Drop and Give Me 20

Lindsey Germono

The military community is full of successful business owners, managers, and leaders across all industries, military and civilian. Time to show them off and learn from their experiences! Hear stories of active duty members, military spouses, and veterans as host Lindsey Germono shines a spotlight on their challenges, triumphs, and the insights learned through determination and best business practices. Join Lindsey and guests in insightful discussions of what it takes to be a leading military entrepreneur. read less
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Episodes

072: Lindsay Helm
Jan 1 2022
072: Lindsay Helm
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Our guest for today’s episode is Lindsay Helm, CEO and Founder at Empower Employ. Lindsay’s journey is unique because she is a military spouse and is also a veteran. From serving the military, she now helps her fellow military spouses and vets, working hard on her organization that aims to bridge the wage gap on underemployment for military spouses and veterans. Check out this session with Lindsay and be inspired by her experiences as a spouse, a veteran, and a business owner. Lindsay’s journey is unique because she is a military spouse and is also a veteran. From serving the military, she now helps her fellow military spouses and vets, working hard on her organization that aims to bridge the wage gap on underemployment for military spouses and veterans. Check out this session with Lindsay and be inspired by her experiences as a spouse, a veteran, and a business owner.   Highlights [1:07] Introducing Lindsay[2:29] Lindsay’s Empower Employ organization[6:42] Struggles when starting to form her organization[9:54] Lindsay’s business perspectives[11:33] Lindsay’s advice   Quote: [10:35] “We talked about the struggles of what it’s like to do your own thing. It’s exhausting. You have to learn to run your business, don’t let it run you. I’m guilty of both.” - Lindsay Helm   Profile Empower Employ Empower Employ Facebook page  Empower Employ on Instagram  Empower Employ on Twitter  Empower Employ on LinkedIn     Germono Advertising Company on Youtube Drop and Give me 20 Facebook Group
070: Kaylee Mitchell Draisey
Dec 1 2021
070: Kaylee Mitchell Draisey
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Our guest for today’s episode is Kaylee Mitchell Daisy, a rockstar graphic designer of her own enterprise, Lazy Lemons. As a young student in high school, Kaylee was tasked with preparing their yearbook and that was when her passion for designing came into the picture. She realized that this was something she wanted to do in the future and now has grown her business to include employees and work all across the states. Kaylee loves her way of life so sharing some of the best practices is always part of what she advocates:  being an empowered career woman and entrepreneur, despite obstacles within the military community.   Highlights [2:59] - Introducing Kaylee [5:54] - The importance of focus in a career [9:20] - The struggles in the military community [13:22] - Adapting to changes [23:02] - The best places to look for clients   Quote: "And sometimes I’ve had to work with clients and it took them a little bit to trust me like ‘Okay, she knows what she’s doing. I understood it. I understand now that she’s good at what she does.’ And so now, year after year, it is so much easier working with them and it just keeps getting better because they have built more trust with me...” - Kaylee Mitchell Daisy   Profile Kaylee on LinkedIn Lazy Lemons on LinkedIn Lazy Lemons  Lazy Lemons on Facebook Lazy Lemons on Instagram   Germono Advertising Company on Youtube Drop and Give me 20 Facebook Group
069: Stephen Colon
Nov 15 2021
069: Stephen Colon
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Our guest for today’s episode is Stephen Colon, a fellow podcaster and founder of Knucklehead Media Group.   Stephen Colon is the Director of Business Development of Knucklehead Media Group which runs his podcast show, Knucklehead Podcast. He served in the Marine Corps for several years. After leaving the military, he entered the business world.   Many of the principles he uses in business came from the hardships he faced in his life. From his life experiences, he learned persistence, the ability to adapt, the importance of having a mission and putting your mission into action (“bust your knuckles a little bit”).   Highlights: [1:05] Introducing Stephen Colon [4:05] Stephen shares his military background [7:18] Things he learned in the Marines that apply to business [11:26] Thinking of life after military service [16:47] Explaining about his being observational and his self-awareness [21:43] The importance of having a support system [24:47] The best to contact or to connect with him [25:23] The last opportunity he turned down   Quote: [14:30] “You’ll learn over time that there are different ways to access capital. There are different ways to access different deals. And, there are certainly different ways that you can go make things work, and sometimes it doesn’t.” - Stephen Colon     Links: Knucklehead Podcast on Instagram Knucklehead on Facebook Knucklehead on Twitter Knucklehead on LinkedIn     Profile: Stephen on LinkedIn Stephen on Knucklehead   Germono Advertising Company on Youtube Drop and Give me 20 Facebook Group
