Fuzzy Flamingo - Jen Parker - HH 13

Martin [00:00:00]:
Hello. I'm your podcast host, Market Robson. Harborough Hustle proudly sponsors local charities. Check us out on marketharboroughbiznetwork.co.uk where you can find a transcript of today's podcast, all the links that I mentioned, posts you can share on social media to spread the word, and everything you need to know if you'd like to help our local charities find out more about our lovely sponsors. Today, I'm gonna be speaking to Jen from Fuzzy Flamingo. But just before we get into that, let's hear it from our lovely sponsor. Hey, it's 2024. Is your website really pulling its weight when it comes to helping you compete in today's market? Have a chat with me, Market, from Roman Britons to find out how you could use the latest technology and psychology to get ahead.

Martin [00:00:53]:
All in plain English. Don't delay. Welcome to this episode of Harborough Hustle, where I'm delighted to be chatting with Jen from Fuzzy Flamingo. Hi, Jen.

Jen [00:01:07]:
Hello. How are you?

Martin [00:01:09]:
I am not too bad at all. I have no small children with illnesses and things like that. How are you?

Jen [00:01:19]:
Unfortunately, I do have small children who have been very ill, but they're back at school so much better.

Martin [00:01:26]:
Fantastic. It's, it's always one of those things, isn't it? We talk about being a a small business and running our stuff, but at the end of the day, you know, you gotta put your family first and make sure that that's all sorted and run a business at the same time.

Jen [00:01:39]:
Absolutely. It's it's lovely to have the flexibility, but it it does come down to me to to be able to drop everything to be with them. So I'm very fortunate to have understanding understanding clients.

Martin [00:01:50]:
Fantastic. We like those. They're not all like that, but we're like the ones that are. If you're listening clients, take note. Alright. So first thing I'd just like to to ask for those people who've who've not met you before, just tell us a little bit, about yourself, what you do, and, what do you like doing besides work?

Jen [00:02:10]:
Of course. So I, am the owner of Fuzzy Flamingo, which is a book publishing company. I specialize in helping authors to self publish beautiful books with editing, design, and publishing services. And my aim with Fuzzy Flamingo is to make publishing more transparent, less intimidating, and more accessible. Outside of of work, there's loads of things I love to do. I love getting out in the fresh air. I've got a small dog, and he we love to walk him, love spending time with my family, and generally just having a good time.

Martin [00:02:46]:
Fantastic. Having a good time. What a brilliant hobby. Absolutely. So I know from having done, quite a number of these podcasts that the one burning question that that our listeners will have is, what's the dog's name?

Jen [00:02:59]:
Doug. He's, Doug the Shug. He's a Shih Tzu crossed with a pug. So he's basically a hairy pug, and he's very cute.

Martin [00:03:06]:
Sounds amazing. Yeah.

Jen [00:03:08]:
I if I angle my camera down, you should be able to see him asleep on his little bed.

Martin [00:03:12]:
Oh my goodness.

Jen [00:03:14]:
Yeah. He spends most of his day asleep.

Martin [00:03:17]:
So for anybody who's just, listening to the audio version of this podcast, then Doug the Shug was down on the floor there sleeping away quite happily. He is really enthralled by the podcast. He's just he's watching it so much. Yeah. Now, again, also for for people on on the audio, they won't be able to see what's behind you and indeed what you're wearing. The people who are watching this on on YouTube might just have a clue what your company is called. So, could you just describe some of the things that I can see on my camera now?

Jen [00:03:52]:
Yes. Of course. Basically, a flood of flamingos or a flamboyance of flamingos is the Greek noun is, which I absolutely love. Yeah. It's called a flamboyance. How perfect is that? Yeah. I have a giant flamingo behind me, which who was given to me by my Britons. When it arrived in a very funny shaped package.

Jen [00:04:13]:
My my husband looked at it and thought, what is that? But I love it, and I get gifted lots of lovely things. I have a ban placed on me by my husband for buying any more flamingo things myself, but it doesn't stop my authors and my family and friends buying things for me. So yes. And I'm also wearing a flamingo print dress, which is a popsy, which is another small business, which I adore. So I have several flamingo print dresses and jumpsuits and and what have you because I love it.

Martin [00:04:43]:
Fantastic. Shout out to Popsie. I mean, I happen to know also that, I think you have branded Doc Martens as well if I remember.

