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Changing diapers, changing habits and changing careers

February 13, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

baby-diaper.jpg

Most of my clients need to make big changes in their work lives – given their illness challenges. This can mean finding a new job, developing a new career – or just changing long standing habits that are getting in your way now.

When you think about a change like this, do you find your stomach takes a little jump and your brain says, “Yikes!” not that! Uh, huh, there’s a reason for the saying, “The only people who like change are babies with wet diapers.”

But chronic illness is all about living with change, is it not? Your body becomes this place where change happens, unpredictably and unexpectedly. So, why not think about if there a way to notice your fear and embrace it rather than stuff it? Can you make change a source of comfort, knowing that you can do this, rather than the enemy?

The truth is that when your body changes, because of chronic illness symptoms, we need to get rid of some bad habits and develop new ones. In the blog, how to cope with pain, there ‘s a series of articles on changing habits. They’re all valuable but you must read Stages of Changing a Habit. It offers a new insights that are so practical to the challenge of change.
The tips are helpful for any adapting to any kind of change. Read today’s post on Keep Working Girlfriend – a story from a client who writes how she is transforming her career.

Rosalind

Filed Under: Attitude, Career Development, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Starting a business, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Obama, Hope and Chronic Illness

February 10, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 8 Comments

No doubt in my mind — Barack Obama has touched a nerve in people that is crying out, saying, ” don’t know if I believe, but I still have hope.” I see people energized about voting that never blinked a cynical eye in front of a voting booth before. And, hope is what gets youRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness, Young with Health Problems

Do you dare to have a career?

February 6, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

Can you have a “career” if you live with chronic illness? The truth is that illness often leads to some kind of job change. Not that it’s the first thing people think about when they get a diagnosis. But from my work coaching people with chronic illness around their career – it’s more common thanRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Starting a business, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

The Patriots are going to cover the spread tonight

February 3, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

Huh? Are you wondering it you landed at the wrong blog? I’ll bet you are. And here are two reasons why this is an example of communications gone wrong: 1.The headline has nothing to do with why you came to this blog – to read about work and chronic illness. 2. If you’re a subscriber,Read More

Filed Under: Attitude, Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Chronic illness can make unemployment look appetizing

January 31, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 5 Comments

But don’t be fooled. It’s not as sweet as it looks. Do you day dream about quitting your jobso you’re not always torn in 10 directions from the pressures of personal commitments, work demands and a sick body? Are you always behind — feeling you’ve never done enough — because of this chronic illness? DoRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Health Info, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Why isn't Career Coaching for employees with chronic illness part of wellness programs?

January 30, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

  Speaking of the value of wellness coaching and health coaching (both hot topics these days – have you noticed????),  why not career coaching for people with chronic illness?  Read this post, Curing Healthcare,  Workplace Wellness Programs: Motivating Employees to Live Healthy,  — it’s got interesting statistics showing that these programs actually improve the bottom line! Read More

Filed Under: Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Getting down and getting serious about serious health conditions

January 28, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 13 Comments

I wish I had a dollar bill (remember when it was a nickle?) for every time I get asked about FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act). People with chronic illness  turn to this “benefit” when  illness rears it’s ugly head. And, it can be a good option depending on some variables (such as the sizeRead More

Filed Under: Health Info, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

What does accepting chronic illness mean to you

January 27, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 4 Comments

At the  Kelly Packowski Foundation for MS,  Kelly described how her conversations with  grant recipients helped her to realize that she hasn’t accepted that she has this illness.  I talk about this a lot with clients — and other people who contact me —  so I was really intrigued by this.    She said that she still behavesRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Clark Kent had his cape

January 24, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

A client who lives with MS told me that he wishes he was Clark Kent. With the slip of a cape, he’d become his real self: Superman! And then his left leg work wouldn’t drag, his right hand would grip properly and he’d walk to his car minus the cane. No one would have believedRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Health Info, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Do you feel you're a minority living with chronic illness?

January 21, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 4 Comments

Martin Luther King (check out this website) was my hero when I was a teenager in the 1960’s. He convinced me that an individual can make the world a better place. Sound sappy? I hope not — but I have to tell you that every moment that I spend coaching someone who is determined toRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

Getting down with what gets in your way

January 16, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again (a new year) and I find myself thinking about what has to get done … and what happens along the way.   From the first conversation that I have with a prospective client, we’re talking about goals, desired outcomes, unfulfilled promise.  And it generally boils down to the same thing:Read More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Bunions, like ulcerative colitis, have surgical options.

