On the Up and Up

Steph Weber, CEO of The Weber Co., discusses creating a positive company culture, hiring and firing well, pivoting your business, and effective communication. She emphasizes the importance of branding and storytelling and shares insights on being a caring leader, working with a lean team and contractors, and the range of services offered by The Weber Co. for establishing clients as industry authorities.

“Hiring is like dating.” “If you’re not hiring before you’re ready, you’re waiting too long.” How many of these hiring myths have you seen in tweets and posts from business “experts”? Probably too many.In today’s episode, I’m debunking these common HR and hiring myths that I hear over and over again. I’ve got stories and advice from my own experience and my convos with real hiring experts.Here are the 4 most common myths I’m covering:“Hire before you’re ready” 🚩“Hiring is like dating” 🤢“You can treat contractors like employees” 😕“Hire slow, fire fast” 🛑Get my take on these myths along with advice and tips for making hiring better for everyone involved!Links mentioned:Blog Post: Debunking 4 Harmful Hiring Myths https://the-paradigm.com/hiringmyths/Video of my previous conversation with Meg Baker, a hiring strategist: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUc_3OtJFQI/Find Meg Baker here:Website: https://megkco.com/Instagram: @megkco

What does it really mean to run a business? It’s not just about knowing your audience and creating offers that resonate with them. You need to know when to scale and how to hire, train, and lead a team. This episode features my conversation with Lauren Loreto of Brand Good Time. We cover all the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, from hiring your first employee to having an exit strategy. Tune in for an honest look at agency ownership, HR tasks, and building a business that you love.Links mentioned:Find Lauren here:Website: Brand Good Time https://brandgoodtime.com/Podcast: She’s Busy AF https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-busy-af/id1555489844Instagram: @brandgoodtimeTwitter: @brandgoodtimeLinkedIn: Lauren Loreto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto/Metrics Mothership Spreadsheet: https://brandgoodtime.com/metrics-mothership

You know you need to hire someone to help your business grow — but you’re procrastinating. And the work is piling up.This is a common issue that many small business owners face, especially women. Why? Well, we have a few ideas.This episode covers all the factors that stop business owners from hiring, as well as practical tips for overcoming these challenges. It’s time to grow a team that helps you grow! We cover:Issues with delegating responsibilitiesFinancial risks of hiringFeeling guilty about asking for helpAnd moreTune in and don’t forget to subscribe to On the Up & Up. We’ll be sharing HR, hiring, and small business leadership tips every week!Links mentioned:Schedule a Call: https://the-paradigm.com/contactThe Paradigm Solution: https://the-paradigm.com/the-paradigm-solutionCase Studies (on how investing in hiring leads to more revenue)https://the-paradigm.com/easyscalinghttps://the-paradigm.com/bossprojectContractor vs. employee: https://the-paradigm.com/contractoremployeelifecycle/Set to Scale resources for solopreneurs:  https://the-paradigm.com/settoscale 

Even with the best training, resources, and management in the world, your employees will need feedback. Sometimes, that feedback is hard to give. Whether it’s telling them they need to provide higher quality work, you want to address their behavior, or you have to let them go… you will eventually have a difficult conversation with an employee.I’ve been there and it sucks. But as an HR professional (and as someone who’s been through years of therapy), I’m sharing a few things you can do to make those hard conversations suck less for everyone involved.We talk about: Why you can’t ignore difficult conversationsWhen to bring up an issue with an employee (Spoiler alert: ASAP!)How to be a trustworthy managerWhy HR documentation is essential (It’s more than just a CYA measure)I’m here to help you address issues as they arise, so you can avoid letting things fester in your team culture or in your productivity. Listen in if you need to have a difficult conversation with an employee or team member — without the stress and tears. Don't forget to share this episode with any small business owners you know, and leave us a review! Screenshot and share your review and tag us @theparadigmm on Instagram!Links mentioned:Set to Scale ShopPerformance Improvement Plans) https://settoscale.com/products/performance-improvement-plan-template Conversation Prep Form: https://settoscale.com/products/conversation-prep-form Conversation Log: https://settoscale.com/products/conversation-log 

