Think Outside the Firm

What can you expect from this week's Think Outside the Bank episode? We'll unpack one of the most intriguing articles published at TheLucyReport.com this week - stay up-to-date on financial and business trends by subscribing for free today!  The featured Business Plan Tip of the Week - ensure your business plan is ready for funding with each week's hard-working tip! Discover a SIMPLE path for explosive growth that doesn't even require funding!  Hear from our "Geek of the Week" and learn HOW small businesses like yours can de-risk their business from a funding perspective so you can more effectively vet your lender!  This season is PACKED with actionable insights from start to finish. Make sure you don't miss an episode by subscribing! Do you love what you learned today? Please consider writing a review - it will help other listeners find these episodes!

This season, Think Outside the Bank will be turning YOU into a highly fundable, savvy company - ready to VET THE LENDER! First, we'll help to ensure your business is set up for success through de-risking and getting clear on the amount of funding you need. Then, we'll explore various TYPES of funding such as SBA loans, used equipment funding, and business expansion funding. Finally, you'll become EMPOWERED, learning how to vet the lender's technology-efficiency rating, reputation, timeline, and more to carefully select a lender that WORKS for you.

You're DONE gauging this elusive economy, and you're READY to launch or expand your business right now. But, how will you fund this exciting new venture???    Great question! Business ownership in a competitive and fluctuating economy can be SUPER expensive, with only a small percentage of business owners reporting launch costs of less than $50,000.  That's right- over 27% of small business owners report a hefty price tag of between $250,000 and $500,000 to get their company going. And those business owners were verrry savvy about what TYPE of funding to use, and how to VET THE LENDER, since all lenders are NOT created equal…   In business, it pays to know what you don't know. This August, we're launching Season 4 of THINK OUTSIDE THE BANK podcast - for small business owners looking to earn, protect, and attract more money into their companies- by playing smart, and VETTING THE LENDER.   This season, Think Outside the Bank will be turning YOU into a highly fundable, savvy company - ready to VET THE LENDER.  First, we'll help to ensure your business is set up for success through de-risking, getting clear on the amount of funding you need, cleaning up your credit score, analyzing your debt to income ratio, time in business, and more.   Next, we'll explore various TYPES of funding like SBA loans, leases, heavy equipment funding, used equipment funding, larger loans, business expansion funding, grants, and business plan competitions, to help narrow down what makes sense for you.  AND, you'll become EMPOWERED by learning how to VET THE LENDER's technology-efficiency rating, reputation, terms, fees, timeline, and collateral requirements to carefully select a lender that WORKS for you.   Think Outside the Bank is a podcast for small business owners, brought to you by lucy technologies. Empowering the Heart of America.  

Have you heard the news? A recession IS ON THE HORIZON. That's right- it's 2022, and small business owners everywhere have weathered a pandemic, a war in Ukraine, skyrocketing inflation, manufacturing shortages, and what's next? A recession???!!! Don't be fooled - this recession is an OPPORTUNITY you won't want to miss. Welcome to THINK OUTSIDE THE FIRM - a podcast for small business owners looking to earn, protect, and attract more money into their businesses regardless of the economy by creating strong, thriving, recession-proof companies. In fact, did you know that companies like Airbnb, Trader Joe's, and Disney were launched during recessions? In business, it pays to know what you don't know! This August, Think Outside the Firm will have you proclaiming, “Thank God it's a recession!” as we share how choosing the right type of business, building a strong team, taking risk reduction measures, adopting efficient systems, creating multiple revenue streams, modifying offerings, and most importantly- properly handling funds will help your business to thrive in a recession and beyond. Think Outside the Firm is a podcast for small business owners, brought to you by Legalucy. It's a jungle out there, but legal doesn't have to be.  Exactly.    brought to you by: https://legalucy.com

Especially at this point in history, employers need to be at the top of their game to attract and retain top talent. One critical component of "being on top of your game" that many business owners overlook is having a smart succession plan in place. If you're wondering, "What is a succession plan?" or "How can a succession plan help me build my dream team?" this episode so was made specifically for you! Join us as our expert guest Jonathon Angell as we dive into this powerful topic. Want to discover a bevy of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out: Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com Don't miss a single episode! Click HERE to subscribe today!  