January 13, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

When my podiatrist diagnosed bunions and a hammer toe, I figured it was just one more way that my body doesn’t behave as it “should”. Like the ulcerative colitis that I’d lived with, there didn’t seem much I could do to prevent it from getting worse. I’d worn orthotics for years (for very flat feet).Read More

Filed Under: Attitude, Health Info, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

What do you say to your boss with a new colitis (or any chronic illness) diagnosis

January 9, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

My good friend’s “baby”, Jimmy, got a diagnosis today of ulcerative colitis.   Jimmy has always been a strong guy — and he’s lost 15 pounds in the past month!  He told his mother that for the first time in his life, he felt like he was drowning. The “good news” is that he’s being treatedRead More

Filed Under: Talking about it, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Useful ideas that can make sitting at your computer work for you

January 7, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

Occasionally, I’ll be bringing in experts to give some concrete ideas that you can literally put into action. They’re called GUEST POSTS. How to Cope with Pain is a website and blog written by a psychiatrist who specializes in treating chronic pain.  This GUEST POST is Part I of a 2-part series on comfortable computerRead More

Filed Under: Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Keep Working Girlfriend — It's a book!

January 6, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

A few weeks ago, I moved all the posts from my blog, Keep Working Girlfriend: Navigating the workplace with an autoimmune disease, to this new blog, Working With Chronic Illness. Now, why would I bother? Well, we’re going into the publshing phase of  KeepWorkingGirlfriend (the book) and the blog will go back  to it’s originalRead More

Filed Under: BOOK - Women Work and Autoimmune Disease, Working with chronic illness

Looking forward to a rosy job market for chronic illnesser's

January 3, 2008 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

Forbes magazine columnist, Tara Weiss, predicts that “…job seekers will be in their glory in 2008.” You read it here. Here’s my prediction: a good job market for “regular citizens” is great news for “employees with chronic illness” (estimates range between 1 in 4 and 1 in 2!). Weiss says that companies are more likelyRead More

Filed Under: Career Development, Job hunting, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

New Year Thoughts

December 31, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

Working with chronic illness. Who is driving your bus? Do you feel like you’re driving in circles – or someone else is driving this instead of you? I want to hear your thoughts – we all want your comments. Click on the comments on share with others what you find works. Here are my thoughtsRead More

Filed Under: Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Hearts break -it's not just a song

December 30, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Remember that name.  It can lead to a broken heart. HEART BREAK from the loss of someone you love — a lover, a child, a friend — it aches more on holidays. Memories flood in and loneliness can take over. Heartbreak from loss can break the soul. And then there are other kindsRead More

Filed Under: Career Development, Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Can you fit the pieces to get your Career Thrive going — with a chronic illness?

December 26, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

I just got an email from someone who saw my blogs.  She wants me to know that she doesn’t understand why I feel “compelled to write about working with a chronic illness.”  Oh, and FYI — she’s recently gotten a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis but she doesn’t see that it should be a problem toRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Do you take vacation if you're WORKING (with chronic illness)?

December 23, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

A client just emailed me saying that he decided not to take this week off as he’d planned  —  he’s going to keep working since he’s feeling well  (he’s got hypertropic cardiomyopathy). He’s a software marketing executive  and he figures he might as well take advantage of it. I found myself thinking, I guess that’sRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

You don't have to reinvent the wheel to reinvent yourself

December 20, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

A question that inevitably comes up when I’m working with a client who is in a career shift (and needless to say, lives with chronic illness) : “Should I/ could I/ would I start my own business?” Who hasn’t thought/dreamed about this? Especially us – the working and chronically ill (otherwise known as the notRead More

Filed Under: Starting a business, Working with chronic illness

What do you do if you're told that working will make you sick?

December 12, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

I was blind in one eye and couldn’t lift myself to get out of bed. My neurologist told me that once I had my strength and my vision back, I should go back to work. That was 30 years ago and I’ve followed his advice ever since. But this is clearly not the message everyoneRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Do your friends at work make work a less stressful experience for you?

December 5, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

Great thing about reading other blogs is that I find articles I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. A favorite blogger of mine, Kerri Morrone, at Six Until Me (click on this link) mentioned this article by Tara Parker Pope at the New York Times Blog, The Value of a friend in the next cubicle. The pointRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

So how is a computer crash like a body crash?

