On the Up and Up

Let's answer one of the most common (and complicated) leadership questions: Should I hire someone I’m friends with?Kira shares hard-won lessons from client stories and her own team, breaking down what makes these hires work…or crash and burn. Plus, a behind-the-scenes look at what being locked out of Instagram for a month taught her about boundaries, balance, and why your socials aren’t everything.Key Takeaways:Why hiring friends can work and when it absolutely doesn’tHow to tell someone you care about they’re not the right fitThe hiring rubric every founder needs to stay objectiveWhy your leadership style is the real dealbreakerSign up for our newsletter : https://the-paradigm.com/newsletter

In this episode, I’m joined by copywriter Andrea Shaw for a conversation about messaging that works and feels like you. We’re talking about what drives buyers to say “yes,” how to balance fear-based marketing with real connection, and why your website copy matters just as much (if not more!) than your brand design.Andrea shares:How her career went from corporate translation gigs to website copy for creative business ownersWhy she chose the solo path instead of scaling a team and what she’s learned about leadership along the wayHow wedding pros (and any creative entrepreneur) can use buyer psychology to sell with empathy, not pressureTips for setting realistic timelines, booking clients on a waitlist, and handling slow seasons without panicHer two quick wins to improve your website copy today (it’s easier than you think)About Andrea ShahAndrea Shah is a conversion copywriter who helps wedding professionals and other creative business owners turn their websites into working sales tools. With a background in brand voice, website strategy, and buyer psychology, Andrea’s specialty is writing copy that feels personal, powerful, and clear. She’s a Diet Coke enthusiast, market research nerd, and firm believer that you don’t have to scale a team to build a successful business.Find and follow Andrea at andreashah.com and on Instagram & Threads at @andreashahcopy.

Pay and wages are hands-down one of the most confusing parts of hiring for the leaders we talk to. You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself wondering, why you can’t just cut a $500 check to your assistant at the end of a big project,This episode gets right to the point to clear the fog and give you a straight answer about the only two legal ways to pay an employee. This one’s short, sweet, and essential if you’re building a team.You’ll hear:💰 The only two legal ways to pay employees (and why “project pay” usually isn’t one of them)⚖️ When a flat rate might actually work and when it’s a compliance disaster📅 The payroll schedule I recommend to keep things simple, clean, and legal🧾 How to budget labor costs without accidentally breaking wage lawsLINKS MENTIONEDContact Paradigm: https://the-paradigm.com/contact

After coming off an inspiring in-person team retreat, I’m sharing the real markers of success inside a small business. This episode explores the culture-defining power of clearly communicating expectations, especially around one of the most misunderstood (and overused) buzzwords in business: flexibility. If you've ever wondered why your team isn't "getting it" or how to lead with more clarity, tune in to this episode!We cover:Why in-person connection still matters in remote teams (even in 2025)How “flexibility” can backfire when it’s not clearly definedThe one question every leader should ask to check the pulse of their cultureHow to identify what success actually looks like in a healthy team based on your valuesListen now and grab your free HR Self-Assessment to make sure your culture is built on solid ground.LINKS MENTIONEDHR Self Assessment: https://the-paradigm.com/hr-self-assessment

Let’s talk about how I’m using AI in my business and my personal life to make things easier without losing the heart, ethics, or human-centered focus of my work. I’m sharing the tools I use, the workflows that save me HOURS each week, and some surprising ways AI has helped me make decisions, manage my health, and even stay emotionally regulated.If you’ve been feeling weird about using AI or wondering how to do it without turning into a walking ChatGPT regurgitator...Tune in for:How I use AI to turn longform content (like client calls or podcasts) into social-ready content Why it’s my secret weapon for remembering client details and cutting down on call prepThe surprising way I use AI to help me stay on track with health goalsHow ChatGPT helps me rewrite emotionally-charged emails so I can respond with clarityWhy I believe you can (and should) use AI and still be an ethical, values-driven human (with a healthy dose of skepticism)Links Mentioned:Sign up for our upcoming free training "How Not to Get Sued" https://the-paradigm.com/how-not-to-get-sued Take Our HR Self-Assessment: https://the-paradigm.com/hr-self-assessment Last week’s convo with Sam VanderWielen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-106-how-to-grow-without-losing-yourself-with-sam/id1661939979?i=1000703739144 