064: Corie Weathers and Tammy Meyer
Jan 1 2021
064: Corie Weathers and Tammy Meyer
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Corie Weathers and Tammy Meyer joins us in our first episode for 2021! Corie Weathers is a military spouse, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), a sought-after speaker, consultant and author of Sacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage. She has focused her career for the last 20 years as a counselor specializing in marriage, divorce, women's issues, PTSD, and substance abuse. Tammy Meyer is a military spouse, a certified Life Coach, a certified Purpose Clarity Life and Career Coach, and a Health and Wellness Advocate and Educator. She helps military spouses keep their own identity, enjoy a thriving career, and pursue their personal best in health and fitness. Highlights: [02:33 Guest introductions[03:35] Corie and Tammy shared how they came to know each other via Armed Forces Spouse of the Year[06:35] Not needing any labels and not feeling the need to only associate with someone in the same branch[08:35] Career transitions and opportunities[17:29] Things from 2020 that they would like to carry on to 2021[28:35] Word/mantra that they will take in to 2021 Quote: [11:24] "That's the great thing of being an entrepreneur, you can be portable. You can take it wherever you want to go. You can change and shift or pause, take a break. You just have that full control and have that full creative control too of whatever you want your business to be." - Corie Weathers Links: Corie Weathers Corie's websiteCorie on InstagramThe Life Giver DirectorySacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage   Tammy Meyer Email Address: tammymeyerlifecoach@gmail.comTammy on Instagram   Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney Fleur de Lis FitnessClaire Yanta-O’Mahoney on InstagramEmail Address: claire@fdlfitness.com   Germono Advertising Company on Youtube Drop and Give me 20 Facebook Group
062: Michaela Rosales and Melissa St. Clair
Nov 15 2020
062: Michaela Rosales and Melissa St. Clair
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Today’s episode features Michaela Rosales and Melissa St. Clair. Michaela Rosales is a transitional life coach and the founder of Honest Talk International. She shares her experiences as military entrepreneur who is passionate about connecting, relating and encouraging women to grow in confidence. Melissa St. Clair is a military spouse and the Chief Worker Bee at Paper Chaser, providing online office support for a variety of small businesses as a Virtual Assistant (VA). She strives to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses by taking over their tedious tasks and increasing their productivity. Highlights: [02:10] Introductions[03:58] 2020 and Michaela and Melissa's businesses[09:11] Biggest struggles for them and their clients[12:20] Advice they would give to someone in the military who is thinking of starting a business[17:00] Setting the foundation at the beginning of how you can find the moments of self-care[23:04] The loneliness of entrepreneurship and ways to overcome it Quote: [09:34] "You have to remind yourself that you can't do it all, all the time," - Michaela Links: Michaela Rosales Honest Talk InternationalMichaela on InstagramEmail Address: michaela@honesttalkinternational.com   Melissa St. Clair Melissa on LinkedInPaper ChaserPaper Chaser on TwitterPaper Chaser on Facebook   Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney Fleur de Lis FitnessClaire Yanta-O’Mahoney on InstagramEmail Address: claire@fdlfitness.com Germono Advertising Company on Youtube Drop and Give me 20 Facebook Group
061: Sally Ann Zoll and Zoie Hoffman
Nov 1 2020
061: Sally Ann Zoll and Zoie Hoffman
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Today’s episode features two guests who have very lateral educational backgrounds! Sally Ann Zoll is the CEO of United Through Reading. Sally serves as the chief guardian and spokesperson for the organization’s vision and mission, builds and sustains relationships with stakeholders and partners, and leads programs, finances, and internal team. Sally is an army spouse of more than 30 years and her son, an army reservist, has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Zoie Hoffman is a passionate educator, air force wife, and the owner of Hoffman Tutoring Group. She helps students in grades K-8 get the personalized online tutoring they need by connecting them with qualified educators. These educators are able to meet your child's specific learning needs by planning instruction and learning activities. Highlights: [02:00] Introductions[04:55] How 2020 has been for Zoie and Sally[06:42] The status of United Through Reading during this