Advice Not Given

Welcome to our new monthly series: The State of the Union! We are kicking around some of the topics that you are writing in about AND the state of many current affairs. Today’s topics include Paige’s email question about the Payroll Tax Deferral’s impact on military families, the increasing need (and how) to be more aware of social media use during an election year, Kellie’s call to action to military spouses to volunteer to work at the polls, and finally a look at the physical symptoms of longterm pandemic life. 

Mentions: 

• 2020 Payroll Tax Deferral 
• This Is Not Free Cash
• Military Personnel Can’t Opt Out
• Tables based on rank, how much you need to set aside
• Episode 42: Actual Advice with Lacey Langford
• Lacey Langford, The Military Money Expert
• Episode 06: Social Media
• Secure Families Initiative
• Sign on Letter for Poll Working
• Other ways to volunteer: party liaison, work for the voter protection team, a poll observer, voter hotline, legal boiler room volunteer, phone banking, observe a board of elections meeting, and chase calls.
•  “A Dentist Sees More Cracked Teeth. What’s Going On?” The New York Times
• Tricare Open Enrollment
• Find an MTF (Military Treatment Facility)
• Tricare Retirement Coverage and Enrollment
• FACT CHECK: A PCS IS a “Qualifying Event” for a Tricare Change
• By the Numbers Update: We are up to 10,000 downloads for the Advice Not Given Podcast!  THANK YOU!!! Another huge milestone: We are at 12/20 Patrons for our 2020 goal. We appreciate the financial support more than you know!

Have an idea or topic for a future episode? Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] 

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Apparently, MLMs are a hot topic with listeners and we felt it prudent to release a follow up episode to reveal what feedback we received from EP 55: Triangle of Opportunity. We've heard from many of you how you've been burned, and how you've prospered under this business model. We've also learned a thing or two about what goes on behind the scenes. We also brought in a guest who is a successful distributor/brand rep for a MLM to add her perspective to the conversation - and you might be surprised by what she has to say.

Meet our Guest
Suzy Goodwin is a military spouse, triplet Mom + 1, and former Guinness World Record Holder. As Host of Run Lift Mom podcast, she explores running, lifting, and motherhood topics with guest interviews and the occasional solo rant. MLM skeptic turned ZYIA Active rep, she prides herself on “breaking the direct sales mold” and encourages those in the industry to serve, then sell.

Suzy lives in Fayetteville NC while her Husband wraps up 20 years of service at Fort Bragg. Though she’s done things like marathons in 47 of the 50 states and a 100 mile race, she’s most challenged by homeschooling 4 kids under age 6 and is currently on a caffeine IV. 

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

You're in for a treat today, listeners! Tune in for a sneak peek at a brand new bonus podcast series, The Teacher's Lounge.

Our own resident education guru, Claire Wood, is going to be encouraging us twice a month with insights, tips, best practices, and support for those of us with students still in the home. No matter what your school situation is right now, we're all now faced with taking on at least some teacher-like duties - so why not create our own Teacher's Lounge for support? 

For more information on how to subscribe to these bonus episodes, head over to patreon.com/milspogurus. We have lots of exciting new initiatives planned to build community and provide resources for our people, so join us in making that happen! 

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Yep. We're going there.

You ask - we answer! This week we're responding to a Patreon supporter's topic request and tackling MLMs. Multi-level marketing, network marketing, direct sales, etc..., are a few names for a hugely popular business "opportunity" amidst the military spouse community. You know the drill (and may even be involved with some/several) of these companies. Start your morning with Herbalife supplements or Shakeology smoothies, work out with P90X (is that still a thing?) wearing your Zyia, get ready with a your Monat/Rodan + Fields/Beauty Counter/Younique, clean up with Norwex, pull leftover pizza out for lunch from a Tupperware (maybe an old reference, lol), reheat it with your Pampered Chef stone, melt some Scentsy for ambiance, and drop some oils in the diffuser to relax... I could go on and on. Many of these products Claire and I actually own from supporting other folks on their entrepreneur journey, but we have thoughts on the corporate structures. Tune in to see what those thoughts are and if you agree or disagree!

"The fundamental flaw in MLM is the endless chain
of recruitment of participants as primary customers.
MLM pay plans assume infinite markets and virgin
markets – neither of which exists in the real world."
- Jon M. Taylor, The Case (for and) against Multi-level Marketing

LINKS:

• Schitt's Creek Clip: Allez Voux and You 
• The Office: Michael's Pyramid Scheme
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (fun fact: he's a milspo!): Multilevel Marketing 
• Pros and Cons of Network Marketing: https://brandongaille.com/12-pros-and-cons-of-network-marketing/
• Advice and Guidelines from the Federal Trade Commission
• How MLMs are Hurting Female Friendships (Jan. 2019): https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/21/how-mlms-are-hurting-female-friendships/
• And we didn't even talk about the Netflix docu-series (Un)Well or the HBO series out now about NXIVM... 

So, what'd we miss? 

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Change is the one constant, but in this season does it feel to you that we're being bombarded with change? How can we flex that resiliency muscle to roll with the tumultuous world we're experiencing? How important is it to find perspective? How do the stories we tell ourselves about how we handle change affect our ability to navigate changes in your life? And what about our memories... how reliable are they? 

Join us for a discussion about accepting change and moving forward through tough times. Because goodness knows we're likely all in the same boat here. 

