In December of 2013, I had graduated with my bachelor’s degree, was a full-time nurse, and had just landed my dream job. I was also a very busy mom and enjoyed an active lifestyle I had really never had any major medical issues, so when I woke up on January 3rd , 2014 paralyzed from the mid-back down I was taken completely by surprise. I was diagnosed with a rare and complicated disease called transverse myelitis. While I was able to rehabilitate to walking again, this debilitating disease left me unable to return to work a “regular job” and my hopes for working my dream job were crushed. I felt so hopeless and frustrated. How could I finally have achieved what I’d worked so hard for just to have it all ripped away by this chronic illness? What a bunch of crap!

Determined to continue to provide financial stability for my family, I started looking for opportunities that would allow me to do just that. I was introduced to a work-from- home job with a premium skincare company and knew that I’d found the perfect fit. I invested in the business and became my own boss. This job worked around me and allowed me independence. TM took so much from my life but I wasn’t going to let it keep me down. What works for me with this particular business is that there are no parties and no inventory. It’s all e-commerce so I can work from home, from my favorite coffee shop, and even from my hospital bed when I’m dealing with a relapse or with treatment.

It’s not that the job is “easy.” It’s a lot of work. When you make the decision to become an entrepreneur, you’re making the decision to take full ownership and responsibility for your business, but when I need to rest, I rest. When I need a day off, I take it. When I need to go to a bazillion doctors’ appointments, I don’t have to ask anyone for time off. Being able to work at my own pace is vital to my success. Entrepreneurship comes in all shapes and sizes, but if you have a chronic illness and you’re

thinking of a work-from-home opportunity in sales, there are a few things I would recommend asking yourself before saying “Yes”.

Yup, You Can Be Disabled and Still Be Financially Successful!

1. Is the company reputable?

This is an important question. With so many work-from- home “opportunities” available, make sure that you do a little research about the founders of your company and the foundation of the company.

2. Is this a job that will work around your chronic illness? 

Perhaps doing five parties a week or keeping a room full of inventory will work fine for you. Personally, I battle with chronic fatigue as a part of my illness so I just don’t have the energy for all of that! Also, the illness I battle is super unpredictable so planning a bunch of parties gives me enough anxiety to make me want to just crawl in a hole.

3. Will I have a good support network? 

Be in your business for yourself but not by yourself. I have an incredible upline, a full nursing staff dedicated to answering medical questions about the products, and enough training materials in my back office to feel very confident about the support I have with my company.

Building a business takes time. If you are working full time and able to keep working, I would recommend building your business while you work and then quit to stay home after you’ve been able to replace your income. Any good business model is not a “Get Rich Quick” scheme.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have to be willing to put in the time and effort to build up your business and be coachable. I’ve had great success with the company I chose to work with and it’s been an immense blessing on so many levels. I’ve made incredible friends, my children are watching their mom adapt and overcome, and I’m creating financial stability for myself and my family. Dare to dream big!

Disabled doesn’t mean incapable. If I can do this, absolutely anyone can.