On the Up and Up

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 PR11:55: Overcoming limiting beliefs holding people back from putting themselves out there13:14: Where to start with pitching yourself20:14: The reality of being more visible27:43: The long-term nature of PR and the need for persistence37:02: Good vs. terrible podcast pitch strategies and how to be a stellar guest52:30: PR lessons from Tom Sandoval and the Vanderpump mess1:21:59: Similarities and differences between HR & PRLinks 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:Strategies for meaningful and purposeful B2B and B2C gifting that reflect your values and ensure a worthwhile investment.The trust that develops through the physical exchange of gifts.Why promotional materials are not equivalent to meaningful gifting, whether for teams or clients.When to include your logo on a gift and when to leave it off.Tips for maximizing your gifting budget to achieve the greatest return.Innovative and affordable ways to show appreciation that deliver tangible ROI.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 KRISTINKristin 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 MENTIONEDFor businesses looking to send thoughtful gifts, head to www.shopbocu.com and use the code UpAndUp15 to receive 15% offFollow 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=rSet 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 Team6:25 Demanding a Good Client Experience From Your Contractors11:45 Different Leadership Approaches for Employees and Contractors15:25 Managing Performance and Enriching the Employee Experience18:35 Legal and Compliance Implications Of How You Treat A Blended TeamLINKS 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 NOTESJoin 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 Control13:03: Factor #5 - Extent To Which Work Performed Is An Integral Part of Potential Employer’s Business17:34: Factor #6 - Skill & InitiativeSHOW 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 Story16:20 The Consequences of Workplace Issues in Reality TV17:55 A Breakdown of Caroline Manzo’s Lawsuit Against Bravo27:10 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 Cohen36:55 Involvement Of Andy Cohen As An Employee Of The Bravo Network42:37 Legal Analysis of Rachel’s (formerly known as Raquel) Lawsuit1:01:32 Hope for Cleanup Within Bravo’s Work EnvironmentSHOW 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 skill9:28: Factor #2 - Investments by the worker and the potential employer15:35: Factor #3 -  The degree of permanence in the work relationship18:24: Tips for Freelancers who need to talk to their client about being misclassifiedLinks 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!