Business With Chronic Illness: Women Entrepreneurs Navigating Burnout & Autoimmune Conditions

When I first started my coaching business, I had maybe 30 minutes of energy in a day. And while the online world told me I needed to post multiple times a day, go to endless networking events, and keep up with algorithms, I simply couldn’t.

What I did know? Connection creates sales.

In this episode, I’m sharing the 30-Minute-a-Day Connection Strategy I used to build a six-figure business while living with chronic illness and how it became the foundation of my podcast, the biggest safety net in my business.

You’ll hear:

• Why connection matters more than constant content.
• How small, intentional actions add up to clients and collaborations.
• How podcasting turns those actions into an evergreen safety net that works when you can’t.

✨ Quick Win: At the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a simple 30-minute challenge you can try this week to create more connection in your business without burning out.

What happens to your business when you can’t show up?

For so many entrepreneurs, especially those navigating chronic illness, burnout, or unpredictable seasons of life, the biggest fear is: what happens to my clients, my income, my visibility, when I don’t have the capacity to be online every day?

That’s why I created The Business Safety Net Series. In this special 4-part series, I’m showing you how to build a business structure that holds you with podcasting as the anchor.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use simple strategies that grow your business in just 30 minutes a day.
• Turn a small but mighty audience into consistent profits.
• Create content that actually converts, not just noise.
• Build a flare-proof, burnout-proof marketing and sales system.

Because your business deserves a safety net, one that brings peace, ease, and revenue, even when life gets messy.

Book A Sales Call to Learn how to work with me 1:1

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To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

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In this episode of Business with Chronic Illness, I'm joined by Jason Winters, an energy alignment coach and EFT tapping practitioner, to talk about the warning signs that your business is built out of alignment, especially important for entrepreneurs managing chronic illness and unpredictable energy levels.

Jason opens up about his experience with rapid business growth that felt unsustainable, from lowering his prices out of fear to over-delivering because of self-worth issues. He shares how he recognized these patterns as symptoms of deeper misalignment and the practical steps he took to restructure his business around what actually serves his life and energy.

We dive into why entrepreneurs with chronic illness are particularly vulnerable to business burnout, the difference between fear (which is natural) and doubt (which comes from learned trauma responses), and Jason walks through his truth work method for clearing limiting beliefs that keep you stuck in exhausting cycles.

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with:

1. A framework for recognizing misalignment - the specific signs that your business decisions are coming from fear instead of values, and why over-delivering often signals deeper issues.
2. Practical tools for realignment - Jason's truth work technique for separating thoughts from feelings, plus how to check your decisions against your core values instead of external pressure.
3. Permission to build differently - understanding why rest builds trust in your business and how to create systems that honor your natural capacity rather than fighting against it.

Jason's story reminds us that sustainable business growth isn't about pushing harder; it's about building from a foundation that actually serves your energy and values from the start.

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Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life.

You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Selling doesn’t have to feel hard, especially when you're navigating the challenges of chronic illness or burnout.

In today’s episode, we dive into the three key problems that often keep us from converting leads into sales and how to tackle them with what I call the rooted sales process. We discuss the emotional and physical challenges that can make selling feel pushy or draining, leading to feelings of inadequacy and frustration. You'll learn how to create a sustainable approach to sales that aligns with our unique capacities and circumstances. Join me as I share practical steps to help you shift your sales strategy from survival mode to one that fosters peace and connection, enabling you to thrive in your business, even on your toughest days.

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Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life.

You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Navigating the challenges of running a business while managing chronic illness can feel like an uphill battle, often leading to feelings of inadequacy and burnout. We dive deep into the common struggles faced by women entrepreneurs who grapple with fluctuating energy levels and the societal expectations of constant hustle.

Throughout this episode, I share critical insights on the emotional toll of sales and marketing, especially when the traditional narratives push the idea that success is synonymous with relentless effort and discipline. We explore a foundational pre-sales approach, designed to help you sell from a place of calm and stability rather than from anxiety and pressure. This method encourages you to understand your unique circumstances and to create a sales process that honors your health and well-being. By focusing on things from the inside out, you can shift from a fear-based decision-making paradigm to one grounded in peace and clarity, enabling you to attract clients aligned with your values without the overwhelming fear of rejection or failure.

What you'll walk away with:

• Why selling feels hard?
• How to create calm in your mind and body when marketing.
• What does creating a sustainable business involve, by understanding that consistency doesn't mean doing the same thing every day?
• How to regain peace and clarity in your business decisions, especially in challenging times.

What happens when your growing business starts demanding more than your body can give?

In this episode of Business with Chronic Illness, I'm joined by Stephanie DiPisa, founder of Solara Suncare, mom of three, and Chronic Lyme advocate, to talk about the hard but necessary truth: sometimes the best thing for your business is doing less, not more.

