Episode 196

Why Leaving Corporate with Chronic Illness Feels So Scary (and What Helps) | Liz Carmines

Published on: 2nd May, 2025

Thinking about leaving your 9–5, but chronic illness makes it feel impossible?

In this honest and empowering episode, I sit down with Liz Carmines—business owner and social media strategist—who shares her personal journey of navigating pain, brain fog, and burnout while working in corporate…and how she knew it was time to leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

We talk about the guilt of “not doing enough,” the emotional cost of looking fine when you're not, and the surprising things that made the transition feel safer and more doable.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What happens if my health flares up and I can’t keep going?” or “Can I really run a business with this body?” — this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Why corporate flexibility isn’t always enough when you’re in pain
  • How chronic illness shapes our fears around financial and emotional stability
  • What to do before quitting to transition smoother
  • A way to structure your business for peace of mind, not just profit
  • The healing power of agency, boundaries, and building a team early
  • Mindset shifts that help when fear or impostor syndrome creeps in
  • What to consider now if you want to leave your job later

Whether you’re side hustling with limited energy, stuck in guilt loops at work, or just craving more freedom on your terms, this episode will make you feel seen and supported.

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Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We’ve created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!


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About the Podcast

Business With Chronic Illness
A space for women entrepreneurs to grow sustainable businesses—with mindset, strategy & rest.
Making a living with chronic illness is not easy, and conflicting business advice fails to acknowledge the realities of growing a business with them. It’s time to say goodbye to one-size-fits-all strategies and unlock the missing links to starting and growing a thriving business without compromising your health. As a globally-ranked host and award-winning business coach, Nikita Williams, who is living with chronic illness, is here to equip you with proven techniques and personal insights to conquer the unique challenges of starting and growing a business while managing chronic illness. Get inspired by the stories of successful women who decided they wanted more freedom to have the option to quit their jobs, fund their Heal Me fund, pay off their medical debt, and live more, all by starting a business! Discover sustainable ways to make money with ease living with chronic illness, and join hundreds of women who have said “YES” to creating a profitable business that gives you what you need to live and earn well.
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About your host

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Nikita Williams

Welcome to Business with Chronic Illness — the podcast for women who are building big dreams with limited energy.
I’m Nikita Williams, and I know what it’s like to be living in pain, carrying a diagnosis (or several), and still wanting more — more purpose, more income, more alignment, more ease. After leaving behind a traditional path and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of chronic illness, I decided to rewrite the rules of success. And now? I help other women do the same.
Here, we have honest conversations about what it really takes to build a sustainable, profitable business when your health is unpredictable. No hustle culture. No toxic positivity. Just powerful stories, practical strategies, and mindset shifts that work — even on flare days.
You’ll hear from guests who get it, solo episodes from my heart to yours, and insights I’ve learned coaching dozens of women through launching and growing their dream businesses — on their terms.
Because business is personal. And when you build it that way, it not only becomes easier… it becomes life-giving.
💬 Tune in, take what you need, and know this: You Are Crafted To Thrive.