048: Building a non-traditional, portable career with Lorraine Sanborn

Jen Amos 0:00

Welcome to holding down the fort, a podcast show dedicated to curating knowledge, resources and relevant stories for today's military spouses so they can continue to make confident and informed decisions for themselves and their families. Because let's face it, we know who's really holding down the fort. I'm Jen a Moe's, a gold star, daughter, veteran spouse and your host for holding down the fort by us that wealth. Let's get started.

Everyone, welcome to another episode of holding down the floor. I'm your host, Jen emos. And I actually have to correct myself. I am a co host now with holding down the fort because I'm really excited to have my new co host with me. We're trying this out for the first time. So bear with us and give us grace. I want to go ahead and introduce Jenny Lynch troop as a new co host of holding down the fort. So genuine, welcome to the show.

Speaker 1 1:01

Thanks so much, Jen. Hi, I'm Jenny Lynn. I'm an active duty Navy, spouse, writer, blogger, mom, and happy to be here with Jen on holding down the fort.

Jen Amos 1:12

Yes. And real briefly, because we talked offline about this. But why don't you share just a little bit about why you chose to be on the show and co host with me?

Speaker 1 1:20

Oh, man, I really wanted to join Jenn because I had such a great experience as a guest a couple of weeks ago. And I really have a heart for military families and being a military family. Like, I enjoy the stories from this podcast and how they relate to military life. And I'm really excited to be a part of getting these stories out to people like me.

Jen Amos 1:45

Awesome. Thank you. I'm so happy to have you because I feel like in a weird way that was like the one missing piece I needed for the show is to have a military spouse to join me because I know I can only do so much as a Goldstar daughter and a veteran spouse. And so it's just great to have a listener of the show wants to contribute and add their perspective. So thank you for reaching out to me and wanting to be on and with that said we're really excited to bring on our guest today we have Lorraine Sanborn. Lorraine is a navy spouse widow, a mother of two and a granny have a 24 year old granddaughter and an 18 year old grandson, which is her why in life today. So Lorraine, welcome to the show.

Speaker 2 2:25

Thank you, Jen and Jedi for having me on your show. I haven't any spouse widow, I'll just say this. My last husband passed away in May of 10 years ago. So yeah, I've been on my own spouse for 10 years. We met actually when he had retired, but my active duty time was when I married my son's father. He was on submarines. I live in Groton was the submarine capital of the world. So everything is affiliated around submarines here.

Jen Amos 2:59

I want to thank you for joining us today. And we talked a little bit offline about holding down the fort and you had agreed to be on the show. So I just wanted to ask What compelled you? What was it? I said that had you say yes, I will be on your show to share my story.

Speaker 2 3:15

at was very secure to move to: 5000

Jen Amos 9:24

Yeah, I just want to check in with genuine I know you were kind of nodding a little bit.

Speaker 1 9:28

I'm a military spouse now in: 2020

: 10:53

You know, when I came back, I said, you know, I've got to find a way to share what I know, with other military spouse, and back then the military spouses were mostly all women. And today that's different that so many women are in the military now, and the military spouses are male. And I started a nonprofit organization with three other people back, I don't know, I'm gonna say, I, it's got to be 15 years ago. Now, I went to look at the date. And I can't remember, but I got a lot of support from the fleet and Family Support Center here at the sub base in Groton, and what we did is we had workshops, and we had expos, and we had all kinds of different ways to teach how to have a network marketing business. And we would do like a workshop. And I remember, this is so cool, because this girl decided she wanted to do couponing. And now everybody does couponing. But she actually taught classes, we worked with her to get her to that point where she was teaching classes on how to use coupons. And now, everybody uses coupons. I mean, men, women, old young doesn't matter. But he walks into the store with a box of coupons. But what we're able to do, and the sense of accomplishment that I had, was to be able to share the ways that the military spouse could find a way to make an income that was portable. And it didn't matter where at that point where she went because she had her own business. And it didn't matter what company it was with, as long as it was a reputable company, and people got to know like and trust you, then you are going to be successful. And Jenny, you're in San Diego now. But you get transferred next time and you've got a network marketing business, I don't care where you live, you don't lose the people that you brought into your team, you don't lose your customers fair, supported by the company and by you. So it's just really changed the way that we look at getting transferred. I mean, when I got transferred 5000 miles away, and never had been gone before. What did I do was horrible. So getting the support of working with a team of people is really, really important. Having customers everybody wants customers, but finding the right people to build a team with. And that team doesn't matter whether you all get transferred to 15 different places, you're still the same team, you still the same companies.

