Last updated on May 1st, 2019
You want to grow your business but you’re in constant pain.
You want to scale new heights but you’re so exhausted all the time.
You want to be in the “big boys” or “big girls” club but some days, you can barely drag yourself out of bed.
Chronic illnesses can be a challenge to deal with, especially when you’re an entrepreneur, running your own show.
You may not have to call in sick and deal with a grouchy boss but you do have client work to finish, projects to complete and teams to manage.
Yes it can be tough.
How do I know?
Because we’ve dealt with chronic illnesses pretty much all through our entrepreneurial journeys, in one way or the other.
Starting on the Entrepreneurial Path with a Chronic Illness
This is for you, if you’ve been considering starting your own business but suffer from a chronic condition.
5 years ago, when we started Content Bistro {which was at that time, called Social Media Direct}, Mayank had a chronic case of acute inflammation. He was in so much pain that he had to quit his day job at American Express, where he was a Manager in Customer Service.
Most of our savings were been eaten up fast by medical and household expenses. Yes, he was the primary earner too.
We had literally, $0 to put into our business which we knew we had to start because, well, we also had a 2 ½ -year old daughter and with him in so much pain, there was no way, I was going out to get a job.
Here’s what we did:
We kept our mindsets positive, prayed fervently, and jumped in with both feet.
We kept our expenses really, really low. Our first site was built, pro bono, by a dear friend who has a marketing agency.
The only expenses we did have, was paying for hosting and buying our domain name. Yes. THAT low.
We focused on delivering excellent services to the handful of clients we had, ensuring that they’d come back to us, over and over again. Some of the clients we got in our first year are still with us. So, THAT should be your focus. Not how much money can you make.
We focused on learning and growing our skillset. And yes, as much as we wanted to take some of the amazing courses out there, we just didn’t have the budget for it. So, we learnt from free resources – blogs, websites, opt-in eCourses and so on. Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income was my first stop. I highly recommend it because Pat’s real {THAT is a BIG thing in this online world}, focused on action and is intentional about growth.
We also, focused on getting out there and getting noticed. Yes, it did mean doing some work for very little money {again, the focus should NOT be the money!} but it did lead to amazing relationships as well as testimonials.
One of my dear friends and mastermind buddy, Angela England is someone I met via the forums of a site we both used to write for. I did a TON of guest blogging that helped me land paid jobs and again, made lasting relationships for us.
We also, focused on getting healthy, eating right and exercising. Books, like The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan and The Ultimate pH Solution were read, highlighted and dogeared. Blogs, like Kitchen Stewardship, were read and discussed over and over and over again.
We made lots of changes, cutting out lots of things from our diet and lifestyle. From moving to chemical-free cosmetics to switching to organic and alkaline foods, we did it all.
I’m SO happy and beyond blessed to share that today, Mayank is 100% pain-free.
We still slip back into our old habits {hello, takeout pizza!} but we now know that we need to focus on eating right and clean. That chronic conditions are a reflection of our diet and lifestyle, so whenever we notice anything getting out of whack, we look at our diet first.
Grow Your Business Despite a Chronic Illness
So, you’d think that with everything we’ve been through and the amount we’ve learnt about healthy living and eating right, we’d be 100% healthy now, right?
Wrong.
Last December, yours truly was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst with mural nodules aka tumors on it.
It’s painful. It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating.
The only option the doctors gave us was getting operated upon.
But that wasn’t something we wanted, given everything we now know about modern medicine.
Don’t worry, I’m not gonna go into a spiel about how some diet or program is curing me miraculously.
In fact, I’m gonna tell you that it’s frustrating when I have to curl up in bed in pain instead of being out there, smashing milestones.
I’m gonna tell you that it can be overwhelming and upsetting when exhaustion from the pain and the condition cause you to be sleepy, even after a nap.
I’m gonna also, tell you that despite all of this, you can continue to grow your business and be your best self. That’s right.
Here’s what’s working for us so far:
1. Healing our diet.
Going back to basics and eating right, avoiding processed foods, white flour and sugar. Yes, that means I need to curb my Nutella addiction and honestly, I’m trying. I’m not there yet, clearly. But I’m trying.
I also have to mention here that we’re BIG on doTerra essential oils here. They’ve been awesome at helping me deal with the pain and manage it without any other medication. We don’t sell them but we love them and have them shipped to us regularly from the U.S. {Sidenote: If you have questions about essential oils, please feel free to contact, my friend Louisa Gormley if you’re in Australia}
2. Working on our mindset, praying and being grateful for what we have.
Mayank and I, both, believe that our mindset is what matters.
We focus on being positive, appreciating the small but significant things that count and on looking ahead, instead of drowning in self-pity.
Every day, I’m grateful that I work on projects that excite me, with clients who inspire and delight me. Seriously, who gets to do that?!!
