Episode 3: Diary of a Founder: The Story, The Layoff, & The Future Part 1

Welcome back to The Canopy: The View From Above. In this special two-part “Diary of a Founder” series, Jen Shannon shares the story behind Clemelopy; where it started, the struggles of creating something new, and the unexpected layoff that forced it forward.This is Part 1: the origin story.In this episode:How Jen went from contract negotiator to photographer to founderWhy “making it” in photography still didn’t feel alignedThe tension between creativity, income, and motherhoodHow generative engine optimization (GEO) first entered the pictureThe moment Clemelopy was born (yes, involving a towel and ChatGPT)Why the name “Clemelopy” was createdThe layoff that changed everything and what it stirred emotionallyThis episode pulls back the curtain on the way a new business is conceived, the pivots, the identity shifts, the financial mindset changes, and the reality that sometimes the thing you thought was a side hustle becomes the path forward.If you’ve ever felt the tension between security and calling… or wondered what it really looks like to build something from scratch… this one is for you.Part 2 is where it gets strategic, where we explore the actual decisions, experiments, and moves that shaped Clemelopy into what it is today.🍊 About ClemelopyClemelopy helps small businesses stay visible in the era of generative search. Our tools make GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) easy to understand and implement so AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can find and recommend your business.Links & Resources:Try Clemelopy Beta: https://clemelopy.comBlog: https://clemelopy.com/blogGlossary: https://clemelopy.com/glossarySupport: ⁠https://support.clemelopy.comYouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@clemelopy