Jen [00:04:50]:
Yes. So I have pink fluffy Doc Martens, which usually cause a stare when I wear them. But I I love them. They are very warm, though.

Martin [00:05:00]:
Fantastic. Yeah. Well, we we could definitely say that, we don't miss you when you're you're in a room.

Jen [00:05:07]:
Absolutely. Pink hair as well. That is quite quite common for me to have pink hair.

Martin [00:05:12]:
Yes. Yes. Absolutely. I should have mentioned that. Well, okay. Anybody who's still on the audio podcast and hasn't immediately flipped over to YouTube, you you got an idea of what you're missing. So, yeah, let's get back to the book publishing. That's a really interesting thing because obviously years ago, I mean, that was almost a monopoly.

Martin [00:05:33]:
Certainly one could call it a cartel. There were a limited number of very major players in the business.

Jen [00:05:39]:
Yes.

Martin [00:05:40]:
So how did you get started in in doing it yourself?

Jen [00:05:45]:
I I started off in the publishing industry in 2010. It was, pretty much an accidental career because it wasn't the career that I'd intended for myself. So my my whole life, I wanted to join the police with the view of becoming a super duper detective solving crimes. All through my childhood, all through adolescence and university, that was my aim. And then I took a gap year after finishing university and before applying when I was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis. I've got a couple of forms, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, which is a bit of a mouthful. But when it came to apply, when I got back from my gap year, they they wouldn't let me get past the first screen. And I didn't have a plan b, so it suddenly had to rethink all of my options, all of my skills, my qualifications, and my, experience with the work I've done to that point.

Jen [00:06:41]:
And it was my mom who found a job in the paper for a publishing house where I'd be starting right at the bottom in the warehouse, picking and packing books and doing admin for the different departments, so the production department, the marketing department. And I worked my way up through the production side of things because I absolutely loved the the making of books. Just bringing someone's story to life just fills me with joy, and it turns out it was a it was a a great move, and I absolutely loved it. But the problem I had was that with my autoimmune conditions, I'm on immunosuppressants to treat it. And being in an open plan office with people whose germs don't affect them in the same way that they affect me, it meant I was off sick more than I'd want to be. And when I was the group production manager looking after the teams across all of the imprints, it it was a challenge because it was a cycle of stressing about getting ill if someone was ill in the office, being off sick, and then catching up and having the whole circle start again. So, when I had my first child in 2016, I recovered my health, and I got on top of managing it really well. And it became apparent that actually being at home away from the books was was going to serve me right.

Jen [00:08:04]:
So I started off with freelancing for publishers, And then, I had a few self publishing authors who came to me for my services, and I loved it so much that I decided to steer my business more in that direction. And, actually, I'm one of those businesses where the pandemic actually helped because lots of people started writing their books. The the publishers that I was freelancing for were taking freelancing back in in Hustle, or were going into administration because the publishing industry as a whole really struggled, whereas the self publishing industry is was thriving. So it that's how I ended up specializing in what I do, and and I haven't looked back. I I love it.

Martin [00:08:48]:
Wow. What an incredible story and amazing, you know, when, I guess, you were relatively young in life, to be diagnosed with with different autoimmune, Britons?

Jen [00:08:59]:
Yes. Yeah. I would I just turned 23, so at the very beginning of my career.

Martin [00:09:05]:
Right. But you've managed to turn, you know, in into a extremely successful, business warmer. And we are recording very close to international women's day.

Jen [00:09:18]:
Yes.

Martin [00:09:19]:
You know, obviously, people Market listening to this it's a little bit later now, but we're recording it very close to international women's day. And I happen to know that you are not only a woman, you see how incredibly, astute I am, but an award winning woman at that. I do. Tell us a little bit about some of the awards that you've won.

Jen [00:09:39]:
Yes. The most recent one I will be celebrating on International Women's Day at the House of Lords. It's the f entrepreneur, I also 100. So they've chosen 100 of the top UK female entrepreneurs, and we're going to be celebrating together, at the House of Lords, which seems it seems huge, and it's very exciting. And I've had a lot of press coverage, and and it's it's done a lot for my business getting that accolade. And it comes into the umbrella of Small Business Britons, who, if you own a small business, I would highly recommend looking into them because they have so many free resources, and a lot of support that, it they they've been invaluable in the last few years certainly. So it it's come from from them, and it it feels great to have won it. And in in the past, I've also won a few other things.