My Passion Planner and my gratitude journal are such a blessing because they motivate me to note down every little thing that I’m grateful for.
3. Surrounding ourselves with positive, like-minded people.
We’re big believers in the power of community and that, in fact, is one of the reasons we started The Biz Bistro. {Sidenote: Join us. It’s free and it gives you access to nearly 1600+ entrepreneurial brains to connect with. }
4. Hiring out, delegating and doing away with things.
I’m SO grateful for the folks we have on our team. Our in-house editor, Joy Clarkson is a Godsend. So are Warren Denley and the team from WP Website Coach who ensure that the site is running smoothly at all times. Both our virtual assistants keep our schedule sane and our inboxes clear.
Aside from people, some of the tools we use are such lifesavers, that we’ve been able to streamline our marketing and save hours as well. ConvertKit is one such tool that’s skyrocketed our deliverability and helped us automate our marketing easily. SumoMe’s suite of lead generation and social sharing tools are a blessing to use.
We still focus on keeping our expenses low, but we do invest in learning, hiring and tools to free up time. 10% of whatever we earn goes back into our business. It’s our rule and we stick to it. So, yes, it does mean saying “no” to a lot of things.
5. Keeping our eye only on our goals.
This is a biggie.
Especially when you work online and are surrounded by folks who always seem to be 5 steps ahead of you. You want what they have and it can get frustrating, overwhelming and even, disappointing. You start to undervalue what you’ve accomplished and keep living in Comparisonville.
It’s time to move out and instead, live in Focustown. Where you only focus on your goals, your path, your journey and your accomplishments.
You have the neighboring towns of Gratitude and Self-Care and whenever you find yourself drifting back towards Comparisonville, you instead stop by at Gratitude to acknowledge everything that’s going great for you and then, you take a break at Self-Care and fill up that well of energy and enthusiasm.
Does this mean that we don’t notice what’s going on or do we simply ignore everyone? Nope. We acknowledge their wins but we focus on ours.
It’s often said, “What you focus on, grows” and we believe in it 100%.
So, there you have it.
To start, manage and grow your business when you’re dealing with chronic pain or illness can be done.
You need to:
Sharpen your focus on getting healthy and healing yourself. We chose the path of healing our diet. You can decide which path you want to take.
Cultivate the right mindset and an attitude of gratitude.
Move out of Comparisonville and into Focustown.
Always over-deliver and build a tribe of clients or customers who love you and your work.
Keep learning and growing, surrounded by a community of like-minded people.
Hire out and delegate when you can.
It will take time.
It will take patience.
It will take giving up on a lot of things.
But never, ever let anyone tell you, it can’t be done.
Questions? I’m sure you have them. Ask away in the comments and we’ll be happy to answer!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and if you buy using these links, you pay nothing extra but we make a small commission which funds our caffeine addiction and the Nutella fund 😉
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Thank you for sharing this inspiring and motivating post Prerna. You never know how many lives have been inspired and transformed by this post. But, I am one of them and it made me more stronger to believe in dreams and goals.
Thanks a LOT! You’re truly an amazing person!
You’re MOST welcome Jessie.. Thank YOU for stopping by and sharing. I’m SO glad this came at the right time for you and I wish you all the best!!
Proud of you, Prerna! PS – homemade Nutella is the BOMB. Actually better than storebought. I know. Doesn’t even seem possible. But it’s true. Give me a shout if you ever want to chat. 🙂
Victoria, thank YOU!! You’ve been a part of my journey from the very early days!! And I will give you a shoutout for that homemade Nutella recipe!!
Prerna, thank you for sharing your story. It’s true what you say about everything moving so fast online and everyone seeming to be 5 steps ahead. It’s always good to count your blessings and be grateful. Reading your post got me reminded about why I decided to start each day this year by writing 5 things I was grateful for rather than check my email or to do list. Doing this has helped me reconnect with myself and not get lost in all the hustle. Again, you truly are an inspiration and am grateful to have come across your blog and you! 🙂
Meera, I’m SO glad this resonated with you and you’re right… reconnecting with ourselves and keeping up the hustle but also, the heart 😉 is important.
Thank you SO much for stopping by and sharing. I really appreciate it!!
This resonated with me as well, Prerna. I am part of a whatsapp support group in which we share 5 things each one of us is grateful for everyday. That and journaling has helped me immensely. I read and re-read your story several times. Your business tips are certainly helpful but more than that I see a potential in you for life coaching 🙂
Sindhu
Thanks SO much Sindhu and yes, gratitude is a HUGE part of our lives! I’m SO glad to hear that my story resonated with you and thank you SO much for your support! Also.. awfully kind of you to see life coaching potential in me… That’s an avenue I’ve never really considered, so it’s very interesting to hear that! Thanks again, Sindhu!! Warmly, Prerna
Dear prerna,
Hugs <3 I know harrowing it is to to deal with ovarian cysts, take care and keep going with awesome work 🙂
Cheers
Hema
Hey Hema!! Thanks SO much!! Your support is deeply appreciated 🙂 Much love!
