Pivot Your Career and Maintain Your Identity as a Military Caregiver – EP 14
Life as a military spouse is difficult enough, but when today’s guest was also faced with a life-altering situation, she made a pivot in her career while successfully maintaining her identity. She will share with you how she advanced at work while putting her family’s needs first, focused on self-awareness and set boundaries, and practiced self-care to get her through.
Kayla received a BS degree in Psychology and a MS degree in Human Development and Family Science. She is married to Nathan, an active-duty Marine, who has been battling Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the past two years. Nathan, Kayla, and their toddler have lived in SC, NC, and TX while Nathan has faced several different cycles of chemotherapy, radiation, and most recently, a stem cell transplant. Kayla continues to balance raising a family, being Nathan’s caregiver, and being a full-time HR director while also recognizing the importance of self-care.
Things we discussed in this episode:
- How to prepare to move from one location to another when state licensing is an issue
- Why confidence is important in communication with potential employers
- What a typical day looks like for an early interventionist
- How Kayla pivoted and advanced in her career
- Speaking up with employers to put family needs first
- Preparing for future moves with life-changing circumstances
- Creating a work schedule that works for you
- Balancing work while being a full-time caregiver
- Tips to take care of your family and yourself while balancing “all of the things”
- The importance of self-awareness and setting boundaries
- Maintaining your identity during a big life change
- Self-care tips to help you cope
- Why you need to ask for and accept help
Meet Laura:
Laura Briggs is empowering the freelance generation. Through her public speaking, coaching, and writing, she helps freelancers build the business of their dreams without sacrificing all their time, family, or sanity. Laura burned out as an inner-city middle school teacher before becoming an accidental freelancer with a Google search for “how to become a freelance writer.” Since then, she’s become a contributor to Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and Writer’s Weekly. She worked for more than 300 clients around the world including Microsoft, Truecar, and the Mobile Marketing Association. She’s delivered two TEDx talks on the power of the freelance economy for enabling freedom and flexibility and how it’s being used to address the technical skills gap in the U.S. Laura is the host of the Advanced Freelancing podcast, a sought-after public speaker on the gig and digital freelance economy, and a freelance coach focused on aspiring six-figure freelancers. Laura’s books, courses, and coaching have reached over 11,000 people.
As a military spouse, Laura is passionate about serving her community and founded Operation Freelance, a nonprofit organization that teaches veterans and military spouses how to become freelancers and start their own business.