Excel against the Odds

Sarah Berthon
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  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Inspiration and advice about work and self-employment for people with chronic illnesses

  1. Rethinking consistency when your health isn't consistent

    3 DAYS AGO

    Rethinking consistency when your health isn't consistent

    Consistency is often described as the key to success in business. Show up every day. Keep your output steady. Never lose momentum. But what happens when your body does not behave consistently? In this episode of the Excel Against the Odds podcast, we explore why traditional ideas of consistency do not work when you are running a business with a chronic illness and what to focus on instead. This episode redefines consistency in a way that honours fluctuating energy, stop start capacity and the realities of living with chronic illness. You will learn how to create systems that still produce results, even when your output cannot be constant, and how to reshape productivity on your own terms. If you have ever felt behind or frustrated because your health does not allow you to work in a steady rhythm, this episode will offer reassurance and a more sustainable way forward. Why traditional definitions of consistency can feel impossible when you live with chronic illness The difference between constant output and consistent commitment How to build systems that work with stop start capacity Designing minimum viable output for sustainable progress Working in seasons rather than judging yourself week by week Creating repeatable foundations that make returning easier Protecting recovery time after high energy periods Redefining productivity in a way that reflects your real capacity For more information: Mentoring: ⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/mentoring⁠ Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    11 min
  2. Planning for Business Interruptions When You Live With Chronic Illness

    1 FEB

    Planning for Business Interruptions When You Live With Chronic Illness

    Running a business with a chronic illness means learning how to navigate the unexpected. Flare ups, periods of illness and sudden drops in energy can interrupt even the best laid plans. In this episode of Excel Against the Odds, we explore how to plan for business interruptions in a way that protects both your health and your livelihood. Drawing on recent personal experience, this episode offers reassurance, reflection and practical guidance for navigating difficult periods without guilt or panic. This conversation focuses on acceptance, realistic planning and creating a business that can withstand the times when you need to slow down. In This Episode, We Cover Why flare ups and interruptions are a normal part of running a business with chronic illness A personal reflection on navigating a recent period of reduced capacity How to build time buffers into your business planning The importance of financial buffers and realistic income planning Creating support systems that allow you to step back when needed How to communicate with clients during periods of illness Protecting your health without feeling like you are abandoning your business Why acceptance now can lead to greater capacity in the future This episode is for self employed people, freelancers and business owners living with chronic illness who want to: Feel more prepared for unexpected health interruptions Reduce stress and guilt when they need to slow down Protect their energy while maintaining professionalism Build a business that is resilient and sustainable Planning for interruptions is not about expecting the worst. It is about caring for yourself, protecting your business and creating a sustainable way of working when your health is unpredictable. If you would like support creating contingency plans that work with your health and your business, mentoring is available. Together, we can explore realistic planning, communication strategies and ways to protect your energy during challenging periods. You are always welcome to get in touch to find out more. https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/mentoringExcel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    12 min
  3. Planning your year gently when you have a Chronic Illness

    1 JAN

    Planning your year gently when you have a Chronic Illness

    Planning for a new year can feel overwhelming when you are running a business alongside chronic illness. Energy fluctuates, symptoms are unpredictable and traditional goal setting often feels unrealistic or even discouraging. In this episode of the Excel Against the Odds podcast, we explore how to plan your year in a way that supports your health rather than working against it. This is a gentle, realistic approach to business planning that focuses on intention, flexibility and sustainability, while still helping you move towards your goals. This episode is perfect if you want guidance and reassurance without pressure or hustle culture. In This Episode, We Cover: Why planning with chronic illness looks different and why that is not a failure The importance of starting with intention rather than rigid goals How to plan your year with flexibility built in from the beginning Allowing more time than expected and why this supports progress Breaking business goals into small, manageable steps Planning in phases instead of trying to map out the entire year The value of regular reflection to recognise progress Why wellbeing needs to be part of your business plan How to approach the new year with compassion and confidence If you would like support creating a business plan that works with your health, mentoring is available. Together, we can shape a realistic and supportive plan for the year ahead that fits your energy and goals. For more information: www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/mentoring Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    12 min
  4. Working with a Chronic Illness - Making Peace with Slow Success

    01/12/2025

    Working with a Chronic Illness - Making Peace with Slow Success

    In this episode of Excel Against the Odds, we explore what it really means to grow a business at a slower pace when you live with a chronic illness. If you have ever felt behind, frustrated with your energy levels or pressured by hustle culture, this episode will offer comfort, clarity and practical strategies to help you feel more confident in the way you work. What We Cover: Why slower business growth can feel like failure The emotional impact of comparison and hustle culture How chronic illness changes the shape and speed of success Powerful mindset shifts that help you embrace your own pace Practical ways to structure your work around your health How to redefine success in a way that supports your wellbeing Why slower success can actually be deeper, stronger and more sustainable Simple reminders to use when guilt or frustration sets in Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    12 min
  5. Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Georgina Colman, founder of Purpl

