspace allows military entrepreneurs to share and collaborate. In the #events channel within Slack, I learned about an amazing program called: Demystifying the Entrepreneurial Journey through Northeastern University directly from the co-founder Flossie Hall. 

“This new Lifelong Learning: On Demand program will inspire you to take the next step on your path to entrepreneurship and empower you to become the business owner and innovator you want to be, in a way that’s right for you and your family.”

This course is one of the many resources AMSE recommends and is a must. As a new woman in business, it gave me insight into the business world; throughout the class, my confidence and knowledge base grew. My business mindset and know-how had already been growing with AMSE as my go-to for all my entrepreneurial needs. The course helped even more!

Walkthrough with me on how to apply both the AMSE way and knowledge learned in these modules to further develop as an entrepreneur.

Module One: Entrepreneurship is for Everyone: Ideation and Imposter Syndrome

The first module had me at the title. Entrepreneurship is for everyone. Totally the AMSE mindset! This module defines entrepreneurship and shares life lessons from real business owners. The lesson also addresses the common barriers women entrepreneurs face in the business world, and most importantly, how to overcome these obstacles. Yes! 

The lesson not only discusses the issues but guides the entrepreneur to better develop a strong entrepreneur mindset, build confidence in oneself, and how to fake it till you make it. AMSE continuously promotes these ideals and lessons. My favorite way to practice this is during Group Coaching sessions and Master Classes, available as a premium member at AMSE. The best way to teach and learn is with others.

Module Two: Demystifying New Venture Creation and Raising Capital

How many entrepreneurs struggle with building the foundation of their business? How many people want to avoid the hard facts about the importance of managing finance? We have all been there.

This lesson focuses on preparing a business plan, marketing, and finance. At the same time, it addresses the struggles women face with raising capital. 

As a new entrepreneur, I am always overwhelmed when discussing money. I tend to move on to a more interesting and less threatening topic. Not this time. After many months of utilizing the #advice channel in AMSE’s Slack workspace, I already felt more confident because I have asked the hard questions already to fellow milspouse entrepreneurs.

AMSE membership provides business templates to members to help develop their business. Some of my favorites are the templates that give entrepreneurs the framework to develop their mission, vision, and values. Combining the AMSE templates along with the resources from this course set my business up for success.  

This module is crucial to anyone in business, especially female entrepreneurs. Understanding finance is vital for business success because women commonly face challenges due to difficulties accessing capital. This module prepares female entrepreneurs to tackle this obstacle and grow stronger. Knowledge is power!

Module Three: Building a Network for Success

A business plan is a very important part of establishing the foundation of a business, but the plan has no significance if a network does not exist or is not substantial. In this module, the lesson discussed three different types of networks: personal, operational, and strategic. I was captivated, especially with the many articles discussing how networking is different for women. 

Building connections and relationships are my favorite part of entrepreneurship. This is why I am always so active on the AMSE Slack Channel, where I have already expanded my network exponentially. I enjoy reaching out to other entrepreneurs, to learn about each other, and from each other to better each of our business objectives. My favorite place to chat with fellow entrepreneurs is the #watercoolertalk channel. How fun is that?!

And fortunately, AMSE provides that networking, community, and support system. Most inspiring to me is the fact that women thrive even more when networking together. I have learned this by observing how well AMSE co-founders and other AMSE members collaborate and build each other up.

Definitely the AMSE way!

AMSE never ceases to amaze me with all the quality resources they provide their military spouse entrepreneurs. The Northeastern University course they shared was incredibly worthwhile, and I highly recommend attending this course for anyone that is an entrepreneur. 

AMSE graciously introduced me to this program and I would never have known about this extremely beneficial course. The resources included in my AMSE membership, in addition to what I learned from Demystifying the Entrepreneurial Journey, have been a game-changer for me as an entrepreneur. Just another reason to become an AMSE member - the potential for education and resources is limitless! 

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Sign up for AMSE’s Free membership and learn more about Premium membership here. We cannot wait to meet you!

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My name is Christina – Army wife, boy mom x 2, former full-time educator turned homeschooling teacher, lifestyle blogger, and military spouse entrepreneur. It’s a Military Life is a lifestyle blog for everyday military life – sharing lifestyle content, personal stories, collaboration opportunities, and military child resources. We are a supportive milso and vet networking community! My passion is writing about and for the military community, and it is such an amazing opportunity and a great honor to be an AMSE writer! Find me on Facebook (@itsamilitarylife & @christinaetchberger), Instagram (@itsamilitarylife, @itsamilitarychildlife & @christina_etchberger), and Twitter(@itsamil_life).

Websites: www.christinaetchberger.com & www.itsamilitarylife.com

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