Here’s a question I get frequently but you wouldn’t have heard 20 or even 10 years ago: Is self employment the best option for people living with chronic illness?
It seems that most employed people dream of working for themselves. It certainly sounds freeing and creative, doesn’t it? No one makes a more compelling case for self employment than Pam Slim in her blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation, and in her wonderful book with the same title. If you want to read a clever and insightful post on the topic, GL Hoffman writes in the recent Career Collective posts, “The Life of an Entrepreneur: Is it for You?”
But what about if you live with impairments and waxing/waning chronic illness? You know that you have to think about these issues a little differently. But how.
Well, as they say, “the devil is in the details”. Here are some of my thoughts.
Self employment generally means you’re solo. For many, that’s a real plus. A coaching client with Lupus discovered the challenge in working solo when selling Tupperware. She expected this kind of low key sales would give her the flexibility she didn’t have when she was in computer sales. But she still had to show up at the Tupperware parties she’d scheduled and her salary depended on her ability to be alert, friendly, outgoing and able to sell — even when she had no energy and in pain.
Furthermore, a lack of a guaranteed paycheck can be a source of anxiety for anyone, especially if you have others to support. But it can be even worse if you already face an unpredictable life due to your health. A client with Fibromyalgia went to work for himself thinking that his wife’s income would give him the cushion he needed to cut back his work when necessary. But not having a reliable paycheck made him severely anxious. He couldn’t take a vacation or sick time, worrying tha he’d lose business and be unable to pay his bills. Working for himself, he pushed himself harder than when he was employed.
I’m self employed in my home office and it works for me. I’ve always been extreme on the self motivation scale, I’m a born “creator”, I love developing my talents and new ideas and I work my best when I can do it on my own schedule.
But while I’ve benefited from being able to adjust my schedule to my health, I’ve had to learn to live with an uneven and reduced salary. I sorely miss the social interaction of an office and feel the loss of being part of a team who shares ideas and goals. I don’t miss my difficult bosses but I do miss the supportive ones who mentored me and helped me to grow.
For more about self employment when chronic illness is part of your life , read Joan Friedlander’s chapter, You’re Fired — by Your Body or Your Boss in our book, Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend!
What have you found – from working on your own? Or staying employed?
13 Responses to “Chronic Illness and self employment. A Day At The Beach?”
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Thanks, Rosalind – Great post!
I have never been self employed…except maybe in the case of making artwork. I rarely get paid for that, though! I am usually making artwork for me or on a volunteer basis because I love to do it! Which is interesting. Perhaps I should think about getting paid to do what I love!
I think knowing what excites you enough to be more motivated and disciplined is the key – as well as knowing what inhibits your ability to work, physically and mentally.
Good point – what motivates you is the key as well as what gets in your way. There are many things we can love – but we also have to earn a living at it. The challenge is to do both! I know you can meet that challenge!
Great post with some helpful insights. I have a chronic illness and when I became self-employed my anxiety came from two places: 1st was my fear based on the unknown, having always worked for someone else I didn’t know if I had what it took to be self-employed in the discipline, motivation, and focus areas; 2nd was the loss of health insurance. Both were taken care of when I lost a job. It was time to do something different. My husband works sporadically so health insurance is not always available, but I’ve negotiated with my specialists and primary docs an office visit fee & alternative medications at reduced prices. As for discipline, motivation and focus? I’m still working on those. Learned a big lesson about me in this area – they’re not natural traits. But I also know that I am teachable and coachable, so have found people willing to ‘mastermind’ with me on a regular basis and that has really made a difference.
OK — Here is the key point. Does your client actually support herself — meaing, pay her rent, health bills, food, etc. from a Tupperware career? Or is this just supplemental money to a husband or parent’s steady paycheck, or to supplement some other source of income?
If you’re husband is a doctor or investment banker (or your wife) — then it’s probably a great option for you. I think we always have to stress — who is really paying the bills? Is this play money or real money? There are lots of women out there in the chronic illness community with coaching or supplement selling businesses, or making under $100 a month from Internet clicks. To me, that’s having an interest in life, and trying to have a career — but if it ain’t self and other-supporting– that’s not really a career. Better than sitting around watching TV, or just blogging about your ailments on some web site — but it shouldn’t be confused with real work.
Charlene-I’ve used master mind teams also to help me grow my business and my skills. You might not have been the most motivated entrepreneur out there but you show great honesty in recognizing and growing from that! How is it going?
Christina – This post isn’t about whether you’re doing it for the money or not -in fact, though, Tupperware client is a self supporting single mom. Career is a tricky word – what does it mean? I think people who opt for self employment, whatever the reason, have to think about the financial aspects — but there are others that get lost in the mix and that’s why THIS post.
Rosalind: business-wise my revenue for this year is no where near what I had hoped, but I have created a plan to change things to meet my goal for next year. My ultimate goal is to be the main support for my husband and myself. It is doable.
I’m in search of another mastermind group because the first one is on the verge of disappearing – two members are looking for employment elsewhere, which drags down the discussions. Until a few weeks ago, the group was essential in my keeping on track and I know me too well – without a group to bounce ideas and such off of, I will not be motivated to make the changes necessary for a more successful 2010.
I’m a believer in “believing” but I also know that reality can get in the way. Keep looking for that mastermind group or invest in a coach who can steer you toward achieving your goals. Sometimes we have to stretch to make it happen! Let me know how you do with this !
Nice post, Rosalind. Anytime I get mentioned in the same sentence with Pam and you, I am having a great day.
To those who wonder if it is for them or not, consider that now is the best time ever to give it a go. Plus one can do it on the side, nights, weekends, whenever. The risk does not have to be so great.
Great post. Keep up the good work.
GL HOFFMAN
Keep up the good work, I love to see people working on things with passion.
Very nice information. Thanks for this.