Whoa…..this blogging series is tough to keep up with when you are in the middle of Prom season, End of the Year school events season, and the beginnings of warm, beach weather….but today, I’m back at it!!  Thanks for hanging in there with me and I hope today’s post will be helpful as so many military families are gearing up for what we like to refer to as “PCS Season”!!!  PCS refers to the famous acronym Permanent Change of Station.  Which translates to “Honey…I have orders.  Pack the house and the kids, we’re moving!”

For us, it has always been a wonderful change of pace and we’ve welcomed the chance to travel.  We’ve loved sharing different cultures, foods, and excursions with our three kiddos.  These are some of the perks to being a military family.

However, moving often times provides big career challenges for spouses.  If you are a teacher or a nurse, you must become certified in your new state. If you are in the corporate world you may lose your job because places like Beaufort certainly don’t have large corporations that you could transfer within.  If you are a creative entrepreneur, you will be leaving your immediate market and have to build a new one.  As spouses, we all face these hard times with flexibility, strength, and determination.  We are chameleons…..ever changing and evolving to succeed at this unique lifestyle.

As entrepreneurs, we are good at facing unique challenges, rolling with the punches, and thinking outside the box.  In fact, most of us LIVE outside of the box.  🙂  Today I’m sharing three ways I have faced the relocation challenge as an entrepreneur.  I’d love you to add to my thoughts about what has worked for you in the past or how you plan to take your business with you to a new duty station in the future.

 Gotta love Airport DVD watching!  🙂

Plan Ahead…Get In Front of the Move

When you get orders, send texts, emails, Facebook messages to friends and former clients that are living in the new area.  Let them know you are coming and would like their help.  Their (already established) network can be part of your new network.  If you are a photographer, offer them discounted sessions once you arrive so that their portraits will be seen in their friends’ newsfeed.  Plan a get together for your friends  to show them your new work if you create custom children’s clothing or if you are a graphic artist, offer to do some work for friends as a way to promote your business in their market.  Bartering is great during these early days of reestablishing yourself.   Don’t feel like you are working for free….building relationships in your new area will pay huge dividends.

Something else to consider is to go ahead and contact vendors you’d like to work with in your new area.  As the move gets closer, set up some appointments or plan to attend a local Tuesdays Together event if there is one in your area.  Start planning your “landing pad” before you “launch”!!!

Get Involved…Do Good Work

I’ve mentioned this before in an earlier post….network, get involved, volunteer.  Go out and meet people!!  Join a playgroup with your kiddos, volunteer at your spouse’s unit, find an organization on base or out in town to volunteer with.

Or you may have to do like I did when we first moved to NC…I got a job doing something completely different. I went back to my first love, which was teaching.  A wonderful position opened up in my children’s school and I jumped at the chance to do something else that I loved.  I continued to grow my business while I was teaching kindergarten full time and due to unexpected orders for my hubby….I was able to leave my full time job and take my business back to a full time status.  I LOVED my teaching position, the staff, my team, the kids, the families…..but I was happy that I could make that leap and transition back to being a full time business owner when my family needed me the most.  During that teaching
time span though, I built a network of friends, colleagues, community members, and clients.  Look for opportunities!

Build a Good Reputation

We have always taught our children to take care of people.  Love them, cherish them, and do the right thing. Our military world is very small.  I cannot tell you how many times recently that I’ve posted a session where someone has messaged me later saying that they knew my client’s parents way back when or they had been stationed together three duty stations ago.  So please know that word travels fast….make sure your name stands firm on a good reputation.  As a rule, I try not to post political rhetoric, hot button topics, or any opinion that will fuel a fire.  Not only out of respect for my husband’s current job, but also because I don’t want drama on my page or in my life.  No, you can’t make everyone happy…And yes, I do have an opinion on most topics related to our current state of affairs.  However, that’s why I have friends and family.  Those are the people I choose to debate with.  The online world is what I use for sharing the good things happening in our life with family far away…and for building my business.  I certainly don’t want to go around inciting “online riots” with random people, only to have a client see something ugly pop up in their newsfeed.

We are teaching our teenagers the same thing.  What you put out on social media is there for the world to see.  Future teachers, colleges, employers….they will all be able to see your online presence.  Make sure it represents you well.  The same goes for business owners.

Remember that often times, our reputations precede us.  Connect with friends and former clients upon arrival to your new duty station and know that they will take care of you and often times help your business flourish.

I hope these few tips and thoughts help someone in this upcoming PCS season.  Now go pack some boxes!!  heehee

(Gotta find a way to make moving and decorating fun….they were good for about 10 mins….then it was all left up to me! 🙂 )

Blessings,

Corry