December 3, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

The fact is that most people nod knowingly when you tell them your computer isn’t working –  and they’re quick to share their computer horror stories. But when your body crashes from a chronic illness flare? You get that blank stare –HUH? My client, “Janet”, just spent 10 days in the nether world of “downed”Read More

Filed Under: Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Hooray for Pearl Jam's Mike McCready who shares what it's like to be on the road with crohn's

November 29, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

Mike McCready, Pearl Jam guitarist, talks about (click here to see and read the slide show on Health Talk’s site) crohn’s disease and the crunch of getting “slammed” while he’s in concert. If you live with UC or Crohn’s you know what he’s talking about (ok, maybe you’re not opening for the Stones). When IRead More

Filed Under: Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Chronic illness – We've Got Press

November 27, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

Okay, it’s not Peace in the Middle East — and I know it’s not sexy- – but chronic illness can make headlines. Check out  Eve Tahmincioglu’s article in msnbc.com, Working Through a Chronic Illness   and then, Channeling Your Energy.  These are new articles that focus on the ISSUES (!). Media attention is the firstRead More

Filed Under: Working with chronic illness

Holidays include office parties that you don't want to go to

November 26, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

Thanksgiving is over and we’re entering the serious party season! I’m talking to clients who are feeling an all too familiar weariness – especially at work – that crops up this time of year. I know. Who wouldn’t feel this way when you’re “fighting” daily chronic pain, fatigue — or a body that isn’t workingRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Changing workforce includes chronic illness

November 24, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

A client told me that PBS recently aired a show on the changing workforce and increasing flexibility that comes with it. Hooray! Those living with chronic illness (1 in 2 Americans) are part of the changing face of the workforce. She wrote, “Unfortunately there was no page or site for the program, and it’s notRead More

Filed Under: Working with chronic illness

Still cooking with chronic illness

November 21, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 9 Comments

Thanksgiving — and it’s my turn to host. The “immediate family” is up to 18. Three generations — and the next generation has started to multiply. So, here’s the thing. I’ve lived with multiple sclerosis for 28 years – since I was 28 — and it’s always been hard to stand on my feet forRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

Is cancer (or other chronic illness) the reason you're not working?

November 20, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

The journal Archives of Otolaryngology reported a study that followed patients with carcinomas (cancer) of the head and neck to find out if they stopped working. Here are the highlights: 239 patients were employed at time of diagnosis and 38.1% discontinued work. Of those who left work, the top 5 reasons were: Fatigue (58%), speechRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Do you want to hear, "Happy Thanksgiving"?

November 19, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 8 Comments

I’d take a guess that if you’re reading this, you live with some chronic issue – pain, fatigue, limbs or brain that doesn’t work right. Have you noticed how often people leave a conversation with, “Happy Thanksgiving”? Probably more times than you can count. I know I find myself doing it. Then, a client toldRead More

Filed Under: Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Chronic illness – how much do you disclose?

November 17, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

A reader emailed because she’s trying to figure out if and how to tell co-workers about her new chronic disease diagnosis. She wondered if I still offer “Free consultations”. (By the way, check out my newly designed website — with new resources!) I don’t because it doesn’t offer enough value and since I can’t reallyRead More

Filed Under: Talking about it, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Chronic illness demands you take action.

November 14, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

Today is Diabetes World day.  I don’t have Diabetes among my illnesses but I do know that chronic illness can leave you feeling powerless.  I wrote in my last post about how easy it is to feel you have no voice — and how bad it is for you.   So, if you have Diabetes,Read More

Filed Under: Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Technology snafus, chronic illness snafus. Are you ready to pull out your hair?

November 7, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

My apologies for those who received the last few posts in gobbledeygook.  That wasn’t my intention (if you didn’t read the last post about intention, you should!) But as we know, even with the “right” intentions, things can still mess us up. Technology does it. And so does chronic illness. Have you found that whenRead More

Filed Under: Health Info, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Intention — how does it help working with chronic illness?

November 5, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

Ellen (not her real name) is looking at surgery, post op and return to work and trying to figure out. She asked me, “With my own tension and lost time here, what can I do so I don’t crash at work?” Ahh, a coaching moment…. Intention: determination to act in a certain way. Ellen usedRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Working with chronic illness

Let's hear it for a success story! Are you "… speaking Japanese"?

October 31, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

I’m still waiting to get some responses to “Daddy Days”. Doesn’t anyone have a positive story to share? Oh, come on Here’s a tidbit from my story. It took me 20 years, but I finally got it right. I could work, stay healthy and DO what I love — this business, cicoach.com. I get toRead More

Filed Under: Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

Daddy days? How about chronic illness days?

October 28, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 5 Comments

If Dad’s can make schedule adjustments without it hurting career, can people with chronic illness? YES — I work with people so they can do this — and they can. But it’s not easy. Matt Hutter and family Last week, Wall Street Journal Columnist, Sue Shellenbarger wrote, Taking a Career Timeout to allow for DaddyRead More

Filed Under: Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Oprah: Need a career coach now that you have a chronic illness?

October 25, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 5 Comments

Amy T, at Diabetes Mine, diabetes (and other diseases) info gold mine made me aware ofOprah’s newest interest: the thyroid. Oprah… trend setter or trend spotter? In October issue of “O” , Oprah disclosed her “thyroid condition”. When Oprah learned of this diagnosis (oh, so that’s why I’ve been tired and gained so much weight!),Read More

Filed Under: Health Info, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

Coaching to "win" — can you beat it?