Stephanie opens up about launching her first business at 40 with no beauty industry experience, building Solara into a successful brand sold everywhere from Target to Neiman Marcus, and how her journey with chronic Lyme disease taught her to recognize when it's time to intentionally slow down. She shares why she had to pause her business completely for a year, how that break actually made her products better, and the warning signs that tell her it's time to "turn down the faucet" on growth.

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with:

1. Why forced health breaks can actually strengthen your business and improve your offerings in unexpected ways.
2. How to recognize when you're slipping into unsustainable patterns before you reach a complete breaking point.
3. How shifting away from "catching up" fear and toward intentional choices that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains.

Stephanie's story is a reminder that building a successful business with chronic illness isn't about pushing harder; it's about listening to your body's wisdom and creating something that can thrive even when you need to rest.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Global Lyme Alliance
• Project Lyme
• Ali Moresco
• Tick Chicks
• 
  

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Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life.

You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Ever been told to "just journal it out" and felt completely stuck? You're not broken—you're just trying to force a system that wasn't designed for your brain, body, or energy.

In this episode, I'm sharing why writing feels impossible when you're burned out (spoiler: it's not a mindset problem), the neuroscience behind why speaking works better than writing for many of us, and my Voice-First Content Strategy that's changed everything for me and my clients living with chronic illness.

If you've been struggling to create content, write emails, or get your thoughts out of your head, this episode offers a completely different approach that actually works WITH your capacity instead of against it.

What You'll Learn:

• Why burnout makes writing cognitively harder (and it's not your fault)
• The science behind verbal vs. written processing
• My Voice-First Content Strategy that turns one voice memo into 10+ pieces of content
• How speaking builds trust and converts better than writing
• Practical steps to start using your voice for content creation today
• Why your voice is your most powerful business tool, especially when you're healing

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives dealing with burnout, chronic illness, ADHD, or anyone who's ever felt stuck trying to write content.

• Yamada et al. (2021): Burnout affects the prefrontal cortex, impacting planning, focus, and language organization
• Scientific Reports (2017): Third-person self-talk improves emotional regulation
• Journal of Positive Psychology (2012): Speaking about experiences boosts mood more than writing
• Edison Research: Podcast listeners are 54% more likely to purchase after hearing a brand
• Industry Data: 65% podcast completion rate vs. 15-20% email open rate

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Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life.

You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

What happens when your capacity looks different every single day, but your business still has to keep moving forward?

In this episode of Business with Chronic Illness, I’m joined by Ashley Carlson, an agency owner, mom of two, and chronic illness advocate, to talk about the hard but freeing truth: you can do anything, but you can’t do everything.

Ashley opens up about building and growing her agency while navigating multiple chronic illness diagnoses, monthly IVIG infusions, and the everyday realities of parenting. She shares how she’s redefined productivity, learned to ask for help, and built systems that allow her business to run even when she needs to rest.

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with:

1. Practical systems for sustainability – why delegation, accountability, and team support make your business more resilient.
2. A new way to define success – learning how to honor today’s 100% (even if it looks different from yesterday).
3. Permission to rest without guilt – shifting out of the perfectionism trap and embracing flexibility in life and business.

Ashley’s story is a reminder that running a business with chronic illness is not about pushing harder—it’s about creating support, sustainability, and joy along the way.

Connect with Ashley:

• Website: https://www.elevatevbsolutions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatevbsolutions/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymcarlson/

Leave us a Review and share this episode with a friend.

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Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life. You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

In this powerful conversation, Justine opens up about how living with multiple autoimmune conditions for over 20 years didn't limit her business success—it became her secret weapon. From closing $5K sales calls from hospital beds to building a thriving consultancy, Justine shares why chronic illness taught her the exact skills that make entrepreneurs unstoppable.

• The "Never Be Outsold" mindset shift that transforms how you approach sales conversations and protects your core beliefs—especially when others doubt what you're capable of with chronic illness
• A practical curiosity framework for turning daily statements into powerful questions that help you advocate for yourself in healthcare, business decisions, and client relationships (plus simple habit-stacking techniques to make this automatic)
• The authentic sales approach that leverages your natural empathy and need for deeper connections—why women with chronic illness often outsell traditional "bro marketing" tactics by 5-20%

Connect with Justine:

• Website: JustineBeauregard.com
• Instagram: @JustineBeauregardCoach
• LinkedIn: Justine Beauregard

If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur who needs to hear that their chronic illness isn't holding them back—it might just be their most significant business advantage.

Send Me A Text & Share Your QA's or Thoughts

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Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive email series that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts, and use long-form strategies, especially podcasting, to attract dream clients consistently, even during the ups and downs of business and life.

