A blog from Army&You’s spring 2025 edition by Dr Kathrine McAleese.
I started my business about five months before meeting my Combat Medical Technician husband. I was a systemic psychotherapist and coach working in-person with clients on their competitive mindset. When I realised Ben might be a keeper, I took that business online so I’d have work that could easily travel with him.
My business went global, working with novices to world champions, and gave me continuity through all the moves that army life brings. Strategically building my business around what army life would require is one of the best moves I’ve made and one I’d recommend. It is possible that you can flourish career-wise too.
As a global keynote speaker and consultant now, my major work is with leaders and business owners who find success comes with a ‘is this it?’ feeling. We work on what’s really making it unsatisfying for you, then make personalised adjustments. It’s magical to watch someone go from ready-to-quit to thriving, and I make it a fun process too.
Not everyone can come on retreat or work with me one-to-one, so I wrote a book called Enough. Discover Your Unique Worth and Live Your God-Given Purpose to walk you through a process of understanding your value and strengths beyond what the world tells you. Enough. recently won book of the year for spiritual growth in the Christlit Book Awards. I’m especially proud because I bypassed the ‘traditional’ route and set up my own publishing imprint to produce it.
We’re all different so how you carve out your army life will be unique to your particular situation and skills. But if you’ve got the will, then get building your own sustainable career. It’s doable!
Top tip: Whether you’re an entrepreneur or employed, set boundaries. What are your work hours? You need to honour those before anyone else will.
By setting boundaries and being clear about when you’re wearing your work hat and when you’re wearing your home/family/social hat, you’ll be less likely to burn out and you’ll avoid building resentment in your team or family. It might sound simple but do not underestimate how much difference it can make to your work and family life.