Chronics — A Chronic Entrepreneur

Jo Gifford is an expert in creative thinking and content creation. In her words, she helps ‘awesome peeps show the world their brilliance without #samesame syndrome and biz BS.’ After burning out and breaking down at age 29, Jo was forced to step back and tune into her body. Since then, she’s embraced her entrepreneurism and crafted a life that works for her and her chronics, not the other way around. With a passion for making things easier and finding joy in life, she’s the creator of the Brilliance Ignition Process and founder of the Brilliance Hub.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: CJ Scarlet

CJ Scarlet is a woman with an extraordinary story. In her career alone – she’s worked as a photojournalist and editor for the US Marine Corps, Executive Director for the Kids First Child Advocacy Center in the US, Director of Victims Issues at the NC Attorney General’s Office and been the CEO of three separate companies. She has worked as an advocate for victims of sexual abuse for years, drawing from personal experience to help support survivors of sexual violence. CJ was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, and again in her late teens and early twenties. The depression and anxiety she felt as a result, took its toll on her health – mental, emotional and physical. She developed two autoimmune conditions – lupus and scleroderma – and in 2004 was told her condition was terminal. At this point she was so ill that she could barely walk or hold a cup of tea.

Mental Health, Immune SystemDara Shashoua27 August 2018lupus, scleroderma, bipolar disorder

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Renate Halleen

Learning about Renate Halleen’s story, it’s clear that Renate has had a difficult life. She has been diagnosed with a number of chronic illnesses over the last 15 years – most recently being diagnosed with hypersomnia – a condition that affects those who have it by making them extremely sleepy, with the ability to fall asleep at any time. It was when she had fallen asleep unexpectedly that Renate suffered a bad ankle sprain. Throughout it all, Renate approaches life with strength and courage. She founded her business – A Tight Knot Massage – where her mission is to inspire good health, naturally, and give to others a sense of wellness and joy.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Tina Bruce

Tina Bruce embraced entrepreneurism after being diagnosed with Post-Herpectic Neuralgia (a condition caused by a Shingles infection). Now, Tina is a Melbourne-based yoga teacher – Restore A Yoga Mum – with a passion for bringing the benefits of slow, mindful yoga to her community. Her classes are all about restoration and relaxation, focusing on a deeper sense of wellness and balance. Thank you Tina for sharing your story with us!

Neurological SystemDara Shashoua6 August 2018Post-Herpetic Neuralgia

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Erin Jackson

Erin Jackson is many things – a woman who loves life, a woman with multiple degrees, an attorney and managing partner at Jackson LLP: Healthcare Lawyers, which she co-founded with her husband, a published author who focused her scholarship on the intersection of women’s health and human rights and the founder of Inspire Santé.Inspire Santé is a not-for-profit that works to destigmatise pelvic pain by opening up the conversation and supporting women experiencing pelvic pain through education and advocacy. Erin herself was faced with severe chronic pelvic pain for almost ten years, consulting multiple doctors until she finally began her road to recovery. Now, she’s helping others in that situation because she knows how lonely and frightening that journey can be, and how valuable and validating it can be to not only receive support but be part of a community of people who share similar stories.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Kelly Northey

After years of building her business, alongside being a mother and managing her chronic, Kelly now works as a full-time entrepreneur across her businesses and loves every second of it (challenges and all). Kelly’s journey to entrepreneurism happened simultaneously with her diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis which happened after the birth of her son.

Muscular System, Skeletal SystemDara Shashoua24 June 2018Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Laura Furiosi

Laura Furiosi 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.

Reproductive System, Nervous SystemDara Shashoua28 May 2018endometriosis, Fibromyalgia

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Susanne Gervay

So many people diagnosed with Chronic Illness have a moment where we decide that the disease won’t beat us, that it will no longer be the story the defines us. Instead, it becomes part of our story. It is also the part of our story that leads to so many wonderful adventures that perhaps we wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for our Chronic Illness. Today’s Chronic Entrepreneur is Susanne Gervay, a prolific children’s author whose books deal with many of life’s challenges including bullying, inclusion, humanity and refugees.

Muscular System, Skeletal SystemDara Shashoua20 May 2018Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Sam Spence

Sam Spence is the founder of Executive Virtual Associate – a business dedicated to providing support through the form of virtual assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Australia. She was also diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis – an inflammatory bowel disease which can cause great discomfort and pain – when she was 19 years old. For Sam, her business allows her to continue striving towards career aspirations while managing her chronic illness. With a virtual (online) business, she’s able to work from home where she has access to everything she needs and, in times when she’s unable to work, she has others to step in and support.

Digestive SystemDara Shashoua23 April 2018ulcerative colitis

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Tina McDonald

Tina McDonald is the founder of Avalanche Coaching where she offers services in professional coaching and mentoring for businesses and individuals wanting to explore and reach their potential. When she was in a car accident that further aggravated her conditions, she realised something had to give. That’s when Tina made the decision to prioritise her family and her health, and left her job. What followed was her entrepreneurism which allowed Tina, in her words, to work alongside her conditions, not against them. Now, she makes time for her rewarding career in coaching, alongside making time for her family and listening to her body. Find out more and read Tina’s story below.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Karen Alexander

Karen Alexander was diagnosed with incurable cancer 12 years ago. She was told that there was no hope. Perhaps the worst part of her experience was discovering that one of the side effects of the medication she had been put on by a medical professional was responsible for liver and uterine cancer. Coming to terms with the understanding that her condition was caused through her treatment by a doctor was earth-shattering and there was no escaping her grief and anger. Despite it all, Karen lives and thrives today.

Skeletal SystemDara Shashoua5 March 2018Cancer, Advanced Incurable Cancer

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Tami Stackelhouse

Tami Stackelhouse is not only an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur who embraced her chronic as part of that business. After being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Tami reassessed her life and it lead her to start her own business as a Fibromyalgia Coach – helping others living with the illness to live their best lives.

Immune System, Muscular SystemDara Shashoua18 February 2018Fibromyalgia

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Dara Shashoua

Dara Shashoua is the founder of Byzantine Design – a Melbourne-based store that curates tiles from across the globe to service Australia. She is also the founder of A Chronic Entreprenuer – which began out of her passion to share the stories of those living with chronic illnesses and how they’re thriving each and every day, by living their lives and doing what they love. Here, Dara shares her story of discovering her chronic – multiple sclerosis – how it’s changed her life and how she lives with it today.

Neurological System, Nervous System, Immune SystemDara Shashoua31 December 2017Multiple Sclerosis

Stories.