Episodes
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Kira chats with Adrienna McDermott, founder of Ava and the Bee, about what it takes to build a successful wedding industry business. Adrienna shares about her journey from solopreneur to running a full-blown marketing agency – and the lessons she learned along the way about scaling with intention and why treating your people right is the right way to grow your business.
Whether you're a wedding pro or just someone who loves a good entrepreneurial success story, this episode is full of insights, laughs, and relatable moments.
Links MentionedFind Ava & The Bee and all their incredible resources at: https://avaandthebee.com/
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Ever wondered if social media is actually making a difference in your business, or if it’s just another time suck? 🤔
In today’s episode of On The Up & Up, we answer this question with Emma Tessler, founder of Ninety-Five Media. Emma’s been in the social media game since back when Instagram was all filtered food pics and sepia sunsets (we’ve come so far!). She’s seen firsthand how social has evolved from an afterthought to a make-or-break marketing tool, and she’s here to spill all the tea.
If you’re a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing social media landscape, this episode is your guide. We cover:
How social media influences 74% of buyers’ decisions (yep, that many!), making it a key player in your business’s success.What she thinks about the advice floating around saying, “You can totally scale your business without social media.” (Spoiler alert: She has thoughts).How to build a seamless brand experience on social media while still keeping it personal and relatable.The evolution of social media marketing and how it’s changing the way small businesses create content in 2024.The #1 key performance indicator Instagram looks at for their algorithm – so you know where to focus your energy for max impact.Her advice for founders who are ready to transition their social presence from “It’s just me!” to a full-blown company brand now that they’ve got a team backing them up.Her take as an agency owner on building, managing, and leading a team.Whether you’re thinking about transitioning from a personal brand to a company presence or figuring out how to streamline your content creation, this episode offers tangible tips, like:
Leveraging trending content your way.Using Instagram DMs as a powerful sales tool (hint: there’s more money in your DMs than you might think!).If you want to level up your social game and align your brand for 2025, this episode is packed with strategies you can start using now!
Links MentionedExplore Ninety Five Media’s services, sign up for their value-packed newsletter, and get into their free “Master Your Marketing” course: https://ninetyfivemedia.co/ Follow Ninety Five Media on IG @ninety.five.media Tune into the Ninety Five Media Podcast, Stop Scrolling Start Scaling: https://ninetyfivemedia.co/category/podcast/
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Missing episodes?
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Did you know the average business owner wastes 250 hours a year on tasks that could be automated?
Today’s guest, Rachael Mueller, Fractional COO & Systems Expert, is here to help you reclaim that time. She’s an organization fanatic and aims to make herself obsolete for her clients by setting up sustainable systems, tools, and automations so your business runs smoothly – without needing constant oversight.
PLUS, since this *is* an HR podcast, we talk about how operations experts can stay independent without risking compliance classification issues (think: good contracts, defined scope, solid boundaries). And for the business owners listening, this is your reminder to make sure you’re treating your working relationships with external experts the right way to keep things above board.
Tune in to learn how processes, tools, and automations can make you fall in love with your business again!
Links Mentioned:Connect with Rachael on IG: @hay.rachael
Rachael’s Website: https://heyrachael.com/
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I always tell you to hire based on the role, not just the person you want... but today, I’m eating my words! At least I’m an honest hypocrite 😉
In this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Ashley Mina, our newest team member at Paradigm. The moment I met Ashley, I knew we had to work together, so I created a whole new department just for her! (I know, do as I say, not as I do!)
Ashley’s here to share her insider insights about recruiting for small businesses. We got into:
My fears around creating a whole new service and departmentAshley’s transition from high-volume corporate recruiting to small business recruitingBalancing a “sales mindset” with a quality candidate experienceWhy small businesses should prioritize the candidate experience while hiringTrends Ashley is seeing in candidates applying to our clients’ small businesses vs. corporate rolesThe perks of using an external recruiter and hiring tips for DIY-ersRed and green flags in job descriptionsAshley’s advice for building diverse teams, even if you don’t come from a diverse backgroundTune in to hear all of Ashley’s insider tips, why she’s such an amazing fit for our team, and how she can help yours!
