so in the next ten minutes I want to tell you the story about how I went from
tell you the story about how I went from
tell you the story about how I went from overqualified unemployed military spouse
overqualified unemployed military spouse
overqualified unemployed military spouse to co-founder and chief operating
to co-founder and chief operating
to co-founder and chief operating officer of a multi-million dollar
officer of a multi-million dollar
officer of a multi-million dollar company but first I want you guys to
company but first I want you guys to
company but first I want you guys to take a second and think about all the
take a second and think about all the
take a second and think about all the ways that you define yourself so maybe
ways that you define yourself so maybe
ways that you define yourself so maybe that’s your profession or that your
that’s your profession or that your
that’s your profession or that your spouse a parent a stay-at-home mom or
spouse a parent a stay-at-home mom or
spouse a parent a stay-at-home mom or even a student maybe you’re not sure and
even a student maybe you’re not sure and
even a student maybe you’re not sure and then I want you to take a second after
then I want you to take a second after
then I want you to take a second after that and think about how would make you
that and think about how would make you
that and think about how would make you feel to have to redefine that so have
feel to have to redefine that so have
feel to have to redefine that so have you ever had to move your home from one
you ever had to move your home from one
you ever had to move your home from one state to the next or go from married –
state to the next or go from married –
state to the next or go from married – divorced or what about when you make the
divorced or what about when you make the
divorced or what about when you make the transition from student to graduate to
transition from student to graduate to
transition from student to graduate to professional have a job in lose one we
often choose to define ourselves by what
often choose to define ourselves by what we do and so what happens when that path
we do and so what happens when that path
we do and so what happens when that path is changed or those plans are altered
is changed or those plans are altered
is changed or those plans are altered and maybe even sometimes without our
and maybe even sometimes without our
and maybe even sometimes without our permission
permission
permission so those periods of transition can leave
so those periods of transition can leave
so those periods of transition can leave us feeling confused and lost and often
us feeling confused and lost and often
us feeling confused and lost and often we consider those some of the most
we consider those some of the most
we consider those some of the most challenging times in our lives but I’m
challenging times in our lives but I’m
challenging times in our lives but I’m here today to suggest that in those
here today to suggest that in those
here today to suggest that in those shifts and those paradigm shifts in our
shifts and those paradigm shifts in our
shifts and those paradigm shifts in our lives that there’s an opportunity to
lives that there’s an opportunity to
lives that there’s an opportunity to truly define ourselves so I can tell you
truly define ourselves so I can tell you
truly define ourselves so I can tell you that nobody experiences a life of
that nobody experiences a life of
that nobody experiences a life of transition like a military spouse with
transition like a military spouse with
transition like a military spouse with career long periods of uncertainty the
career long periods of uncertainty the
career long periods of uncertainty the constant relocation and we live in an
constant relocation and we live in an
constant relocation and we live in an age where an overseas deployment is not
age where an overseas deployment is not
age where an overseas deployment is not just a possibility but it’s on a
just a possibility but it’s on a
just a possibility but it’s on a scheduled rotation the active-duty
scheduled rotation the active-duty
scheduled rotation the active-duty military spouse population is incredibly
military spouse population is incredibly
military spouse population is incredibly unique but we make up only 0.2% of the
unique but we make up only 0.2% of the
unique but we make up only 0.2% of the population so what that means is our
population so what that means is our
population so what that means is our stories go largely untold sometimes
stories go largely untold sometimes
stories go largely untold sometimes those struggles and those issues never
those struggles and those issues never
those struggles and those issues never get talked about and so what I want to
get talked about and so what I want to
get talked about and so what I want to do today is tell you a little bit about
do today is tell you a little bit about
do today is tell you a little bit about my story and
my story and
my story and eleven I graduated from the Savannah
eleven I graduated from the Savannah
eleven I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a
College of Art and Design with a
College of Art and Design with a master’s in architecture I was excited
master’s in architecture I was excited
master’s in architecture I was excited to say the least I had a degree that was
to say the least I had a degree that was
to say the least I had a degree that was hot off the press I had a brand new
hot off the press I had a brand new
hot off the press I had a brand new wardrobe and I was ready to take on the
wardrobe and I was ready to take on the
wardrobe and I was ready to take on the world but I was also a brand-new
world but I was also a brand-new