: 13:26

That sounds like community is really the name of the game here, which we often find a military life, it doesn't matter where you go, provided you can build that community around you. He can be pretty successful, not just in a job, but socially, professionally.

: 13:42

It's isolating when you get transferred, and you don't know anybody. But if you're with a specific company, you can just reach out. Now you can just go on Facebook and say, Hey, who's such a company? I'm here now in San Diego. I'm over here in Groton, let's get together and create that camaraderie. So the isolation pieces is changed also.

Jen Amos: 14:06

Yeah, well, Lorraine, thank you for sharing your experience as a military spouse then. And genuine. I feel like you kind of gave us a snapshot of a military spouse life now. And it sounds like the common theme, even till this day is just that stability in terms of career and financial stability, and how as a spouse able to achieve that, especially if you're moving around so often. And it's just such a hassle, as you mentioned Jennylyn to, you know, get the licenses and then figure out childcare and you know, just juggle all these things before. And then on top of that, like having to apply for the jobs and get interviewed for the jobs. You know, it's just so much before it's like, oh, wait, we got to move again. You know, so I feel like I get to speak to two generations right now. Have spouses and so it's great to hear both of your perspectives.

: 14:53

The same to me being able to work from home, I think is really huge because especially when you move into a new area, where do you Who takes care your children husband goes to see or, you know, all those changes that happened, when we can work from home and work within accountability partners or in groups, it makes life so much easier.

Jen Amos: 15:15

Yeah, and the common theme I received from both of you is also not just building a community, but building the right community, you know, wherever you go, and you know, I can imagine with network marketing, and sometimes the perception of it, like, depending on who you're talking about it with, or depending on how you carry yourself as a professional network marketer, I think sometimes it can get rubbed off the wrong way. And so Lorraine, I think it's so fascinating that you have been in the industry for decades, essentially, at this point. And even with your current company, you've been with it for over a handful of years, as we talked about offline, you know, our educational piece today is talking about how do you build a career that could be portable and non traditional. And as I mentioned, it sounds like the key to really just being a military spouse in general is finding the right community to thrive, whether it's socially, professionally, etc. So it sounds like you have been able to find that right community, Lorraine, you're able to build the right community. And so for anyone that is looking to build the right community, you know, whether it's personally or professionally, in this case, professionally, what are some key things that they need to do, you know, just, let's say find the right people, or maybe even be the right person to attract the right people?

: 16:28

Think for me, because I've done several different network marketing businesses over the years, when I found the company I'm with now, it was funny, because my daughter put out on Facebook, she was looking for a good protein shake. And she knew of the company that we had used their shakes years before. So she put out on Facebook, does anybody know anybody that sells that company. And she got a lot of responses. This was six and a half years ago, she got a lot of responses, but only one person really reached out. And when she went to her house, she was a Navy wife and my daughter civilian. And she looked at her and she said all in her mind. She's got almost a little Navy wife, and she is little she She's adorable. We've been in business with her now for six over six years. But she kept saying to her, well, I'll just give you leads, don't worry about it well, until she sat down and really looked at a the product line and the compensation plan. And then you have to look at what is the company's mission, and what is the company's integrity. So there's a lot of things to look at. And there's a lot of network marketing companies out there. And you have to find the industry that you're looking for I chose health and wellness. And for me, my niche is the Senior Market, where my daughter's market is more, she teaches yoga, and she does all about healthy stuff. So her team is different than my team. So for me, the things I would say to you is check out the company, make sure it's stable. And that is on the Better Business Bureau. I mean, you have to really research the company to to make sure you need to look at the people that you're going to become involved in. Do you like them? Can you trust them? And what kind of training are they going to give you? What training is the company going to give you? And then the biggest thing for me is the products, I have to know that the products work. So people look at me now. And they say we have these conversations, and I had it with you, Jen and I, you know, I'll say, you know, I started with this company when I was 72. The week I turned 72. And now six and a half years later, I'm 78 and a half, and they go you are not 78. And I love it, my email just goes all the way up. And I say to my and I say to them, Well, I guess the products work. So those are my suggestions to anybody that's looking for our company. I mean, if you want to do makeup, make sure the company is strong. If you want to do health and wellness, you know, you can talk to me, I can tell you about my company. So it doesn't matter. I mean, I use these cards, send out cards. So you know things that can make life easy for you. There's a lot of tools. Now there are tools now that I didn't have, even five years ago.