You'll learn how to build a rhythm that helps you sell even while you rest.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Links referenced in this episode:

• craftedtothrive.com
• entrepreneur.com
• peopleoverprofit

In this heartfelt and wisdom-packed conversation, Nikita sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Pallavi Pande, founder of Dtcos and Dtcos Consulting. Pallavi shares how growing up in India, navigating chronic pain, and honoring her cultural values led her to build not one but two purpose-driven businesses while parenting and caregiving in a multi-generational household.

Whether you're living with chronic illness, burnout, or you're just tired of traditional hustle culture, this episode will remind you that rest is not retreat—it’s strategy.

• A new lens on productivity that centers chronic illness, cultural nuance, and real life—without sacrificing impact or purpose.
• Tangible ways to honor your body and capacity while still showing up for your business and your people.
• Courage to stop performing “strength” and start building with community, creativity, and authenticity at the center.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever asked: “How can I build something meaningful without burning out?”

🪴 Resources, links, and guest goodies are in the show notes below.

Connect with Pallavi:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavi-pande-bb5abb1b/

https://www.instagram.com/dtocsplates/

Send Me A Text & Share Your QA's or Thoughts

Join The 5-Day Audio Series - Rooted Sales

Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free, exclusive weekly that shows you how to sell with self-trust, create content that converts and lasts, and use long-form strategies (my fav is podcasting) to attract dream clients consistently even during the ups and downs of business and life.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Is food guilt quietly draining your capacity to show up in parts of your life and business?

In this episode, we explore what cravings, restriction, and shame around food might be trying to tell you not just about your body, but about your business.

I’m joined by integrative nutrition health coach Laura Banks, who shares her personal journey from hiding candy wrappers in her classroom to helping women heal their relationship with food in a way that actually increases clarity, consistency, and energy.

Together, we unpack the hidden emotional link between what you eat, how you feel, and how you function as a creative, a business owner, or someone simply trying to hold it all together.

You’ll learn how to:

• Overcome being stuck in a cycle of “starting over”.
• Stop being burned out by restriction & trying to “get it right”.
• Create momentum in both your health and business routines.

This conversation will help you understand why. And what to do next. Because this isn’t about willpower—it’s about capacity. And when you heal the pressure you place on yourself with food, you unlock space for self-trust, more aligned decisions, and sustainable progress.

Things to Check out from our Guest:

• Seismic Shift is Laura's 8-week group coaching program that gives women the education, mindset shifts, and community they need to finally get consistent with healthy living. Visit bhealthyhabits.com/seismic-shift
• Isn't She Powerful Podcast - https://bhealthyhabits.com/podcast

Send Me A Text & Share Your QA's or Thoughts

Join The 5-Day Audio Series - Rooted Sales

Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free exclusive weekly email series designed for creatives and women with chronic illnesses. You'll learn how to make a liveable income with your hobbies, professional skills, and innate talents by building a successful online coaching business with simple strategies that work for you, even on flare days, and feel better living with chronic illness.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

If you’re trying to make money while managing chronic illness, this episode is your gentle nudge and grounded strategy all in one.

Whether you’re dreaming of replacing your income, supporting your household, or finally getting paid for the work you love—this episode breaks down how to create a business that supports both your health and your bank account.

I’m walking you through 3 essential shifts that have helped me (and my clients) earn sustainable income—even through flare-ups, fatigue, and doctor’s appointments. These aren’t quick hacks or hustle-heavy tactics. They’re real-world shifts that meet you where you are.

Inside, we’ll cover:

• Why your lived experience with chronic illness is an asset (yes, really)
• How to leverage what you’re already good at to start earning now
• What to do if you’re stuck between needing income and not having the energy
• Why “being consistent” isn’t the only path to growth
• The identity shift that helped me move from survival to a successful business
• How to align your offers with your real life, not a fantasy schedule

Whether you’re exploring coaching, freelancing, consulting, or creative services, this conversation will help you think differently about what’s possible for your income, energy, and ease.

📌 This isn’t about pushing through. It’s about building a business that pays you back—without burning you out.

Whether you’re dreaming of replacing your income, supporting your household, or finally getting paid for the work you love—this episode breaks down how to create a business that supports both your health and your bank account.

Send Me A Text & Share Your QA's or Thoughts

Join The 5-Day Audio Series - Rooted Sales

Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/

Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!

Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free exclusive weekly email series designed for creatives and women with chronic illnesses. You'll learn how to make a liveable income with your hobbies, professional skills, and innate talents by building a successful online coaching business with simple strategies that work for you, even on flare days, and feel better living with chronic illness.

To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness Join Chronically You & Profitable

Join & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram