Where it all began

It's not all sunshine and roses when it comes to how my business began.

I had a stable full-time job that I actually loved... That's right, I loved it.

I had managers and mentors who believed in what I could achieve, and helped me to grow and thrive. As a result, I was being pushed up the ranks quickly... Quicker than any other company would probably allow.

And the culture... It was incredible. Supportive, friendly, fun.

I worked my ass off for this company because I wanted to. I wanted to get into work at 7am, I wanted to pour my blood, sweat, and tears into it. Because I loved what I did, and who I worked for.

And then, faster than you can blink, everything changed.

My body started to betray me... I went from being a bright and bubbly hard-working employee, to fading away into the shadows and taking more sick days than I can count.

It started with tachycardia (high heart-rate) so bad that I was actually having full-blown panic attacks several times a day. At one stage, I was in a constant state of panic, and I was simply going through the motions based on habit, not really conscious of where I was or what I was doing.

I was completely disassociated.

I also developed high blood-pressure - which for a young woman in her 20's who was actually underweight, is basically unheard of. The combination of the tachycardia, high BP, and chest pain, landed me in emergency multiple times.

But no one could find the cause.

And from there, it all went downhill. Chronic fatigue, brain fog, severe widespread muscle pain, joint pain... And then the final cherry on top, was chronic migraine.

I went to so many different types of doctors, was checked for so many different diseases (including a rare and aggressive cancer that I originally received a false positive for, but that's another story for another time,) that I completely forgot how to live.

I didn't even know who I was if I wasn't sitting in a doctors waiting room or waiting for some kind of test.

And so, I stopped. I wanted my life back. With the help of a great doctor, we got most of my symptoms under control.

The company I worked for was great about it, they had allowed me to convert to part-time while all this was going on, but I realised that others had to take on some of my role, and that it was time for me to leave.

Not just for myself, to manage my health, but also for them.

So, I did it. I quit my full-time job for a life of uncertainty (eek!)

I still suffer chronic migraines, which I still receive treatment for, but working for myself has opened up this whole other world of possibilities. I can work full-time hours, but with the flexibility to manage my health and actually have a life (who knew such a thing existed?!)

Don't get me wrong, starting your own business is hard work. And a lot of people didn't believe I could do it because of my health.

But I did, I adapted to my circumstances and made it work, and I've never looked back.

It may not have been a fairytale beginning, but I'm turning the present into one.