A Chronic Entrepreneur: Laura Furiosi
Today’s Chronic Entrepreneur has been dealing with Endometriosis since she was 17, has created a few businesses, been awarded the Ausmumprenuer of the year in 2017 and is an Endometriosis Australia Champion. I would say that having a Chronic Illness is purely part of Laura’s story, not all of it.
What’s your Chronic?
Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia.
Where/when were you diagnosed?
I was diagnosed with endo when I was 17. I was diagnosed with Fibro last year.
What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?
It means the freedom to pursue my dreams my way.
What came first, the chronic or the entrepreneurism?
The chronic.
How did this path come to you?
I realised while I was teaching that I wouldn’t be able to keep down a job that required me to work 9-5 every day. I have good years and bad, but when I was teaching I was having a very bad year. I would have to sleep in the classroom when the kids were at lunch just to survive. I knew I would eventually have to quit. I knew there must be another way to make a living and still have time for my flare ups and surgery.
Did you go through any sort of 12-stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride?
I was a very active, energetic, happy girl. Slowly the disease took over my life and I realised I wasn’t myself anymore. Sleeping from 4 pm until the next day. I was no longer fun to be around and I no longer did the things that made me feel me. However, after each surgery, I would be okay for a while and I would go back to being my old energetic self. But as the disease progressed my life did change so much that I was no longer kickboxing, no longer running and no longer getting out there and having fun. These were dark days and I mourned the old me. It took me two years to get over it and realise that my life would always be this up and down rollercoaster of illness and I realised that I needed to embrace it. I stopped pushing myself so hard. I looked for other activities to get involved in that didn’t require so much energy. I made a new life for myself. When I am well I do the stuff the old me would do, but when I am ill I have new passions that keep me happy.
Did you seek out or join organisations representing your chronic for support or did you find comfort and answers elsewhere? What would you recommend in hindsight?
I found a support group on Facebook in my late twenties. I found that speaking to other real women really helped me. I would totally recommend finding a support group in your area or at least on Facebook. By helping others it has made me feel like I am doing something to make a change. I am also an Endometriosis Australia Champion, and I work on spreading awareness about this disease so that girls are not left waiting for a diagnosis for seven years. I wore yellow for the entire month of March on Instagram to help raise money for more research into this disease that affects 1 in 10 women.
How have you changed, if at all, in your relationships, decisions and values?
My perspective on life has changed. When you go through chronic pain life can really suck. When I had good days, I would grab them and shake them for all they were worth. I quickly learnt who was really there for me. I saw people step up and support me who I would never have expected that from. Some people who I thought would support me melted away. These are hard lessons to learn so young but they were invaluable to me. I don’t blame those people, it isn’t fun being around someone who is constantly sick in hospital or having surgery. I understand that. But I now 100% try to be there for all my friends when they need me. It’s those dark days, when a friend can be that small light of happiness for you, that matter most. I also very quickly learnt to stand up for myself. Doctors are wonderful, they work so hard, but sometimes things are overlooked, pain is dismissed and lives are left to hang in the balance of pain killers and surgery. I keep searching for the right fit for me in regards to doctors and now I feel like I have an amazing supportive team from my GP to my specialists, physio and personal trainer.
What is your life philosophy and has this changed?
My life philosophy is: it is not about what you can’t do, it is about what you can do. I work with what I can do and I do it well.
What do you wish you’d known before?
I wish I had known to listen to my body more and be more outspoken about my pain. I tried to hide it for so long. Everyone loves happy, outgoing, bubbly me. But I needed to have been more open about my suffering and I would probably have been more supported.
Are you on any treatments? Why/why not?
I have been through many treatments over the years. I tried Zoladex, Syranel, and many types of medications as well as taking the pill constantly. At the moment, after my most recent surgery I feel like I am coping ok and I want my body to rest from all the drugs. So I am taking a break from everything. It might be a silly idea, but I feel like my body needs a break at the moment.
What advice do you have for others starting out on this journey?
If you are going to start your own biz with a chronic disease, make allowances for rest time. I try to take off Fridays to do all my specialist and GP appointments as well as a time to spend in bed if needed. Set up your biz so you can run it from your phone or laptop. When you are starting out and it is just you, you need to set it up so that you can take those few days off for flare-ups if you need it.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you?
My legs feel like they don’t work, I struggle to breathe, and it feels like someone is stabbing me over and over. My body acts like it has gastro and I get very very tired. Sometimes I cannot even make it up the stairs to get to bed.
What do you do on a ‘bad day’?
Heat packs, tens machine, painkillers, Netflix and bed.
How do you deal with stress?
I try to do some physical activity to keep the stress levels down. If I am having a flare up, I let my trainer know. He then tailors the workout to keep it from making it worse. If I am too unwell to train, I like to draw or write stories.
What do you struggle with the most?
I feel my brain works 100 miles an hour. I have amazing ideas but my body limits me from reaching my full potential. My friend once pointed out that it is a good thing, as I never used to slow down. So when I get frustrated with my body I realise it is maybe for the best.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of being Ausmumprenuer of the Year for 2017. I am proud that I have shown my daughters that they can create a business from nothing, even if they get sick like mummy. I am proud that I am helping raise awareness for Endometriosis. I am proud that I have not yet given up.
Who are your back up dancers?
My back up dancers are Rachel and Beth at work. They keep the ship moving when I need to rest. I couldn’t do this without them anymore. My daughters keep me motivated to get better and my mum takes over when things get bad. I couldn’t do it without them.
Best bits of being a Chronic Entrepreneur?
Smashing business from my bed in my pj’s.
Worst bits of being a Chronic Entrepreneur?
Trying to keep the biz going around surgery times.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
Winging it. Always, no point in planning as my body throws me curve balls all the time.
Dream weekend plans and have these changed?
My dream weekends are already real. I spend them with my daughters. They are my world.
Ultimate dinner party guests?
Gary Vaynerchuk, Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah, Helen Mirin, Turia Pitt, Will Ferrell, my lovely friends.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Go for it, you got this. When life gets tough, push through. The pain will not last forever.
What’s next?
I am building my business consulting company BOSSY MUMMY (find me on Instagram @bossymummy) I am helping other women succeed in biz. I am also enjoying doing motivational speaking events this year.
How can people find you?
@rashoodzswimwear
@bossymummy
@lauras_march_into_endo
Let us know what you think below and share your story with us on Instagram tagging @achronicentrepreneur and using the hashtag #achronicentrepreneur.
