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.
In the past, we have highlighted Jessica Roberts of Aim High Writing College Consulting, Julie Riggin of Julie Kay Design Studio, Lauren Nygard of Lauren Nygard Photography, Lindsey Germono of Germono Advertising Company and Amy Rowland of Play Across America. This month, NextGen MilSpouse features Jessica Bartram of Fayetteville Hypnosis.
Name: Jessica Bartram
Military Branch Affiliation: Army
Years as a Military Spouse: 5
Business Name: Fayetteville Hypnosis
Year Established: 2014
Tell us about your business: Fayetteville Hypnosis specializes in creating positive life changes through hypnosis.
Our sessions address and eliminate issues such as smoking, stress, low self esteem and fears (fear of failure, public speaking, etc.). We help people overcome various personal issues using hypnosis or as we sometimes call it, “goal focused meditation.” We are a resource for people to live a less stressful and more productive life. We offer customized sessions online and in Fayetteville, N.C.
What’s your biggest lesson learned as an entrepreneur so far?
My biggest lesson so far has been to stay focused on the direction of the business and not to get detoured. When I started the business I got caught up in the fun stuff – nice office supplies, Instagram marketing, etc. The fun part of a business doesn’t necessarily lead to clients.
I’ve learned to set a business goal and visualize myself having already achieved it. I start at the goal and work backwards.
Doing this allows me to take steps in the right direction, rather than floundering around aimlessly or getting caught up in nonsense.
On managing work and life – is it all about blending or all about balancing? Why?
I’ve recently discovered I’m not a big believer in balance.
In the past, when I set up to keep everything balanced, I ended up feeling like a failure. Balance for me would only work on the days that went 100 percent, according to plan (which hardly ever happened).
My work and personal life blend together. The priorities are accomplished each day and everything else falls in-between the cracks. My house isn’t always dust-free but my family is happy. Blending works best for us.
Tell us the one thing that makes your dual-working military family successful.
I think we are successful because we appreciate our time together and have our individual sense of self worth.
Choose one: coffee, wine, water or soda:
Coffee. Always.
Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without:
iPhone
Favorite app?
Evernote
Must-have song on your productivity playlist:
I have to have silence to be productive.
Leave us with some wise words…
Change is hard, but staying stuck is harder.