On the Up and Up

We're baaaack baby! Kelli Jones and I are at it again with more Bravo legal drama, more HR disasters, and more fun. And maybe a little snark. I mean, we ARE talking about Bravo afterall. Kelli is a trademark attorney, a fellow reality TV aficionado, and my go-to friend for Bravo drama and lawsuit breakdowns. This time, we're covering: And, of course, we're breaking down the legal and HR implications of it all. If you're looking for some real world examples of what can go wrong when a business skirts around strategic HR, look no further. Come gossip with us! SHOW NOTES: Find and follow Kelli online! Website https://www.lawyerkelli.com/ IG: @lawyerkelli_ TikTok: @lawyerkelli

They might just be faces on a screen, but your employees are real, living humans who need more than KPIs and goals to truly thrive. Don’t get us wrong — clear goals and expectations are 100% crucial for measuring success. You'll never catch us telling you NOT to clearly communicate goals and expectations. But true leadership goes beyond just tracking performance. It's about filling each team member’s cup with motivation and engagement in ways that suit their unique work styles. This doesn't just boost their productivity, it contributes to your ability to lead effectively. Filling those cups means really getting to know your people beyond the checkboxes on their task lists. Let’s talk about this invisible layer of culture building that many leaders overlook, especially when managing remotely. SHOW NOTES: Take the Leadership Archetype Quiz to discover your unique leadership style and get personalized tips for leaning into your natural skills and abilities: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz

Think your small business doesn’t need Public Relations? Don't write it off yet! You might be wondering how a publicist could possibly help your under-the-radar biz. Or thinking you’re too “small” for a PR strategy. But before you dismiss the idea, let Brittney Lynn share some insights that might just totally change the way you see PR and its potential for your business! Brittney is a thought-leader for how purposeful connection can change the world. Through her agency, The Human Connection Agency, she’s leading the way in the online business space for companies who are looking to connect authentically with their audience and share their stories through a thoughtful PR strategy. Her clients have been featured in places like The New York Times, Fast Company, Real Simple, Forbes, Business Insider, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and more. She also has lots of thoughts about Tom Sandoval’s PR disaster, which I just can’t get enough of. Timestamps: 02:52: The importance of PR in a marketing strategy (even for small businesses!) 06:11: Crafting a unique message and point of view in PR 11:55: Overcoming limiting beliefs holding people back from putting themselves out there 13:14: Where to start with pitching yourself 20:14: The reality of being more visible 27:43: The long-term nature of PR and the need for persistence 37:02: Good vs. terrible podcast pitch strategies and how to be a stellar guest 52:30: PR lessons from Tom Sandoval and the Vanderpump mess 1:21:59: Similarities and differences between HR & PR Links Mentioned: Learn more about Brittney and her PR agency: https://www.humanconnectionagency.com/ Follow Brittney on IG @brittneyllynn

When done right, employee and client appreciation gifts can stop your recipient in their tracks and generate a fantastic ROI. #goals But if you miss the mark, they'll breeze past these gifts without a second thought, tossing them (and your hard-earned business dollars) in the trash as they go. Eh ehm, no, that new client you just signed doesn't feel special opening a box of generic, branded knick-knacks weeks after onboarding. Turns out, there's a lot to consider in crafting a gift-giving strategy! This week, the Queen of intentional gifting, Kristin Fisher of Bocu, joins us to discuss how and why to integrate thoughtful gifts into your overall marketing strategy. We unwrap: She’s also built an incredibly thoughtful and intentional ecommerce brand that we’re swooning over. Whether you’re product or service based, there’s something for everyone in this episode! ABOUT KRISTIN Kristin is a former corporate retail buyer turned small business owner & retail coach. Bocu came to life in 2018 as a solution to make it easier to send a thoughtful gift without sacrificing your gift-giving style or standards. LINKS MENTIONED For businesses looking to send thoughtful gifts, head to www.shopbocu.com and use the code UpAndUp15 to receive 15% off Follow Bocu on IG @shopbocu Kristin also offers Retail Strategy Coaching and Mentorship for product-based brands, makers, brick and mortar stores. Visit https://kristinfishercoaching.com/ to learn more!