world but I was also a brand-new military spouse and so the army had
military spouse and so the army had
military spouse and so the army had different plans my husband had just been
different plans my husband had just been
different plans my husband had just been relocated to a tiny mountain town in the
relocated to a tiny mountain town in the
relocated to a tiny mountain town in the North Georgia Mountains of about 5,000
North Georgia Mountains of about 5,000
North Georgia Mountains of about 5,000 people so there’s not a whole lot of
people so there’s not a whole lot of
people so there’s not a whole lot of architecture happening there this was a
architecture happening there this was a
architecture happening there this was a transition that I was resisting okay
transition that I was resisting okay
transition that I was resisting okay this was a roadblock this wasn’t in my
this was a roadblock this wasn’t in my
this was a roadblock this wasn’t in my plans I didn’t like it right about that
plans I didn’t like it right about that
plans I didn’t like it right about that time I was having this tantrum if you
time I was having this tantrum if you
time I was having this tantrum if you will I met my business partner Lisa and
will I met my business partner Lisa and
will I met my business partner Lisa and sure enough she was going through the
sure enough she was going through the
sure enough she was going through the same identity crisis so in the weeks and
same identity crisis so in the weeks and
same identity crisis so in the weeks and the discussions that followed us meeting
the discussions that followed us meeting
the discussions that followed us meeting we had this two-part realization first
we had this two-part realization first
we had this two-part realization first that as military spouses if we wanted
that as military spouses if we wanted
that as military spouses if we wanted something for ourselves that we were
something for ourselves that we were
something for ourselves that we were going to have to make it there is nobody
going to have to make it there is nobody
going to have to make it there is nobody coming to save us and second that it
coming to save us and second that it
coming to save us and second that it wasn’t just us there were tons of
wasn’t just us there were tons of
wasn’t just us there were tons of talented capable incredible individuals
talented capable incredible individuals
talented capable incredible individuals in our same shoes and so we thought if
in our same shoes and so we thought if
in our same shoes and so we thought if we can do something for ourselves and at
we can do something for ourselves and at
we can do something for ourselves and at the same time make the lives of our
the same time make the lives of our
the same time make the lives of our community a little bit better that’s a
community a little bit better that’s a
community a little bit better that’s a win-win and so later that year in 2011
win-win and so later that year in 2011
win-win and so later that year in 2011 we co-founded a company called our
we co-founded a company called our
we co-founded a company called our Riveter and we make bags to support
Riveter and we make bags to support
Riveter and we make bags to support military spouses so I guess that makes
military spouses so I guess that makes
military spouses so I guess that makes us the bag ladies and we started making
us the bag ladies and we started making
us the bag ladies and we started making these bags in our garage as not
these bags in our garage as not
these bags in our garage as not glamorous as it sounds I can promise you
glamorous as it sounds I can promise you
glamorous as it sounds I can promise you it wasn’t and we made these bags in and
it wasn’t and we made these bags in and
it wasn’t and we made these bags in and we knew we wanted to provide flexible
we knew we wanted to provide flexible
we knew we wanted to provide flexible income for military spouses but it
income for military spouses but it
income for military spouses but it wasn’t until we had the question I need
wasn’t until we had the question I need
wasn’t until we had the question I need to go home my husband’s in the field or
to go home my husband’s in the field or
to go home my husband’s in the field or he’s about to deploy I need to be with
he’s about to deploy I need to be with
he’s about to deploy I need to be with my family can I take these parts with me
my family can I take these parts with me
my family can I take these parts with me or I’m pcsing
or I’m pcsing
or I’m pcsing or moving in six months what’s going to
or moving in six months what’s going to
or moving in six months what’s going to help into my job then
help into my job then
help into my job then and in that moment we realized it wasn’t
and in that moment we realized it wasn’t
and in that moment we realized it wasn’t just about flexible income we need to
just about flexible income we need to
just about flexible income we need to also to provide mobile income and so we
also to provide mobile income and so we
also to provide mobile income and so we were making two bags to make five bags
were making two bags to make five bags
were making two bags to make five bags and five to make ten and ten to make 20
and five to make ten and ten to make 20
and five to make ten and ten to make 20 and so on and before we knew it we had
and so on and before we knew it we had
and so on and before we knew it we had launched this national manufacturing
launched this national manufacturing
launched this national manufacturing network into the world so military
network into the world so military
network into the world so military spouses making parts and pieces all
spouses making parts and pieces all
spouses making parts and pieces all across the country somebody making