    01/11/2025

    Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Georgina Colman, founder of Purpl

    In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Georgina Colman. Georgina is the founder of Purpl, a platform dedicated to helping disabled people save money through meaningful discounts and exclusive offers. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ADHD, she understands first-hand the financial pressures that come with managing a disability — and she’s on a mission to help others offset those costs and live more freely.As an ambulatory wheelchair user, Georgina knows what it’s like to face a loss of independence and navigate daily challenges. Her passion for holistic health, nutrition, and inflammation management fuels her commitment to staying well and empowering others to do the same.Through Purpl, she aims to build more than just a savings platform — she’s creating an essential resource for disabled people, offering practical support, expert advice, and genuine financial relief. The Purpl Members Private Facebook Group provides a safe, supportive community where members can connect, share experiences, and lift each other up.Looking ahead, Georgina’s long-term vision is to launch a foundation offering grants to disabled individuals who need additional financial support, ensuring no one is left behind due to circumstance or cost If you want to know more, see the links below: Link to website - https://bit.ly/47smGkn Socials @purpldiscounts on Tiktok/Facebook/Instagram Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    35 min
  6. Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Natalie Edwards, founder of Made in the Button Room

    01/10/2025

    Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Natalie Edwards, founder of Made in the Button Room

    In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, i was delighted to interview Natalie Edwards about her experiences of running her craft business, Made in the Button Room, whilst living with complex nerve damage in her spine. Natalie is the founder of Made in the Button Room, small business based in Gloucestershire where playful crochet meets creative planet-kind making. From her sunny spare room affectionately called The Button Room, she designs original amigurumi patterns and kits such as the Button Room Minis range, creates eco-conscious crochet baubles, keepsake greetings cards and framed crochet art. Alongside her products, Natalie teaches crochet through 1:1 lessons and workshops, and stocks natural yarns and notions for fellow eco-makers. Her work champions sustainability, community, and creativity, proving that handmade can be beautiful, fun, and kind to the planet. Links:  www.linktr.ee/madeinthebuttonroomWebsite is coming but not live yet. That will be www.madeinthebuttonroom.co.uk Facebook and Instagram is @Natalie Edwards (all on link above) My only online shop currently (until website is up is) www.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/madeinthebuttonroom Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    41 min
  7. Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Zoe Chapman, founder of the Whizzer

    01/09/2025

    Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Zoe Chapman, founder of the Whizzer

    Zoë Chapman is the inventor of the Whizzer, the World’s tiniest toilet. The Bootstrapped Solo Founder, launched her business  during the pandemic. Despite attempting the impossible, she knew how much her product could help millions so sacrificed everything and within a year of launching, she was approached to appear on BBC's Dragons Den. Her episode aired in 2023 leaving the nation tearful after sharing the challenging journey that had led to the launch of her multi-award winning product.Soon after securing offers from both Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, she launched the adult version due to popular demand. This enabled her to singlehandedly transform the business, breaking every sales forecast, gaining the title of Great British Entrepreneur and solving the long-standing toileting troubles of everyone from families on-the-go and outdoor enthusiasts to those in need of a more discreet medical aid. Alongside breaking toilet talk taboo, Zoë openly discusses the challenges that come with running a business as a single mother with life-long mental health conditions including her battle with Bipolar which she had used as her superpower. To connect with Zoe: Website: https://kiddiwhizz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiddiwhizz Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    42 min
  8. Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Emily Forbes, founder of Wylde Wellbeing Coaching

    01/08/2025

    Working with a Chronic Illness - Interview with Emily Forbes, founder of Wylde Wellbeing Coaching

    Emily Forbes is a published author, certified coach, and founder of Wylde Wellbeing. Emily has been on a personal journey through chronic illness, surgeries, moving towards wellness and finding ways to improve her wellbeing over the last few years. Emily’s book 'Too Hard to Swallow' is about her personal journey with chronic illness. It’s part memoir, part self-help, and in it, she shares how she found peace within the illness - and how you can too. She blends her personal story with scientific explanations and practices and exercises that will help you to magnify your own wellbeing.  In this episode we discuss the challenges of living and working with chronic illnesses, explore the disability work gap and talk about the female gender gap. It’s a fascinating discussion and I hope you enjoy the episode. To connect with Emily: https://go.wyldewellbeing.uk/home-6672Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyldewellbeingcoaching/ Book: BalboaPress   Book (Kindle Edition): TooHard to Swallow: Amazon.co.uk: Forbes, Emily: 9781982289324: Books Excel against the Odds: Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠ Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    45 min
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About

Inspiration and advice about work and self-employment for people with chronic illnesses

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Berthon
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Berthon
  • Show Website
    Excel against the Odds