“But Kira, aren’t employees more expensive than contractors?! I can't afford to be compliant!” We’ve heard it a million times, and we know why. There's a lot of misinformation out there. So we’re putting this fallacy to rest once and for all. We’re diving into the 3 actual costs of hiring an employee versus a contractor. What exactly will hit your budget? We'll break down the must-pays (eh ehm, taxes), the optional extras, and how much to budget to keep everything HR compliant when working with employees. Plus I’m revealing the most unexpected, often overlooked cost of bringing on an employee. Trust me, it’s not what you’re thinking. Let’s bust this myth together! SHOW NOTES: Employee Cost Calculator: Download the calculator here and start plugging in your numbers today! https://settoscale.com/products/employee-cost-calculator?_pos=1&_sid=7a0642f27&_ss=r Set To Scale: Join our monthly membership for personalized HR solutions that grow with your business. Learn more here: https://the-paradigm.com/settoscale

Ever feel like you're carrying the weight of your team’s happiness and productivity on your shoulders? It's too much, right? Especially for compassionate leaders who genuinely care about their people. Good news, straight from the HR horse’s mouth! You’re not actually as on the line for everyone’s wellbeing as you may think. Let's rethink our responsibilities as leaders. If you're leading a blended team of employees and contractors and finding it tough to manage everyone’s wellbeing, let’s chat about where to channel your leadership energy and where it's okay to take a step back. Leadership is heavy enough as it is…this episode will help you lighten your load! Timestamps: 2:15 The Responsibility of Business Owners and Leaders To Your Team 6:25 Demanding a Good Client Experience From Your Contractors 11:45 Different Leadership Approaches for Employees and Contractors 15:25 Managing Performance and Enriching the Employee Experience 18:35 Legal and Compliance Implications Of How You Treat A Blended Team LINKS MENTIONED: Join Set To Scale: https://the-paradigm.com/settoscale

Feeling like your biz isn't quite clicking the way you hoped? It’s not just you! Entrepreneurship can be a real cluster f*ck sometimes. But we sit firmly in our belief that sharing stories from those who've navigated the twists and turns to success is what keeps us all going! So today, Jamar Diggs and I giggled our way through this warm-hug-of-an-episode as he shared his leadership journey, from Busch Gardens to YouTube Marketing Strategist, and A LOT in between! Jamar is sharing it all; launching his own agency, wrestling with the whole contractor vs. employee dilemma, course correction as a manager with internalized trauma from past jobs, and ultimately switching up his entire business model to align with how he works best (isn’t that what blazing your own trail should be all about?!) Whew! Jamar’s candidness is a refreshing reminder that we're all out here just learning and figuring things out as we go! PLUS, Jamar gives us a crash course on YouTube marketing and nurturing your audience through the funnel of engagement…get ready to take notes! SHOW NOTES Join The Low Lift Club here: https://jamardiggs.com/community Access Jamar’s Free Training, “YouTube Funnel Blueprint”, here: https://jamardiggs.com/blueprint Follow Jamar on YouTube and Instagram (@jamardiggs) for lessons in all things YouTube, and tons of laughs!

Let's pick up right where we left off, shall we? Last week, we delved into the DOL's first three factors of contractor vs. employee classification, covering control, investment, and permanence, and how they influence your hiring decisions. This week, we're wrapping up our deep dive with the final three factors, complete with real-world examples to help you apply them. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer understanding of whether a role in your business calls for a contractor or an employee. If you missed last week's episode, be sure to check it out first, then come back here to round out your understanding of worker classification under the DOL’s Final Ruling! Timestamps: 5:13: Factor #4 - Nature and Degree of Control 13:03: Factor #5 - Extent To Which Work Performed Is An Integral Part of Potential Employer’s Business 17:34: Factor #6 - Skill & Initiative SHOW NOTES: The DOL has a super helpful compliance guide for small entities navigating this new law. Full link here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/small-entity-compliance-guide#overview Have more questions about the DOL’s Final Ruling? Schedule a free consultation and we can assess your risk and help you come up with a plan moving forward. Full link here: https://the-paradigm.com/contact