: 19:17

I think what I really heard your story, especially comparing you and your daughter is the ability to tell a story like you are able to reach the older generation because you are a part of that generation and use the products and are able to tell your story. I think that more than anything, just like in building a community brings people in brings them together. And it's it's neat to hear you say that like essentially both you and your daughter do the exact same thing but for totally different groups of people. Because you're able to share from your point of view, which I think is military spouse is a great thing especially within because we straddle the gap between military and civilian. We have the ability to like appeal to both in different ways. And I think it was great that you shared how your story impacts the people that you're trying to reach.

: 20:09

Well, I can add to that, too, my grandson is going to be 19 next month. And he's been a wrestler in schools since he was five. And he did a prep school year, Gap Year this year, and he ended up what does it all say national, I don't even know some kind of big deal, title. But he will tell you that he uses all of the performance products that we have. And he's a prime example of this little kid who used to be the runt of the group. And now how successful he's been any does he contribute to our products? So for us, it's a family business. And our whole family uses the products, my daughter in law has MS he uses the product, so doesn't matter your age four and up, can use the product. So you have to look when you're looking for the company. And which company you're going to go with. You want to make sure that everybody can use them. And how do you how do you build teams? What kind of training does your company give you? That that's huge, because we have incredible training, close Facebook groups, you know, that type of thing. So those are the things that you want to be looking for. But you gotta love the product. Yeah, product, because you girls know, you can't promote something that you don't like. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you have to be, it's your integrity, it's people that know, like, and trust me that become part of my team, whether they become as preferred customers, or they transition into wanting to share the products and get their products paid for. They can make enough money just to get their products paid for, or they can become millionaires and whatever they want to do. So it's really, really important that you have the support of your team and the company. And I'm very excited. We've got new products where we're going into 12 new countries this month. So that's doubling the countries. And it's really cool, because I talked to somebody several months ago that's stationed in Germany, and we weren't in Germany, and two, we wanted the products. So in two weeks, I can get back with her. So you need to look to ATT, is it just a domestic company? Or is it an international company? Because we never know where we're going to get transferred? Right? Right.

Jen Amos: 22:35

I appreciate you sharing that, Lorraine, it sounds to me that you really have to find a company that's suitable for you, and, in a way be a product of the product so that it's easy to share your story, and attract people that resonate with your story. And I feel like in a way we can say that with, you know, especially for business owners, I think about when I you know, working with my husband, we focus specifically, we offer financial services, specifically toward military families, those that are about to transition or just transitions. And part of that passion comes from my husband in a way being a product of his own product, like getting out too soon to even think about what he wanted his life to look like. And so part of our mission is to help our military families transition with intention, and have their finances aligned with that, and being around people who resonate with that message. And so I think you can kind of take that with, you know, any company, I want to just check in with genuine too. And I'm curious from maybe like a personal perspective, if you don't mind me bringing you in on this? How do you feel like you've been able to build the right community from a personal perspective, since you are currently active duty. For me,

