Episode 97 – Setting Up Systems to Succeed When You’re Living With a Disability Feat. Kari Poppleton

• [2:10] Meet Kari and learn about her journey working online as an ecommerce owner who transitioned into an operations consultant while living with a disability
• [03:47] What systemic mastocytosis is and how this rare disorder has affected Kari’s life
• [05:35] Why Kari decided to shift from ecommerce to consulting other businesses and how she got started
• [08:00] Some of the challenges that Kari’s disability presented her during her ten years working remotely
• [08:30] How Kari realized that retainer-based work wasn’t suitable for her
• [09:54] Kari’s #1 struggle when she began working online and how she managed to overcome it while still providing great service to her clients
• [11:23] The benefits of being up-front with your clients about your boundaries
• [12:55] One of the biggest tips Kari has for beginner entrepreneurs, especially those with a disability
• [14:22] Why doing the “optimal” thing isn’t always best for everyone and why you should be realistic with your limitations
• [16:37] Kari’s advice to beginner entrepreneurs looking to avoid losing money or overworking
• [19:12] The biggest reason all entrepreneurs should be looking at their numbers, even if they’re not great at math
• [22:20] How Kari and her husband have dealt with having their kids at home while they work both from home and around Kari’s disability
• [24:39] How Kari manages to balance her time between working from home and spending meaningful time with her children
• [25:48] One of the most unexpected benefits of working from home in a job you love around your kids
• [27:55] How Kari dealt with transitioning from receiving disability to feeling comfortable working enough to replace that income
• [29:25] Why online work is beneficial to people with disabilities who need flexibility in their work
• [29:55] The most surprising part for Kari after receiving her last disability check
• [31:20] One of the biggest realizations Kari had about clients after working for a few years as a contractor with a disability
• [33:41] Some examples of how Kari works around deadlines and organization while living with a disability
• [35:32] Why it’s so important to focus on the tenacity of disabled workers instead of the challenges they face

In this episode, I talk to Kari Poppleton, who shares with us how she manages her successful online consulting business while living with a disability. She talks with us about how she got started in the remote work field and how it changed for her once she became disabled, some tips for entrepreneurs on balancing health and business, and some unexpected benefits of being disabled and working from home.