Whew, time to lighten the mood around here! We’ve spent the last few weeks digging into some heavy stuff, what with the DOL’s Final Ruling and all its implications on your business, and I know we could all use a little reprieve. So today we’re taking a sharp left turn and gossiping in the other language I speak fluently: BRAVO DRAMA!! I’m joined by attorney and fellow Bravohead, Kelli Jones, to pour some of the juiciest legal tea on Bravo stars' legal battles and the big takeaways we can all learn as business owners, managers, and leaders. Kelli is a lawyer, passive income strategist, and digital entrepreneur with equal parts dreamer and doer. She ditched her 9-7 for her own law firm in 2020 and never looked back. Kelli traded working all the time for a job she hated in a toxic environment to build a brand of her own to help entrepreneurs stop dreading the legal and start taking it seriously. TIMESTAMPS: 1:59 Kelly’s Villain Origin Story 16:20 The Consequences of Workplace Issues in Reality TV 17:55 A Breakdown of Caroline Manzo’s Lawsuit Against Bravo 27:10 What Policies Other Reality Show Networks Have Put In Place To Prevent/Mitigate Legal Drama 34:00 Leah McSweeney’s Lawsuit Against Bravo and Andy Cohen 36:55 Involvement Of Andy Cohen As An Employee Of The Bravo Network 42:37 Legal Analysis of Rachel’s (formerly known as Raquel) Lawsuit 1:01:32 Hope for Cleanup Within Bravo’s Work Environment SHOW NOTES: Find and follow Kelli online! Website https://www.lawyerkelli.com/ IG: @lawyerkelli_ TikTok: @lawyerkelli

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we? The past few weeks we've been painting with broad strokes about the DOL's Final Ruling on the whole contractor vs. employee saga. If you’ve been following along, you’ve def heard us say that there are now 6 factors to consider for classifying your workers. But we haven't really rolled up our sleeves and gotten into the weeds of what those factors actually mean…until now! Hit play for a deep dive into factors 1-3, and stay tuned for next week's episode where we'll tackle factors 4-6. If you have a team, or are thinking about hiring in the future, you’ll wanna be all ears for this! Timestamps: 6:00: Factor #1 - Opportunity for profit or loss depending on managerial skill 9:28: Factor #2 - Investments by the worker and the potential employer 15:35: Factor #3 - The degree of permanence in the work relationship 18:24: Tips for Freelancers who need to talk to their client about being misclassified Links Mentioned: The DOL’s Small Entity Compliance Guide Full link here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/small-entity-compliance-guide#overview Let's talk! Schedule a free consultation and we can assess your risk and help you come up with a plan moving forward. Full link here: https://the-paradigm.com/contact

POV: You’re totally overwhelmed by the DOL’s Final Ruling on independent contractors. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of info on this game-changing update from the DOL, and lots of businesses are scrambling to find their footing in this new terrain. So we’re taking a few steps back to come at this whole convo from a different angle. I'm hitting pause on the "next steps" chat to dive into the who, what, when, where, and why of the DOL's shiny new rules on independent contractor classification. Getting a grip on the origins and true intentions of these laws is key to understanding their impact on your biz. Trust me, once you know WHY these rules are in place, compliance will feel like a total no-brainer. LINKS MENTIONED: I don’t get to say this a lot, but the DOL’s Compliance Guide is actually pretty user friendly and easy to read! Check it out here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/small-entity-compliance-guide The Paradigm Solution: Laying the groundwork for hiring employees is definitely a bigger undertaking than working with contractors, but our signature done-for-you HR service takes the weight off your shoulders and sets you up for long-term success. Learn more here: https://the-paradigm.com/the-paradigm-solution

Clock’s ticking!! The DOL’s new ruling on independent contractor misclassification goes into effect in less!than!a!week! What does this mean for you?? Well, if you’re a business owner who nods your head “yes” after reading reading these two statements: You understands you’re not in compliance with how you’ve classified your team and are ready to switch from contractors to employees; and,You want to keep the same folks in the same roles, just with a new classification to get your business on the right side of the law. Then the time is NOW to sit down and talk to your team about proposed changes to their classification and to make sure everyone’s on the same page. But now you’re probably wondering how the heck to bring up this conversation with them, right? What do they need to know about the switch? How will this *actually* impact your relationship with them? What if a contractor refuses to make the switch? Let’s get into it! Tune in for talking points and additional context you need in order to have confident and productive conversations about this time-sensitive topic. You don’t need to be scared of this conversation, but you do need to be prepared! Links mentioned:Our Set To Scale Template Shop features employment offer letter templates to help you craft a well-thought out offer that brings clarity and structure to the switch from contractor to employee. Type “Offer Letter” into the search bar to find templates for several different employment scenarios, depending on your unique situation. Not sure if you need to make the switch from contractor to employee? Listen to our past episode “Does My Business Need An Employee Or Contractor” to learn more about the difference and things to consider!