: 23:43

it goes back to the piece about story, I have found that in any group I have been a part of or created. It came down to me going first and being willing to talk about not just the great things that happened, but also the not so hot things that happen and building the connection between what it looks like at my house may be similar to what it looks like at your house. And if I'm willing to go first on that, that has brought the community to me that I both needed to lift me up. And also I've been able to be that person for my community. I'm a big as a writer, this will be no shock that I'm a huge believer in story and just telling the truth, just being who you are, wherever you are. I am an east coaster at heart. I've lived on the West Coast now for four years and I you know, you can hear in my voice I'm clearly not from here. I'm from the south. It is all in the way that I talk and it's one of those like, being who I am and telling you about my life experiences talking with people is really what's brought and built the community that I have, you know, and also as a young mom, you know, I join groups specific equally targeted to me, like moths International. I mean, that was a huge thing for me. And that helped in places where we would move to have an automatic in. And in some ways being a military spouse is that automatic in when you're in a community like San Diego, where you can throw a rock and hit the military family, every other house here, you know, and so I think it's just finding the people that you already have a common thread with, and then opening up the story on, you know, who you are, and where you've been. And inevitably, you've weave that fabric of people that have either been where you are wanting to go or you were, do the same type of job that your spouse does. And it just, you know, that for me, just storytelling and coffee has really worked as a community builder for me. Fantastic.

: 25:46

Yeah, if I could just add one more thing. You know, we're talking about community, and we're talking about building teams, and we're having people involved with us and all network marketing is not for everyone. And working from home isn't necessarily for everyone. But if you're looking for time, freedom, and you're looking for residual income, looking for companionship and accountability, then you create those teams. But one of the things I had to learn was that it isn't for everyone. And if someone decides that they don't want to do this anymore, I don't take it personal. And you know, you have friends, and just even friends who decide they don't want to be your friend anymore. You know, you crush for a while and you just move on. But it is an alternative to a better, healthier lifestyle.

Jen Amos: 26:33

Beautiful. Well, Lorraine, I've really appreciated having you on our show today. I wanted to see if you have maybe any more closing thoughts for our military families, particularly our military spouses in what you do.

: 26:46

The thing I would finalize on that is look at what it is that you want to do. I think that's so important. And I was like I said before, if you want to sell makeup or you want to sell shakes, what is it that your passion is and then find that type of company and then research those companies to find the best fit for you.

Jen Amos: 27:09

Beautiful. All right, well, Lorraine, for people that can relate to your story and feel compelled to reaching out how can they find you online?

: 27:18

Well, I'm on Facebook, Lorraine M Sanborn on LinkedIn, Lorraine M. Sanborn. I just created a Facebook business page. It's called Living vibrantly after 50 with Lorraine. Fantastic. I'm also going to be having another way that you can connect me and that is text energy to 21,000 texts, no J to 21,000. And I'm gonna get a text message. So

Jen Amos: 27:48

awesome. Well, Lorraine, I so appreciate your time. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story with us today. And also how people can get a hold of you. I also want to have you genuine as well share for anyone that wants to reach out with you and feel compelled or felt inspired by your story a little snippets of your story, how can people get ahold of you if they want to reach out to you as well? Jennylyn

: 28:10

you can find me on Facebook at Jennylyn Stroup I have both a personal and a professional page under my name. If you want to read more about my story and creating community, it's genuine street.com web page where all of my writing content is. Thanks so much for today, Jen. Thank you Loreen. This was wonderful. Thanks for sharing your story with us and inspiring the next generation of military spouses.

: 28:36

I'm here if anybody just wants to chat a little bit more about my story. There's a whole lot of stories.

Jen Amos: 28:44

Yeah, we can only do so much in 30 minutes.

: 28:48

Great. Thank you, Jen. I'm so glad we reached out and caught up on each other on LinkedIn. I am on LinkedIn also. So you know, there's just lots of ways to get a hold of Jenny Lynn and Jen and myself.

Jen Amos: 29:00

Alright, with that said thank you to our listeners for joining us today. We hope that today's episode gave you one more piece of knowledge, resource or relevant story so you can continue to make confident and informed decisions for you and your family. We look forward to speaking with you in the next episode. Tune in next time