As we're in the middle of the Great Resignation, many small business owners are asking themselves, "Can I even compete against the high-salaried positions larger firms are offering?" or "Why should I even get attached to my best employees if they could be recruited out from under me at a moment's notice?" If you've asked either of those questions, you're not alone! Many small business owners are wondering what they can do to compete with "better" offers and retain their key players. In today's episode, we're talking about a little-discussed BUT wildly important topic of great management as being a powerful differentiator in the employee landscape today. People love working for great people! And with just a bit of work, we can ALL be excellent managers and leaders for our teams.

Did you know that research shows more employees would prefer recognition over a pay raise, promotion, or many other benefits? It's true! And as we know, the Big Quit (or the Great Resignation) or 2021 isn't slowing down. If you're looking to attract and KEEP your dream team, recognition is something to seriously consider. In today's episode, we unpack what a recognition program is (Spoiler: it doesn't need to be complicated or expensive!) and how to maximize it to let your employees know how much you value them and encourage or incentivize excellent expectations.

Our favorite definition of a reputation, or brand, comes from Jeff Bezos: "Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room" Looking through this lens, it makes complete sense that your brand (what people are saying about you) plays an ENORMOUS role in attracting and keeping your dream team. In today's episode, we dig deeper into this topic with Katie McConnell Olson, Founder and CEO of Hire Education Consulting Group.

You've probably heard about The Great Quit that's currently happening in today's economy. Employees are quitting their jobs at a scale we've never seen before. And as you know, your all-star employees are your best assets. So with all of this in mind, how do you keep your all-stars on your team? How do you minimize the risk of The Big Quit affecting your business and bottom line? If you're at all concerned about this, today's episode was created with you in mind! Listen now to learn more from Guillermo Borges, a Silicon Valley technologist passionate about creating a simple to use product to help employers collect feedback, and inevitably, build their dream team! Want to discover a bevy of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out: Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com Don't miss a single episode! Click HERE to subscribe today!

Are you looking to expand your team and are wondering about how salary will fit into the mix? Is it the true bottom line or is there more to it? If you've asked either of these questions, today's episode was made especially for you! Want to discover a BEVY of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out: Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com Don't miss a single episode! Click HERE to subscribe today!

The typical workplace is forever changed with many teams now distributed across the country - and sometimes around the world. How do you set up your workplace to be as effective as possible in this new normal? What questions should you be asking and what resources should you be considering to bridge the gap from what was to what is (and will be)? If any of these questions have crossed your mind, this episode was made just for you!  Today, we welcome Mitch Zenger, VP of Future of Work, at M Squared to discuss these questions and much more!  Want to discover a bevy of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out: Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com  

Are you looking to attract, hire, and retain top-tier employees in 2021 and beyond? Are you looking for some guideposts for future hiring as you set up your business right now? If you answered yes to either question, today's episode was made just for you! Join two members of the Legalucy team as we discuss the ins and outs of today's hiring environment. Want to discover a bevy of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out: Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com

Which one of these is your top challenge? It should come as no surprise to you that business owners and hiring managers are facing significant challenges right now in this "seller's market" for employee talent. Join us today as we unpack these issues and offer tools and resources to help you navigate this very specific and unique time. BONUS... even though these challenges are residual effects of the COVID19 Pandemic, these issues are cyclical. So, why not solve this problem now and bring your business ahead of the curve in hiring your DREAM TEAM!   Links Mentioned in This Week's Episode 60 Second Brief “hiring statistics” articles: https://financesonline.com/hiring-statistics/ https://www.zoomshift.com/blog/hr-statistics/ https://www.visualcv.com/blog/hiring-statistics/ https://insights.myshortlister.com/recruiting-statistics   Want to discover a bevy of other resources for YOU, the small business owner? Check out:  Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com

