Elaine Willing was on the Monday Connection episode and we have been working together to get this PCS Planning Course just right. You’ll get a workbook, training videos, and a community in the Organize 365® app. Elaine worked on a way to mentally process PCS. She’s figured out how to stop the spinning in your brain with the mention of PCS and turn it into productive actions. Hear all about it in yesterday’s episode!!  The workbook helps you to process your emotions and proactively make a plan for the relocation. PCS’ing can be a lonely isolating process that only builds in complexity as your family grows and you “survive” another duty station. We realize the need to get to community quicker in these moves. The places Elaine has been pained to leave were those when she had a supportive community.  You guys!!!  I am so excited to be able to offer the PCS Planning Course AND on top of that…it’s 90% off till May 9th, 2025 because that is Spouse Appreciation Day! This is not an April Fool’s joke!!  Please tell everyone you know about this course to help soldiers and their families PCS with less stress. And as I shared in the coffee chat, there is an option to have our base get a virtual or in person training for the PCS Planning Course. You will get lifetime access so even if you are not in a PCS season, take advantage of the pricing now so you have it available to you when you need it again. *4 Hr. Virtual Planning Day for your base via zoom. *6 Hr in person (in the 48 continuous states), on base training. Includes the PCS bundle. Two hours will be interactive with me in a questions and answer or book signing interactive capacity.  *With this in person opportunity you get the PCS Planning Course, Workbook & The PCS  Productivity Bundle.  PCS Productivity Bundle: Portable Sunday Basket, 2.0 slash pockets (pink, purple, blue, green), and 2.0 Productivity tabs. Your pink slash pocket is for travel, purple slash pockets is for all things related to your home, blue slash pocket for your family and pets, and green for finances including an expense tracker so you get things paid for that should be by the military. **If you have questions and/or interest in one of these opportunities please email military@organize365.com EPISODE RESOURCES: PCS Planning Course PCS Productivity Bundle Sign Up for the Organize 365® Newsletter Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Share this episode with a friend and be sure to tag Organize 365® when you share on social media.  

Happy Monday!  Today I get to introduce you to Elaine Willing, who is officially on staff as teh lead for our new PCS (Permanent Change of Station) initative. At Organize 365®, we’ve developed a course to help spouses, supporting their soldiers, to find community faster and make each move a little easier. I first met Elaine through her father in law at a home school co-op conference. He was sent to get a picture with me. Elaine found Organize 365® about 10 years ago when she was maxed out and looking for solutions. Then I got to meet Elaine and the rest is history! I share in her desire to help military spouses through the PCS process. Elaine has supported her husband for many years, is raising her three boys, and now it’s her turn to do something that fills her cup! She sees how spouses just kind of circle in the lower levels of Mazlow’s Hierarchy of Needs and never get to rise to the level where you explore your purpose, what you are uniquely created to do. Elaine knows all too well about PCSing (13 times) and understands the struggle with #alltheemotions, #allthepaperwork and is eager to get to spouses organized and in community sooner. The Emotional Toll  Elaine was very vulnerable in sharing her experience, to this point, being a military spouse. She shared aspects of her life I had never thought of! I never considered the friendships they have to build quickly and let go at a moment’s notice. The grieving process you go through as you leave your current station (although she joked that sometimes you are relieved to leave if it just wasn’t a good fit) and anxiety or excitement about what lies ahead with a new duty station. Think of how much you trust the people you put down for your children’s emergency contact…Elaine has to find that stranger quickly, as all the forms continue to request it, as she gets her family settled in each new location. There’s a different at home cadence with each location based on the soldier’s new job. My jaw was on the floor as she explained to me how she got to fly home to see family. Yes they get free SA (space available) flights, but I’m not sure that’s a flight I want to take. And their stations overseas, they’ve only had one car which made daily activities challenging with little ones in tow.  All the Moving Pieces Oh the checklists we’ve accumulated and compiled to assist with the repetitive nature of PCS’ing. There are checklists for utilities, vehicles, homes, packing the house, and what not to pack.  I included 10 steps to an organized move. When military families move, lots times they are living out of a suitcases for 30 days. You better believe there’s a checklist for those suitcases. Some bases are equipped with a lending closet for basic things like maybe some toys for your kids or small appliances that weren’t necessities.  And then where do you get groceries in your new location (tricky for Elaine with her family having food allergies), house keepers, after school activities, sports, babysitters, and even for you to find friends. There’s a checklist of services you’ll need to find and establish. A lot of the post-move checklists you could review on the plane ride to your new duty station. The very last checklist “Just tell me what to do” for when you are drained but know you need to keep going.  What to Expect Over the many moves, Elaine has found a way to mentally process PCS. She’s figured out how to stop the spinning in your brain with the mention of PCS and turn it into productive actions. The workbook helps you to process your emotions and proactively make a plan for the relocation. PCS’ing can be a lonely isolating process that only builds in complexity as your family grows and you “survive” another duty station. We realize the need to get to community quicker in these moves. The places Elaine has been pained to leave were those when she had a supportive community.  Two Opportunities to Build Community: *4 Hr. Virtual Planning Day for your base via zoom. *6 Hr in person (in the 48 continuous states), on base training. Includes the PCS bundle. Two hours will be interactive with me in a questions and answer or book signing interactive capacity.  *With this in person opportunity you get the PCS Planning Course, Workbook & The PCS  Productivity Bundle which includes a Portable Sunday Basket, 2.0 slash pockets (pink, purple, blue, green), and 2.0 Productivity tabs. Your pink slash pocket is for travel, purple slash pockets is for all things related to your home, blue slash pocket for your family and pets, and green for finances including an expense tracker so you get things paid for that should be by the military. **If you have questions and/or interest in one of these opportunities please email military@organize365.com EPISODE RESOURCES: PCS Planning Course PCS Productivity Bundle Sign Up for the Organize 365® Newsletter Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Share this episode with a friend and be sure to tag Organize 365® when you share on social media.