Links Mentioned:Episode 82: Are These 5 Biases In Hiring Sabotaging Your Dream Team? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-82-are-these-5-biases-in-hiring-sabotaging-your-dream-team/id1661939979?i=1000661034302
Find Ashley’s online: Your Work Wife Ashley (https://www.yourworkwifeashley.com/)
Follow Ashley IG at @yourworkwifeashley
Interested in our recruiting services? Learn more here! https://the-paradigm.com/recruiting
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Leadership is one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll take on in your career. But when you nail it, you don’t have to do it all yourself. You can actually hand off some of those people management duties to someone else (hello, delegation!).
As long as you’ve set your future leaders up for success first. That’s what today’s episode is all about: laying the groundwork so you can confidently pass the torch.
We’re giving practice advice about:
✨ What to look for when identifying future leaders
✨ How to keep your company culture intact when someone else steps up
✨ The must-haves before delegating any team management
Tune in now!
Links Mentioned:If you’re catching this before 9/30/24, you’ve still got time to save $200 and lock in exclusive access to mentorship, coaching, and community inside People On Purpose. This is our signature management and leadership training program, and it won’t be available in this format or price until next year, so don’t miss out!
https://the-paradigm.com/people-on-purpose
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We’ve all been sold a big fat lie: that the ability to lead is something everyone’s born with.
Let’s talk about this is not only untrue, but it’s also kind of dangerous.
Plus, we’re also exploring the real difference between leadership and management. (Yes, they’re not the same thing, even though we tend to use them interchangeably around here.) Let’s clear up the confusion and talk about what it really means to be an effective leader and manager.
Links MentionedTake advantage of our special promo pricing for People On Purpose, AND get access to our exclusive community to enhance your learning: https://the-paradigm.com/people-on-purpose
*Expires on 9/30
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It’s here! The fifth edition of People On Purpose®, our signature leadership and management training program, has officially launched – and I want to dive into it.
But don’t worry, this episode isn’t a sales pitch. I’m not here to talk you into POP, but to share the philosophy behind POP and why I built it the way I did. Understanding that philosophy gets to the heart of what real leadership training is all about.
The biggest takeaway? People On Purpose® isn’t for everyone – and that’s by design. It’s built for managers and leaders who align with our core values, which I’ll be unpacking in today’s episode.
Tune in now to find out more!
LINKS MENTIONED:Join People On Purpose® today: https://the-paradigm.com/people-on-purpose
Read more about the People On Purpose® Philosophy: https://the-paradigm.com/pop-philosophy/
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If the thought of having a tough conversation with someone you manage makes you want to bolt , you’re not alone - and there’s actually a ton of science behind it.
Our brains aren’t exactly wired to enjoy this part of management. In fact, they’re working over time to convince us to avoid sitting down for that challenging chat with an employee.
Today we’re talking about what’s really happening in our brains when we’re faced with an employee issue: from the fight-or-flight response and cognitive dissonance to social conditioning, negativity bias, emotional regulation challenges, and fear of the unknown.
We’ll also talk about a framework for recognizing when a difficult conversation is exactly what’s needed to solve a problem, and how to build the confidence to tackle it head-on every single time.
LINKS MENTIONEDTackling Tough Conversations Masterclass: https://the-paradigm.com/tackling-tough-conversations
If you want to hear even more science behind the challenges of leadership, check out our recent episode on unconscious biases in hiring: “Ep. 82: Are These 5 Biases in Hiring Sabotaging Your Dream Team?”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-82-are-these-5-biases-in-hiring-sabotaging-your-dream-team/id1661939979?i=1000661034302
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Most leaders don’t wake up planning to fail their teams, but sometimes it happens unintentionally.
And one of the biggest culprits is a lack of common leadership language and management philosophy across the organization.
When everyone’s on a different page and speaking a different language, silos start forming, and your team struggles to collaborate effectively. This is especially risky in those critical stages of small business growth when scaling your team is key to unlocking your company’s full potential.
I get it - this sounds super abstract. That’s why in today’s episode, I’m sharing real-world stories that brought this concept to life for me, and I think will for you too.
