The Chronic Illness Patient to Entrepreneur Pipeline: Tips to Thrive as a Mentally Fit Founder After the Corporate Life

“Something similar happened to me…”

Those were the words echoing through my living room during a recent Chronic Boss gathering. 

And each time, the beginning of that sentence was followed by a story of chronic illness discrimination at college or in the workplace. 

Some women shared stories of the lack of support they received when chronic conditions demanded a different living or learning environment. While others shared stories of less-than-helpful bosses and tone-deaf colleagues. We all shared just how little we knew about ADA accommodations, and had we known, maybe we could’ve done things differently. 

This deeply resonant chat could’ve led to more tales of “woe is me,” but they didn’t. Instead, everyone talked about how those moments led them to something bigger than they ever dreamed. For the eight women in the room, that something included entrepreneurship.  

The pipeline from fed-up chronic illness patient to thriving entrepreneur is real.

When Entrepreneurship Feels like the Best Option

Through my writing, research, and sharing on the Mentally Fit Founder platform, I’ve discovered a common thread among entrepreneurs and mental illness. Until I joined the Chronic Boss Collective, I didn’t realize the same is true for those living with all types of chronic conditions. 

Then, collectively hearing these women’s stories the other day helped me realize something else. For many of these women, entrepreneurship wasn’t necessarily a choice but the only option. Their corporate experiences showed them that their employers didn’t see them as assets, but instead, burdens. 

Paying for your own health insurance or relying on a partner’s insurance is stressful. But, more stressful? Spending each day fighting corporate red tape while trying to work and manage your health. And that unwinnable battle is what led many of these women to freelance and start their own businesses.

I’ve always known I wanted to run my own business, but the decision to start it wasn’t planned out. It happened because life happened, and I had to make some decisions fast. Turns out that’s exactly how it happened for most of these women. Admittedly, my situation was not nearly as dire as some, but like so many, it did feel like my best option. 

Instead of Breaking, We Decided to Build

When the corporate world refuses to bend, chronic illness patients are in danger of breaking. But if ADA accommodations and HR policies exist in today’s world, why is this still happening? Many of these women joined the workforce over a decade after me, yet still shared the same tales of discrimination that I dealt with when I joined the workforce. 

Isn’t today’s culture more accepting of differences and understanding the need for accommodations? Yes, but only when the accommodations don’t require additional work on the part of the corporation. 

Furthermore, there is still very much a stigma with the workplace and illness, especially when it’s invisible like all of ours. Come in with a cast or crutches, you’ll get the red carpet. But, telling your boss that you have IBD or crippling anxiety…well, that’s a different story. 

Not only are those conditions much harder to talk about, but they also don’t present in an overt way, which makes accommodations harder to defend to other employees. 

It’s the old, “But you don’t look sick.” 

Oh, but if you only knew….

The other part of the issue is our culture rewards those who simply just show up, regardless of their productivity level. It started in grade school when kids were awarded “perfect attendance,” and it has transitioned into employees feeling pressured into showing up and not taking sick days. The internet calls this pervasive issue presenteeism–people who show up sick or unwell, and stay the whole day, regardless of their output. 

Post-pandemic life proves that despite our best efforts, traditional workplaces still prioritize the “in-office” culture. Think about how many places went back to in-office requirements when given the opportunity. 

For me, the idea of working from home, with the flexibility to take breaks and work on my own time, was enough to feel good about my decision to work for myself. That said, there are certainly trade-offs. Paid time-off, consistent income, and those damn health benefits are pretty nice, and I know that’s why many people do stay. But for the Chronic Bosses and me, even a no-deductible top-tier health plan couldn’t make us stay.

During that beautiful Chronic Boss chat, I realized that we were made to believe we were the problem. But, we were never the problem—we were the solution. When the corporate world wouldn’t bend, we could’ve broken–instead, we decided to build.

My Definition of Success as a Mentally Fit Founder

The one myth I always bust is that the best part about entrepreneurship is choosing when and where you want to work. But that’s just a small part of it. 

The autonomy has been the biggest flex. As a person who never felt in control of her life, just the concept of making decisions for myself was transformative. And while no one said this during our chat, I am sure the women would agree. When you are a chronic patient, you often feel at the beck and call of your doctors, clinics, and insurance company, but as an entrepreneur, you can finally feel like you can control something. 

That shift from “trying to keep up on someone else’s terms” to “doing my own thing at my own pace” is remarkable. 

Sometimes, especially in the beginning, choosing entrepreneurship can bring up feelings of guilt and shame. Like you couldn’t make it in the corporate world, so you had no choice but to work for yourself. But that’s just the corporate world talking. 

Once you realize the agency you have as an entrepreneur, it feels less like a decision made by default and one made out of purpose and power. I went from self-loathing to self-loving in just a few years because my business helped me see that my anxiety and depression aren’t burdens, but assets. That is the real win for me–a concept that was never possible in a corporate job. 

Tips to Thrive as a Mentally Fit Founder

But, I won’t sugarcoat it. Starting a business is hard for anyone, but building a business when you live with anxiety and depression can be brutal. There are days when I wake up and wonder what the heck I’m doing. But for every hard day, there are many wonderful, empowering days. There are a few things that I’ve learned over the years to make sure those hard days don’t break me. 

Here are five tips to thrive as a Chronic Boss and Mentally Fit Founder:

• Boundaries: In the corporate world, it can be hard to set boundaries, but working for yourself allows you to set and keep boundaries that allow you to thrive. If you’re an anxious girlie like me, then keeping boundaries is a challenge. But it is a good goal to work towards. 
• Breaks: I love a good walk during the day, and so does my dog. Taking legitimate breaks away from my desk helps shut my mind off for a few minutes (as much as it feasibly can).
• Self-care: Self-care isn’t just a clichéd internet strategy; it’s a fundamental tool that helps me survive. You just have to decide what it looks like for you. I regularly meditate, listen to audiobooks like they’re going out of style, and splurge on spa days each quarter. 
• Outsource: Another way that I keep going is by hiring regular help. I can’t do it all, and if I try I will burn myself out, which defeats the purpose of working for myself. I got burned out enough in the corporate world. So I get help on the tasks that I don’t like or the ones that drain my battery.
• Support systems: The Chronic Boss Collective membership wasn’t just created for fun, it was created because Lilly knew the importance of community. And that’s exactly why I decided to join her on this journey. Having a community is critical as an entrepreneur, especially when you’re living with chronic or mental conditions. 

The Best Part 

The best part about having a community is knowing that other people understand what you’re going through. I never feel totally alone, even though most days I do actually work alone. And that sense of camaraderie is not a feeling I ever had working in the corporate world. No matter how many cool people I worked with or great bosses I had, I always secretly felt alone. Silently fighting a battle I couldn’t explain, all while trying to do my work and fit in, led to an even lonelier place.  

The funny part is that I was afraid to start my own business because I was worried I’d be lonely. Now, I have more people to lean on and groups to learn from than I ever had before. From my industry-specific groups to my local community organizations and the Chronic Boss Collective, I’ve found groups that hit all the different aspects of my professional life. 

Like the other women sitting in my living room, my fears were unfounded, and my burdens became my biggest strengths. That’s what the chronic patient to entrepreneur pipeline is all about.