When I asked how I find the time/energy to juggle my varied obligations or when I bother to sleep, I simply explain that when you have something you LOVE in your life the inevitable hard days are worth it. I found my life line at the barn and in the saddle. Although the time I spend riding has waxed and waned over the years, I always return to this one thing that nourishes the best parts of me. So, I decided to ask my friends where they found their life line and how they kept going.
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Meet Amanda:
I am a mom to three adorable kids. I am a wife to a recent active duty sailor who has hopped over to the reserve side of the house. We are a family that loves to be together, play out side, get dirty and be active. While DH was active duty, I had to work from home because his schedule was SO crazy. He was never home.
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What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about a few things.. We deal with severe food allergies so I am passionate about figuring out how to make things that my family can eat and still be normal people.. I love making things like ice cream, cookies, sweets, big meals like Thanksgiving Dinner and have it be free of Wheat, Yeast, Dairy, Pork, Fish and all the other stuff we can’t eat due to these stupid allergies. So I am currently in a culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management program at my local community college. So far its been a great experience. I also do as much as I can to get out in my military community and volunteer as much as humanly possible.
So what am I doing for work while I am juggling home life, kids, husband who still has a little bit of a crazy schedule and school? I am balancing this out with my other two hobbies which are helping others and myself save money every day by shopping through www.mississippicashback.com and helping non profits use it as a fundraiser with our co branded version. I ABSOLUTELY love this company and love the potential that it brings to the table. It’s been awesome to know that I can help open doors that were not open in the past to non profits and military organizations that are desperately trying to raise money.
I also help out www.bullets2bandages.org as a Sales Rep for their Co Branded Bottle Openers. That has been a lot of fun!
How did you get started with it?
With DubLi (Mississippi Cash Back) – My dear friend, Erica Redman was kind enough to tell me about this really awesome site where I could shop online and save money… She knew that I was really thrifty as I had three little kids and tried to make every penny go as far as possible so I would have more to give back to Erica and Jay’s non profit, Wounded Wear. She has been with me the whole way with it and it’s been so much fun!
Bullets2Bandages – My husband’s friends, Cole Evans and Erik Spalding started Bullets2Bandages and I thought the concept was cool. They eventually brought me on as it was obvious that I was sharing the idea with everyone I knew. Outside of hotels and grocery stores, their co branded version was the first of its kind I had seen. Honestly, it cracks me up when people have a look of shock on their face when I pull out a bottle opener for the first time and they wonder what a 30 something year old mom of three who never served in the military knows about bottle openers that are made of .50 cal bullets. The look is usually priceless. Image may be NSFW.
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What are the challenges to pursuing your passion?
Time. I never have enough of it to accomplish all that I want to do with it but I am trying. Also finding the right way to communicate the concept to someone who is not familiar with it and praying that they get it quickly.
How does it benefit you and your family?
Well with Mississippi Cash Back – 1. Shopping. My family has saved over $1000 using the site. 2. The business: I’m my own customer too. That is pretty sweet. But other than the savings, its been fun to plan out what to do with that money to secure a better future for our kids than we had growing up. It’s been fun working with people who choose to come work with me who have the same goals and ambitions. It’s also been an absolute joy helping with the fundraising. I love that part of it. All I do is help others.
With Bullets2Bandages, again, all I am doing is helping others with it. That has been a lot of fun. Our company also gives back each month to organizations that help wounded warriors, families of the fallen and their families and other military charities. That means so much to me.
How has “adult life” and your other obligations affected how you pursue your interest?
Time.. There is just never enough of it. I have to set timers when I am working on things, with people, etc. Also, being back in school… I have dedicated the time while I am there to just work on school and that is it. That part gets tricky when I am bogged down with home work. I do as much shopping from home and get my cash back on it that I can so when I do have to run into a store, its just for the cold stuff that isn’t online yet. (I believe that is coming one day…) I’m a big fan of networking so I do my best to find out what other folks I run into in a day do and see if there is a way that I can support their organization.
What keeps you going when it feels like you have too much on your plate?
I have to write out a plan and priorities almost daily. I set timers, and I do my best to get things done. I do as much shopping from home and get my cash back on it that I can so when I do have to run into a store, its just for the cold stuff that isn’t online yet. (I believe that is coming one day…) I’m a big fan of networking so I do my best to find out what other folks I run into in a day do and see if there is a way that I can support them and their organization. But while doing this I try to make sure that I am realistic about my time and always offer to meet with folks through a Google Hang Out or Skype if I cannot get to them in person.
Outside of that, I have had to learn when to say no. I have to plan around my husbands schedule for the next several years so there is actually quite a bit that we’ve had to say no to….
What are your tips for someone with the same interests who isn’t sure if they can balance their obligations with pursuing their passion?
Set your priorities and make them happen. Write it out and budget your time just like you do (hopefully) with your money and don’t let anything distract you. YOU can do this. All you gotta do is just do it. That’s it. (As I write this at 1 am since I promised it to you today..)
Tell me about your favorite life hack/organization tip/secret for success?
- Timers. Give your self a set amount of time to complete a task and try to stick to it. Get up and get a snack and drink when the timer goes off. Then go on to the next task.
- Answer every email before going to bed. If its something that you need to get back to, let the sender know that you received it but will get back to them in the morning. *Good communication is key.* I am still learning to be a better communicator every day.
- Make lists and cross things off when you are done with whatever those items are.
- Be a DO-ER. Not someone that says they are going to do things and just not do them.
- Search engine optimization and video marketing is my latest life hack… Stay tuned for more on that. Or reach out and I’d be happy to share how I have learned that… It’s been really awesome but I am still learning.. mississippicashback@gmail.com
What are your goals for your hobby/business?
To help as many people as I can and to give back in a big way. I’m a big believer in giving back in any way you can within your community. Especially your military community. I also love to encourage others to be givers if at all possible.
Thank you Amanda for offering your taking on living your life line. Visit Amanda on Facebook!
Amanda has generously offered all of you lovely readers a FREE $10 credit for anyone who signs up for a FREE Account.
This includes corporate accounts and all other free accounts. There is never any pressure to buy a membership. Please go to www.mississippicashback.com to sign up. If you want to see how it works, please look at this youtube video that explains the shopping on the site. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YASyr70NpzU
Amanda also recommended an eBook for those considering working from home.
This ebook is written by one of my beloved mentors, Randy Schrum talking about the best options for working online from home, making money and a bit about how he does what he does. It’s awesome. http://www.theperfectbusinessforyou.com/ 2190/best-biz
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