"The Desire To Do Something" by Meghann Johnson

I can’t get a job.

I don’t mean this in a traditional sense, where I apply to numerous positions but can’t seem to catch a break.

I mean that going out and getting a job just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me. 

Why?

Well…allow me to elaborate…

I have Cystic Fibrosis. I received a double lung transplant on March 31, 2019. I’m also a mom to an amazing 8-year-old.

All of these things among other life factors seem to provide a cumulative hurdle that I just can’t seem to clear when it comes to working a job, at least as most “normal” people seem to be able to do. My health has always been a lingering cliffhanger leaving me wondering when the other shoe is going to drop. Cystic Fibrosis is a beast that doesn’t care what your plans are. It’s going to pop in and say, “Hey! It’s been a while, and I think I’m going to knock you down and out for a little while, okay?” This constant threat of possible imminent disruption has always kept me from being able to commit as a reliable employee. Don’t get me wrong - I used to have an office job but eventually, as my health declined, I was less able to show up in the way that my work ethic wanted me to. Then, after my first lung collapse and subsequent 18-day hospital stay, surgery, and chest tubes, I decided to give CF the time and respect that it deserved. Myself and my husband decided that it would be best to focus on my health, rather than worrying about working. It was definitely a huge change, and a financial sacrifice, but I fully admit that I was extremely fortunate to be in the position to do so.

Fast forward almost 13 years and so much has happened including the adoption of our son and my double lung transplant. Despite having been given this incredibly life-changing gift of lungs and the ability to breathe deeply again, I am not “cured.” While compared to having been so close to petering out where every breath and exertion of energy was a challenge, I am in exponentially better health. However, I still have health challenges that continue to crop up; as they say, there are “bumps in the road.” Also, let’s not forget about Covid 19 and the impact that’s had for the last three years. Most people have heard of anti-rejection meds after an organ transplant, however many do not realize that they are actually immunosuppressants, which leave me - you guessed it - immunosuppressed. I would say that this has probably been one of the main factors in why I choose to stay home. But I still have the desire to DO something, and I’d like to financially contribute to my family. So, for the last couple of years, I have been in search of how I can accomplish this.

Then enters the concept of entrepreneurship. For me, this has taken the form of being involved in direct sales, network marketing, social selling, etc. This has been a whole journey in itself, which could be its own topic for discussion, but I will say that I have learned so much - largely about myself. The personal growth that I’ve experienced has been invaluable. Another huge benefit has been the social aspect of this kind of business. The last few years - and having CF, in general - have been isolating, to say the least. I have forced myself to reach out and meet new people, and I have gained many friends in the process. I’ve also gained a community, which has been a lifeline. I honestly don’t know where I’d be, or what my life - or self - would look like right now, had I not put myself out there and forced myself to do things that challenged me and made me reach beyond my comfort zone.

I’m not stopping there, though. I have other ideas & passions brewing, and I’m working on figuring out how I can turn these into incoming producing gigs. I wish that I could just apply for jobs within companies, but that background possibility of a hospitalization or some other issue cropping up makes me hesitant. I just don’t want to get myself into that position, physically, mentally, or emotionally (which is another topic that I could write a whole article about). So, I am choosing to forge ahead on this non-mainstreamed path of entrepreneurship, so that I can be in charge of my own employment opportunities. (I have a great sick leave plan, too!)

Again, I want to be clear that I am fully aware that I am in a privileged enough position to be able to explore my options. However, plenty of people start this “kind of thing” by having a side gig. While this may seem like an out-of-the-box way to make money, it actually isn’t so strange anymore. Technology and the internet are making these opportunities much more accessible and normalized these days, and I am extremely grateful for that.