across the country somebody making
across the country somebody making cutting and sewing liners small other
cutting and sewing liners small other
cutting and sewing liners small other pieces canvas pieces and they would ship
pieces canvas pieces and they would ship
pieces canvas pieces and they would ship them all back to us where we assembled
them all back to us where we assembled
them all back to us where we assembled them and we got him ready for retail so
them and we got him ready for retail so
them and we got him ready for retail so business was good but about six months
business was good but about six months
business was good but about six months later in 2012 it was Lisa’s time and
later in 2012 it was Lisa’s time and
later in 2012 it was Lisa’s time and Georgia was coming to an end and her
Georgia was coming to an end and her
Georgia was coming to an end and her family had to move and so we decided
family had to move and so we decided
family had to move and so we decided that she would take the financial side
that she would take the financial side
that she would take the financial side of the house and the business
of the house and the business
of the house and the business development on the road and I would stay
development on the road and I would stay
development on the road and I would stay back and manage and grow operations and
back and manage and grow operations and
back and manage and grow operations and so for another year and a half we just
so for another year and a half we just
so for another year and a half we just steadily continued to grow and that
steadily continued to grow and that
steadily continued to grow and that number went got bigger and bigger people
number went got bigger and bigger people
number went got bigger and bigger people finally thought okay these ladies aren’t
finally thought okay these ladies aren’t
finally thought okay these ladies aren’t so crazy maybe they have something going
so crazy maybe they have something going
so crazy maybe they have something going on and one day my husband came home and
on and one day my husband came home and
on and one day my husband came home and said Karen guess what it’s time to go
said Karen guess what it’s time to go
said Karen guess what it’s time to go and so we packed up to shop the house
and so we packed up to shop the house
and so we packed up to shop the house and the kids probably in that order and
and the kids probably in that order and
and the kids probably in that order and we headed to Fort Bragg North Carolina
we headed to Fort Bragg North Carolina
we headed to Fort Bragg North Carolina so in the two years that we’ve been here
so in the two years that we’ve been here
so in the two years that we’ve been here we’ve been able to completely rebuild
we’ve been able to completely rebuild
we’ve been able to completely rebuild operations from the move we caught the
operations from the move we caught the
operations from the move we caught the eye of a Shark Tank producer we pitched
eye of a Shark Tank producer we pitched
eye of a Shark Tank producer we pitched and got a deal and we brought business
and got a deal and we brought business
and got a deal and we brought business to a level that so many people told us
to a level that so many people told us
to a level that so many people told us wasn’t probable not that it wasn’t
wasn’t probable not that it wasn’t
wasn’t probable not that it wasn’t possible just not probable we have over
possible just not probable we have over
possible just not probable we have over 50 people on our team we make hundreds
50 people on our team we make hundreds
50 people on our team we make hundreds of bags a week and we’ve provided some
of bags a week and we’ve provided some
of bags a week and we’ve provided some kind of employment and opportunity to
kind of employment and opportunity to
kind of employment and opportunity to over a hundred military spouses so I
over a hundred military spouses so I
over a hundred military spouses so I want you to think when you’re in those
want you to think when you’re in those
want you to think when you’re in those moments of transition or you’re feeling
moments of transition or you’re feeling
moments of transition or you’re feeling like uncertainty is weighing you down I
like uncertainty is weighing you down I
like uncertainty is weighing you down I challenge you to remember these three
challenge you to remember these three
challenge you to remember these three things what is it about that uncertainty
things what is it about that uncertainty
things what is it about that uncertainty that’s leaving you you feeling lost and
that’s leaving you you feeling lost and
that’s leaving you you feeling lost and then be honest with your
then be honest with your
then be honest with your can you do more so for me when I walked
can you do more so for me when I walked
can you do more so for me when I walked away from the idea of getting a degree
away from the idea of getting a degree
away from the idea of getting a degree or getting a job in my degree and
or getting a job in my degree and
or getting a job in my degree and getting a job in architecture it wasn’t
getting a job in architecture it wasn’t
getting a job in architecture it wasn’t because I was giving up it was because I
because I was giving up it was because I
because I was giving up it was because I began to understand what I could really
began to understand what I could really
began to understand what I could really control so as a military spouse I
control so as a military spouse I
control so as a military spouse I couldn’t change where we were stationed
couldn’t change where we were stationed
couldn’t change where we were stationed I couldn’t move the city closer but I
I couldn’t move the city closer but I