Your home is like “home base” in tag, it’s the safe spot. In 2024, we spent resources on Joey and Abby’s homes. In 2025, I want to do some renovations on the second floor of our home, where Greg and I spend a lot of time. I wanted to share how I plan to attack those renovations but first I felt it appropriate to offer this bonus economic episode to give insight to all this Tariffs talk and the swift changing of the government right now. I based my choices off of the large picture and this is how you can too as the household manager! Hire It Out vs. DIY There is a direct relationship between the money you have to invest and the amount of time a project will take. Either you hire a contractor to complete the task with a timeline shorter than you could’ve done. Or you do it yourself but it will take longer usually.  And then there’s a hybrid option somewhere in there. I have decided on the projects I want to complete upstairs, however if I hire it all out like I did with the kids’ projects I’ll be broke soon!  Next episode I’ll tell you all about it.  YOUR House When considering your household budget and anything you want to do you need to look at what is going on in your household budget. Just because the economy is bad doesn’t mean your household is. The example I share here was the Organize 365® budget (remember our homes are small businesses) in regards to shipping costs, de minimis value, and taxes. I also shared how physical nexus and economic nexus affects Organize 365® sales and taxes so you could get an understanding of the complexity of what seems like a simple purchase or subscription from our community. You GOTTA hear the episode. And I say that to encourage learning. Always be moving forward.  Everyone may not be happy about this adjustment but when I looked at the entire shipping process and considering what the customer has to pay, in addition to their receiving end, it does not make sense to continue shipping internationally. If I don’t make this adjustment and Organize 365® does under, then there’s no money anyway. Better to adjust and make unpopular decisions. You may be looking ahead and realize that in order to celebrate your child's graduation like you may have for a previous child you need to cancel the annual summer vacation. As the household manager, in order to keep the budget afloat, this decision may make the most responsible financial sense. This is where you need to cut costs first, at the household level.  Economic Outlook Are we in a recession or not? I talked about my opinion of the stock market.  It may be an indicator of the emotional climate but not the economy. Right now, everyone can feel how volatile the economy feels. The President is making changes more quickly than people are used to. There is a lot going on with Tariffs and we are toeing the line with financial war. This is not in our control. My best advice, with all the economical uncertainty, is to attend planning day so you can plan out and allocate money for the next 120 days AND look over the next 3 years.  What Do You Need? As a household manager, looking at the current economy, I would not embark on the PhD. I know for my household budget and looking into the future over the next three years, now would not be a financially responsible time to tie up funds for that. However, I offered multiple ideas for how to continue personal development. If you can’t attend a conference this year like you normally do, try a different mode of learning. I know I want to do some renovating this year as my time is becoming available. If there is a financially hefty project you want to do, you may need to contribute some blood sweat and tears this time, in addition to or instead of hiring someone to complete the task. Can you invest more time and still get what you want? EPISODE RESOURCES: Home Planning Day  The Sunday Basket® Sign Up for the Organize 365® Newsletter  Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Share this episode with a friend and be sure to tag Organize 365® when you share on social media!

Monique, a professional organizer certified by Organize 365® for over a decade, shares her insights from a recent Small Business Mastermind. She highlights the unique bond formed among women entrepreneurs and the surprising lack of organizers among attendees. Intriguingly, they discuss the crucial link between admin tasks and business success, emphasizing the value of hiring help. Monique also reflects on how organizing not only boosts mental clarity but can transform lives, making a strong case for proactive organizational support.

In this discussion, the evolution of household economics is explored from personal finance to business growth. It highlights the challenges of navigating economic stages, emphasizing that many face financial setbacks. Stage 6 introduces the idea of expanding beyond personal budgets into a larger business framework, but warns of potential income drops during this phase. The importance of hiring wisely and the journey of managing an evolving business is underscored, suggesting that while growth presents risks, it can also lead to significant rewards.

