I built my career by pushing through a painful chronic health issue. At 29, I'm adjusting my expectations.
While in a doctoral program and building my PR business, I was also battling stage 4 endometriosis. I had to adjust my expectations.
Erica Williams, a 29-year-old, built her career by overcoming a chronic health issue. She was working on her PR business and pursuing a doctoral program in business administration. Endometriosis caused her to struggle with managing both school and her clients. After her second surgery, she needed to adjust her expectations and priorities.
In October 2025, an F grade appeared next to her name on her online school platform - Blackboard. Despite the difficulty, she managed to complete her course but realized her pushing-through habit wasn't a badge of honor. She began prioritizing her health, tracking symptoms, and communicating her limits to others. After her surgery, she learned to balance her goals with her daily life, ultimately learning that success isn't just about endurance but also about setting boundaries and protecting one's capacity.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
