Defining the Entrepreneurial Spirit
The entrepreneurial spirit is a gift that inspires others to become the best they can be. From passion and positivity to leadership and ambition. It allows people to believe in themselves enough to take the prospect of failure head-on and have the determination to come out on top.
I’ve been starting businesses and exploring my creative side since day one. I grew up in a lively neighborhood and lived in a cute little yellow house on a could-a-sac. where I loved to create different ways to scam my neighbors:) At the age of five I would pick my neighbors flowers without them knowing and sell them door to door to the other neighbors for $1. Did I get in trouble by my parents? Definitely. Was it a great way to track my progression into morally ethical business practices? 100%.
In high school I worked as a professional model for companies like Nike, Glamour Magazine, Adidas, Sorel and Michael Costello just to name a few. In those years I was able to observe creative professionals which inspired me to begin my own endeavors into fashion and marketing. At the age of 14 I turned my hobby for knitting into a custom hat and scarf side business. During football season I would make team colored pieces and sell them to family friends over Facebook. I also started to turn my Instagram into a fashion blog that same year and started a fashion club in my high-school. My fashion blog grew and I became able to be sponsored by brands. I used my passion for art to market myself over Instagram and take commissioned jobs for custom paintings and sketches. As I transitioned into college my social media skills continued to grow as I focused on blogging and started a social media consultation side gig where I could help small business grow their following to increase sales. I also took up photography in college and have experience photographing seniors in school, couples, weddings, maternities and fashion campaigns. In the most recent year I have released LightRoom Presets for sale and am currently starting my own vintage shop online. Not to mention I work full time remotely for a wine company.
Now that’s a lot about me, but let’s get to talking about you and how you can be an entrepreneur too!
The Importance of Keeping Busy as a WAF or SO
Day to day life as a military spouse or significant other can be hum drum. Whether your partner is deployed or works 10 hour days, there can be hours of alone time where the only voice you hear is in your head. When moving to a new part of the country where you don’t know anyone nearby this can be especially true. Keeping busy can be the difference between fulfillment and boredom. As a women who always seems to have too many things she wants to do, I hope this post will encourage you to find your passion and entrepreneurial spirit.
Finding Your Niche
Start by finding hobbies or activities that make you happy. A few examples are: calligraphy, art, knitting, photography, cooking, fitness, clothing design, graphic design, DIY, and fashion. The list goes on. Next, find a way to capitalize on your talents. Capitalizing doesn’t have to be monetary, it can be something that builds your resume or skill set. This could be announcing to friends and family you are selling something on Facebook or building a free website and adding it to your LinkedIn.
Discover
Community for Your Small Business
As a wife or SO in the military there is a huge community of fellow women and families that are there to support you in any way. And yes, I mean any way! Whether it’s emotionally, spiritually or financially, the military community is a lifesaver!
When starting a small business, one important thing to consider is peoples’ want to support their fellow military members and families. This means military social media groups or pages are a great place to start if you are looking to sell your work or to just reach out to people. Also, as a WAF I can tell you I am much more inclined to purchase something from another WAF or a MILSO, and I’m sure many other people are as well. Overall, the military community can be your best bet when trying to start a small business because we all have each others backs!
Giving Insecurities the Boot
When trying to find your passion or creative outlet you can’t let insecurities distract you from things that make you happy. This can be one of the most difficult things to do in place where maybe you don’t know the culture or anyone around you, but here is a tip I’ve seen work.
One of my favorite things to do is to reach out to people on social media that live in my area that I admire for their confidence, fashion, lifestyle, cooking skills or whatever else. I recommend sending them a message and ask them if they’d like to meet up to go to your favorite cute and trendy coffee shop and get to know this person and become inspired by them. Learning from someone face to face can be a great way to grow in knowledge and secondhand experience before diving into a new venture. This person may become a great friend and amazing resource for you in life and in building your confidence.
Quick Links to Help You Get Started
Website Builders:
WIX –
SQUARESPACE. –
https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us
SHOPIFY –
Inspiring Entrepreneurial WAFS:
Emma Spuller at Keens Kitchen –
Jenna McKone Photography –
Summer Luchsinger Gerbhart Calligraphy –
https://summergebhart.wixsite.com/everythingsummer
Now we’ve come to the most important part of our journey together. You have the tips and you have the confidence, now it just comes down to finding what you enjoy. Wishing all of my future entrepreneurs the best of luck!
xo, Emily
-WAF at USAF Academy-
