Some mornings, Angie would grit her teeth to pull on her boots, knowing the workday ahead meant client calls, creative direction, and mentoring sessions—all while her body screamed for rest. But she showed up anyway, not for the optics, but for the women she serves, the businesses she loves, and the purpose that fuels her through the pain.

At Pear Collections, we’re all about real, honest business stories, ones that go beyond the glossy surface of social media and touch on the raw, vulnerable truths behind entrepreneurship. That’s why when our founder, Angie Martin, was invited to share her journey on the CEO Wisdom Podcast hosted by Charles Cormier, she didn’t hold back.

The topic? Managing Pain While Running Businesses. And for Angie, this isn’t a metaphor; it’s a lived experience that began in September 2022, when she sustained a life-altering injury. Since then, navigating chronic physical pain has become part of her everyday reality. Yet, she has continued not only to run her businesses, The Growth Manager and Pear Collections, but also to grow them, lead teams, support clients, and show up with purpose and passion.

This blog celebrates that robust conversation and explores why it’s so important to open up about what goes on behind the scenes as an entrepreneur, especially when life throws you curveballs.

👉 Watch the full episode here: Managing Pain While Running Businesses – CEO Wisdom Podcast

A Conversation That Pulled Back the Curtain

The CEO Wisdom Podcast is renowned for its in-depth, meaningful interviews with leaders from around the world. So when Charles invited Angie to join the show, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to tell a side of her story that’s often hidden.

From the moment the interview began, it was clear this wasn’t going to be your standard business podcast episode.

“This conversation was incredibly refreshing and healing in its way,” Angie reflects. “It gave me the space to share the truth—not the highlight reel, but the real, messy, beautiful, painful, determined truth.”

The Turning Point: September 2022

In September 2022, Angie’s life changed. What began as a routine day ended in an unexpected accident that resulted in serious physical injury. Overnight, her world shifted—from high-energy days running businesses and mentoring others to learning how to navigate life with physical limitations, daily pain, and recovery.

But instead of letting it derail everything she had built, Angie decided to adapt. To reimagine what success looked like. To redefine what it meant to be a capable, thriving woman in business—even while healing.

And that’s what makes her story so powerful.

Running Businesses with Chronic Pain

In the podcast, Angie gets candid about the changes she had to make in both her personal life and her businesses to accommodate her new reality. These include:

• Implementing more structure and flow: From shifting to time-blocking and focusing on flow work to setting boundaries based on energy levels, Angie created a routine that prioritises her physical and emotional health.
• Delegating and outsourcing: She leaned into her team more than ever, empowering them with greater ownership and trusting them to keep things moving.
• Focusing on impact over hustle: Rather than chasing 12-hour workdays, she now focuses on high-impact tasks and lets go of the pressure to “do it all.”
• Prioritising self-compassion: Healing isn’t linear. Some days are harder than others. Angie shares how she’s learning to extend grace to herself, accept support, and honour what her body needs.

These aren’t easy changes—but they’re proof that business success doesn’t have to come at the expense of personal wellbeing.

Why This Conversation Matters

Let’s be honest—entrepreneurship often comes with unspoken expectations: Push through. Show up no matter what. Don’t show weakness.

But what happens when life changes? When does your body no longer do what it used to? When does the pain become your constant companion?

For Angie, this podcast episode is part of breaking the stigma. It’s a call for more human conversations in the world of business. It’s a reminder that behind every business owner is a person with challenges, vulnerabilities, and an incredible amount of strength.

As Charles noted during the episode, these stories are not just valuable—they’re essential. They remind others that it’s okay to be real, to struggle, and to succeed anyway.

Embracing Change, Redefining Success

One of the most inspiring parts of Angie’s story is how she’s used her experience not just to adapt, but to grow.

At The Growth Manager, she’s refined her mentoring model to support other entrepreneurs navigating tough seasons. She’s more intentional, more present, and more grounded in the “why” behind her work.

At Pear Collections, Angie continues to lead with heart, advocating for body positivity, inclusivity, and empowering women to love themselves exactly as they are—curves, pain, and all.

She’s also become a proud ambassador for mental health awareness, working with organisations like Mind Your Fashion to encourage conversations around managing chronic illness and entrepreneurship.

“I’m Still Me—Just Different Now”

In the podcast, Angie says something that really hits home:

“I’m still me. I’m still ambitious, passionate, and motivated—but I’m also different now. I’ve had to change how I operate, but that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my spark.”

That’s the heart of this conversation. It’s about adapting, evolving, and still showing up—even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.

So many business owners silently carry the weight of health conditions, mental health struggles, family responsibilities, and more. Angie’s openness helps create space for others to be seen, heard, and supported.

Encouraging Others to Share Their Story

One of the key takeaways from the episode is the importance of community and connection. Angie encourages other entrepreneurs—especially women—to share their stories, to seek support, and to know they’re not alone.

If you’re a business owner navigating chronic illness, injury, or pain, Angie’s message is for you:

• You are enough.
• You are allowed to rest.
• Your business can thrive in new and different ways.
• You are not alone.

Watch, Share and Be Inspired

If you haven’t yet, take the time to watch Angie’s episode of the CEO Wisdom Podcast. Whether you’re navigating pain yourself or simply want a powerful dose of truth and inspiration, it’s a conversation that will stay with you.

Watch now: Managing Pain While Running Businesses – CEO Wisdom Podcast

And if it resonates with you, share it. With your team, your community, or a friend who needs to hear it. You never know whose life you might impact by helping them feel seen.

Final Thoughts: Strength Doesn’t Always Look Like Hustle

At Pear Collections and The Growth Manager, we believe strength comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s in scaling a business. Sometimes it’s in getting out of bed on a bad day. Sometimes it’s in asking for help. And sometimes it’s in sharing your story, even when it feels raw.

Angie Martin’s conversation on the CEO Wisdom Podcast is a celebration of that kind of strength—the kind that chooses to keep going, even when everything changes.

It’s a reminder to every business owner out there: You are allowed to redefine success. And you are more powerful than you know.

Have thoughts on the podcast? We’d love to hear how this episode resonated with you. Share your reflections with us on Instagram @thegrowthmanager_ and @pearcollections or send us a message!

Listen, feel inspired, and join the movement of running businesses with compassion, resilience, and grace.