Happy 7th Birthday to the Sunday Basket®, let’s all break out in song. Just kidding…I am so excited to tell you the Paper Organization Certification course is 20% off till April 1st. Once you have finished the certification and get your license, you can charge for your services and receive 30% commission on products you sell.   Once upon a time I was a very frustrated mama. Joey was only 6 months old and Abby was 2. Lil Joey didn’t like to nap very long and I had a pile of actionable papers but no time to go through them much less accomplish anything. One night the Sunday Basket® was born. I knew the more planned, organized, and efficient with my time I could multiply the amount of tasks I could conquer. Links below to hear the evolution of the Sunday Basket®. Once the Sunday Basket® took off and people were implementing it in their lives they were longing for more training. So I started to offer workshops. But I knew in my heart of hearts that with the growth of my company, there would not be enough Lisa one day. That’s when the opportunity to become a certified paper organizer started to be offered.  Some people can DIY it and implement it successfully. Some people, like me, prefer 1:1 explanations and don’t mind paying for the speed of implementation. And yet others want to be tricked into it with a little get together, snacks, music, and friends. I used to be a part of Creative Memories, a scrapbooking company. I loved our monthly Friday night workshops and envisioned the certified organizers taking a playbook from Creative Memories. We had such rich connections and were really doing life with each other. And with simply learning to ask “Can this wait till Sunday?” you have a safe place to hold all your actionable papers till Sunday and externalize all the things you want to do.  When people come to the paper organizing retreats that are just one day mind you, they walk away with friends. It is a non-judgmental space. It’s a safe place to ask questions about the paper you have with you.  Lots of times another attendee has organized the type of  paper in question. And it’s through those conversations that friendships are developed.  Depending on the stage of life you are in, it can be really hard to make friends. I think of how my mom and myself have made friends over the years. I have never really been in the phase of life to plan or attend girls nights out. Those Creative Memory workshops were that for me. And the Paper Organizing Retreat or the other in person event may be that for you. 50% of the people attending are usually settling an estate which can be isolating and lonely and sometimes it’s their spouses. You can’t make friends in the walls of your homes. 5 years after COVID, it’s time to get back to in person events. People are in need of people more than ever right now. And it’s us, the people and community of Organize 365® that makes it so unique. So if you are interested, you have the heart of a teacher or a friend, and you want to become a Certified Paper Organizer now is your time!!  You will be certified in the Sunday Basket®, and the Financial, Medical, Household Reference, and Household Operation Binders. Once you are certified, you can even add on certifications like The Friday Workbox®, Teacher Workbox, and The Productive Home solution. We need more certified paper organizers! If you want to take it a step further, become a professional organizer; we have a course for that too called POTT START, check it out. If you just need to talk it out or ask more questions please reach out to customer service at customerservice@organize365.com.   EPISODE RESOURCES: The Paper Solution Certification POTT Start for Professional Organizer Certification 521-Lisa's Organization Story 2002 522-Lisa's Organization Story 2007 523-Lisa's Organization Story 2012 524-Lisa's Organization Story 2017 525-Lisa's Organization Story 2022 Sign Up for the Organize 365® Newsletter   Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Share this episode with a friend and be sure to tag Organize 365® when you share on social media.  

Corie Weathers is a licensed counselor and author of "Military Culture Shift," dedicated to supporting military families. She discusses the often overlooked contributions of women in the military and the evolving culture within military families. Corie shares her personal experience with the emotional toll of frequent relocations and the importance of community support. She highlights financial challenges due to sequestration and advocates for proactive approaches during transitions, emphasizing the need to grieve lost stability while seeking new purpose.

Discover how to juggle extra income and family life without losing your sanity. Explore the need for planned neglect and efficiency in managing household responsibilities while growing your side hustle. Learn the advantages of outsourcing mundane tasks like cleaning and bookkeeping, which can free up your time for what truly matters. The discussion highlights the traditional division of labor, reflecting on how women often shoulder more household duties, and encourages a shift in mindset to prioritize personal strengths and business growth.

Lisa J is an Australian farmer and owner of Farm Office Toolbox, who recently attended a transformative Small Business Mastermind. She shares her journey of finding self-confidence among accomplished women and the unexpected insights gained. Topics included analyzing time management, the Kolby Index test for understanding strengths, and the power of in-person connections for personal growth. The discussion highlights the importance of community and collaborative support in overcoming business challenges, especially for women.

Discover the exciting journey of transforming from a side hustler to a bona fide entrepreneur. Over 39% of businesses are run by women, often driven by passion and the desire for flexibility. Learn how to think like a business owner, accounting for expenses and taxes rather than a W2 employee. Uncover the importance of recognizing your individual gifts to generate income, and navigate the challenges of balancing household duties with self-employment. This conversation is packed with empowering insights for aspiring business owners!