Here’s 1 of the 398,402 things nobody teaches you when building a brand and becoming a leader: Your external brand ≠ your internal company culture. Just because the world sees your brand in a certain light doesn’t mean your team has to march to that beat behind the scenes. Few people know this better than Kailtyn Parker of Copy Uncorked. Her business’s brand is strategically drenched in wine culture, but don’t let that fool her – their internal culture isn’t exactly what you’d expect. Tune in to hear Kaitlyn’s approach to leading a team that's as intentional and well-thought-out as her iconic brand. Bring your favorite glass because she’s pouring up insights on: 🍷The critical role of culture-driven hiring, especially when your brand and your culture aren’t one in the same 🍷The role of personality tests, method acting, and mirroring in effective leadership 🍷How “remaining in choice” steadies the wild ride of entrepreneurship 🍷Lessons in leadership from her days at Lululemon 🍷Putting a premium on Subject Matter Experts when hiring a lean team We always knew Kaitlyn is a wordsmith, but dang – the wisdom she drops in this episode is *CHEF’S KISS* for anyone trying to step up their leadership game. ABOUT KAITLYN AND COPY UNCORKED: Kaitlyn Parker is the founder/CEO, brand strategist, and wine enthusiast behind Copy Uncorked - a full-service copywriting & creative agency pouring up personality-fueled sales copy to help brands grow. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kaitlyn holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications and has worked with 200+ clients worldwide in her 8+ years of industry experience. She's also developed Copy Uncorked's suite of educational products for non-copywriters—collectively known as CU Edu. Each program is designed to help emerging entrepreneurs develop their brand messaging, write their own website copy, and every piece of copy after that. LINKS MENTIONED: Connect with Kaitlyn on Instagram @copyuncorked or visit copyuncorked.com.

Psst…I don’t know who needs to hear this, but: It’s time we move past the old-school belief that real work only happens when we’re all parked in office chairs. That mindset is as outdated as the office cubicles tech giants are trying to herd their talent back into (oops! Guess I do know who needs to hear this!) Do remote work relationships crash and burn sometimes? For sure. But it’s not always about the distance. More often than not, it’s about the people and the policies, or lack thereof, that are supposed to have their backs. As leaders in this “new normal” way of working, it’s crucial we adapt. So let’s talk about the 3 things to focus on in your remote work policy to empower those who thrive in the virtual workspace. Timestamps: 00:38 The Fallacy of Remote Work 02:49 Misconceptions about Remote Work 03:55 Failures in Remote Work Relationships 05:54 Creating Company Policies For Remote Work 07:29 Guidelines For Remote Work Behaviors 08:10 Setting Expectations for Remote Work 15:33 Using Metrics To Create Tangible Goals 21:24 Learning Opportunities For Leaders and Managers in Remote Work LINKS MENTIONED: Prior To The Hire Guide - we’ll help you think through all the things you didn’t know you needed to think through before making your next hire!

What’s your most unpopular opinion as a manager or people leader? I’m sharing mine this week, and it’s going to ruffle some feathers. It’s about one of my rules for internal communication with my remote team, and it’s one that I think a lot more leaders should adopt. This one small boundary has helped me establish a company culture steeped in respect for my team's space and energy, while aligning the way we work with the my values as a business owner. Come for the hot take, stay for the essentials of effective communication for your own remote team!