Whether you’re managing a team within a larger corporation or leading one your own business, this episode is packed with insights on how to create a consistent, clear, and direct leadership language that will set everyone up for success.
Links MentionedTake the quiz to discover your People Leadership Archetype and start leading more authentically: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz
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Last week, we kicked off a 5 day plan to go from a day-to-day manager to a trusted leader who knows how to boost your team’s profitability and productivity. If you missed that deep dive of the first 2 steps - reflect and observe - make sure you go back and catch that one too! Today, we’re wrapping it up with the 3 final steps:
Unite your team with shared values and a common language. Give each team member a voice in their success. Build a plan that connects your team’s individual goals with the big-picture organizational wins.Remember, how you lead when everything’s running smoothly—aka when your team is crushing it and the vibes are on point—is a whole different game from leading in the thick of challenges.
Waiting until the house is on fire to deepen your self-awareness as a leader or sharpen your skills is not the move. The time to do this work is when things are steady. That’s what keeps those fires from turning into full-blown infernos.
LINKS MENTIONEDDownload the freebie: “5 Day Plan To Go From Manager To Trusted Leader.” https://the-paradigm.com/5-day-plan-to-leadership
Take the quiz to discover your People Leadership Archetype and start leading more authentically: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz
Catch up on the first 2 steps in last week’s episode: “Ep. 89: [Part 1] 5 Steps To Go From Manager To Trusted Leader”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-89-five-steps-to-go-from-manager-to-trusted-leader-part-1/id1661939979?i=1000665270028
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Let’s hit the reset button - on both your management and your team.
As managers and leaders, it’s our job to get everyone on the same boat and moving in the same direction. But sometimes it feels like some people are in canoes, some are on jet skis, and some are in a totally different lake.
It happens. But there are simple ways to get everyone back on course, including yourself.
In this episode, we kick off a 5-day plan designed to transform you from a manager to a trusted leader in under an hour a day. Today, we're diving into the first two steps: Reflection and Observation. These steps are the foundation for a stronger, more cohesive team—and a more empowered you.
Join me for a quick chat about these crucial starting points and get ready to transform your leadership and your team by next week. Trust us, this reset will change everything!
LINKS MENTIONEDDownload the freebie: “5 Day Plan To Go From Manager To Trusted Leader.” https://the-paradigm.com/5-day-plan-to-leadership
Take the quiz to discover your People Leadership Archetype and start leading more authentically: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz
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LoriAnn Kuntz, a finance expert by trade (and a legal eagle by necessity), never planned on hiring employees.
She had properly classified contractors, and that arrangement was working out just fine…until it wasn’t. As soon as she realized she needed more say over her team’s work, she knew it was time to change up her team’s structure.
It’s one thing to chat about these principles through our typical HR lens; it’s another to hear them straight from someone who’s in the trenches, leading and learning every day.
LoriAnn and I chatted about:
The financial ins and outs you need to consider before hiring a team member.The mental gymnastics (hello, mindset shifts) of moving from working with contractors to managing PT or FT employees.The often overlooked value of knowing yourself as a leader and building a successful team.Why great leadership doesn’t just matter in the here and now - it can change employees’ lives for years to come.And the ultimate power move: hiring people who might just be smarter than you.Tune in now to get inspired!
About LoriAnn & Profit PriorityLoriAnn is the owner and CEO of Profit Priority, a boutique accounting and fractional CFO firm helping creatives go from unsure to unstoppable when thinking about their finances. With over 8 years of experience in accounting and small business finance, she has the insight and experience to help you up-level your business while removing the stress and burden of managing your finances. Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for years, her mission is to help creatives feel peace about their numbers while growing their profit and confidence. Business aside, LoriAnn is really just a midwest gal obsessed with running, reading, iced coffees and spending time on the farm with her two little kiddos.
Links MentionedLoriAnn’s website: https://www.profitpriority.co/
LoriAnn’s podcast: https://www.profitpriority.co/podcast
Download LoriAnn’s free cash flow projection tool - https://www.profitpriority.co/cashflow
Connect with LoriAnn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loriannkuntz.co/?hl=en
Take our quiz to dIscover your own Leadership Archetype: the-paradigm.com/quiz
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Ever wonder why some new hires knock it out of the park while others can’t seem to find the ball, despite having all your training videos and SOPs at their fingertips?