What if your business was the least interesting thing about you? In this episode, Kira sits down with legal educator and author Sam Vander Wielen to talk about building a life-first business…one that can weather anything, from grief to burnout to the chaos of online entrepreneurship. They cover everything from crisis-proofing your systems to writing a book deal-worthy proposal and ignoring the internet gurus. Whether you're scaling or just starting out, this is your reminder that simpler can be smarter.In this episode, you'll hear:How Sam built an $8M biz around one offerWhy your passion doesn’t have to be your productCrisis-proofing your business The anti-guru way to grow your businessThe truth about personal branding vs. personal identityWhy When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy is the book we all needed in business schoolLinks MentionedSam’s Book: When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy https://www.samvanderwielen.com/book/ Ultimate Bundle®: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/the-ultimate-bundle/ Sam’s Podcast: On Your Terms https://www.samvanderwielen.com/podcast/ Follow Sam on Instagram: @samvanderwielen

We made it to Q2, but not without some bruises. In this solo episode, Kira shares her raw, honest take on what Q1 of 2025 taught her as a founder, leader, and business owner navigating through uncertainty (and yes, a two-star review). From finding stability in chaos to staying agile in how we serve, this episode is full of hard-earned lessons and powerful reminders for anyone leading a team right now.Whether you’re riding high or barely hanging on, this one’s for you.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why your team doesn’t need a perfect leader – just a steady oneWhat one bad review taught Kira about accountability, growth, and protecting your team’s confidenceThe leadership trait people are craving more than ever in uncertain timesWhy agility beats rigidity when it comes to offers, org charts, and internal opsA new HR self-assessment tool designed to show you what you don’t know about compliance (and why that’s not your fault)Listen now to hear Kira’s hot takes, honest confessions, and real talk about leading in today’s landscape.LINKS MENTIONEDDon’t forget to grab the HR Self-Assessment Tool and DM Kira your score! The-paradigmHR Self Assessment For Small Businesses

In this episode, I’m diving into all things HR in the wedding and events world—because let’s be real, planning dreamy days doesn’t mean your backend operations should be a nightmare. We’re talking about some of the most common missteps pros make when it comes to classifying employees, setting up pay structures, and building a team culture that actually works. I’m breaking down the legal stuff in a way that doesn’t make your eyes glaze over—and sharing how to make HR work for your business (not against it).What You’ll Learn ✨ The HR headaches that are way too common in the wedding and events industry ⚖️ Why getting employee vs. contractor classification right really matters 💸 How your pay structure should support both your business goals and your team 🌿 The kind of culture that helps your team thrive (and keeps you out of legal hot water) 📋 Why HR should feel like support, not red tape 🔍 How an HR self-assessment can shine a light on your blind spots 💬 The power of community and ongoing education in staying ahead of the curveWhether you’re running a solo operation or managing a growing team, this episode will help you make smarter, more confident decisions about the people side of your business.

Come gab with two pop-culture junkies with unhealthy celeb gossip addictions and an alarming depth of knowledge in HR and legal drama as we deep-dive into one of Hollywood’s juiciest legal cases.Kelli Jones and I are serving up the piping hot tea on the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni case. We're breaking down the details we can’t stop obsessing over and the surprisingly relatable lessons small business owners can steal from it. Long story short: there’s more to learn here than just who sent the cringiest late-night texts…About Kelli Jones 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.

This week, I’m diving into my journey towards hiring an assistant (mistakes were made) and how I intentionally created their role to sidestep the pitfalls I’ve fallen into before.My 2025 “word of the year” and how it’s guiding my decisions this year;Two key tips from the business book that I now swear by; Mistakes made and lessons learned on the path to hiring the right kind of assistant (aka not a VA!)Some of the ways that my role and approach to business has already changed for the better after just one month of having an assistant LINKS MENTIONED:Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on all the new laws and rollbacks in this new political climate, and how they may impact your small business.Sign up here: https://the-paradigm.com/newsletter