Editor’s Note: Military Spouse Entrepreneur Spotlight is a monthly Q&A designed to celebrate the successes and acknowledge the challenges of a military spouse entrepreneur.
Name: Leigh Searl
Military Branch Affiliation: Army
Years as a Military Spouse: 13
Business Name: America’s Career Force
Year Established: March 2015
Tell us about your business: I am a military spouse and have founded America’s Career Force which is dedicated to finding remote job opportunities for America’s military spouses. The frequent military moves make it impossible for spouses to have a traditional career. My struggles lead me to start America’s Career Force because I know, first-hand remote, portable careers truly support our lifestyle.
We know American companies want to hire America’s military spouses too but often struggle to find them! We help companies with their remote opportunities by advertising the job to military spouses around the world and select the most qualified candidate for an interview. We streamline the hiring process and make it easier for them to correctly identify military spouse and veteran talent.
What’s your biggest lesson learned as an entrepreneur so far?
Starting a business takes patience.
On managing work and life – is it all about blending or all about balancing? Why?
Life is work and therefore I see it as blending of priorities. For me working “outside” of the home enables me to maintain a sense of self.
I have struggled to be able to work living the military life and felt that along the way I lost myself.
It’s easy to fall into this trap because all identifying components of you relates back to your spouse. I’m not living my life for others, I’m living my life with others and caring for family and friends along the way. There are times when some things take priority over others and you have to adjust your day accordingly but that is life and as military spouses we are resilient!
Tell us the one thing that makes your dual-working military family successful?
I am proud and excited about what I am doing. I love what I do, just like my spouse. I’ve always heard that if you love what you do, it’s not work. It’s absolutely true. Being fulfilled both personally and professionally are essential components to success, especially living the military lifestyle.
Choose one: coffee, wine, water or soda?
Coffee then wine
Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without:
Computer
Favorite app?
USAA
Must-have song on your productivity playlist:
“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
Leave us with some wise words…
Remote jobs are the key to military spouse unemployment. Regardless of our geographic location, as long as we have a computer we can work. Help me get the word out to American companies to “Hire Just One” military spouse for remote employment!
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