How An Outstanding Navy Spouse Became the Self-Care Expert You Need to Know



Navy spouse Noralee Jones is the voice and influencer behind Mrs. Navy Mama, a brand that encourages self-care to help military spouses navigate home, marriage, and motherhood one duty station at a time.

You need to get to know her: she will be real with you about military spouse life on Instagram Stories, but then offer you thoughtful ways to overcome challenges over on her blog and in her Facebook group, all with the underlying message to nurture your self-care. 

Here’s more about Noralee’s entrepreneurship journey: 

The Beginning of Mrs. Navy Mama

Noralee was a career 9-to-5er, working as a speech-language pathologist and a mom who felt the nudge to pursue her purpose in a new way. She had never focused on writing before, but after guest blogging and watching other military spouses start blogs, she decided to take a blogging course and jump in. In the beginning, she wrote about many topics. But she found that self-care for military spouses was the one thing that she could talk about all day. 

What Noralee Loves Most About Mrs. Navy Mama

Noralee loves doing her work for Mrs. Navy Mama because it’s a way for her to serve the community in a tangible yet flexible way. She works out of the home part-time and has four children, so this is something she can do in the evenings and weekends. She loves filling the cups of other women and feels that her own cup is filled in return. She learns from the spouses that reach out with questions and comments about military life. Best of all, she loves having the opportunity to meet other military spouse entrepreneurs across the branches that she may never have met otherwise. 

Business + Life Harmony

Noralee doesn’t believe that there’s a true work/life balance. There are always ups and downs in the cycle of entrepreneurship and life. But, she sets specific boundaries around when she’s working and when she’s not. She hires a regular babysitter and has a house cleaner come once a month to do the deep cleaning. She stresses that it’s important to not feel guilty about hiring help so you can focus on the things that are most meaningful to you.

What a Successful Entrepreneur Looks Like

Right now, success as an entrepreneur looks like fulfillment in experiences and opportunities that she wouldn’t get otherwise. She’s been able to cultivate new skills, have different experiences, and become involved in a community that has helped her grow. She stresses that when a business is new, it’s important to measure success in non-financial ways. Success can come in many forms; it’s up to you to define it!

Organizations and People Who Have Helped Her Build Success

InDependent - InDependent is a non-profit organization that makes wellness accessible to all military spouses. She appreciates being part of their community because their thought processes and goals align with hers. 

AMSE - The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs has helped her come in contact with other business-minded military spouses who have enriched her learning and experience on her journey of building her business.

Military Spouses Who Have Found Her - Noralee finds inspiration in the stories that military spouses share in her community. What seem like normal, everyday military life stories have meaningful depth, and that keeps her going. 

Her Biggest Accomplishment

Noralee’s is proud to have written her book, the Self-Care Guide for MILSOs. It was a big labor of love that took about eight months to write. The research she conducted while writing the book really helped her develop her expertise in the area of self-care. 

Her Biggest Challenge

Being taken seriously. Noralee wants everyone to know that the numbers of followers don’t predict capability. If you give her a job, she will do it and do it well. 

Her Advice for New Bloggers

Build a solid foundation from the start. Put in the groundwork to learn SEO and work in your niche rather than having to backtrack later. 

Exciting Things to Come

She’s still working out the kinks, but she’d love to develop a companion resource for her book: a self-paced course on self-care that aids military spouses as they discover how they want to nurture their self-care and gives them the resources to do it. 

Support She Needs Right Now

Noralee would love to have some help marketing herself as a writer, entrepreneur, and defender of self-care. 

How Mrs. Navy Mama is Going to Change the World

Through the Mrs. Navy Mama community, Noralee is going to provide military spouses with the ability to make the most of their lives and not feel stagnant. Military life doesn’t have to dictate how you feel. You don’t have to put everyone and everything above yourself. There are a lot of different ways military spouses can take care of themselves, and Mrs. Navy Mama is there to show them the way.

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Kimberly Bacso is an MBA who exchanged an office with a view for a life of adventure when she became a military spouse in 2001. She is the co-founder and operations director of InDependent, a non-profit on a mission to make wellness accessible to all military spouses. She is the managing editor of Legacy Magazine, a print publication celebrating service member families and the communities that support them. Kimberly is an experienced registered yoga teacher and a lifelong vegetarian who can often be found traveling off the beaten path with her husband and teenage daughter.

