Do your thing

In this episode, I’m joined by Morín Glimmer, brand strategist, creative director, cyclical living advocate - and founder of Rosy Futures, a brand consultancy for the radically hopeful.Morín works at the intersection of business, brand and body, helping feminist founders build brands rooted in values, vision and cyclical living. After years of battling her own cycle and treating it like a weakness, discovering her “inner seasons” changed everything and completely transformed how she works, plans, creates and supports her clients.We talk about cyclical living, capacity, burnout, creativity, and why your body is a strategic tool that most business owners ignore. Morín shares the reality of planning around her menstrual cycle, designing her business around her energy, and unlearning the belief that we have to be at the same level of productivity every day.It’s a generous, eye-opening conversation about self-compassion, rhythms, intuition and finding a way of working that actually supports you. Whether you menstruate or not, there’s something in this episode that will help you rethink how you work.What you’ll learn in this episodeWhat cyclical living is and what it looks like in practiceHow Morín plans her work around her menstrual cycleWhy your body is a crucial part of your capacity and brandHow cyclical working improves creativity, confidence and decision-makingWays non-menstruators can work cyclicallyHow to spot your own patterns, peaks and dipsWhy linear productivity leads to burnoutHow your brand and your body are connectedAbout Morín GlimmerMorín Glimmer is a London-based brand strategist, creative director, and cyclical living advocate. She founded Rosy Futures, where she combines her brand development expertise, with her feminist values, and her experience of finding relief and truth in living cyclically after living with PMDD and suspected endometriosis for over 30 years.Her work blends strategy, creativity and energetic awareness - challenging traditional approaches to branding and business by putting the body back into the conversation.Follow Morin on Instagram: @‌rosy.futures  Connect with her on Linkedin: Morin GlimmerVisit the Rosy Futures website: http://rosyfutures.com/Download Morin’s free cycle tracker hereThis podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Mitchell, a Business and Leadership Coach, Mentor and advisor who helps business owners and leaders to plan with intention, focus on what matters most to them, and turn what makes them unique into their competitive advantage.After years in corporate, Chris reached a point where challenging the status quo (something is was brilliant at) wasn’t valued anymore. That realisation pushed him to start his own business, using redundancy as a chance to build something on his own terms.We talk about unpicking corporate expectations, shaking off the need to work 9-5, and learning how to plan your way, not the way you think you ‘should’ do things. Chris shares openly about mistakes, overwhelm, vulnerability, and the reality of figuring things out step by step.It’s an honest conversation about pace, permission, and the bravery it takes to do your thing when everyone else seems to be doing theirs differently.What you’ll learn in this episodeWhy challenging the status quo is a strength - and how to use it wellThe struggle of shaking the corporate 9 to 5 mindsetHow expectations from others (and ourselves) shape the way we workWhy planning doesn’t have to be complicatedWhat to do when you feel overwhelmed or “spinning”Why letting go of what you’re not good at is just as important as owning what you areHow defining your difference helps you stand out and speak with clarityAbout Chris MitchellChris Mitchell is a business coach, mentor and advisor who helps business leaders and business owners to get clear on what matters most to them, and how to turn what makes them unique into their competitive advantage. With a background in corporate strategy and leadership development, Chris blends practical planning with mindset work to help people create sustainable, intentional businesses that fit who they are.Connect with Chris on LinkedinVisit his websiteThis podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this episode, I’m joined by Gina Buckle, a copywriter, brand voice strategist, and self-appointed Queen of Fun. Gina helps businesses inject personality and fun into their messaging without losing clarity or ‘professionalism’.After years as a busy freelancer saying yes to everything, Gina realised she didn’t really have a business - just a lot of work. That realisation led her to build something intentional: a business designed around what she actually enjoyed doing.We talk about finding your niche, unlearning hustle culture, and how to redefine success on your own terms. Gina shares what “fun” really means in a brand, how to use it intentionally to attract the right people (and put off the wrong ones). And we discuss the importance of building a business that feels like you.It’s an honest, energetic conversation about self-awareness, boundaries, mindset, and why fun doesn’t make you any less professional - it makes you more you.What you’ll learn in this episode Why fun and professionalism aren’t oppositesWhat finding your niche really looks like in practiceHow Gina has redefined successThe mindset shifts that help you work less and enjoy it moreHow to find your version of fun and build your brand around itAbout GinaGina Buckle is the founder of Hoot Copy, a copywriting and brand voice consultancy specialising in fun, humour, and personality. She works with businesses of all sizes to help them figure out what their authentic definition of fun is, and shows them how they can reflect this consistently across their buyer journey and marketing activity. She believes that the right brand voice should feel fun, authentic, and easy to sustain, as well as being undeniably magnetic to your audience, and