Working and chronic health conditions don’t always go well together, do they? I had to retire when I was 28 due to my pain. I worked for the NHS and my boss and colleagues were helpful, but I simply couldn’t carry on working. Some employers aren’t helpful at all, despite there being laws in place which might make working possible. Sometimes, running your own business might be more doable. Your own business, your own hours, your own surroundings – everything in place to make working achievable. But where do you start?
This week, I am sharing a guest post from Lisa Porto who lives with ME. Lisa runs a business called Empowered Online and has published a book which she hopes will help other chronic illness sufferers run their own businesses.
How Running My Own Business Helps me to Manage My Chronic Condition ~ by Lisa Porto
I’ve been running my own successful business since February 2019. I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in July 2018 and additionally suspected Fibromyalgia in 2019.
In November 2017, I came down with a bad case of glandular fever, which led to me having 6 weeks plus off work and saw the beginning of things changing in my life. After becoming ill, I took some time out from work, not returing to my job that I was doing as a tutor and assessor. A few months later I did some temping in an office, as I felt this may be less demanding on my body. The job itself was okay, but the long hours and commute in and out each day were draining.
During this time I was back and forth to the doctors as I didn’t feel like I was getting any better. After seeing another doctor for a second opinion and following lots of tests I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. I continued juggling this job, as well as a couple of other ad hoc jobs, trying to maintain my old life, and spent any other time sleeping. Looking back, I was still processing the diagnosis I received in 2018 and in denial that things needed to change.
In 2019 I accompanied my partner to France for the ski season, where he was undergoing some training. Early on in the trip, I was unfortunate to be involved in an accident, where I broke my wrist and needed surgery. I didn’t want to spoil the trip for my partner, so we decided to stay out in France. I then had a three-month period where I was out of action, and so I took the opportunity to build a business that would work around me and have never looked back.
Running my own business has been something I’d done alone side my full time job previously but this was different, as this would become my main source of income. I took my time looking at what I could do that would accommodate my energy levels, manage my pain and the other day to day symptoms. I started out as a virtual assistant, carrying out a wide range of tasks, quickly realising that this wasn’t where my skillset was, and transitioned to offering tech support and website design services under my business Empowered Online Limited.
Running My Own Business Makes Me Happier
Setting up my own business hasn’t been the easy route, but I couldn’t have continued down the employed route the way I was, so for me personally, it has been the better option. I have a much better quality of life this way, I fit my work around me; around my needs, fatigue and pain. I am able to pace myself more effectively and most importantly I am a lot happier in myself.
By setting up and running my own business I have been able to:
- Set my own hours
- Plan my work around me (no more asking for time off for appointments)
- Only take on work I can and want to do
- Only work with those that I’m aligned with
- Work in clothing that I am comfortable in
- Rest during the day as needed
- Develop a workspace in my home that is supportive of my needs
My business and I have grown and evolved over time, I have learnt a lot from others, from mentors, coaches and, through trial and error, but I now have a system that works for me and am now at the next stage; growing and scaling my business.
Making the decision to set up and run my own business has had a huge impact on me day to day. My life has completely changed since I took the leap to build my business around my conditions. I love supporting other people and have now made it my mission to support them to find their own freedom and flexibility.
The Chronic Entrepreneur
Through The Chronic Entrepreneur, I am supporting others through one to one business mentoring, a group membership and my book that was published in March 2022. My Book, The Chronic Entrepreneur: How to set up and run your own business alongside a chronic condition, will show you how running your own business is possible when you are chronically ill.
I cover key topics including:
- Your ‘why’
- Why running a business is not for everyone
- Careers to consider
- Key elements all businesses should have in place
- Self-care
- Mindset
- Managing your time
- Managing your energy
- Marketing
- Systems and automation
- Managing expectations
and much more…
Throughout the book, I share my own and others’ experiences of running a business when you have a chronic condition. I include the essentials you should have in place when setting up your business, as well as additional considerations and measures for when you are chronically ill. There are also short exercises for you to complete as you read the book to help you to take action and move forward.
The book is available as a paperbook, on kindle and as an audiobook. You can find out more about the book here: https://thechronicentrepreneur.uk/book/
You can connect with me on socials here:
https://www.facebook.com/thechronicentrepreneuruk
https://www.instagram.com/thechronicentrepreneuruk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaporto/
Wooohooo, well done Lisa! I love the idea of being self-employed to work around chronic illness when it’s so debilitating, time-consuming and unpredictable, but it’s hard to picture what to do if you don’t have relevant skill sets to suit such a venture. I’m glad she found herself a niche and is helping others at the same time, which is very admirable. xx
You’re right, Caz. Chronic illness takes so much and can make working impossible. Being self-employed might be a solution but it can be difficult to figure out what to do or how to get started. It’s brilliant that Lisa is trying to help people do this.
Thank you for sharing Lisa’s story. Financial strain through not being able to work is such a huge stress with chronic illness. I’ve often thought about whether I could start my own business but the potential additional demands of admin and whether I’d be able to commit enough hours to make anything a success has put me off. I’ll definitely have to buy Lisa’s book to gain some inspiration. Thank you again or providing a space for others to share their stories.