What happens when your body says “no” to your best-laid business plans? In this raw and reflective episode, Jessica shares the story of having to cancel her biggest event due to illness—and how it became the catalyst for building a more sustainable business. If you’ve ever felt like a setback derailed everything, this episode will help you redefine success and rebuild with your health at the center.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to navigate the grief and guilt of canceling a major business event due to chronic illness

• The four key phases of rebuilding after a setback (Reality Check, Reset, Rebuild, and Resilience)

• How to apply the 4Ps Framework (Prioritize, Pace, Pivot, Peace) to recover and rebuild

• Why traditional business models often fail those with unpredictable energy—and what to do instead

• A simple, powerful journaling exercise to clarify your next sustainable steps

✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt

Rebuilding after a setback? Try this: Create a “Sustainable Rebuild Snapshot” by dividing a page into four parts:

1. Prioritize: List your current health non-negotiables

2. Pace: Define your honest energy rhythm right now

3. Pivot: Identify one unsustainable part of your old business model and a possible alternative

4. Peace: Write a new success definition that aligns with both your ambition and your health

Your setback isn’t the end of your story—it might be the beginning of a more sustainable, aligned chapter.

🔗 Mentioned Episodes

• Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive
• Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness
• Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business
• Episode 8: AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework
• Episode 9: Business Planning with Chronic Illness: A Sustainable Approach

🛠️ Resources & Links

➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.

And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.

📬 Stay Cozy & Connected

Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.

Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

If you’ve ever bought a planner with big hopes—only to abandon it after a few weeks (or months) when your health shifted—this episode is for you. Jessica shares how she reimagined business planning through a gentle, garden-inspired approach that honors energy variability, not rigid timelines. It’s a beautifully sustainable alternative to traditional planning, crafted for chronic illness entrepreneurs who are tired of feeling behind.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional planning methods often fail entrepreneurs with chronic illness
• How to apply a garden-inspired approach to business planning
• The power of flexible objectives instead of rigid SMART goals
• How to track your energy and wins using a two-planner system
• A practical way to design monthly sprints that support your body, not fight it

✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt

Ready to cultivate a new approach to business planning? Try this: Create a “Garden Dream Page” with three columns:

1. How I Want to Feel
2. What Drains Me
3. What Energizes Me

Just observe. No pressure to fix—just notice the patterns your body is already showing you.

Your planner shouldn’t be a weapon of shame—it should be a mirror of what matters most to you and a map that adjusts as your seasons shift.

🔗 Mentioned Episodes

• Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive
• Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness
• Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business
• Episode 8: AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework

🛠️ Resources & Links

➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.

And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.

📬 Stay Cozy & Connected

Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.

Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

Ever felt like your to-do list is a personal failure report? In this episode, Jessica shares a powerful mindset shift that transformed how she thinks about productivity. Inspired by AGILE project management and filtered through the lens of chronic illness, this episode explores how redefining “effort” can help you plan, pace, and thrive—without guilt. If you’re tired of pushing through and ready for a more sustainable way of working, this one's for you.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How redefining productivity through effort (not just hours or output) can support your energy reality
• Four factors to assess effort: knowledge, experience, time, and energy
• How to apply AGILE’s sprint mindset to your chronic illness business
• Why traditional SOPs and systems often fail us—and how to personalize your workflow
• How Jessica used this method to plan and launch the CICEO podcast sustainably

✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt

Jessica shares an "Effort Audit" exercise. For a few days, track your tasks using these four questions:

1. Do I already know how to do this?
2. Have I done this before?
3. How long will this realistically take, including recovery?
4. What’s the energy cost—was it draining or energizing?

Look for patterns. What might you shift next week based on this intel?

Remember you're not failing when you rest and recover. You're managing your energy like a strategist—and that’s a strength, not a shortcoming.

🔗 Mentioned Episodes

• Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive
• Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness
• Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business

🛠️ Resources & Links

➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.

And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.

📬 Stay Cozy & Connected

Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.

Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica