Stefan Thomas: ‘Some days I couldn’t even leave the house’ Lessons from managing a chronic illness whilst running a business (S1, Ep 8)

Courageous

Running your own business has many perks, but what happens when a chronic illness forces you to rethink everything?

Author and speaker Stefan Thomas has ulcerative colitis—an autoimmune condition that affects the bowel, causing pain, fatigue, and frequent (often urgent) trips to the bathroom during flare-ups.

In this episode, he shares how he’s adapted his business to better manage his condition—including creating online versions of his in-person offerings. Plus, how opening up about his experiences online unexpectedly turned him into a social media influencer, raising awareness of life with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

You’ll also hear about his journey from estate agent to speaker and get valuable tips on landing speaking gigs and other opportunities to help grow your business.

Key Moments

00:03:35 How Stefan accidentally fell into public speaking (via networking)

00:09:01 Why it’s important to market to clients who can actually afford you

00:19:20 How Stefan’s previous career as an estate agent helped him in business

00:28:15 Nurturing existing business connections - and why it’s a smart marketing strategy

00:34:36 Tips for getting hired by event organisers (and what to avoid)

00:44:06 A clever marketing strategy Stefan uses to stay top of mind with clients

00:46:23 How Stefan repurposes his speaking content to attract new business

00:49:19 Living and working with ulcerative colitis: the adjustments Stefan has made to manage his health whilst running a business

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