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Got dreams? You can get there with RA. I’ve been working for myself for well over a decade now and in many ways, being self-employed is the ideal job when you have RA and other types of chronic illnesses. In my new Made with RA column for HealthCentral, I share my experience and tips for running your own small business with chronic illness (without running yourself into the ground):

“Owning your own business is a dream job for someone living with chronic illness. You can set your own flexible hours and even work from home (possibly in your PJs). Years ago, I stopped looking for work in human rights policy development and started my own small business as a creative entrepreneur—a fancy way of saying independent author and freelance writer—and over the years it has developed into a great career for me and my rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Before I started my business, my ability to work was measured in less-than-60-minute increments and the only person who was willing to tolerate such a low level of dedication to the task was, well, me. I had the passion, the skills, and the desire to work, but I couldn’t follow through after a catastrophic flare had taken every part of my life. Looking back, going out on my own remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. But that’s not the whole story. The journey was filled with obstacles, sidetracks, dead ends, and one of the steepest learning curves I’ve ever encountered. This is what I’ve learned.”

Read more about running your own small business with RA on HealthCentral.