Jen [00:10:34]:
I won a Mums in Business Award for my Instagram page when I'd I'd first started, the publishing side of things. And that that was huge for me because I I didn't even have an Instagram page before I started my business. It was purely for business that I started it. So I had to learn completely from scratch, and I've built it up. So I now have over 2,000 followers in a really tight knit community who were really supportive, and so it was lovely to be able to celebrate that.

Martin [00:11:05]:
Wow. That's absolutely amazing, Jen. And, you know, just just take a a minute to reflect on that, dear listener. I mean, that's the top 100 entrepreneurs in Britain.

Jen [00:11:16]:
Yes.

Martin [00:11:18]:
Think about that. That's amazing. And kind of I don't know. A little bit ironic, it's still called the House of Lords, really, because there are obviously many ladies in there. Yeah. Perhaps they should be updating that name. But anyway, that's another discussion, I suspect. But many, many congratulations.

Martin [00:11:35]:
That's That's

Jen [00:11:36]:
absolutely

Martin [00:11:38]:
fantastic. Thinking back to to the book publishing then, is there something that that you think that people don't think enough about when they're they're starting down that, I've got a book inside me. What do I what should I be thinking about other than, you know, whatever the the the story of the book is?

Jen [00:11:58]:
Yes. Absolutely. It's, the the thing I have most when authors come to me is that they they don't really have any idea about the publishing and and how it works, which is understandable. Why would you if you've never had anything to do with the publishing side of things? So the reason I want to make publishing more accessible and more transparent is because there's so much information out there. When you first start looking into it, it can be totally overwhelming. And I have a lot of authors who have not done anything with their book idea or even with their book once it's written because they just don't know which way to turn. So I want to show you that there's lots of different options to get into your target reader. So there are the big publishers with the traditional publishing side.

Jen [00:12:46]:
With some books, it it it's really the the best option for them. But with a lot of books, especially for first time authors, it's not very accessible. They their idea may well be better suited to self publishing. And even within self publishing, there are a lot of options. So that's what I talk about on social media is trying to demystify the different routes to being published. And to remove the stigma, being self published isn't, a vanity thing anymore. It's not just a case of putting your word document up on a platform and hoping people buy it. If you want people to buy your book, it needs to be good enough quality.

Jen [00:13:24]:
So it needs to be professionally designed, professionally edited. You need to market it well because you need authors, you need readers, sorry, to enjoy your book so much that they then start telling other people, and then it goes from there because recommendations, word-of-mouth, and reviews are the best sales pitch for your book.

Martin [00:13:43]:
Mhmm. Yeah. Sounds fantastic. And just for clarity, are we talking, just fiction, or is it both fiction and nonfiction?

Jen [00:13:50]:
Fiction and nonfiction and children's books as well. I was very lucky to work for a publishing house that had lots of different imprints. So I got to work on on all the different shoppers and have a very broad background. And I also love variety, so it keeps me engaged. I think I probably get bored easily. So being able to do lots of different things is just magic for me.

Martin [00:14:10]:
Yeah. Definitely. Is there something you think that you you wish you'd known earlier, in your journey, in in the book publishing journey anyway that that might have made things a bit easier for you now? Maybe, you know, a note to a younger Jen.

Jen [00:14:25]:
Absolutely. I think if I'd have known that I would actually be building a business when I started, then I would have started things differently. Because I went into this almost pushed into it because of my disability, my chronic illness. It was really the option I needed to take for for my health. But I just thought I would be freelancing for publishers until I the kids went to school, and I could get a proper job in inverted commas. But the fact that it was so much better for my health, and I'm so much more in control of my work, life, and health balance, because for me, it's the three things combined. It it and my business took off, and it it made me realize that, no, I don't want to go back to employment. This is what I need to do.

Jen [00:15:12]:
And I kinda had to retrospectively engineer the business side of things because it then needed to be much more viable and much more sustainable. So it it's been a challenge to make it this far, whereas I think if I'd have been a bit more prepared in the first place, then it would've it would've been happening a lot quicker.