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Business Boundaries Are Critical for Your Survival



Whether you are a seasoned business owner or just venturing on your first entrepreneurial journey, you probably remember a time in which having unhealthy or non-existent boundaries created conflict in your life. Have you ever said "yes" to adding one more task to your already impossible to complete to-do list? We have all been there, done that. 

Recognizing when it's appropriate to say no sounds like an easy task, but it trips many people up. Ever had a hard time telling your child that he or she couldn't get a new toy or participate in an activity? As parents, we want to provide our children with not only their needs but also their wants. 

A nostalgic example of how vital boundaries are comes from "The Simpsons" cartoon.

Bart Simpson's pranks are notorious for getting him into trouble. In one episode, Bart gets into serious trouble for a prank. Marge and Homer decide to put their foot down and banish him to his room with no dessert. While in his room, Bart is confident that one of his parents will give in and release him from his punishment. After what seems like forever, Bart starts rethinking his mischievous ways. He promises aloud to be a good boy because his parents were, for once, serious about sticking to the boundaries they set.

But in the final minutes of the episode, Homer sneaks upstairs and gives Bart some dessert. Bart, realizing that his parents have poor boundaries, does his infamous laugh, "Ha, Ha, Ha….Sucker!" Bart's boundary-testing pranks are part of what makes "The Simpsons," the long-standing satirical animated genius of its time. 

Realistically, we recognize how problematic it can be to play fast and loose with boundaries with our children, but the same rules apply when business is involved. We all want to make a good impression or put in the extra hours to get that project done, but ask yourself, "at what cost?" 

When we say "yes" to something, we say "no" to other opportunities in our lives.

Society tells women, in particular, to work harder than their male counterparts to be taken seriously and to become successful. Not having boundaries affects both our business and personal lives. It's a slippery slope; once you start to let one thing slide, it's easy to fall into a continuous cycle of poor and unhealthy boundaries.

What exactly do unhealthy boundaries look like in business? 

Constantly feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and burnt out are signs that your boundaries need to be checked and readjusted. Accepting clients outside of your posted business hours is one surefire way to quick burnout. Imagine opening your availability to accommodate all of your clients' varying schedules. Think about that for a moment. How awesome would it be if our favorite store offered hours to fit our plans? You might get a sale, but at what cost? While your family is out enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon, you're stuck at work. Perhaps you're not in the office, but you're home and connected to your laptop, phone, and email. There's no quality time spent with your loved ones. The tension in your relationship can quickly mount. 

As business owners, we recognize that customers are essential to your success, whether you have a product or service-based company. But are there any limitations on how much access you give to them? 

So How Do You Set Boundaries?

First, decide who your ideal client is and stop trying to fit your business to meet everyone's needs. 

Defining your niche and understanding your avatar should be done well before opening your doors. If you haven't niched down, now is the time. When first starting, you might be tempted to get any clients in the door or on your calendar. Working outside of your specialty and ideal client is another fast way to burnout. Before you know it, there's less enjoyment in your work and eventually resenting your own business. If you've ever heard of the saying, 'jack of all trades, master of none,' you understand the plight. Focus on the one thing you're great at and make sure your sales copy speaks to your avatar. For those who are outside of your niche, refer them to another great business. This referral process is an essential step in building genuine relationships with other business owners. Clients will also appreciate you looking out for their best interest and may refer someone to your business in the future. 

Next, have an honest conversation with yourself about your ability to hold clients and yourself accountable. 

Review your policies and disclosures. You must enforce your policies if you ever want to be respected in your business. Remember how Bart went back on his promise to be good once Homer displayed poor boundary enforcement? If you have a cancellation policy in your consent and disclosures, clearly explain to your client upfront and hold them accountable. Having accountability doesn't mean that you are so rigid that you never give anyone a break, but make exceptions sparingly. When you hold space for someone who doesn't respect your time, you deny that opportunity for others. That time could go to another client, or you could have enjoyed time with your loved ones. 

Finally, remind yourself of your mission and vision for your business. 

As an entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to create the business life you want to live. How does your business's mission align with your life? Many entrepreneurs wish for financial freedom and to spend more time with loved ones. When you start to feel burnt out, overworked, and off-center, remind yourself of your mission and values. Use these as a gauge for how well you are running your business. 

