'I was earning a fortune and travelling the world but one moment changed everything'

A woman who was earning six figures and travelling the globe had her life dramatically altered by a freak accident at work - but she is now working with A-list celebrities in Hollywood.

Alison Goodwin spent 15 years in a high-pressure sales management job that saw her globetrotting while raking in a six-figure salary.

However, the demanding role often required her to clock in 90 hours a week, leading Alison to fear she was working herself into an early grave. But everything changed when the 47 year old tripped over in a bizarre accident at work an injury that would forever change the trajectory of her life.

Alison was employed by a major company when her foot got caught in a damaged piece of carpet, causing her to fall over and snap several ligaments in her leg. Alison, from Macclesfield, spent the following years in excruciating pain while desperately seeking a diagnosis for her persistent discomfort.

She visited numerous hospitals before finally being diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a poorly understood condition where a person experiences constant severe pain, according to the NHS. Although most cases of CRPS are triggered by an injury, the resulting pain is much more severe and long-lasting than normal.

Tragically, the condition also led to her developing fibromyalgia, a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body, reports the Manchester Evening News. Alison's world was turned upside down when she was suddenly engulfed in chronic pain, halting her active lifestyle in its tracks.

"I had to just stop life," she said. "I had to learn how to walk again and do things most people take for granted." In the midst of her challenging recovery, Alison, alongside her partner Steve Fowles, founded The Online Business Association, a company dedicated to supporting online business leaders through training, education, strategy development, leadership support and recruitment services.

The company experienced a surge during the pandemic, and now with a constant stream of referrals, Alison reveals they have a two-year backlog for new clients, including some of Hollywood's elite. "We're doing seven figures in areas of the business," Alison shared. "I'm a girl from Macclesfield now working with A-list celebrities in Hollywood an Academy Award winning actor, an Emmy Award winning singer and a Grammy winning musician.

"These people have millions and millions of followers. I do pinch myself sometimes and think, 'Is this the life we've created?'" She admits that the journey hasn't been easy: "It's hard mentally, there are no two ways about it and I'll always be honest about this." Reflecting on the aftermath of her accident, Alison doesn't shy away from the emotional toll it took. "Mentally, [my accident] was one of the toughest parts of my life, I'll openly admit that to anybody."

The uncertainty surrounding her condition and future prognosis was particularly daunting: You don't know what's going on with your body and you don't know what the long-term prognosis could be. Living with chronic pain is part of my life now. It was a complete lifestyle change. I'd gone from travelling the world to all of a sudden being on my own in a house.

"I don't think my personal journey has even started. As a business owner, I want to make an impact on those who don't have the financial means to take a business coach on. It's about the change we can make."