Links:   

• Laura Tremaine's 10 Things to Tell You podcast https://www.10thingstotellyou.com/
• Fun rabbit hole on Cognitive Offloading - ie. taking pictures to preserve memories and relying on them actually hinders your ability to recall details and store memories other than the photos themselves. Fascinating. 
• Episode title inspo: Claire's latest mantra and the amazing Michelle Obama's speech during the DNC. 
• Check out our revamped enneagram ecourse: Becoming Your Own Guru
• And please consider joining us for some Group "Therapy" ;) 

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Listen in to hear what Kellie and Claire have been up to over the summer (while you were hard at work uncovering your Enneagram type with our Summer of Self-Awareness!), and what the plans look like going forward! 

Oh, and we low-key relaunched our ECOURSE - Becoming Your Own Guru. It's got a fresh new look, some added content, and a cool new price tag... If you enjoyed our enneagram episodes, you'll LOVE this deeper dive into how the enneagram can be used as a tool for navigating the complexities of the military spouse lifestyle, interpersonal relationships, parenting, marriage, and more! 

https://milspogurus.thinkific.com/courses/becoming-your-own-guru

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Finally! The Enneagram Nine. We've reached the end of our Summer of Self Awareness series uncovering the nine Enneagram types, and we finally arrive at the Type 9, Peacemaker. 

The Peacemaker needs to avoid conflict. Nines are laid back, accommodating, and generally unaffected by life. A deep desire to keep the peace can cause Nines to lose themselves and merge into the opinions and feelings of others. They can struggle to make decisions and can be frustratingly ambivalent, often feeling torn by even the simplest of choices. Nines in health are highly empathic, diplomatic, and flexible.

Just in case you may have missed some of our other discussions or want to refresh your memory, check out this list of episodes: 

• The Enneagram (overview)
• Enneagram and Relationships (w/ Sarajane Case)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course audio files (Patreon)

Prefer to read? Here are a few places to get started:

• Recommended Reading (all the books we love)
• "What is the Enneagram" (Legacy Vol. II, article)
• Milspo Snapshots (Nine Types-free download)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course workbook (digital download)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Brace yourself for a powerful discussion about the Type Eight - Challenger. Jk, we know they're big teddy bears deep down. Often stereotyped as bullies or "too much", let's work through why they're perceived as such and explore how to embrace them for exactly what they are!

The Challenger, or Asserter, needs to avoid feeling weak or vulnerable. Eights are intense, reliable, and mighty. Sometimes confrontational, they don’t necessarily have an urge to lead but will jump in if a vacuum presents itself. Dualistic and absolute in their thinking, grey areas are unacceptable and defied. Relationships can be challenging because of their preoccupation with betrayal, but when healthy, Eights are empowering, passionate, and dedicated.

Just in case you may have missed some of our other discussions or want to refresh your memory, check out this list of episodes: 

• The Enneagram (overview)
• Enneagram and Relationships (w/ Sarajane Case)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course audio files (Patreon)

Prefer to read? Here are a few places to get started:

• Recommended Reading (all the books we love)
• "What is the Enneagram" (Legacy Vol. II, article)
• Milspo Snapshots (Nine Types-free download)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course workbook (digital download)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Where's the party?? HERE's the party, right here! 🎉Today we're talking all about our fun-loving Enneagram Sevens - The Enthusiasts! They're the life of the party and an absolute joy to be around, but they too have their burdens to carry. Listen to Claire and Kellie break down the type structure of this type and hear from Erika Tebbens (type 7 - with purple hair, I must add 😜) about what it's like to be a 7.

The Enthusiast needs to be happy and avoid pain. Sevens define FOMO (fear of missing out). They radiate joy and optimism, mainly because they refuse to sit with uncomfortable emotions. Enthusiasts are spontaneous and always seeking out the next thrill. If their reality is the least bit disappointing, they’re consumed with anticipating the next exciting adventure. They can be flaky and find commitment challenging, especially in relationships. Healthy Sevens appreciate and seek out the joy in life because they’re at ease with their full emotional range.

Just in case you may have missed some of our other discussions or want to refresh your memory, check out this list of episodes: 

• The Enneagram (overview)
• Enneagram and Relationships (w/ Sarajane Case - a SEVEN)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course audio files (Patreon)

Prefer to read? Here are a few places to get started:

• Recommended Reading (all the books we love)
• "What is the Enneagram" (Legacy Vol. II, article)
• Milspo Snapshots (Nine Types-free download)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course workbook (digital download)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

"What's the worst that could happen?"... said no Enneagram 6, EVER. They already know. And have already prepared for it! Join us for a candid discussion on what's it's like to be a Loyalist on the Enneagram from our resident six, Claire, and our guest contributor, Jen McDonald.

The Loyalist needs to feel secure. Sixes are likely the most common Enneagram type and are devoted, cooperative, and warmhearted. Their thoughts are often dominated with planning for worst-case scenarios, and they can exhibit anxiety and even paranoia when in the lower levels of health. Doubt and suspicion can pose an obstacle to relationships for Sixes, but once trust is established they can be loyal to a fault. Community is of utmost importance -- there’s safety in numbers. Healthy Sixes are committed to the common good, and are steadfast, reliable, and honest.

Just in case you may have missed some of our other discussions or want to refresh your memory, check out this list of episodes: 

• The Enneagram (overview)
• Enneagram and Relationships 
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course audio files (Patreon)

Prefer to read? Here are a few places to get started:

• Recommended Reading (all the books we love)
• "What is the Enneagram" (Legacy Vol. II, article)
• Milspo Snapshots (Nine Types-free download)
• Becoming Your Own Guru e-course workbook (digital download)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/milspogurus)