In this episode, we’re focusing on the major mindset shift that leaders have to make - but often don’t - between sending the offer letter and training their new employee. We’ll talk about how this mindset sets the stage for effectively using documentation not just to instruct, but to uncover and bridge the skills gaps of new team members.
Plus, hear the common pitfalls in standard training methods and how to transform your own internal process through engaging, strategic conversations that tap into the raw potential of each new hire.
LINKS MENTIONEDCatch our recent episodes about documentation’s role in leadership:
Ep. 83: Hot Take: Documentation Is The Dark Horse Of Accountable Company Cultures: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-83-hot-take-documentation-is-the-dark-horse/id1661939979?i=1000661781225
Ep. 84: How To Create Seamless Employee Onboarding [Beyond The Paperwork]: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-84-how-to-create-seamless-employee-onboarding-beyond/id1661939979?i=1000662522969
Sign up for our Documentation 101 Workshop to ensure you and your team are effectively documenting what matters most to your business: https://courses.the-paradigm.com/courses/documentation-101
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How crucial is community for small business owners and entrepreneurs?
So crucial that our friend Taryn Rachelle restructured her entire business into a personal brand to better serve the community she'd spent years building.
In this episode, we're setting aside our usual convos on HR regulations and team management to dive into community-based business with Taryn. We chat about:
Imposter Syndrome and stepping out (or getting pushed?) of your comfort zone.The joy of being selective with business opportunities.Why Taryn is extremely selective of the systems and tools for her business (and why you should be too).Her tips for business owners looking to unite their online community in person.Taryn is your girlfriend with a plan and has been crowned the systems & community queen. As the founder of Taryn Rachelle, Keynote Speaker and Podcast Host of She Can Systemize, Taryn prides herself on helping YOU create a business that can thrive while also having a thriving personal life. With her years of knowledge in systems, running a business primarily solo and now working at the Head of Community & Partnerships for Dubsado, Taryn knows her way around running a successful business that does not run you.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration from a fellow female founder, this is the episode for you!
FIND TARYN ONLINE:Follow @thetarynrachelle for educational resources and to learn more about Taryn’s incredible retreat!
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Our legal (Bravo) correspondent is back for some BREAKING news about our girls Ariana and Katie and their former Menu Consultant and Karen of the sandwich world, Penny . Also we break down Love Island USA because we can't stop talking about it, and dive into the weird world of sibling drama via the rumor that Sandoval and Rachel's lawyers are BROTHERS?
Also, Kelli teaches us about how trademarks add a value of about 30%+ to your business valuation, and why creating a business with assets is a key component to otherwise difficult to sell and scale service based businesses.
Follow Kelli at @lawyerkelli_ on Instagram
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There are two sides of the seamless onboarding coin:
There’s the one most people think about, which is all the compliance stuff. Paperwork, forms, yada yada yada.
But today we’re talking about the other side: the cultural elements of seamless onboarding that contribute to not only the employee experience, but the leadership experience as well.
Join us as we talk through the 4 stages of an employee’s onboarding (which start before you’re even paying them!) with tips to make each one seamless and reflective of your culture as possible.
LINKS MENTIONED:Take the Leadership Archetype Quiz and understand how to lean into your personal leadership style to better support your team: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz
Our Documentation 101 workshop teaches an essential skill to add to your leadership toolkit to cultivate an accountable company culture, starting with employee onboarding.
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Let’s talk about one basic skill (dare I say, the #1 skill) that every business owner and leader can bolster within their teams to cultivate a culture rich in accountability, empowerment, productivity, and long-term relationships.
This skill is the answer to questions about how to build a proactive and engaged team while simultaneously creating an environment that’s in line with the way that you’re leading.
Surprisingly, this skill isn’t something you’ll find in most management books, and it’s probably not something you’ve encountered in the usual corporate settings. But it’s completely transformed the cultures of businesses who do it well.
So…what is it, and how do you learn it?
Tune in to find out!