You’ve thought about it long and hard. You’ve wondered if you can keep doing it all yourself (you can’t). You’ve tried to find another contractor to pick up some of the pieces, but you just need more dedicated help.And now you’re ready. It’s time to hire your first employee. Except… you have no clue what to do. You’re like a deer in headlights. That’s why this episode of On the Up and Up is all about what to do when you’re ready to hire.We talk about:The difference between a job post and a job description and why confusing the two is the biggest mistake small business owners make before hiring.The difference between payroll (tax) compliance and HR (legal) compliance for team members.How hiring a first employee is a completely different experience than any other type of hiring.How to protect your special sauce from intellectual property theft.WTF is up with employment contracts — and what to do instead.The purpose and function of the employee handbook, aka the HR Bible.I’m here to help you feel more confident in your hiring decision, so you can get the help you need. Listen in if you want to figure out what to do when you’re ready to bring on that first team member. Don’t forget to share this episode with any small business owners you know, and leave us a review! Screenshot and share your review and tag us @theparadigmm on Instagram!Links mentioned:Set to Scale Shop (Job Description Outlines) https://settoscale.com/collections/job-description-templatesNDA Template from LegalMiga affiliate link: https://www.thelegalmigalibrary.com/non-disclosure-confidentiality-agreement/ay6szInterview Bundle https://settoscale.com/products/interviewing-bundleRippling HR & IT: email us hello@the-paradigm.com and skip the annoying sales people

This week we are lucky enough to feature Jordan King, who generously shares her knowledge as a serial entrepreneur. This episode is not about deciding who to hire, but rather about understanding the mindset of the individuals you bring onto your team in order to place them in the appropriate role, even if it is not currently available in your company. In today's episode, we cover:Professionalism & communication is key in expediting success in this process.Business leadership is a combination of natural abilities and learned skills.As a leader, it's important to have a deeper level of understanding of your team members in order to get the best results from them and balance that with the culture of your business.Firing or not retaining an employee is not always the worst thing for your team. In fact, the negative impact can be exponentially higher when a person is trying to fit into a role that isn't best for them, their skill sets, or their overall goals.We discuss the mindset differences between employees and entrepreneurs and how leaders can learn to identify these differences and manage their team members into the best fit for them.Tune in next week as we cover approaching difficult conversations. -----------------------Resources:Case Study: How Strategic HR Helped Easy Scaling Founder Jordan Schanda King Build A Company Culture That Thrives So She Can Truly Embrace The Ease Of Scaling Her Biz -----------------------Guest Info:Introducing our guest for today's episode, Jordan Schanda King. Jordan is a serial entrepreneur and an expert on all things scaling and operations. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, she has published a book, founded multiple businesses, successfully sold a business, and built a multiple-six-figure agency, Easy Scaling, from scratch in less than a year. Easy Scaling employs a team of over twenty expert implementers specializing in operations, tech, design, copywriting, and more. Together, they help female coaches, agency owners, and service providers scale their business without burning out, so that they can build a sustainable business that they love. We're excited to have Jordan on the show today to share her insights and expertise.Jordan’s Instagram: JordanSchandakingJordan’s Website: EasyScaling.com -----------------------Like what you hear?Let's get your business Set to Scale - Get started!Get Down With The Up And Up! Join our community for monthly tips, tricks, and all the juicy goss about entrepreneurship, people operations, and team development straight to your inbox.Connect with me at:Instagram: @theparadigmmLinkedIn: Kira La ForgiaFacebook: Paradigm Consulting

If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or work in human resources, then this week’s episode was made just for you!When it comes to growing your business, the decision to add employees can feel very overwhelming. The truth is that hiring a new employee can bring comfort and ease in your everyday work life. If you find yourself wondering Is it time to hire a new employee? These 3 questions should bring you clarity. Capacity - Is your ability to create revenue impeded by your capacity limits?Mindset - Are you ready to change the way you view your business to make space for true support?Stability - Can you identify an average revenue marker or profit margin that you can expect to come in each month that allows for setting a budget?We can take all three of these things and deconstruct them into whether or not an employee or contractor is the right move. A long term, involved player in a growing business will be most successful in starting and growing in an employee role. A bandaid on a bullet hole, or hemorrhage hire is going to be more about the tasks and less about the person. Things that you don’t need to have sorted before you hire:Revenue of XX amount - Don’t worry about the numbers. Look for consistent predictable revenue. A desire to grow and expand - Hiring could mean growth, or it could mean maintenance - a hire can mean the difference between a busy life for you or a truly sustainable model with less profit. Neither are wrong.SOP Libraries - Processes are important, but you don't need them to be set in stone to hire support. KPI Dashboards - if you can ID one measure of success to start, you can always build on those later Don’t wait for the stars to align to hire a new employee. Take the risk with the proper precautions, and watch your business flourish. Next week, we're chatting with my dear friend and client, Jordan King, to chat all about the overhaul of a team built on being contractors, and then mindset shifts that happen when converting business owners to employees (and the pitfalls!) ----Resources: Follow Dana Shular: https://www.instagram.com/danashular/ 1 in 3 professional women say they've experienced sexual harassment at workCheck out our blog: https://the-paradigm.com/blog/  ---- Like what you hear?Let's get your business Set to Scale - Get started!Get Down With The Up And Up! Join our community for monthly tips, tricks, and all the juicy goss about entrepreneurship, people operations, and team development straight to your inbox.Connect with me at: Instagram: @theparadigmm LinkedIn: Kira La Forgia Facebook: Paradigm Consulting

