"Pack your career and take it with you"

How many times have you relocated? How many jobs have you held in the past 10 years?  Do these questions sound familiar? I bet they do. Military spouses face unique challenges when it comes to their professional careers.  Many have made the decision to forego the careers of their active duty spouse before their own.  Technology however, has opened the doors of opportunity for military spouses to establish careers that relocate with them.

Portable careers and virtual businesses are a growing trend among military spouses.  Frequent relocations once frowned upon, are now being embraced with open arms thanks to the wonderful world of technology and the Internet.  Military spouses can now utilize their talents, skills, and abilities to launch viable online virtual companies in cyberspace and or work at home careers.

Fast dialup connections and high speed Internet access allow spouses to conduct business online in real time on the world wide web from anywhere in the world.  From Alaska to Japan, from New York to Florida military spouses sell products and services to clients around the world.

Why is this new way of working so appealing to military spouses?  Because every three to five years means another new duty assignment.  In the past this meant quitting ones job and starting over, portable careers however make it possible to take their career, business, and clients.

Portable careers are especially appealing to military spouses who are self disciplined, enjoy working alone and are comfortable using technology.  Examples of careers or virtual businesses a spouse can start and operate from anywhere include: freelance writing, web design, graphics illustration, programming, event planner, secretarial support, virtual assistance, translations, transcription, information research and retrieval, photography, interviewer and the list goes on and on.
 
The most appealing aspect of starting an online virtual business is the minimal startup costs. 

Question: Do you right now, possess the following?

• Desktop or Laptop computer?  Yes or No
• Printer (inkjet or laser / color or black & white)?  Yes or No
• A personal cell phone with voice mail?  Yes or No
• Internet Access (dialup or high-speed)?  Yes or No
• A personal email account (free or paid)?  Yes or No
• Productivity software (Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works Suite, WordPerfect)?  Yes or No
• Microsoft Outlook Express?  Yes or No
• A space to setup your office?  Yes or No
• Pens/Pencils/Writing Paper and Computer Paper?  Yes or No
• A money making hobby or marketable talent/skill?  Yes or No

If you answered yes to the majority of the questions, chances are, you have about 85% of what you need in terms of skill sets, equipment and basic office supplies to get started in your new online virtual business or work at home career, and, you’ve possibly saved yourself about $1900.00 or more in your computer hardware and software startup costs.

Important facts to keep in mind when starting any type of business: be sure to check your local laws (business licensing, zoning, etc.), if you are thinking about starting and operating a business from base housing be sure to check with your base family housing and/or JAG office for authorization.

Remember, the next time your spouse announces those three little words Honey, we’re relocating, simply "Pack your Career and Go".

About the Writer:
Victoria Parham is a retired military spouse, Army veteran, president and chief technology officer for VSSCyberOffice.com, a virtual business startup consultancy and entrepreneurial training firm specializing in portable careers and virtual business statup training.  Check them out online at www.vsscyberoffice.com.