Personal update: Big moves, life of a Defence partner and 'Operation Work Less' in 2026

Being a defence partner isn’t one big hard thing; it’s death by a thousand cuts. This week on Got Marketing?, Mia steps away from strategy talk to share a deeply personal update about life as a proud defence partner, and what it means when business and family collide. From seven months of job-hunting limbo to making the bold call to move her family from Darwin to Newcastle with no guarantees, Mia unpacks the realities of defence partner life: the frequent relocations, the admin load that falls on partners, and why entrepreneurship often becomes the only sustainable career path. [Mia forgot to mention that after posting to a new location, the Defence member needs to undertake training for the new job, and that is often in another location 🤯, which is another reason the admin falls to Mia.] Business is never separate from life, Mia reflects on how these changes are shaping Campaign Del Mar,  including her plan to deliberately create space in 2026, lean on the strong foundations she’s built, and delegate more to her team (with a great story about Lillie absolutely smashing her first email marketing workshop). 🎧 Press play if you’ve ever juggled uncertainty at home while trying to keep your business growing. This one’s raw, honest, and a reminder that sometimes you need to risk it for the biscuit. We’d love to hear from you. DM us anytime, or leave a review if you found it valuable.   What you’ll take away from in this episode:  ✨ The reality of defence partner life, and why it’s “death by a thousand cuts” ✨ How constant moves and uncertainty impact careers, families, and choices ✨ Why entrepreneurship can be a lifeline for defence partners ✨ The hidden admin load that comes with military life (and why it often falls to partners) ✨ How Mia is planning “Operation Work Less in 2026” to create more family space ✨ Why strong business foundations let you step back without losing momentum ✨ The moment Lillie took the mic, and proved the power of delegation ✨ Why sometimes, in business and in life, you’ve got to make the big leap without a safety net   Connect with Mia: Connect with Mia on LinkedIn Follow got marketing? on Instagram   Get the backstage pass to Got Marketing? on Substack. The ideal companion to the show and place to share your thoughts about the Got Marketing? podcast episodes.   Ask me anything We will have dedicated episodes where Mia answers your questions. Submit questions here: Got Marketing Podcast or send us a DM.    🎷 Ripple Festival Nov 12 & 13, Grazeland, Melbourne: see you there? Ripple Festival is where music, art, comedy, and small business collide. Because creativity isn’t just for artists, and strategy isn’t just for boardrooms. Tickets are on sale now. Visit RippleFestival.au for details 👩‍💻 Mia and the Campaign Del Mar team use and love Kajabi; it powers our whole business. Try it free for 30 days with Mia's exclusive link.    Still here? Give us feedback Marketing Circle Download the Focus Framework to learn where to focus your marketing efforts based on your stage of business, individually for product and service-based brands.