Reflecting on Two Years Since My Anal Cancer Diagnosis: Pivoting my Business

It’s been two years since I was diagnosed with anal cancer. Shortly after my diagnosis, I went through a month of cancer treatments: oral chemotherapy and radiation on my pelvis. And after that, I was bedridden for about a month and a half.

I’m not gonna lie, I went in thinking that I would be back to "normal" in six to eight weeks post-cancer treatments. 

Two years later, my life is anything but normal. It took me a while to regain strength in my hip muscles, slowly taking walks around the block, hiking around my neighborhood, and finally getting back into my favorite classes at the gym, starting with Silver Sneakers classes with people 60+ years old. Now I try to make it to a HITT workout class two times a week. 

My digestion is chronically poor, and I just have to be more careful about what I eat and drink. 

Additionally, my outlook on life has changed.

The pandemic and cancer treatments reframed the work I do and what I focus on.

Pivoting my social media marketing business 

I still teach social media marketing to small business owners and marketers, but my focus has shifted to mental health struggles and helping people build confidence when creating content for social media. For me, it's all about teaching people to be more effective in their efforts and less overwhelmed by the amount of tasks.

In my work with clients, I often see how much stress and anxiety is caused by social media. 

There are so many demands placed on social media marketers to be constantly available and responsive, to post regular updates and engaging content, and to keep up with the latest changes in the algorithms and trending topics. It's no wonder that so many people feel like they're never good enough or doing enough with promoting their business online.

My goal is to help reduce some of that stress by providing actionable tips and strategies that can be implemented immediately, as well as a more long-term view of social media marketing. I want my clients/students to understand that there is no "perfect" way to do things—but there definitely are ways that are more effective than others.

And, most importantly, I want them to know that they are capable of creating successful social media campaigns…even if they don't feel like it sometimes.

I didn’t realize I was making this pivot at the time; I just knew that there were lessons I had learned and wanted to share with others.

Instagram in real life…really

​​Further, I've made a concerted effort to talk about the hard stuff on social media. In the past, I would try to put a rose-colored filter on posts because I didn't want to risk losing clients because they saw me struggling in my personal life (especially after my son was born). 

Going through cancer treatments taught me that I could be authentic and tell my story—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and find that people could relate. 

Finding my passions

While I was bedridden, and in the years since, I had a lot of time to reframe how I show up in my business. How I bring the things I am passionate about to my job as a marketing educator and freelance writer.

The thing that has become most important to me is my “why.” Why do I do what I do? 

I want to be clear about that because it's easy to get lost in the “doing” and forget why you're even doing it in the first place. For me, it's always been about connections and helping others in whatever capacity that may be.

When I was bedridden, I didn't have any choice but to sit with myself and really think about the direction I wanted my life to go in. And mental health just kept coming back to me as something that I wanted to talk more about.

For small business owners and marketers, but also for kids and parents. 

I see so many people struggling with their mental health, and I just want to help in whatever way possible. Whether that's through the children’s books about bugs, big feelings, and coping skills for kids that I have published, freelance writing, or helping others understand that it's okay to ask for help. 

… It’s also about encouraging others to bring their passions into every part of their lives. 

I’m not here to tell you to quit your job and completely pivot your business. You don’t have to do that to make a change in your life. 

When you bring more of yourself to your work, you’re creating a bigger sense of purpose, which means you’re going to be more excited about the work that you’re doing on a daily basis. This is good for you and for the people around you, including your family and your employer. 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for making major changes in your life, but there are some general principles that can guide you through the process.

Tips for making space at work for what you’re passionate about: 

1. First, you have to truly understand what you’re passionate about. It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you value. Spend 15-30 minutes of dedicated time at a coffee shop or your favorite happy hour, alone or with friends/family/coworkers, and start asking yourself questions. 

   What makes you happy? What do you love doing? What makes you feel alive and excited? Here are some more ideas to get you started with writing a list of what you value. Write down whatever comes to your head!

2. Read your list aloud and circle the three to five things you’re most passionate about. Start brainstorming ideas for how you can incorporate those passions into your day-to-day life. Don’t try to circle too many values at once because it can get overwhelming. This is about creating small steps.

   To start, try setting aside 10-15 minutes each day to pursue your passion outside of work hours. This can be something as simple as painting during your lunch break or hiking after work. By incorporating your passion into your daily routine, you will feel more fulfilled both inside and outside of work.

   You can also try to find ways to incorporate your passion into your work life. For example, if you’re passionate about environmentalism, see if there are any eco-friendly initiatives you can get involved with at work. Or if you love writing, offer to write blog posts or articles for your company website. By using your skills and talents for the benefit of your workplace, you can create a more positive and productive environment for yourself and those around you.

3. Get started. If you want to make space for your passions at work, you simply need to start. It may seem obvious, but the hardest part is making your passions into habits. Once they become a part of your daily routine, you'll be able to do them without even thinking about it. 

   Can you take on additional assignments that relate to your interests? Or, even better, can you outsource some of the projects that you hate doing so you can spend more time on the tasks you enjoy or are good at? Are there networking opportunities available in your field that can connect you with like-minded individuals?

4. Don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for what you’re passionate about. If there’s an issue or cause that you feel strongly about, let others know and see if they’re interested in getting involved as well. You never know who else might share your passions, and by working together, you can make a real difference.

5. It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day work life and forget about what you're passionate about. If you find yourself feeling unfulfilled or unhappy at work, take a step back and ask yourself if you've been incorporating your passions into your daily routine. Chances are, you may have let them fall by the wayside in favor of more pressing obligations.

6. If you’re starting to see a pattern of multiple bad days, don’t feel discouraged. We all go through seasons like this in our lives, and instead of starting back at the drawing board, ask yourself how you can make small steps to bring your passions back into your life. 

7. Try scheduling a once-a-year session to reflect on what has and hasn’t worked over the past year (I am now trying to do this every six months). Create a space to pause and see if the values and passions that you originally came up with remain relevant, or if they need to be altered.

   That’s okay if they do. We are always changing, and while your core values probably don’t change much, what you want to do with them may. Taking the time to reassess your life and what you want to accomplish can be incredibly difficult, but it is so worth it in the end. You get to decide what makes you happy and fulfilled, and that is an amazing gift.

8. Remember that bringing more of yourself to your work is simply about being authentic and true to yourself. When you do that, it not only makes your work better, but it also makes working a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved.

You don’t have to go through a crisis like getting diagnosed with cancer to reassess your priorities and think about what you really want out of life. You have permission to take a step back now, examine what your passions are, and find exciting ways to use them to create a fulfilling future.