Think leading a remote team is just a game of juggling Zoom calls and Slack messages in an effort to herd your team in a march towards deadlines? Think again. It's actually a trust-building marathon, and many leaders are dropping the baton by not establishing trust early or consistently enough with their team, leading to some major backfires. Building trust and accountability with a remote team isn't a 'do it once and dust your hands’ kind of task. It's an ongoing journey and a continuous leveling up of your leadership skills. This isn't just a process; it's an evolution that mirrors your growth as a boss (how badass is that??) This week, let's dive into the world of the unseen – the intangible elements of building trust at work. We'll explore some concrete strategies to plant the seeds of trust and accountability within your team, nurturing them to grow in ways that resonate with your unique leadership style. Listen now! LINKS MENTIONED: People Leader Archetype Quiz: Discovering your leadership archetype will reveal where your strengths are in communication and leadership, and can help you identify how to build trust with your team. Take the quick quiz now and empower yourself to become a better leader!

Ever wondered how people successfully go from solopreneur to CEO with a team? The secret isn't about nailing one specific management style or mastering a recruiting trick. It's really about how your team comes together around your business’s growth goals, starting with an intentional hiring process that paves the way for everyone's success. So why isn’t everyone who hires a team thriving and massively scaling their business? This week we’re delving into one major hiring pitfall many fall into on their journey to team building. This one mistake is so major, it often makes people regret hiring in the first place. Plus, we’ll talk through 4 steps you can take to transform your next hire from a gamble into a guaranteed investment in your business’s success. If hiring is on your mind, don’t miss this episode! Timestamps: 5:24 - The biggest hiring mistake revealed 14:30 - The 4 steps to avoiding this mistake 18:38 - Real-life examples of these 4 steps in action Links Mentioned: Getting ready to hire? Download our free Prior To The Hire Guide for a more in depth look at the 4 steps outlined in this episode, including a framework and worksheet you can use to build out the role your business needs to ROI. Full link: https://the-paradigm.com/prior-to-the-hire

As business owners, people managers, and CEOs, we often overlook the significant impact company culture has on our leadership experience. It's important to realize that culture is not just about creating a fun workplace (though we’re all about making work fun if that’s your vibe!); it's crucial in fostering productivity and ensuring the collective success of your team, which directly influences the success of your business. So, how do you ensure that every new addition to your team not only understands but also integrates well into your company's culture, especially when you’re not in a face-to-face environment? Let’s talk about it! In this week’s episode, we’re honing in on culture-driven onboarding processes, discussing strategies to ensure new team members seamlessly integrate into your team's dynamics and culture. This process starts wayyy before their first day of work, and it’s about soooo much more than paperwork. We’re talking through cultural touchpoints to consider during four stages of a culture-driven onboarding process: the pre-hire or candidacy process, orientation, acclimation to your team, company, and systems, as well as training and development. We’ll also dive into: Tune in now!

This week, we’re excited to have Meg Evans from Born To Roam Bookkeeping on the podcast to chat all about making that first hire for your business. Meg is a licensed CPA, numbers nerd, and small business bookkeeper. She is the founder and CEO of Born to Roam Bookkeeping LLC, a virtual boutique bookkeeping agency based out of California. She and her team are on a mission to empower and equip female CEOs with the tools and knowledge they need to financially fuel a life of freedom and exploration. We delved into the common fears entrepreneurs face when hiring for the first time (eh ehm, like relinquishing control over certain tasks) and the essential mental preparation needed to bring someone into your business and step into a leadership role. If you’re on the cusp of hiring, whether it's for the first time or the 10th time, there is a lot to be learned from this conversation. Tune in to hear: This episode is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact we have on our employees and how we can shape their careers in ways we might not even realize. Connect with Meg Instagram: If you’re interested in Meg’s bookkeeping services, send her a DM on Instagram (@borntoroambookkeeping)

When you’re thinking about building and shaping your company culture, you might be tempted to go along with the trends of online business and offer your team allll the flexibility they “want.” But what we’re actually seeing is that too much flexibility isn’t actually as rewarding for people to work within as we may think. Turns out, people don't just need structure to thrive at work—they actually want it. Excessive flexibility can shake the very foundation your team needs to grow and excel, leading to some unexpected pitfalls. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about why people need guardrails (which come in the form of direct and concise policies and procedures) in order for you to get an ROI on your hire. We'll explore the concept of 'toxic flexibility'—what it is, why it's a problem, and how you can steer clear of it. Plus, we're balancing the scales by discussing Tune in to learn: As a CEO, it's crucial to navigate these waters carefully. So, we're wrapping things up with two essential steps you can take to keep 'toxic flexibility' out of your company culture. Listen now!