Becoming chronically unwell is on nobody’s bucket list. My “thing”, which I’ve endured for a few years, is, like a teenager’s mood, erratic. Despite the mayhem, I have been blessed with two unexpected superpowers—and I’ve learned to leverage them fully.
First: with less productive time available, I’ve become ruthlessly focused. I don’t waste time—on unnecessary tasks, pointless meetings or people who deplete my energy. Though illness steals 30% of my time (more on a bad day), I claw it back through sharper prioritisation. Every moment matters. Every commitment is intentional.
Second: as I’ve become reliably unreliable, which made running a law firm—or any business—tricky, it has forced me to rapidly build a top team and delegate like never before. When you can’t micromanage (never a strong suit before my illness), vision becomes everything. Any reader of The E-Myth will understand my point: spend more time ON your business than IN it.
In just a few months, Suffrago has grown to a team of 25, with a similar number of shareholders. Not bad for a company incorporated in September—especially considering I spent part of October in hospital. Thanks go to my brilliant cofounder, Simon and to the ever-dependable Aimee, as well as everyone else in the team.
I do, though, wonder how younger people with chronic illness manage — and how those living with far greater disability or illness, cope. Especially those in jobs where delegation isn’t an option, and showing up isn’t negotiable. My heart goes out to you all.
(Give us this day, our daily meds! Image is my bounty of 3 sets of daily prescriptions; 2 sets of doctor-recommended supplements; plus an assortment of extras)