Healthy business boundaries will ensure you remain true to your commitments to yourself, your brand, and your family.

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Dr. LaQuista Erinna is a licensed therapist, speaker, and author. As an Army Veteran and former military spouse, she is passionate about eliminating mental health stigma in military communities. She enjoys educating and inspiring others about mental health & wellness, resiliency, and women’s empowerment. To connect with Dr. LaQuista, visit https://laquistaerinnaspeaks.com/ or @laquistaerinna on social media. 

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5 Businesses You Can Start Today As A Milspouse



I'd never had trouble finding employment, but it took time to find my “dream job”. 

It was so fulfilling to have a job that I enjoyed and paid what I deserved. This made all those other jobs leading up to it worth it. Then my husband approached me about going back into the military. Of course, I support and love him, but so many things went through my mind. 

First came questions about how long he would be gone and how life would be for our future military children. But I was also scared about what I would do for work. After all, I worked hard for that job! 

So now I needed a flexible job, something that would follow me everywhere.

As a fellow military spouse, I know the struggle you may be facing in your job search. I firmly believe in maintaining your own identity apart from your spouse and their career, kids, chores, errands, and never-ending to-do lists. The best place to start is earning your own money doing something you enjoy that won’t fall apart every time deployment or a PCS comes up.

But where do you start? Here are 5 businesses that you can start today as a Milspouse. 

Virtual assistant

For many small and large business owners, having a virtual assistant is considered vital AND a lifesaver. A virtual assistant is anyone who offers services to other business owners from afar in exchange for an agreed-upon fee. Pretty simple right?

If you break down everything that you can do as a virtual assistant, you may be surprised at the options you can provide clients. These may include any of the following: 

• customer support

• processing online orders and refunds 

• website design and maintenance

• graphic design

• calendar management and travel arrangements

• editing and proofreading content 

• transcription

• bookkeeping

• data entry

This list of tasks available for a virtual assistant is vast, and virtual assistants are always in demand. 

Freelance Writer

If you enjoy writing, you may love this one. Basically, companies hire you to write blog posts, articles, interviews, and more for their site. They could be a ‘blogger’ or a business owner that needs content but does not have time to write them. You also may consider starting your own blog to build up your portfolio before pitching to other blogs, websites, and more to provide content. Blogging can be as little as a few 300-500 word posts for $20-40 each or up to $600+ for longer posts with more research required.

Social Media Influencer 

Is there something you are passionate about? Something that you will discuss with anyone at any time? Maybe you are passionate about fashion, healthy meals, fitness, travel, or photography. Or perhaps you want to help others change their lives, learn a new skill, or gain insight about a specific topic. Influencing might be the right fit for you.  

Influencers are creators who share content while building communities around topics and niches. Instagram is a visual platform and a great place to start. Content creators covering travel, photography, fashion, beauty, fitness, food, and more find success on Instagram, as do lifestyle influencers who share aspects of their personal lives on the platform. Influencers can be found on TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube...you name it, there is a place for social media influencers.

Social Media Manager

This is a little different than a virtual assistant. This role is focused on social media and making it work for the client. Here’s a job you can do if you have experience on social media - which most of us do! After all, social media is here to stay. Build yourself a portfolio showing that you can run groups on Facebook, work on engagement on each platform, and even come up with some sample graphics and posts. Along with Facebook, you will want to be familiar with Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. You will need to keep on top of trends and new features with each. 

And do not forget about Pinterest! Did you know that Pinterest is a huge search engine? You can utilize it to help drive traffic to your client’s website and products directly through there. Setting up awesome pin graphics and scheduling them at the right time helps your client get the exposure they need.

These can all be automated to help you and your client schedule in advance. There are many scheduling options, such as Tailwind, Planoly, Post Planner, etc. You will want to discuss with your clients which ones they prefer, so ensure you are familiar with them. Many have free trials so you can get familiar with the features prior to clients requesting them. 

Create/Sell a Physical Product 

Can you recall a time when someone said to you, “You know, you should sell this!”? Maybe it was a screen pressed shirt you made for your kid’s 2nd birthday; some homemade decor for Christmas; a BBQ sauce you don’t even need the recipe for because it’s a part of your blood. You may also see a need for a product or something that, if created, would make life easier for others. If you have ideas like this, you can turn that into a business that will go with you wherever you are! 