Martin [00:15:34]:
Yeah. I think that's a really, really good point. And, you know, we we hear that again and again with, with entrepreneurs, and you know, myself included where, you know, you kinda go into business because you've got a passion for whatever business it is, but there's no getting away from. There are certain other things that have to happen if you wanna continue it as a business. Yes. And and those things, you know, the things that, again, if you can get that right from the word go or close to, it just makes life a bit easier.

Jen [00:16:05]:
Absolutely. There are so many tools out there as well, and it's just knowing where to look. So being, being in networks networking is invaluable. A a lot of the time, it's to do with building up you and your business, not necessarily to get sales or leads. It's to do with helping you to run a better business. And those contacts are brilliant for signposting you in the right direction.

Martin [00:16:29]:
I think that's a really good point about, networks. I mean, obviously, we we met through the Market Harborough business network. And like you say, occasionally you get people come and just all they want to do is sell what they've got. But really the key point is just getting to know, you know, what other businesses are out there, what services are there, how you can help them, and then in Britons, of course, you know, maybe somebody else will be able to help you in that whole business karma thing.

Jen [00:16:56]:
Absolutely. Yes.

Martin [00:16:58]:
Yeah. I love it. Did you have any any mentor, any part of your journey, or anyone, you know, that kind of took you onto your wing?

Jen [00:17:06]:
I have been really lucky in the people I've been surrounded with. So I, have have worked with a few different coaches for different aspects of my business. There's a coach in Leicestershire called Keri Hearssey, who is a hybrid life and business coach, and she came into my life at just the right moment. And I worked with her for for quite a long time, and she made huge changes in my business to make it easier for me to run and, less stressful and more enjoyable, which at the time, it was getting a bit on top of me. So that was absolutely brilliant. But I've also worked on a lot of coaching books and, worked with a lot of coaches. I have quite a few businesses come and do business books with me. So I get to learn what's up and coming and all of these new techniques, and I get paid to do it.

Jen [00:17:57]:
So it it's been brilliant. I'm very lucky.

Martin [00:18:00]:
Yeah. That's great. I mean, I I suppose there's a slight parallel, you know, with with myself doing, on the web design front again. You get to work with lots of different businesses, and inevitably, you start to learn a little bit more about each bit. Yeah. And yeah. That's that, variety thing again, isn't it, that we take

Jen [00:18:17]:
for Absolutely. Yeah.

Martin [00:18:20]:
So I mean, there was Carrie from, back a Hustle while. Now currently anybody in particular that you admire and and if so, why?

Jen [00:18:29]:
I mean, this is, Sarah. Lots of people. I mean, I I'm I'm a huge lover of reading self help books and reading personal development books. And, actually, personal development is something I'm really passionate about because it's not something I'd come across until I started a business. And I think they should be teaching it in schools. So a lot of the tools I'm learning, I'm passing on to my kids and building up their self esteem, and and trying to get them to to really find their passions and beliefs and follow those. So I think, really, there are, it's hard to pick just one. There were so many really good speakers out there, who were doing marvelous things at the moment.

Jen [00:19:11]:
So it it's a case of reading wide and reading well.

Martin [00:19:16]:
Yeah. That's a really good point. And it's interesting you you say about the the teaching at school. I have a friend who's, done a TEDx talk and and that was all about what we're teaching in school, you know, and how it's kind of geared towards a 100 years ago where everybody was in mainstream employment and and now, you know, with much more entrepreneurship. The set of skills that are actually gonna do our our youth well are different to what they used to be a 100 years ago, oddly enough. And, and perhaps, you know, we need to shift, in school.

Jen [00:19:49]:
I think so.

Martin [00:19:51]:
That's yet another conversation we could delve into. But but we don't have time at the moment. So, I mean, normally I ask people is is there something else that you still want to learn quite clearly? You are a keen learner.

Jen [00:20:06]:
I am. Yes. I if my most recent thing is I was invited to become a mentor. So that's my next training opportunity is I'm going to be trained to be a mentor. The the company I'm doing it with, I will be mentoring a a care leaver, say someone of 17 or 18 who is just leaving the care system and embarking on adult life in the big wide world. So I will be passing on the skills I've learned, but being trained how to do that as well. Something I'm really passionate about is inspiring the younger generation and helping them to to get where they wanna be. So that's it's a very exciting opportunity.