I couldn’t move the city closer but I knew I wanted something more
knew I wanted something more
knew I wanted something more I wanted meaningful employment and so at
I wanted meaningful employment and so at
I wanted meaningful employment and so at that time I realized I had to be able
that time I realized I had to be able
that time I realized I had to be able and willing to do something about it so
and willing to do something about it so
and willing to do something about it so that brings me to my next point which is
that brings me to my next point which is
that brings me to my next point which is be prepared to take a risk
be prepared to take a risk
be prepared to take a risk get comfortable with that idea as
get comfortable with that idea as
get comfortable with that idea as military spouses that uncertainty is
military spouses that uncertainty is
military spouses that uncertainty is constant what have you moved what if
constant what have you moved what if
constant what have you moved what if your partner moves well what if it
your partner moves well what if it
your partner moves well what if it doesn’t work out after she moves what if
doesn’t work out after she moves what if
doesn’t work out after she moves what if what if it works what if you’re
what if it works what if you’re
what if it works what if you’re successful I can tell you that one of
successful I can tell you that one of
successful I can tell you that one of the scariest parts about our adventure
the scariest parts about our adventure
the scariest parts about our adventure is that Lisa and I had never
is that Lisa and I had never
is that Lisa and I had never manufactured a thing a day in our lives
manufactured a thing a day in our lives
manufactured a thing a day in our lives we had never started a business and
we had never started a business and
we had never started a business and grown it and scaled it but at the end of
grown it and scaled it but at the end of
grown it and scaled it but at the end of the day that’s what Google is for number
the day that’s what Google is for number
the day that’s what Google is for number three is you have to stay positive and
three is you have to stay positive and
three is you have to stay positive and enjoy the process so when we started our
enjoy the process so when we started our
enjoy the process so when we started our Riveter I always thought okay someday
Riveter I always thought okay someday
Riveter I always thought okay someday we’re going to be successful we’re going
we’re going to be successful we’re going
we’re going to be successful we’re going to get there one day there’ll be enough
to get there one day there’ll be enough
to get there one day there’ll be enough money there’ll be enough time and as I’m
money there’ll be enough time and as I’m
money there’ll be enough time and as I’m learning I see that everything evolves
learning I see that everything evolves
learning I see that everything evolves constantly my role is changing the
constantly my role is changing the
constantly my role is changing the business is changing you have to find a
business is changing you have to find a
business is changing you have to find a way to find satisfaction every day find
way to find satisfaction every day find
way to find satisfaction every day find success in the process and then you have
success in the process and then you have
success in the process and then you have to be prepared to possibly do it all
to be prepared to possibly do it all
to be prepared to possibly do it all over again and I’ll give you an example
over again and I’ll give you an example
over again and I’ll give you an example for our Riveter the end game is not
for our Riveter the end game is not
for our Riveter the end game is not making bags okay the end game is not
making bags okay the end game is not
making bags okay the end game is not piles of surplus the end game is as
piles of surplus the end game is as
piles of surplus the end game is as continuing to challenge the status quo
continuing to challenge the status quo
continuing to challenge the status quo of military spouse unemployment and
of military spouse unemployment and
of military spouse unemployment and we’re going to do that because we’re
we’re going to do that because we’re
we’re going to do that because we’re going to continue
going to continue
going to continue take intentional risks and frame it all
take intentional risks and frame it all
take intentional risks and frame it all in positivity as we charge toward just
in positivity as we charge toward just
in positivity as we charge toward just questioning the state of manufacturing
questioning the state of manufacturing
questioning the state of manufacturing as it exists in America today and so if
as it exists in America today and so if
as it exists in America today and so if you remember anything from my talk and
you remember anything from my talk and
you remember anything from my talk and from our time together I want you to
from our time together I want you to
from our time together I want you to remember this when you’re in a time of
remember this when you’re in a time of
remember this when you’re in a time of transition when you are forced to
transition when you are forced to
transition when you are forced to redefine yourself or you choose to
redefine yourself or you choose to
redefine yourself or you choose to redefine yourself embrace that process
redefine yourself embrace that process
redefine yourself embrace that process lean in and I promise you we will find
lean in and I promise you we will find
lean in and I promise you we will find the best versions of ourselves thank you
the best versions of ourselves thank you
the best versions of ourselves thank you [Applause]
”
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