Do your thing

Fliss Lee

Do your thing is for small business owners wanting to build a business that actually works for them. I'm Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk. Join me as I explore how to do MY thing. 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, mindset shifts, and the little things that end up making the biggest difference.

  1. 3d ago

    “Whatever your big thing is, say it out loud” with Sophie Greenwood

    I’ve known Sophie Greenwood for a few years now, and she’s one of those people who can take all the ideas flying around your head and help you work out what you actually want to do with them. A couple of years ago, she ran a capacity planning workshop for my Blueprinters that was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me too. Coming from the creative agency world, I’d picked up some pretty bad habits around saying yes to work and simply working more hours to fit it all in. So I knew a conversation with Sophie about planning, capacity and how we actually make our ideas happen would be an insightful one. Sophie Greenwood is the founder of Three Beams Thinking and a strategy and planning mentor for small, creatively minded businesses. In this episode, we talk about those bigger ideas we have for our businesses – the things we’d love to do one day but perhaps don’t say out loud because we’ve got no idea how we’d actually make them happen – and how planning can help you start bridging that gap. We also get into capacity planning, why so many of us overestimate how much we can realistically fit into our working week, and why having a plan doesn’t mean you have to rigidly stick to it when things change. And we talk about how Sophie has gone from chasing the next job, promotion or pay rise to being much more driven by curiosity and making room for work that excites her. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to take a big idea and start turning it into something that feels achievable Why understanding your actual capacity can help you make more realistic decisions about your time and workload How to use a plan to give your business direction without feeling like you have to rigidly stick to it About Sophie Greenwood Sophie is the founder of Three Beams Thinking, and is a Leeds-based business planning and strategy mentor for small business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers. After working full-time as Head of Operations for six years, Sophie became self-employed in 2022. She now supports small business owners to structure big ideas into action plans, understand their capacity, and really prioritise what will push their business forward. When she’s not surrounded by post-it notes, you’ll usually find her organising a networking event, or chasing after her two young children. Links Three Beams Thinking websiteFollow Sophie on InstagramConnect with her on LinkedInSuper Seconds Festival This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “Whatever your big thing is, say it out loud” with Sophie Greenwood
  2. Sep 28

    “I didn't intend to start a business” with Emma Cattell

    When I first met Emma and heard the story of how she started Bobbin & Bumble, I was struck by how matter-of-fact she was about the whole thing. Because it’s a pretty incredible story. Emma didn’t set out to start a business. She needed a more practical cover for her IKEA high chair, so she bought a £5 sewing machine and taught herself how to make one. Then she realised she wasn’t the only parent looking for more practical accessories for IKEA baby equipment – and what started as something she made for herself gradually became Bobbin & Bumble. All while Emma was balancing work and motherhood. In this episode, we talk about how she went from making products herself at home to building a baby and children’s brand and moving into manufacturing, without ever really having a grand plan for where the business would take her. We also get into something I found really interesting: despite everything she’d built, Emma spent a long time downplaying her creativity and what she’d achieved. We talk about learning to take your creativity seriously, the assumptions we make about what ‘hard work’ is supposed to look like, and why doing something you enjoy doesn’t make it any less valuable. And Emma is really honest about the harder parts too – building a business alongside motherhood, having no maternity leave and struggling with postnatal depression. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Emma turned a problem she wanted to solve for herself into a product business Why it took her so long to take her creativity and the business she’d built seriously What Emma has learned from building a business without a grand plan and seeing where it takes her About Emma Cattell Emma Cattell is the founder of Bobbin & Bumble, a colourful baby and children's brand she accidentally started in 2016 after searching for a product that didn't exist. Armed with a £5 sewing machine and no idea how to sew, she taught herself and began making products from home. What started with one product has since grown into a much bigger brand, with products stocked by retailers and in family homes around the world. Links Follow Bobbin & Bumble on Instagram Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Visit Bobbin & Bumble’s website This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “I didn't intend to start a business” with Emma Cattell
  3. Sep 21

