What if the way you measure success is actually what's burning you out? Erika Coleman thought she had it figured out. Give your best, maybe a little more, and things work out. It worked for years, until it didn't. In 2022, her mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. And for the next 14 months, she watched her business sales and her mom's health drop in tandem. She gave more and more and more, following every rule, checking every box. But the results didn't go up. They went down. Her mom passed away. Two months later, she had to close her business. And then her body finally shut down. She was too tired to smile at her daughter's drawing. That's when she knew something had to change.
Erika Coleman is a high-performance researcher, speaker, and founder of the Even Achieving method. After earning her master's degree from Harvard studying stress, well-being, and performance, she discovered what most of us get wrong about pacing. It's not about slowing down. It's not about protecting your energy. Pacing is an athletic endeavor. It's how you win your race without killing yourself in the process.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why giving your all doesn't mean you're giving your best, and how to tell the difference
• The hidden cost of using effort to prove you care (and what to measure instead)
• How grief and business demand collide, and why pushing harder makes both worse
• What happens when your body finally shuts down after months of override
• The small moments that matter most when you're chasing big, Instagram-worthy memories
• How to pace yourself like an athlete, not a martyr
• Why high performance requires rest, not more hustle
This episode is for you if:
• You've been giving everything you have and the results still aren't what you expected
• You're carrying grief, caregiving, or health challenges while trying to keep your business afloat
• You use busyness to prove you care, and you're burnout and exhausted
• You've hit a point where your body won't let you push anymore
• You want to learn how to give your best without giving your all
Connect with Erika Coleman: https://www.erikacolemanspeaks.com
🎧 Want to learn more about today’s guest?
Visit our show, Business With Chronic Illness (https://businesswithchronicillness.com/) , for guest details, key takeaways, and extra links mentioned in this episode.
🌿 If you’re navigating entrepreneurship and chronic illness, or simply craving a more sustainable way to grow your business without sacrificing your health, energy, or self-care priorities. Join our community designed for women entrepreneurs, creatives, and women with chronic illness who want sustainable growth and burnout support while keeping life and wellness first. Join Our Free Community, The Gathering Room (https://app.heartbeat.chat/rootedandprofitable/invitation?code=F78D5B) .
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