Take some time to brainstorm your ideas and check out the market for similar items. Then use platforms like Etsy, Amazon, Gumroad, and even military spouse specific platforms like Spouse-ly to sell your product. 

Whatever route you choose, there are so many options for military spouses to become successful entrepreneurs. Find support that will make all the difference and don’t simply assume that military life can stop you from fulfilling your dreams. 

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Noralee Jones is a MILSO of 12 years, mom of 4, and writer/creator at Mrs. Navy Mama. Having experience with 7 deployments, 4 PCS moves alone, and the author of the Self-Care Guide for MILSOs, she is an expert on the importance of taking the time to focus on filling our bodies, minds, and souls with our individual needs in order to make the most out of our lives. She is also the Co-Author of The Newbie’s Guide to Military Life, which focuses on supporting MILSOs through the ups and downs of military life through Mrs. Navy Mama. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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3 Tips To Help You Start Your Online Course



Whether this is a solution to maintain contact with your clients or something you are implementing as an additional income source, here are three things to consider as you start planning your online course:

1 - Know your outcome before you start.

• What is your ultimate goal or outcome for users?

• What exactly does your audience need to know? Can you give them plenty of information without overwhelming them?

• How long will the process take from start to finish?

2 - Know your audience!

• What does your target audience need? Do NOT focus on what do you want to tell them. Look at it from a users perspective.

• How do they best consume information? You’ll want to include a mix of video, audio, and written workbooks and resources.

• How do you want to present yourself to them? I.e. suited and booted, relaxed, office, outside, etc.

3 - Choose your platform wisely

There are a number of online platforms that offer online course capabilities. Here are a few considerations (note that this list is not exhaustive):

• What are the caveats? Do you get a certain number of users free, then prices increase? Are there hidden fees or purchases necessary for the platform and look you desire?

• Does it allow you to scale (add more modules once your course is live, allow guest speakers, link to other platforms, grow user base, etc.)?

Remember - you need to be in the head of your ideal client when planning out your course. What is that they need? How will this course transform them?

Consider the fact that while this may be second nature to you, this may be your end user’s first exposure to this information. So, be clear and concise, and don’t overwhelm them with information. There is always the opportunity for them to come back for more and continue working with you!

Here are some common questions that come up when people are considering an online course . Hopefully this answers some that you have already come up with!

How much does it cost to have your own online course?

Unfortunately there is no straight answer for this. It very much depends on the platform you use and the capabilities you require. Teachable has an initial package of $27 a month, which provides the platform and unlimited number of students, payment processes etc. but allows for very little customization. Kajabi has a higher starting rate of around $150 per month, but it provides more all-in-one solutions like landing pages and email automation.

These are just a few options. There are hundreds out there, so it is important you do your research and understand how much additional work you may be required to put in. 

How long should my course be?

How long is a piece of string?! 

Again, no right or wrong answer here but consider these: the outcomes, the time commitment you are asking of people, your business goals, and your audience’s ability to commit. A 12-week program is a great starting point and is a decent chunk of time to ensure people get value and learn from you without getting bored or losing their way.

What should I charge people?

Your time and effort are valuable. To figure out what to charge, you need to consider:

• Duration of the program

• Your current hourly rate (if you have one)

• Does the offer include some of your time, or is it set and forget?

• The value you are providing

• Industry standards

• Competitor pricing

What if there is already someone offering what I do?

STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! 

If every successful business thought that, would we have Coke and Pepsi? Nike and Adidas? Apple and Samsung? The list goes on.

The one thing that your competition doesn’t have? YOU!!! 

An online course is the perfect way to let your personality and your authentic self shine through. And that is why people will love you and buy from you!

Hopefully these 3 tips and other suggestions are enough to light a fire in you and get you started on your journey. Online course creation can mean more revenue and more time back in your business and your life!

Happy creating!

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Gems is a Business Consultant who specializes in the creation of online courses, as well as providing 1-1 business coaching to solo entrepreneurs, focus on business growth by working on mindset strategies, and the implementation of additional revenue streams. 

With a Masters in Global Management and a 15-year career in Project Management, Gems started her own business when she married a US serviceman and her career trajectory changed. Now, she is able to combine her love for coaching and online course creation with her expertise in Project Management, to help others grow their businesses.

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