    “Just ask - don't let the fear of rejection stop you” with Helen Ridley

    Helen actually pitched herself to be a guest on this podcast – which, as you’ll discover in this episode, is very Helen. I’ve known Helen for a few years and have loved following the evolution of her business as an illustrator. And one of the things she’s got really good at is putting herself out there, asking for opportunities and not letting the fear of rejection stop her. She even set herself a challenge to collect 100 rejections, which completely changed the way she thinks about hearing no. Her business has evolved a lot too. She started out thinking she’d sell cards and gifts, but over the last five years she’s tried lots of different things and gradually worked out what she enjoys, what she’s good at and what makes money. Live illustration came from trying something and seeing what happened, and it’s now a big part of her business. In this episode, we talk about experimenting until you find what works for you, getting more comfortable with rejection and having the confidence to ask for the opportunities you want. We also get into pricing creative work, why fewer, better-paying clients have given Helen more space, and how she protects her creativity now that being creative is also her job – including taking herself on regular creative dates. What you’ll learn in this episode: How getting more comfortable with rejection can make it easier to put yourself and your work out there Why experimenting with different types of work can help you shape a creative business that works for you How Helen uses creative dates to protect the creativity she loves now that creativity is also her job About Helen Ridley Helen Ridley is a live illustrator for weddings and luxury fashion and lifestyle brands. She is the founder of Helen Ridley Illustration, painting live portraits at events and weddings in the UK and beyond, capturing guests (and pets!) in just 10 minutes in a fun and expressive style. Helen also leads watercolour and illustration workshops for corporate clients, public workshops and a local networking event for creatives in Berkshire. Her clients include Westfield, John Lewis, Assouline, Butternut Box, The Cotswold Company, Hilton and 1 Hotel Mayfair. Links Visit Helen Ridley Illustration Follow Helen on Instagram Connect with Helen on LinkedIn Join Helen’s newsletter This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “Just ask - don't let the fear of rejection stop you” with Helen Ridley
  4. Sep 14

    “Life's too short. Stop worrying about what to call yourself” with Rich Carter

    I worked with Rich on his brand a few years ago, and since then I’ve loved seeing him really grow into his confidence and identity as a creative business owner. When Rich first went freelance as a graphic designer, he thought he’d found the freedom he wanted. But in reality, he still felt like he was working for somebody else. Then he realised he’d love to be a sign painter. Over the next few years, Rich gradually changed his business so that sign painting now makes up around half of his work, alongside graphic design. And along the way, he’s had to unlearn a lot of the rules he brought with him from employment and stop worrying so much about what he should call himself or how other people might perceive what he does. In this episode, we talk about giving yourself permission to build a creative business around the way you actually want to work, being the boss you want to work for and making space for the different creative things you enjoy. We also get into Rich’s move into sign painting, why working with his hands helped him reconnect with his creativity, and why you don’t necessarily have to choose one thing to be known for. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Rich went from feeling like he was still working for somebody else to building a creative business around how he wants to work Why you don’t have to choose between the different creative things you enjoy How unlearning some of the rules of employment can give you more freedom to work in a way that suits you Mentioned in this episode Rich talks about learning to set better boundaries in his business and recommends Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab. You might also like: If the freelancer-to-business-owner conversation resonates, listen to my conversation with Sophie Cross too, where we talk about why freelancers need to start taking themselves seriously as businesses. About Rich Rich Carter is the founder of Rich C Studio, an independent design and sign painting studio specialising in distinctive brand identities and hand-painted signage for independent businesses. Working from his garden studio, Rich blends traditional signwriting with modern graphic design to create bold logos and characterful shopfronts that help businesses stand out and feel proud of their space. Through honest craftsmanship and a DIY spirit, he partners with ambitious shops, start-ups and local businesses who want their brand to feel as human as the people behind it. Links Visit Rich’s website Connect with Rich on LinkedIn Follow Rich on Instagram Shop his Holly & Co store This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “Life's too short. Stop worrying about what to call yourself” with Rich Carter
  5. Sep 7

    “We need to take ourselves seriously as business owners” with Sophie Cross

    I asked Sophie Cross to be a guest on the podcast because, as the founder of Freelancer Magazine, she’s spent the last five years right in the middle of the freelance world – not just as a freelancer herself, but bringing other freelancers together too. And I was really interested in what she’s learned from that about how we see ourselves and our businesses. Sophie had the idea for Freelancer Magazine on 1 January 2020. A few months later, she'd announced it on a podcast, launched a Kickstarter and published the first issue. She didn't have it all figured out. She just started. Five years on, Freelancer Magazine is still going strong, and Sophie has learned a lot by testing ideas, making mistakes and allowing both the magazine and her role within it to evolve. In this episode, we talk about starting before you feel ready, why taking the next small step can be more useful than trying to figure out the whole plan, and what Sophie has learned from building a business by testing things as she goes. We also get into something Sophie feels strongly about: the shift from thinking of yourself as ‘just a freelancer’ to taking yourself seriously as a business owner – and how that can change the way you approach your work. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start How testing ideas, making mistakes and taking the next small step can help you build confidence Why seeing yourself as a business owner, rather than ‘just a freelancer’, can change the way you work About Sophie Cross Sophie is the founder and Chief Connector at Freelancer Magazine Club, a community for marketing, creative and B2B freelancers, and the business magazine behind it. Links Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn Get Freelancer Magazine Follow Freelancer Magazine on LinkedIn Follow Freelancer Magazine on Instagram This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “We need to take ourselves seriously as business owners” with Sophie Cross
  6. 12/15/2025