pandemic[10:00] On Sally being worried and taking care of her team[11:36] How Zoie is doing and how the pandemic has affected her organization[12:15] Zoie on being a new mom of twins[14:40] Advice the guests would give to someone who is thinking about starting a business or to someone leading an organization[17:25] Importance of patience[20:18] On disconnecting Quote: [17:25] "Patience is what I tell my team is like water in a rock. It drips, drips, drips and all of a sudden you see it made an impact." -Sally Links: Zoie Hoffman Hoffman Tutoring GroupHoffman Tutoring Group on FacebookZoie on Instagram   Sally Ann Zoll United Through ReadingUnited Through Reading on Facebook   Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney Fleur de Lis FitnessClaire Yanta-O’Mahoney on Instagram
060: Lauren Hope and Rachel Brenke
Oct 15 2020
060: Lauren Hope and Rachel Brenke
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! We have two very special guests in this episode, Lauren Hope and Rachel Brenke. Lauren Hope is the owner of owner, designer, and artisan behind Hope Design, Ltd ®. As a military spouse herself, she carefully hand crafts unique, military jewelry and accessories to honor our country's service veterans and heroes. Lauren also founded the ShopMilitary Movement. #ShopMilitary is a national movement to support military spouse and veteran entrepreneurs. Rachel Brenke is a master business coach and lawyer for photographers and online entrepreneurs (bloggers, speakers, etc.) operating the brands TheLawTog®, bloglegally, and fitlegally. She is the founder of the Business Bites podcast. She is also a mother of five, wife to an Army veteran, a practicing lawyer, an author, a cancer survivor, and a Team USA athlete. Highlights: [01:43] What to expect from the round table discussion with these military entrepreneurs[02:44] How they are doing[03:04] On being an entrepreneur and a parent[03:34] How as military business owner you are in constant unplanned motion[04:45] Reconnecting as a family through the pandemic[05:15] Learning that emotions are temporary[06:00] People wanting to start businesses in relationship to the pandemic[11:10] A better trajectory by simplifying and focusing[13:40] Their advice on new military spouses who want to start their business[20:04] Be careful who you work with[20:30] Information that new military entrepreneurs should be aware of[30:08] Just because they wear a uniform, does not mean they are a good person. Quote: [11:22] "...Having the space to be vulnerable and surrounding yourself with the people and even within your own mind. Identifying "I have these emotions. It's temporary either I am frustrated or I am excited" and getting back to really the core of what's important. It sounds so cliche but my word for the year has been "appreciation". I've really learned appreciation but to get to that, I have to simplify the process." - Rachel Brenke Links: Lauren Hope Hope Design Ltd.Shop Military   Rachel Brenke Rache Brenke's website   Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney Fleur de Lis FitnessClaire Yanta-O’Mahoney on Instagram
059: Adam Bird and Trish Alegre-Smith
Oct 1 2020
059: Adam Bird and Trish Alegre-Smith
Welcome back to another episode of Drop and Give Me 20! Trish Alegre-Smith and Adam Bird are our first guests for this new season. Trish Alegre-Smith is featured as a Standout Air Force Veteran and Spouse in Military Officer Magazine in 2018 and a featured entrepreneur on Hiring America TV in 2019. She is a professional headshot, branding, and event photographer in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. She teams with other photographers, videographers, and stylists to customize each photography session for her clients and their specific needs. Adam Bird is an Army veteran and the founder of Heroes Media Group and co-founder of several other projects. Heroes Media Group (HMG) is a digital media, branding, and publishing platform committed to providing a voice for community heroes and those who support them. HMG is dedicated to providing education, entertainment, and empowerment to active duty service members, veterans, firefighters, first responders, law enforcement, educators, medical professionals, and the clergy. Highlights: [00:55] Introductions[01:50] This season's concept[03:30] Changes on Trish's business[04:19] COVID-19 impacts[06:20] Adam on making pivots and transitions in business and how the military prepared him for it[09:45] How both Adam and Trish are really doing with their businesses as military entrepreneurs[17:50] Advice to new veterans who are thinking of starting a business[23:20] Experiencing the impostor syndrome Quote: [22:59] "There are some things in life better permanent. Yes, but there are many things that aren't." - Claire Links: Adam Bird Heroes Media GroupAdam on LinkedInAdam on FacebookAdam on Instagram   Trish Alegre-Smith Trish on TwitterTrish on InstagramPhotography by Trish Alegre-Smith   Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney Fleur de Lis FitnessClaire Yanta-O’Mahoney on Instagram