Martin [00:20:46]:
Fabulous. I wish you the best of luck with that. Sounds fantastic. What would you say was one of the biggest mistakes you've made in business? What'd you learn from it?

Jen [00:20:58]:
I've made a lot of mistakes in my time. I I think, anyone who runs a business will will do that. The the biggest mistake I would say was saying yes to too many things early on because I didn't really it it it just felt really great to be, offered what I was being offered. And so I I was saying yes to absolutely everything, and not everything served me well. But in hindsight, I learned from that, so I suppose it did in the in the grand scheme of things. But what I've learned is that I need to say no when it it it it serves me better. So it might not just be complete no. It might be not yet, but I need to say yes to the things that are going to move my business forward, but also going to look after me mentally, because my mental health and my physical health are inextricably linked.

Jen [00:21:55]:
If my mental health takes a dip, then my arthritis goes mad and vice versa. So I I need to be at the top of my priority list if my business is going to run well, because without me, it it doesn't run. It's just me and my business. So it it it needs to have me at the top of the pile. So, yes, being being more choosy, I think, could be the thing I've learned.

Martin [00:22:15]:
I think that's a it's a really good point. And and the thing is, I mean, not only as you say, it's essential that that you're well and able to run your business because you are your business. But when you're saying yes to clients and you're not quite right, they don't get the best version of you. So they lose that as well. So it's actually in their advantage for you to go no or not yet. Yes. Which at the time, you know, not everybody realizes, but, you know, later on it's kind of okay. Yeah.

Martin [00:22:44]:
I understand.

Jen [00:22:45]:
Yeah. Absolutely. And I think it's the thing I found most challenging because I am a a people pleaser at heart, which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing. A lot of people say it's terrible to be a people pleaser. But, if it's in the right way, having a big heart and and wanting to do right by other people is great. It just can't be at the detriment to your your health. So that is that is what I I've reprioritized.

Martin [00:23:10]:
Yeah. No. It makes a lot of sense. So we talked about biggest mistake. Let's flip it 180. What about your proudest business moment?

Jen [00:23:16]:
I think, I've I've had so many pride proud moments. I'm I'm really lucky, to have worked with amazing authors and to have built the business I have. But I think it's probably the what we talked about earlier, going to the House of Lords on on International Women's Day to celebrate in a room full of really vibrant people. We're we're in a Facebook group together, and just seeing the incredible businesses run by these amazing people, I it feels like a huge privilege to be part of that. So I'm really excited to to meet them all in person.

Martin [00:23:50]:
Fantastic. Fantastic. I'm just so, looking forward to to meet you again, you know, after this, recording and and after, International Women's Day just to see how it went because I can see how excited and pumped you are for for this. So it's gonna be brilliant to see how it was and and kind of really interesting as well because like a lot of people, I've never been to the house of lords. I've certainly never been in in the situation in which you're going. So, yeah, it's gonna be amazing.

Jen [00:24:18]:
It's actually my second time. So I've I've already been to a celebration at the the House of Lords for something else that I won. So, yeah, I I think that's why I'm even more pumped this time because I know what to expect. So there's less of the anxiety of the unknown and more of the excitement that I know is gonna be amazing.

Martin [00:24:35]:
Oh, that's that's great. You know, one of the things that that that we do, which I confess we stole from Steven Bartlett's diary of a CEO, is is asking our guests to think of a question for a subsequent guest. And when we're off air, I'm gonna be asking you to do that. The question that you've got is from, Becky Whittaker.

Jen [00:24:57]:
Mhmm.

Martin [00:24:57]:
And she wants to know, can you describe one habit that has changed your business?

Jen [00:25:05]:
Oh, that's a great question. Because habits is something that I've actually been researching a lot recently. It was in one of the, the the business books that I worked on. They talked about habits, and there Market some really great self help books at the moment about forming good habits. I think my best habit recently is really limiting my time on, social media and my emails. So so screen time, which is necessary for my business, I do my own Market, so it has to be done well, and it has to be has to be done. But, actually, making it more focused makes it better. So, I I don't post as frequently.

Jen [00:25:50]:
I don't feel like I have to post every single day anymore, but what I do post has to be good. So it's probably 3 times a week in general that I post on social media, but it means that I can spend more time on my business instead of in it. And it it's not my favorite thing, so making that a habit of it only allotting certain time periods in my week to doing that and not just doing it all day.