    “My cycles are my compass” with Morin Glimmer

    When Morín Glimmer told me that she plans her work around her menstrual cycle, I was immediately interested to know more. I'm already a big believer in understanding your own energy and working with it rather than expecting yourself to perform the same way every day. But I'd never really thought about what my cycle might be telling me. So I wanted to know more. Morín is a brand strategist, creative director, cyclical living advocate and founder of Rosy Futures. We talk about what cyclical living actually looks like in practice, how Morín plans different types of work around different phases of her cycle, and why her cycle goes into her calendar before almost anything else. We also get into creativity, capacity and burnout, why constant output doesn't work for us, and Morín's belief that our bodies are a missing piece in business strategy. And if you don't menstruate, don't skip this one. There’s plenty in here about noticing your own patterns, energy and capacity – and questioning the expectation that we should work at the same pace all the time. What you’ll learn in this episode: What cyclical living looks like and how Morín plans her work around her menstrual cycleHow noticing patterns in your energy and capacity can change the way you workWhy your body might be something worth considering when you plan your business About Morín Glimmer Morín Glimmer is a brand strategist, creative director and cyclical living advocate, and founder of Rosy Futures – a brand consultancy for the radically hopeful. She works at the intersection of business, brand and body, partnering with feminist founders and small business owners to build brands rooted in their values, vision and own ways of working. Links Follow Morin on Instagram: @‌rosy.futures   Connect with her on Linkedin: Morin Glimmer Visit the Rosy Futures website: http://rosyfutures.com/ Download Morin’s free cycle tracker here This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “My cycles are my compass” with Morin Glimmer
  7. 12/08/2025

    “Free up energy to focus on what you’re really good at” with Chris Mitchell

    After my very first coaching session with Chris, I came away feeling like he'd given me permission to do less. Which, for someone who loves a plan and is very capable of putting 700 things on it, was probably exactly what I needed. Chris has been my business coach since the beginning of this year, and he's helped me completely rethink how I plan – starting with what I actually want from my business, rather than everything I think I should be doing. So I was very excited to turn the tables and get him on the podcast. We talk about why Chris had to unlearn the corporate 9–5 when he started his own business, why being busy isn't the same as being productive, and how to stop spinning when everything feels important. We also get into something Chris and I come at from two sides of the strategy coin: figuring out what you're really bloody good at. Because trying to get better at everything can leave you mediocre at lots of things. Letting some of it go gives you more energy to become exceptional at the things that are actually yours. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to plan around what you actually want, without turning it into an enormous to-do listWhy letting go of what you're not good at can free up energy for what you areHow understanding your difference can help you work out what you want to be known for About Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell is a business and leadership coach, mentor and advisor. He helps business owners and leaders get clear on what matters to them, focus on what they do best and turn what makes them different into an advantage. Links Connect with Chris on Linkedin Visit his website This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “Free up energy to focus on what you’re really good at” with Chris Mitchell
  8. 12/01/2025

    “Fun doesn’t make you less professional” with Gina Buckle

    I’ve worked with Gina Buckle on my own brand messaging, and she came through my Brand Blueprint programme while figuring out what she wanted the next version of her business to look like. So I’ve had a bit of a front-row seat to Gina going from a freelance copywriter who did a bit of everything to becoming very clear about what she wanted to be known for: fun, humour and personality. In this episode, I’m joined by Gina, founder of Hoot Copy, copywriter, brand voice strategist and self-appointed Queen of Fun. We talk about the point when Gina realised she didn’t really have a business – she was just busy and had lots of work – and why that made her become much more intentional about what she was building. Gina shares how she found her niche by paying attention to the work she actually enjoyed, why fun and professionalism aren't opposites, and how bringing more personality into your brand can help attract the right customers and put off the wrong ones. We also get into redefining success, working fewer hours, experimenting with your business and learning to trust what feels right for you. What you’ll learn in this episode  How Gina went from generalist freelance copywriter to finding a niche she genuinely wanted to be known for Why fun and personality don't make your brand less professional – and can help attract the right customers How paying attention to what you enjoy can help you build a business that suits you About Gina Gina Buckle is the founder of Hoot Copy, a copywriting and brand voice consultancy specialising in fun, humour and personality. She helps businesses work out what their authentic version of fun looks like and bring more of it into their copy and brand voice, without sacrificing clarity or sounding like they're trying too hard. Her work helps brands develop a voice that feels natural to them, connects with the people they want to reach and is easy to use consistently. Links Follow Gina on Instagram: @gina.hootcopy Connect with her on Linkedin: Gina Buckle Visit Gina’s website: https://hootcopy.com/ This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. Enjoyed this episode? I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

    “Fun doesn’t make you less professional” with Gina Buckle

Trailer

About

Do your thing is for small business owners wanting to build a business that actually works for them. I'm Fliss Lee, brand coach and founder of Honest Folk. Join me as I explore how to do MY thing. 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, mindset shifts, and the little things that end up making the biggest difference.

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