One of my favorite blogs (actually I just discovered it this week — but it’s quickly getting star status for me) is Pamela Slim’s, Escape from Cubicle Nation. With a name like that, how could it not grab me?
One of her posts was, “Top 10 Reasons Not to Become an Entrepreneur”.  Before you click to read it, I have to add 3 more for the chronically ill! Notice I don’t use her terrific graphics but the message is there just the same.
SO, all 10 she cites, and then:
11. Make sure that you have a business idea that people know they need and that this is something you care about putting all energy into (or that job you left is going to be looking all too good, too soon.) And, when you’ve been under or unemployed because of chronic illness, it’s hard to take the time it takes to field test your idea.
12. Ask yourself if you are someone who likes working alone for long periods of time because that’s what it’s going to take. It can easily feel like you’d do anything rather than have to answer to others on days you don’t feel well. But on the other hand, there’s a lot to be said for seeing a friendly face and having to show up someplace when you don’t feel so hot.
13. Are you cut out for this? It can be hard enough living with a chronic illness. And it can be very hard being a self employed, entrepreneur — unless it’s your passion. So check that out. You want to minimize, not maximize, the stressors. Sometimes we make decisions and don’t realize that we’re actually jumping from the fat to the fire.
Rosalind
Taunee Besson says
Dear Rosalind,
It seems great minds do think alike. I was amused when I read your article on entrepreneurship and realized my latest blog is about owning a small business as well. It lists the 10 traps new business owners tend to set for themselves as they are learning how to be entrepreneurs. Fortunately, with recognition and focused attention, they can avoid these problems.
I heartily suggest considering business ownership, if you have chronic illness. While I didn’t have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue when I started Career Dimensions, I needed to get away from the infighting, long and irregular hours and unsatisfying career that retail management represented.
Founding my business gave me flexibility to raise my children, do volunteer work and get paid for teaching clients how to use the career change process that worked so well for me.
When fibro and fatigue became a constant companion, I was able to work part time and keep the business going, even when I had only three hours of energy or less on many days.
If you want to start your own business and have to be mindful of your health, be sure to choose one that has a low overhead, flexibility, understanding clients and minimal travel. Train someone else to take over when you can’t be there. Hang on to your current health insurance, if possible. Small business policies are ridiculously expensive.
As with corporate employment, entrepreneurship has its good and bad points. However, I’ve found that with my pain and fatigue issues and my husband’s ongoing need for cancer treatment, it’s a tremendous relief to do what is best for us without the guilt of management/colleagues down.
Taunee
PS: To see my latest blog, go to Career Food for Thought under the chronic illness blog roll to the left.
Rosalind says
Taunee
Next time include the link so readers can go there directly. But, I’ll also highlight it in a blog – Rosalind
Taunee Besson says
Rosalind,
Right, good idea. Here’s the link to the blog: http://www.careerdimensions-dfw.com/wordpress . -Taunee