Martin [00:26:15]:
And that's a lot harder than it sounds,

Jen [00:26:18]:
isn't it? Really is. Especially when you start to get comments on your post and it's doing well, you wanna start checking back all the time and and having a look, picking your phone up every hour. But actually Hustle having allotted times in the day or even just, certain days of the week, it it just makes me so much more productive.

Martin [00:26:36]:
One of our, previous guests, Mel, who's a process improvement specialist, talks about a similar sort of thing, you know, allotting time for specific things. Still something I need to improve on personally. There

Jen [00:26:49]:
we go. Yes. Don't we all? I have a great spreadsheet for my time blocking because I have to time block. Otherwise, I just get carried away. But but sometimes it burns away with you. You just have to not punish yourself, reset, and and keep going.

Martin [00:27:05]:
Very great advice there. Yep. So, if you weren't in the book publishing industry, what's another career that you that you might have done or may still do in the future? Who knows?

Jen [00:27:18]:
Yeah. It was, so I spoke at the beginning that becoming a police detective was always what I wanted to do. And, actually, having met a lot of people who've gone through the that career and and are doing what I wanted to do. I probably don't think it's for me. So, actually, it probably did me a favor that I couldn't go into that. The the other love in my life is something that I've not done in so long because I did, a level theater studies, and I did drama for GCSE because I was I was pretty much forced into it. I wanted to do pottery for GCSE for one of my choices, and I got hold into the middle school, head teacher's office because only 2 people wanted to do pottery, and they couldn't run it. Despite my protestations, they couldn't run it with just 2 people.

Jen [00:28:09]:
So, he gently forced me into doing drama instead because he said it would do me good. I was a bit of a wallflower. You wouldn't really believe it now, but I was a bit of a wallflower. So probably, going into acting would be that secret little desire in there somewhere. It's it's the I have such admiration for the people who just go for it because it's such a an unstable business that it it yeah. I don't think I'd deal with the anxiety very well, but it's still there.

Martin [00:28:42]:
Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's it's it's I think it's the there's a couple of, again, interesting lessons in that one, you know, having always thought this is what I wanna do and then, you know, later on in life meeting a number of people who've done it and then rethinking, yeah, maybe actually I don't wanna do it anymore. That in itself is quite Hustle. But I think it's nice to kinda hold on to yeah. There's something I'd like to do.

Jen [00:29:04]:
Yeah. Well, I did I did a talk to a youth club about not having a plan b, because I want I wanted to talk about why you should definitely follow your dreams. Have dreams. Have big dreams. Follow them. But if they don't work out, it's not necessarily the end of the world even though it can feel like it at the time. So I've obviously had a a wonderful outcome from something that was pretty horrible to go through. So there there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Jen [00:29:34]:
You just have to look for it sometimes.

Martin [00:29:36]:
Yeah. No. That's that's a lot of it's about I mean, obviously, opportunities, are important, being in the right time, the right place, sliding doors, all those sort of things, but I really do believe attitude is is key to all of that. You know, it's not just other opportunities, but do you actually, you know, take the the the dangerous step of of taking advantage of those or just let them go? So there we go. Anything left that you'd like to achieve? That sounds so final, doesn't it?

Jen [00:30:13]:
It does. It's it's like accepting a lifetime achievement awards. I do I'm definitely not finished yet. I I want to disrupt the industry, basically. I want to the publishing is pretty elitist. The the big boys paying are are just that. The the the heads of the big publishing company are usually middle aged white males. Bonnier Books is the exception, and I love looking at at their business because they're doing really good things for diversity and inclusion, and that's something that I'm really passionate about.

Jen [00:30:47]:
So, yeah, not as I want to do. I want to to help people and to give the voice to the people who don't necessarily feel like they have it.

Martin [00:30:56]:
Fantastic. And and having seen what you've achieved so far, I think, you know, there's a fairly reasonable bet that that you'll get there, and they're lucky to have you on their side, I think.

Jen [00:31:05]:
Thank you.

Martin [00:31:07]:
Any hidden talents that that, you know, nobody else knows about that you suddenly want to share with the world or at least this podcast audience?

