Chronic Illness CEO | Build Sustainable Systems, Create Passive Income, Grow Without Hustle

15 Episodes
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By: Jessica Brown - Business Strategist for Entrepreneurs with Chronic Illness

Are you building a business while managing unpredictable health? Tired of traditional business advice that assumes unlimited energy and ”hustle harder” mentality? Join Jessica Brown, business strategist and entrepreneur with chronic illness, as she shares gentle but powerful strategies to build a business that works WITH your body, not against it. Each week, discover practical ways to create consistent income through digital products, sustainable marketing systems, and anti-hustle strategies that keep working even during flares. Whether you’re wrapped in your coziest blanket during a low-energy day or ready to implement new ideas, this podcast meets you exactly where you are. L...

Meet My AI Team: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Sustainable Business Support
#14
08/07/2025

Ever wish you had someone to bounce ideas off of, especially on those brain fog days when everything feels like too much? What if you could get that support... without needing a full human team?

In this special episode, I'm introducing you to two of the most reliable members of my business, my AI team. That’s right. I’m pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how I use AI (like ChatGPT and Claude) to run a sustainable, spoon-friendly business. And for the first time, you’ll hear directly from them, as we talk about how AI...


Why I Went Quiet on the Podcast and What Helped Me Find My Voice Again
#13
07/02/2025

Ever feel like your content is technically “working” but something just feels... off? In this episode, I’m sharing what really happened during my two-month podcast pause—and spoiler: it wasn’t burnout, it was misalignment.

 

💡 In this episode, we'll talk about:

Why your systems (even smart ones) can drift away from your true voice

How I noticed my content no longer sounded like me

The role AI played in that disconnection—and how I reset it to serve me, not replace me

What I did to rebuild my syste...


What Stage Is Your Business In? A Chronic Illness-Friendly Way to Map Your Business Season
#12
06/25/2025

Feeling behind in your business—or like you’re trying to do all the things with zero spoons? In this episode, I walk you through the 5 stages of the Sustainable CEO Pathway and help you figure out what season you're really in (and why that matters more than hitting 6 figures fast).

We’ll unpack what sustainable success actually looks like for entrepreneurs with chronic illness and unpredictable energy—and how to stop trying to leap ahead to passive income before you're ready.

 

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The #1 reason so many of us sta...


The Wrong Business Model Will Drain You—Here’s How to Pick the Right One
#11
05/07/2025

Have you ever felt stuck in a business model that everyone else seems to love—but it's slowly draining you? In this episode, Jessica gets real about why popular income strategies often fail entrepreneurs with chronic illness. You'll learn the three most sustainable revenue models for unpredictable energy, how to align your income with your health needs, and why the best business model is the one that honors your body right now.

 

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why some business models feel like a trap when you're managing chronic illness

The top...


When You Feel Like Giving Up: How to Rebuild Your Business After a Setback
#10
04/30/2025

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...


Business Planning with Chronic Illness: A Sustainable Approach
#9
04/16/2025

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 flexi...


AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework
#8
04/09/2025

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...


You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business
#7
04/02/2025

If you’ve ever looked at your body and thought, “Why can’t you just cooperate?”—this episode is for you. Jessica shares how she went from battling her chronic illness to building a business because of it. You’ll learn how listening to your body’s signals can help you design a business that’s sustainable, aligned, and surprisingly effective. Because maybe... you're not broken at all.

 

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why productivity frameworks often fail people with chronic illness The game-changing shift from seeing your body as an enemy to a business partner How...


How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness
#6
03/27/2025

Ever felt like you're chasing every new business strategy hoping this one will finally work—only to end up more exhausted and discouraged? In this episode, Jessica introduces the Right Strategy, Right Time™ framework, a decision-making tool designed specifically for entrepreneurs with chronic illness. Learn how to choose the best strategies based on your energy, goals, and business stage—so you can stop hustling and start thriving.

 

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

How to stop comparing yourself to others and start making business decisions that align with your actual energy capacity The 3 key questions of...


Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive!
#5
03/19/2025

Hey friend,

Are you constantly checking work messages during doctor’s appointments? Rearranging your entire schedule—again—to accommodate everyone else’s needs? Living in the space between one flare-up and the next, trying to prove that yes, you can still do this, you can still keep up?

If you’re nodding along, you might be stuck in survival mode. And here’s the thing—it’s not the kind of survival mode you might think.

In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about what it really means to break free from survival mode...


5 Mindset Shifts for Business Success When You Have Chronic Illness
#4
03/12/2025

Hey friend,

Have you noticed that in January, suddenly everyone begins to post "New Year, New Me" transformation plans while we're over here just trying to get our energy back after the holidays?

If you're curled up under a blanket (possibly still in your pajama bottoms—PJ Squad for the win!), let's talk about how we can make this year feel different in the gentlest, most sustainable way possible.

What You'll Learn:

Why every major breakthrough in business comes from mindset shifts, not new strategies The five game-changing mindset shifts that have gi...


Your Worth Isn’t Measured by Your Productivity—Let’s Break the Lie
#3
03/11/2025

Hey friend,

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "If I could just do MORE, I'd be a better wife/friend/daughter/business owner/team player"?

Today, we're going to punch that gremlin in the face. We're going to kick it to the curb, stomp on it some more, and then YEET it into the sun. (Yes, tough love, snarky Jess is at the helm for this one!)

The simple truth is your worth, your value, is not measured or tied to your output. Your worth stands on its own.

What You'll...


Your Energy Isn’t the Problem—It’s Hustle Culture That’s Failing You
#2
03/11/2025

Hey friend,

Have you ever found yourself wrapped in your coziest blanket, your dog nestled beside you, while that familiar voice in your head whispers, "I should get up... I should do the dishes... I should..."?

Then comes the downward spiral—guilt, shame, anger, maybe even resentment over needing rest. If you've ever caught yourself in this cycle, this episode is for you.

As entrepreneurs living with chronic illness, we're not playing the same game as everyone else. So why are we using their rulebook?

What You'll Learn:

Why "rise an...


The Power of One: How to Simplify and Scale on Your Terms
#1
03/11/2025

Hey friend,

Ever found yourself surrounded by unfinished planners and abandoned business strategies, feeling like you're not doing enough?

When you're building a business while managing chronic illness, traditional blueprints aren't designed for us. But what if those unfinished plans aren't a sign of failure at all? What if your journey has been preparing you for a different, gentler way of doing business that truly works for you?

What You'll Learn:

Why January can feel more like a reminder of what we didn't do than a fresh beginning The paradigm shift that...


Build a Sustainable Business That Honors Your Health
03/05/2025

Hey friend,

Are you running your business, or is it running you?

It’s 3 PM. You’re curled up on the couch—heating pad in place, one sock on, one sock off—taking a quick rest before pushing through the rest of your to-do list, even though exhaustion and dizziness are pulling you under.

Sound familiar? Me too.

Hi, I’m Jessica Brown, a business strategist helping entrepreneurs with chronic illness create sustainable, scalable online businesses through digital products, long-form marketing, and anti-hustle strategies.

For years, I saw my chronic il...