that's exactly what she helps her clients to do.Follow Gina on Instagram: @gina.hootcopyConnect with her on Linkedin: Gina BuckleVisit Gina’s website: https://hootcopy.com/This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jo Hooper, founder of Get Wildly Free, business coach and creator of the Me First Method.Jo spent over a decade climbing the corporate ladder in communications before realising the cost of success: two breakdowns, burnout, and a growing awareness that the system she was working in wasn’t built for her.We talk about redefining what “work” means, unlearning the beliefs that keep us overworked and overwhelmed, and building businesses that feel good, not just look good on paper. Jo shares how she helps people put themselves first in their business, set boundaries that actually stick, and create a way of working that supports mental health rather than harming it.It’s an honest and joyful conversation about permission, beliefs, burnout and boundaries - and a reminder that success doesn’t have to mean exhaustion.What you’ll learn in this episode:The mindset shift from overworking to easeWhat the Me First Method is and how to apply it in your own businessHow beliefs about work, productivity and worth are shaped by societyWhat really causes burnout (and how to stop repeating the cycle)Why boundaries benefit you and your clientsHow to give yourself permission to build a business that fits youAbout Jo HooperJo Hooper is the founder of Get Wildly Free and creator of the Me First Method. She helps founders, freelancers and small business owners design businesses that support their mental health and the life they want to live, without falling back into burnout. Through her coaching and group programmes, Jo challenges the myths around productivity and worth, helping people work in ways that feel good, sustainable, and aligned.LinksGet Jo’s Shit list here.Follow Jo on Instagram: @getwildlyfreeVisit Jo’s website: https://getwildlyfree.co.uk/This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jag Panesar, founder and director of Xpand, a full-service digital marketing agency based in West Yorkshire.With 18 years in business, Jag has built Xpand into a trusted strategic partner for brands ranging from global names like Lindt Chocolate and Tetley Brewery to ambitious SMEs across the UK. But behind those 18 years are lessons about growth, change, resilience and what it really means to “have it all figured out.”We talk about the evolution of business: how what you want, how you work, and what success looks like can change completely over time. Jag shares how his mindset has shifted from corporate expectations to authenticity, the lessons he’s learned from failure, and why agility and self-belief are essential for long-term success.It’s an honest conversation about learning as you go, trusting the process, and remembering that no one ever really has it all figured out.What you’ll learn in this episode:How Jag launched Xpand. And why risk sometimes pays offWhat’s changed (and what hasn’t) in 18 years of running a digital agencyHow his mindset around success, values and leadership has evolvedWhy agility and adaptability are key to surviving changeWhy self-belief and passion are non-negotiable if you want to keep goingAbout Jag PanesarJag Panesar is the founder and director of Xpand, a full-service digital marketing agency based in West Yorkshire. With over 18 years in business, Jag has built Xpand into a trusted partner for brands such as Lindt Chocolate, Tetley Brewery and His Majesty’s Prison Service.His expertise spans marketing strategy, branding, web design and social media, helping businesses connect purpose with performance. Known for his down-to-earth approach, Jag regularly speaks about how strategy drives better marketing results, championing clarity, creativity and consistency in every campaign.LinksLearn more about Xpand: https://xpandmarketing.co.ukConnect with Jag on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagpanesarThis podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Critchley, founder of Untold Creative, a podcast and content studio. Whether you need a podcast producing, some ace social media content creating, or a hand with your email marketing, Lucy’s got the right person for the job.Lucy launched her business in the middle of the pandemic, just five months after her daughter was born. What started as a small VA business quickly evolved into a creative business with a purpose, and a brand that reflects the kind of work Lucy really loves to do.We chat about the realities of starting a business with a newborn, finding a rhythm that fits your family life, and how your brand can evolve as you do. Lucy shares how she’s built a flexible business that works around her energy, her clients and her life, and what she’s learned about defining success on her own terms.What you’ll learn in this episode:How Lucy launched her business during maternity leaveWhat it’s really like building a business alongside family lifeWhy self-employment is the ultimate personal development journeyHow your business and brand evolve as you grow, and how to recognise when it’s time for changeThe importance of finding clients who align with your values and the kind of work you want to doWhy community and connection are key to sustaining yourself in businessAbout Lucy CritchleyLucy is the founder of Untold Creative, a podcast and content studio that helps purpose-led businesses share their stories through podcasts, social content and newsletters. With a background in TV and radio production, Lucy combines creativity and strategy to help her clients find their voice and tell the stories that matter most.LinksFollow Lucy on Instagram: @‌untold.creativeConnect with Lucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucycritchleyVisit Untold Creative: https://untold-creative.comThis podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin and sign up to my newsletter.