Jen [00:31:16]:
Hidden talents. I I I'm I'm pretty I I said to you before we started recording, I'm a pretty open book. So there's not really anything that's hidden because I tend to just tell everybody everything. The the thing I probably keep inside the most is just how passionate I am about animals and freaky animals in particular. So, obviously, flamingos are very much part of my business, but I do have a passion for the more unusual animals and love to tell people about them. So in particular, naked mole rats, one of my favorites. I I I have a card with a picture of 1, and if you go and have a look at what they look like, you you'll be surprised that I think they're beautiful. Nobody else does.

Jen [00:31:59]:
And axolotls and all all the things that are unusual, a little bit bizarre. I got obsessed with sea cucumbers when I was about 7 years old. Learned everything there was to know about sea cucumbers. So I can just tell you random facts about freaky animals, and I think that surprises people sometimes.

Martin [00:32:19]:
Well, I I mean, you say it surprises people, but, actually, I mean, we've been going for 12 or 13 episodes now and you'll be amazed to know that every single episode so far people have mentioned, naked mole rats.

Jen [00:32:35]:
Brilliant. My my working is done.

Martin [00:32:39]:
I could've published this on the 1st April now. I've not really with a statement like that. Anyway, that that's that's amazing. I mean, I've written it down. I'm I will go and have a look. They sound fascinating.

Jen [00:32:52]:
I I can't say on air what they look like. You'll have to go and look for yourself. Yep.

Martin [00:32:57]:
Yep. I will. And, as our regular listeners know, I mean, we're always gonna publish the, the links, and any particular things that you need to know on the website from this podcast. And so, yeah, if I find something interesting on making more reps, then I'll I'll publish that as well along with, of course, small business Britons, Kerrie, Hersey, and the other, nice things that you've mentioned. Talking about that, where do we find you, online, social media, website, and so on?

Jen [00:33:29]:
Yes. My website is fizzyflamingo.co.uk. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook with Fuzzy Flamingo Design, and I'm on LinkedIn and Twitter as well. I'm flamingofuzzy on Twitter, and Jen Market, Fuzzy Flamingo, on LinkedIn.

Martin [00:33:49]:
Brilliant. Okay. An x for the modern people, but Twitter for the rest of us.

Jen [00:33:54]:
I can't call it that. Who is calling it that, really?

Martin [00:33:56]:
I know. I know. That's

Jen [00:33:59]:
a branding that's a branding story for another day, isn't it?

Martin [00:34:03]:
Absolutely. Jen, it's been amazing. Is there anything that I should have asked you that I didn't?

Jen [00:34:10]:
Oh, I don't think so. I think we've pretty much covered all the bases. I realized one thing I didn't talk about was my own book. So unflip, changing your life after a life changing diagnosis is my book. I can I can show you for you Mhmm? People. And it it has given me a lot more empathy with my authors about publishing because it is terrifying, but I'm here to say that it's worth it. So I I hold my my author's hands throughout the whole process because I totally understand what it's like. But I also know the the benefits that come with it, so go for it.

Martin [00:34:43]:
Fantastic. And can you just repeat that title for us one more time?

Jen [00:34:47]:
Yes. It's unflip, changing your life after a life changing diagnosis. It's about my, diagnosis whilst traveling the world with autoimmune conditions and, what I've done and achieved and and how I improved my life since.

Martin [00:35:03]:
Amazing. Fantastic. Let me just, talk directly to our to our listener then. Jen, fantastic to to meet you. Listener, show some love for Jen by checking out all of the show notes, all the links to her her website, the socials. You can also check all those details on Market/ podcast. Even better, join in. Leave a comment, questions, suggestions.

Martin [00:35:32]:
We appreciate how we can make this podcast, even better for you. And hey, if you'd like to be a guest, then, get in touch. Again, you can do that, on the website. And also, if you'd like to be a sponsor and, you know, get your business featured, for a few weeks, then get in touch and find out more about that. You've been listening to Harborough Hustle. Jen, it's been both a pleasure and and quite frankly an inspiration talking to you. Thank you so much.

Jen [00:35:59]:
Thank you for having me. It's been brilliant.

Martin [00:36:01]:
Hey. It's 2024. Is your website really pulling its weight when it comes to helping you compete in today's market? Have a chat with me Market from Roman Britons to find out how you could use the latest technology and psychology to get ahead. All in plain English. Don't delay. Call to that.