October 23, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

I have to share a web site with you, Beat Chronic Illness.com. Just because I’m intrigued with the concept of “beating” this thing called chronic illness. I don’t talk with my clients about the illness part of their issues much — but we do talk a lot about their attitude. Nicole seems convinced that whatRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness

Chronic pain: we don't have to fix it.

October 22, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

I saw my “Healthy Body Coach” today. O.K – she’s not a coach, she’s a physical therapist. But, she’s coach-like in her approach. I went because I’d been having pain, first in my arm,then hip, legs and my neck. I’d been pain free for a few months so I thought I must have done somethingRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Can people with chronic illness be productive workers? YES!

October 19, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 6 Comments

I’ve written about needing an oar to keep swimming. I offer those oars to people when I can — as a career coach focusing on people with chronic illness. And, I gotta’ tell you that at least once a day, I talk to someone who is drowning just trying to get to work, never mindRead More

Filed Under: Career Development, Health Info, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Exercise – You don't have to love it.

October 17, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 4 Comments

We know that it’s impossible to find time to exercise when you hold down a job and are way tired from chronic illness symptoms. (Never mind walking the dog and carpooling the kids.) No, you’re not superman (or woman). Clients tell me that they can’t get up even earlier or come home later to goRead More

Filed Under: Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Sen. Pete Domenici — is he disabled, just a little incapable or merely living with a diagnosis?

October 11, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 1 Comment

Chronic illness rears its ugly head again. This time, it’s a U.S. Senator. Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico announced that he won’t run for re election because he has Frontotemporal disease. It usually appears in people younger than the 75 year old senator. A client of mine, 46, has it and she continues toRead More

Filed Under: Health Info, Working with chronic illness

Poor me

October 7, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

There’s no such thing as fair… in love, war or office politics. Certainly, not in health. When you don’t have good health, nothing good comes from thinking about fairness. A client, in a burst of “honest disclosure” recently shared with her boss that it’s not fair that she got MS at this point in herRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Who is managing your health, anyway?

October 3, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 8 Comments

I spend a lot of my day talking with people who are either employed or are looking to be employed again, quickly. As a coach, my job is to ask good questions and be sympathetic.  But, if I hear one more person tell me that she has to keep her job (or take a job)Read More

Filed Under: Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

Can we talk .. more?

September 25, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe Leave a Comment

My post from Sept. 13, Talking About it Does Help, got a lively discussion going. What should you, can you, “rightfully” and thoughtfully, expect from others when you bring up the big CI (chronic illness). Nope, no answers … you knew I’d say that 🙂 … but I do have another suggestion. I wrote aboutRead More

Filed Under: Talking about it, Working with chronic illness

Riding the waves? Here's an oar

September 23, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 4 Comments

This morning, I had an epiphany as I drank my latte (mmm – gotta’ love my nespresso). Looking at a picture on my desk taken 15 years ago– our family holiday photo — I saw a woman with a prednisone moon face, looking tired and frail. I had two kids in elementary school, was 43,Read More

Filed Under: Attitude, Musings on LIfe with Chronic Illness, Working with chronic illness, Young with Health Problems

Skip the friend stuff … Throw me an oar.

September 19, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 3 Comments

I just got an email from a chronic illness coach colleague (yes, I am not the only one!) about an upcoming “offering”. The announcement read: Hear from this “warm and compassionate” coach… I cringed when I read those words, warm and compassionate. Who cares about warmth and compassion? I don’t know about you, but IRead More

Filed Under: Working with chronic illness

When we can't do the job we used to do

September 16, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 2 Comments

What happens when you can no longer do the work that you’d always done and were successful in doing  — and you can’t figure out a job that you can do?   The answer?  Fear.  Especially if you are your sole source of support. Unless you have an unusual private disability plan (and that’s if youRead More

Filed Under: Attitude, Working with chronic illness

Chronic illness — talking about it does help

September 13, 2007 by Rosalind Joffe 7 Comments

What you say is just as important as what you don’t say. And, it’s even more important when you want to be successful in your work and you live with invisible AND chronic illness. Communication is king. I have a hunch that not many people would disagree me with me about this. But, I wishRead More

Filed Under: Talking about it, Working for others, Working with chronic illness

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Rosalind Joffe

rosalind@cicoach.com

617.969.1930
How can I help you?
I specialize in working with professionals living with chronic health conditions who want to continue to thrive, not just survive. Learn more by clicking here.
Women, Work and
Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working Girlfriend!

by Rosalind Joffe
with Joan Friedlander
© 2025 Rosalind Joffe, ciCoach | Photograph by Meri Bond