In this very first episode, I’m joined by Paula Louise Dixon, coaching and business psychologist, and founder of Hazon Consulting.Paula’s story is about trusting her instincts and building a career (and business) that aligns with who she is. From teaching and working with young people, to discovering occupational psychology and starting her own consultancy, Paula’s journey is full of lessons about growth, identity and doing business your way.We talk about values, stress, self-awareness, and why understanding how you work is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business.What you’ll learn in this episode:How Paula found her way from education into business psychologyThe difference between personal and brand values, and how to make them work togetherWhy self-awareness and stress management are key to sustainable successThe importance of community when you’re doing your own thingPractical ways to identify your personal values and use them to guide decisionsAbout Paula Louise DixonPaula is a coaching and business psychologist and founder of Hazon Consulting, where she helps individuals, teams and organisations optimise their potential through psychology-informed coaching and development. Her work focuses on helping people understand themselves better, align with their values and build healthier, more fulfilling careers and businesses.LinksLearn more about Paula and Hazon Consulting, and ThinkNDConnect with Paula on LinkedInThis podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk, helping founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them.

I started my business for the same reasons you did: I was sick of being told how I “should” be doing things, and I wanted the flexibility and freedom to do life and business my way. But strangely enough, just saying “I’m going to do things differently” doesn’t actually mean it’s happening. Weird that. Turns out bringing it to life requires a fair bit of graft.It ended up taking years to get things right. Yes, years. That’s how long it took to truly leave behind the “should”s and expectations of working life that were so deeply ingrained in me. Because we all do it at some point. We work weekends, burn out, overcommit, people-please, say yes when we don’t mean it, compare ourselves to everyone else, and second-guess every decision we make. All while telling ourselves “yeah, I’m definitely doing business my way”.Ever gone full pelt in your business for the entire year, then got to December not just completely wiped out, but confused about why you’re completely wiped out? Yeah, then you’ll know what I’m on about. Cut to early 2024, and I knew things had to change. My burnout left me no choice but to stop, and take a long, hard look at what I was doing. Since that moment, I’ve been completely redesigning my business from the inside out. And this time, I’ve been doing it, not just talking about it. I’ve been at this for over a year now, and let me tell you, doing your thing feels pretty flippin’ good. I’ve learnt a lot along the way, and my business is really starting to feel like it's all mine. But don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got so much left to learn. That’s sort of why we’re here. Do your thing is a space for all of us to figure it out as we go along, and hear from some brilliant folk who are doing the same. We’ll hear from people who’ve made intentional choices about how they work. People who’ve gone against the grain. People who are building businesses that fit them – and helping others to do the same.We’ll talk about what’s helped, what really hasn’t, and what’s still a work in progress. The messy bits. The mindset shifts. The little things that end up making the biggest difference. I truly believe you can build a successful business around what you really want out of life, and make solid money while doing it. You can run a business that supports you instead of draining you. And you don’t have to follow someone else’s rules to get there.I’m Fliss Lee. I’m a brand coach for founders and freelancers, and the founder of Honest Folk. I help people join the dots between their brand, their business and their goals, so they can do their thing, find their groove, and live life with oomph. If you’re like me, you’re figuring out how to do your thing, and you’re down for some real talk, helpful habits, and a few laughs along the way. So strap in, and let’s figure this out together. This is Do your thing. Let’s go.