A Military Spouse Small Business Podcast: Owning Up

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - The AMSE Version by Audra Edwards 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Slack Not a message was stirring, not even a business fact; The stockings were hung on the website with care, In hopes that Moni Jefferson soon would be there; The entrepreneurs were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of scalability danced in their heads; And the hubby in his lounge pants, and I in my Mrs. Claus cap, Had just settled our working brains for a long winter's nap, When out on the Remo there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my rolly chair to see what was the matter. Away to the open window I flew like a flash, Tore open the chat function and hoped it wouldn't crash. The filter on the video of the pixelated snow, Gave the illusion of a Christmas party room to participants below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature keyboard and seven teammates, dear, With a beautiful leader so lively and quick, I knew in a moment she must be Monique. More rapid than eagles her team members came, And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Michelle! now, Kathleen! now Amira and Audra! On, Caroline! on, Team! on, Anna and Selena! To the top of the website! to the top of the socials! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the channel the AMSE team flew With the community full of networking opportunities, and Moni too— And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the thread The brainstorming and planning from each entrepreneur's head. As I minimized my window, and started to shut my system down, To the AMSE Bash Moni did come with a bound. She was dressed in festive fun, from her head to her feet, And her clothes were so jubilant, the Grinch's mood she would beat; A bundle of resources she had flung on her back, And she looked like a peddler just opening her pack. Her eyes—how they twinkled! Her messy bun, how merry! Her cheeks were like roses, her lipstick the color of a cherry! Her ears were festooned with the shiniest hoops, And her Air Force Spouse pride was evident to the troops; The end of a pen she held tight in her teeth, And the ideas, they encircled her head like a wreath; She had a thoughtful face and an attitude of Hustle! That drove her to help other milspouse business owners thrive with mind, willpower, and muscle. She was confident and positive, a right jolly founding elf, And I smiled back when I saw her, in spite of myself; A wink of her eye and a twist of her head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; She spoke all the words, and went straight to her work, And filled all the virtual stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying her finger aside of her nose, And giving a nod, away from the website she rose; She sprang to her keyboard, to her team gave a whistle, And away their fingers flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard her exclaim, ere she moved out of the camera's sight— "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Welcome listeners!

In this episode, Moni teams up with some amazing Latina women to talk about the lack of equal pay for Latinas.

Joining her for this podcast is Sandra Ocasio- Owner of Funnels with Sandra; Nicte Cuevas- Owner/Founder of Nicte Creative Design; Irma Reyes- Human Resources Director and Author; Sonia Garza- Hiring Our Heroes Program Manager.

Listen in as each of them share their individual stories and how they believe change can happen.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome listeners!

In this episode, Moni shares what her role as a leader has been like for her over the past few years as the CEO of the AMSE Agency.

Part of being a CEO and building a team is hiring others. And supporting military spouse entrepreneurs is very important to her. However, liking someone as a person does not mean they are qualified to do the job you need effectively. And sometimes, a leader has to admit they were wrong about who they hired. This also means you'll have to know when it's time to let them go.

As a leader, creating an SOP - Systems Operating Procedures for each role in your company is essential. Have your processes written out, screenshots, and videos to review every aspect of the job. Take the time to know your team and when you need to, be ready to move a team member into another role if you see the individual could thrive there based on their many skills. Don't be afraid to ask to see a portfolio of their work during the hiring process.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome listeners!

In this episode, Moni shares the global and personal impact being the leader of AMSE had on her life. Plus, she gets vulnerable and shares what worked, what she would do differently, and what she wouldn't do again. If you're feeling discouraged at the end of this year with your business, this episode will encourage and inspire you.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Hello listeners! I'm Caroline Schafer, the Podcast Producer for the AMSE Agency.

December is upon us, and as it begins to look a lot like Christmas, we want you to know that here at AMSE, we believe in you. We hope we have brought joy to your world as you decked the halls of your business with your favorite things. And whether you have a white Christmas or not, we hope you jingle all the way through the month with our monthly events.

• Join us on December 1st at 12 pm EST for our monthly Facebook Live. This is when we share our list and check it twice of everything happening at AMSE, plus all of the upcoming events.
• Following the Facebook Live at 1:30 pm EST is our monthly Member Orientation. If you're unsure what gifts come with being an AMSE member, you don't have to get your tinsel all tangled. Just attend this event, and you'll find out! This is for every level of membership. So whether you're a new member or have been around for a while, this is a great time to get up to date on your benefits.
• Our first Masterclass of the month is on December 6th at 1:30 pm EST. Join CEO and Founder - Moni Jefferson - as she unwraps the secret of how to create an End-of-Year Review To Set Goals For A Productive 2023. Moni will take you thru the festive process of summarizing how the year went for your business so you can sleigh the New Year with confidence! Sign up for this class on your member dashboard today!
• December 7th at 1:30 pm EST is our Virtual Co-working. Is there an area of your business that is lacking the sprinkles of the season? Well, during this time, you can carve out an hour to bake up some business idea goodies. You definitely want to sign up and set a reminder for this.
• December 8th at 1:30 pm EST, AMSE coach Noea Moss will be our host for this month's Group Coaching. Is there an area of your business that feels like Scrooge has taken over? Well, Noea can help you remember the real reason for the season as she brings good tidings to you with the answers you're looking for. Of course, you'll want to attend this event. We do ask that you email your questions to hello@amseagency ahead of time to help Noea prepare to answer your questions.
• What would be better than finishing off our year by decorating it with our monthly Coffee Chat? Honestly, it's the best time to greet other members with glad tidings of joy. It really is all about conversation, coffee, cocoa, and community. So jingle over to your AMSE dashboard today and sign up to reserve your spot on December 14th at 10 am EST.
• Listeners, you have given us the best gift of the holiday season by joining us here on the Owning Up podcast. From all of us at AMSE, we wish you the merriest of holidays and we can officially say, "That's a wrap!"
• We love how our listeners support the mission of AMSE and the Owning Up podcast. As we continue to grow, advocate, and support military spouse entrepreneurs, we wanted to offer that same chance to you, our listeners. For only $5 - you can increase our reach within our community - locally, nationally, and globally. Visit Glow.fm/owningup to become an Owning Up supporter today!
• Remember, your AMSE Member dashboard has all you need to register for events, connect with other members, and share your wins! You can find all you need to start, grow, and elevate your business!