LINKS MENTIONEDSign up for our newly enhanced Documentation 101 Workshop: https://courses.the-paradigm.com/courses/documentation-101
Purchase it for yourself or as a team resource to ensure everyone in your business is documenting the right things at the right time to support your company culture!
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As an entrepreneur, you’re not expected to magically transform into a professional recruiter overnight. Interviewing without letting bias crash the party is a learned skill, not something that just pops into your brain the moment you launch your business.
But the truth still remains: bias in hiring is a sneaky thief that shrinks your candidate pool down to a fraction of what it could be.
Don’t worry, today’s episode isn’t about making you an expert recruiter. It’s simply about bringing your awareness to the 5 common biases we see in hiring, and recognizing how sneaky they are. Plus 3 tips for actively combating them in your own processes. Once you know what to look for and how to address them, ensuring your hiring process and team dynamics are fair and in everyone’s best interest can become a conscious effort.
Tune in now and take the next step in building a diverse and inclusive team!
LINKS MENTIONEDHere’s last week’s episode about the business case for building a diverse workforce: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-81-diversity-in-workplace-statistics-why-inclusivity/id1661939979?i=1000660315629
Further Reading: The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976
Join our HR membership, Set To Scale, to get access to all the templates and hiring rubrics mentioned in this episode: https://the-paradigm.com/settoscale
Sign up for our Documentation 101 Workshop here: https://courses.the-paradigm.com/courses/documentation-101
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If there's one conversation we're never putting on mute, it's about the real value of diversity on your team.
Not because 'diversity' has been a trendy buzzword since 2020, but because we've got recent and cited stats to prove that diversity really is better for your business.
In today’s episode, we're diving into why diversity is a major win for your bottom line, and we’ll show you how to champion it authentically, not performatively.
Tune in now!
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING"Corporate Diversity Data: What Fortune 500 DEI Reports Reveal." Purpose Brand, purposebrand.com/blog/diversity-report-examples-fortune-2023/.
Parker, Kim, et al. "On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z so Far." Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, 14 May 2020, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far-2/#fn-28453-1.
"Gender Pay Gap Statistics You Should Know." Built In, builtin.com/recruiting/gender-pay-gap-statistics.
"U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Feb. 2024, www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/womens-earnings-were-83-6-percent-of-mens-in-2023.htm.
"Understanding Organizational Barriers to a More Inclusive Workplace." McKinsey & Company, www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/understanding-organizational-barriers-to-a-more-inclusive-workplace.
Wilson, Reid. "Diversity Defines the Millennial Generation." Brookings, Brookings, 24 July 2014, www.brookings.edu/articles/diversity-defines-the-millennial-generation/.
"Women in Tech." Built In, builtin.com/women-tech.
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Happy Juneteenth!
Today we’re honoring the end of slavery, celebrating Black freedom, and celebrating the slow strides we're making.
But part of our celebration as non-Black Americans is recognizing the work we have to put in to keep pushing the needle for racial equity.
Now, I recognize it’s not my place as a white woman to speak about the experience of Black Americans. But it is my place to spotlight the ongoing struggles and discrimination Black Americans face, particularly in the workforce.
So, keeping it in my lane: let’s dive into what Juneteenth means for businesses and HR. How can we, as leaders, better support and impact other people’s experience in the entrepreneurial world?
Join me today to explore some key statistics and lessons I’ve learned on being true allies in the fight for racial equity.
And follow along on our Instagram as we share Black creators we love to follow, laugh with, and learn from.
REFERENCESBureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm.
Yahoo Finance. “Black CEO Representation in Fortune 500 Companies.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-ceo-representation-fortune-500-103000820.html
Pew Research Center. “How Americans View Their Jobs.” March 30, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/30/how-americans-view-their-jobs/#:~:text=Black%20workers%20are%20the%20most%20likely%20to%20say%20they%E2%80%99ve%20been%20discriminated%20against%20in%20the%20workplace%20because%20of%20their%20race%20or%20ethnicity.
National Bureau of Economic Research. “Paper w29053.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.nber.org/papers/w29053.
Built In. “Examples of Unconscious Bias in the Workplace.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/unconscious-bias-examples.
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