This one's for all small business owners who are expanding for the first time!Today, we cover one of the MOST talked about topics we receive when it comes to planning, hiring, developing, managing, and not getting screwed in building your team: the employee vs. contractor discussion. The employee vs. contractor discussion is constantly evolving. There is a LOT of grey area, so it's essential to be up to date on the IRS's regulations and those within your state. As a small business owner, having a mix of employees and contractors can help to create an enriching workplace. But how do you ensure it's still profitable? How can you approach this through a lens of neutrality? Find out some things to consider when expanding your team by tuning into this week's episode!--------------------------In today's episode, we cover:Reasons why the employee vs. contractor conversation is ongoingWhy having a mix of employees and contractors can be beneficialThe power of having a small teamThe danger behind misclassifying an employee and/or contractorThe main differences between an employee vs. a contractor (according to the IRS)Creating an enriching work environment that evolves over timeBehavioral controlFinancial controlRelationships of the partiesThe permanency of the relationshipThe energy exchange of an employer-employee relationship and an employer-contractor relationship-----------------------RESOURCES:IRS: Independent Contractor or Employee?On the blog: The Making of a Team: Contractors vs. EmployeesOn the blog: The Life Cycle of a Contractor vs. The Life Cycle of an EmployeeTake the quiz: Do You Need an Employee or a Contractor?-----------------------Like what you hear? Let's get your business Set to Scale - Get started!Get Down With The Up And Up! Join our community for monthly tips, tricks, and all the juicy goss about entrepreneurship, people operations, and team development straight to your inbox. Connect with me at:Instagram: @theparadigmmLinkedIn: Kira La ForgiaFacebook: Paradigm Consulting

Please join us in welcoming Braden Adam Drake for our official launch episode! In this witty and amusing episode, Braden and Kira spill some of their experiences in the workforce and stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. If you thought that attorneys and tax professionals were bland, think again! Braden will quickly change your mind while providing educational tidbits. Plus, for all of our Californian listeners out there, Braden touches on California's contractor laws: AB5.Disclaimer: these episodes are NOT meant to take the place of an HR or Legal Department.--------------------------In today's episode, we cover:Braden's origin storyThe worst boss Braden had in the workforceThe highlights and lowlights of Kira and Braden's internship experiencesWhat would they both have done differently if they could go back in timeLitigation vs. transactional lawsHow HR and attorneys can work together to support your businessIntroduction to the AB5 law in California Fears entrepreneurs typically have around hiringAnecdotes from Braden's journey of having a team of contractors to employeesThe value of the 3-year pictureAdvice for writing work emailsPeople Braden tries to emulate-----------------------RESOURCES:Read Braden's blog post on AB5 Dealing with California's New Contractor LawsTraction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino WickmanOn the blog: Boss Project Case Study-----------------------Guest info:Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional. His tagline is your gay best friend here to help you get your legal, tax, and financial shit legit. Braden works primarily with service-based, creative small business owners through his signature program Profit Rx.Follow Braden on Instagram @bradenadamdrake, and if you want to binge Braden's Podcast, look for Unf*ck Your Biz With Braden!-----------------------Like what you hear? Let's get your business Set to Scale - Get started!Get Down With The Up And Up! Join our community for monthly tips, tricks, and all the juicy goss about entrepreneurship, people operations, and team development straight to your inbox. Connect with me at:Instagram: @theparadigmmLinkedIn: Kira La ForgiaFacebook: Paradigm Consulting