If you're new to Owning Up, make sure to subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse, who has a business or is thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. As always, check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome listeners!

In this episode, our team members share their gratitude for AMSE. We'd love to hear why you're also grateful for the AMSE community! Feel free to leave a comment and let us know. And we are grateful for each of you. We couldn't do any of what we do without you.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to the MSEG 5 Episode with Moni Jefferson

We are grateful for YOU, our listeners, partners, and sponsors.

In this episode, CEO and Founder Moni Jefferson talks about the latest Military Spouse Entrepreneur Guide.

Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs and Stars and Stripes have partnered to distribute the Military Spouse Entrepreneur Guide on numerous military bases, family readiness centers, and family support groups located globally. The MSEG will help further support AMSE in its mission to build economic empowerment for military spouses by providing them with resources and support to start, scale, and sustain their businesses and thrive while navigating military life.

Over 80,000 copies of the printed guide will be distributed in the US, Germany, Japan, and Korea. A digital copy will be published online at Stripes.com, including a unique directory of hundreds of military spouse entrepreneurs.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with Moni Jefferson

We are grateful for YOU, our listeners, partners, and sponsors.

Moni talks about the second Meta Roundtable at Camp Atterbury in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Incorporation problems.
• Having a place where military spouse entrepreneurs can go to work, such as a shared office space.
• Meta is a community-driven platform interested in learning about military spouse issues.
• The spouses in attendance felt they could share their hearts and struggles as military spouse entrepreneurs with the Meta and The Center for Entrepreneurship.
• Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act information came up, and while this is a good bill, it does not cover all military spouse businesses.

AMSE is grateful for those who attended - including Meta - Haley Lickstein, Maui Orozco, and members of The Center for Entrepreneurship - John Dearie and Katie Allen. Plus, Camp Atterbury, Indianapolis, Indiana Chapter leaders - Sara Copp.

We are grateful for our sponsors and partners - Meta and The Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center for Entrepreneurship is working alongside AMSE to help legislate for military spouse entrepreneurs. Military spouses should be able to streamline the process of starting a business and pcs from state to state, country to country, without having to constantly jump hurdles or put their business on hold because of red tape.

Join us next week for round three of the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with CEO and Host Moni Jefferson.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with Moni Jefferson

We are grateful for YOU, our listeners, partners, and sponsors.

Moni talks about the second Meta Roundtable at Fort Drum, New York.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• The importance of plugging in and staying plugged into the AMSE Community.
• The benefits of checking your AMSE dashboard with the free printables and checking the free masterclasses.
• The significance of getting involved with the local community, like the Chamber of Commerce.
• Three main issues came up at this location:
• First, it's hard to plan for a business when the military is their priority.
• Second was childcare
• Third, military spouses wear many hats

AMSE is grateful to Meta and The Center for Entrepreneurship - John Dearie and Katie Allen members. Plus, Fort Drum Chapter leader - Devan Robinson.

Join us next week for round three of the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with CEO and Host Moni Jefferson.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with Moni Jefferson

We are grateful for YOU, our listeners, partners, and sponsors.

Moni talks about the second Meta Roundtable at JBLM - Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle, Washington.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• PCS weight limit was an issue discussed in this roundtable. The allotted weight limit to move isn't enough for those with their own business and product-based businesses.
• Military spouse entrepreneurs are also interested in funding - where to find it, who to trust, and how to apply.
• Meta is a community-driven platform interested in learning about military spouse issues.
• The spouses in attendance felt they could share their hearts and struggles as military spouse entrepreneurs with the Meta and The Center for Entrepreneurship.
• This two - three-hour roundtable discussion served lunch and refreshments with a discussion of essential topics for military spouses.
• We had ten spouses in attendance from all sorts of backgrounds.
• In attendance were also two senate representatives: Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski.

AMSE is grateful for those who attended - including Meta - Haley Lickstein, Maui Orozco, and members of The Center for Entrepreneurship - John Dearie and Katie Allen. Plus, JBLM Chapter leaders - Rachel Carpenter and Serena West.

We are grateful for our sponsors and partners - Meta and The Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center for Entrepreneurship is working alongside AMSE to help legislate for military spouse entrepreneurs. Military spouses should be able to streamline the process of starting a business and pcs from state to state, country to country, without having to constantly jump hurdles or put their business on hold because of red tape.

Join us next week for round three of the Meta Milspouse Roundtable Tour with CEO and Host Moni Jefferson.

If you're new to Owning Up, subscribe to know when a new episode drops. You can also join our Facebook group to see what other milspouse entrepreneurs are up to and receive the latest AMSE news.

If you're a milspouse with a business or are thinking of starting one, join us here at AMSE Membership. Check out our previous episodes for encouragement, connection, and information.

We'd love to have you join our fantastic community!

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Follow Moni Jefferson on Instagram.
• Visit our website to become a member: AMSE
• Email us at [email protected]