Prerna
Thank you for opening up and sharing. I too have a chronic illness. Diabetes. I have now begun the work of greating a more healthier lifestyle through diet and exercise.
Hi Dorothy,thank YOU for your support and for stopping by to share. I’m glad to hear that you’ve started on the road to healing yourself with diet and exercise!
Look forward to staying in touch and hearing about your progress!
These are all amazing tips! Unfortunately, I meet many entrepreneurs who live in chronic pain. It’s actually one of the reasons I’ve shifted my business to bring on a team of online personal trainers and the option for last minute bookings. I wanted to help clients I had who suffered from chronic pain be able to stick to their fitness routines instead of having to always pay a cancellation fee for missed appointments. I’m glad you’ve been able to find results and have shared these tips to help others!
Catherine, thank you SO much for sharing what you’re doing… That’s incredible and so generous too.. It does help when you have the flexibility and peace of mind to be able to cancel an appointment because you’re curled up on our couch, crying your eyes out with the pain. Thank YOU!!
“Move out of Comparisonville and into Focustown.” What inspiration! I so admired a fellow quilling artist but every time I saw her work I felt like mine is so beginner. I’m not just quilling but building a business around it so time for actual big projects is not there right now. Well, imagine my relief when she told me she has been quilling for 30 years! So, yes, at just under 5 years myself – I am a beginner! lol. Thank you for being so real with us, Prerna.
Thank you Lisa!! Yes, it is very easy to look at everyone else’s highlight reel and compare it with our behind-the-scenes… So glad you were able to put things in perspective with that artist’s work!!
Hi Prerna, I so appreciate you keeping it real and reminding us of what’s really important. When so much of what we see online is fairy tales and happy endings it’s hard not to compare our own growth to what others make us think is easy overnight success. I love hearing that by staying focused you managed to grow your business without a lot of investment in the beginning. Your work is clearly stellar and your voice is authentic, it comes through. Thanks.
Very powerful story, Prerna! Thanks for sharing. And the fact that you and Mayank were able to come together, despite his illness, then yours, to make your journey successful is truly wondrous. I think people feel your warmth right away – along with having abundant trust in you, as I do. Wishing you both health and energy and continuing joy in your business and in your family.
Thank you so much for this. I am the homeschooling mother of three and I also have a business making and selling handmade bath and body products.
I suffer through migraines and thyroid issues. You are spot on about days when it is a struggle to get out of bed. I had one of those days yesterday and really needed a refresher.
Most of my customers are local, but I also have an Etsy shop and am trying to make decisions about web hosting for my own website. I already own the domain name but haven’t gotten any further yet. I find that I am having the hardest time with figuring out how to schedule my time for my business around my physical issues. It’s reassuring to know that I am not alone.
Prerna, Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been recovering from a surgery this past year as I’ve been building my business. I can relate to the pain, the exhaustion, and the disappointment when you have to do less than you want to. Thanks so much for sharing your personal story as well as your business journey.
And, now, about that homemade nutella recipe. Where do I find that?!
Way to go, you guys! My husband and I are both disabled. He’s on disability. I found a work from home job, but I’m also finally putting effort into growing my blog — which is about frugality around chronic health problems, depression and any other limitations people run into. It’s crazed and frustrating and rewarding. And I rarely go hide under the covers anymore, which I consider progress.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been dealing with Fibromyalgia for a long time and my body has healed a lot since exploring different diets and stress reduction, not using Western Medicine, meditation, etc but I’ve found that the more I sit at a computer the more pain I will be in and sometimes the fatigue makes it so I have to drop everything.
I’m okay now, the computer work kills me but I do a lot of advance work just in case I need resting time later.
Glad to see you have a thriving business and that you’ve made the effort to heal yourselves!
THIS – THIS – THIS is what Internet needs more of. I started reading this post on my phone but couldn’t read it properly on my way to dinner last night. I made sure to lock in time to read it today, and oh ! You just captured another portion in the real estate of my heart. SO inspiring to read this and so happy for you. When god rains on you next time, think of me – it is my love pouring for you. Thank you – o seriously.
Neha, thank YOU so much for your kind words and support. Really appreciate it and YOU!!
Hi, Prerna!
This is such an inspiration story! Thank you so much for sharing and making me realize that this lifestyle business is not only about having glorious days all the time and working from the beach! When I am seeing those ” I am the most wonderful and important online entrepreneur and I make millions in my sleep” I am thinking that something must be wrong with me and my entrepreneurial path! 🙂
Wow, Prerna. Thank you for sharing that. All great and inspiring content. I hope those ovarian cysts aren’t bothering you anymore.