Welcome to Think Outside the Firm! a podcast for small business owners looking to earn, protect, and attract more money into their business by hiring their DREAM TEAM. In this episode, we dig deeper into what you can expect to hear this Season of Think Outside the Firm. Our mission is to resource you as you build your DREAM TEAM in 2021 and beyond! We look forward to bringing the value each week so remember to subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. On your side, Harmony and Ginny, your Think Outside the Firm Hosts   Looking for more great resources? We've got you covered! Legalucy.com MyPandemicProofBusiness.com ThinkOutsideTheFirm.com

Looking back over 2020, we wanted to wrap up our second season by sharing the most valuable nuggets we've uncovered over these last several months that could both provide insight in to protecting your business as well as some topics to think about as you GROW your business (despite the uniqueness of this year). Both Harmony and Ginny took some time to think about their biggest nuggets of wisdom they found this year, the business trends they see sticking around, and the biggest takeaways they have for you, our listeners. Enjoy and here are the episodes they referenced if you'd like to go deeper into any given topic. Episode 2: What To Do if an Employee Tests Positive for COVID? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e2-what-to-do-if-an-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19/id1481400664?i=1000476710955  Episode 13: 7 Big Questions We Keep Getting About Doing Business Right Now https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e13-7-big-questions-we-keep-getting-about-doing-business/id1481400664?i=1000489587104  Episode 7: How Can I Secure Funding During the Pandemic? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e7-how-can-i-secure-funding-during-the-pandemic/id1481400664?i=1000485218740  Episode 9: How To Stay Funded During the Pandemic https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e9-how-to-stay-funded-during-the-pandemic/id1481400664?i=1000486506753  Episode 10: Can Insurance Be a Business Life Saver? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e10-can-insurance-be-a-business-saver/id1481400664?i=1000487628681  Episode 6: What Do I Need to Know About Marketing Online? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e6-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-marketing-online/id1481400664?i=1000480943703  Episode 14: What About Online Privacy Concerns During a Pandemic? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e14-what-about-online-privacy-concerns-during-a-pandemic/id1481400664?i=1000491107136  Thanks again for joining us this season! We look forward to serving you up some great content in Season 3!

With so many unknowns and rapidly changing dynamics, sometimes it makes sense as a business owner to talk with a lawyer to make sure you're protected and know all your options. In today's episode, we talk about some specific and timely scenarios in which a lawyer might be very helpful to you, the small business owner. In this week's "Caught Doing Good" Segment, we actually focus on a trend of rapid business growth... athleisure. It's a segment of retail clothing that has seen ENORMOUS growth during this season with so many people working from home. Why do we say this segment has been caught doing good? Not only does it provide a comfortable option for work clothes, it's also a fast-growing segment of clothing for those looking to launch a business in this space. So, the "good" is both now and in business potential. Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com 

2020 has seemed like the year of "whack-a-mole." We try to solve one problem over here, and something else pops up other there... It may feel like this in your business, as well. Perhaps you solved the problem of moving much of your business online, but that creates another problem... There are SO many laws and regulations around online activity, and while we covered some on a previous episode (S2E6: Marketing Online and S2E4: Privacy Online), we're going deeper today on some of the implications doing business online can mean for you. And in this week's Caught Doing Good, we're honored to feature a brilliant young entrepreneur, Paris Williams, a six-year-old from St Louis, Missouri. She founded Paris Cares to bring books and food to the homeless in her area. To learn more and contribute, visit: https://bonfire.com/pariscares 

Together, we're ventured into the unknown of doing business during a pandemic. We all have questions about how this season will affect how we do business in the long-term, but in the meantime, this week's episode covers the 7 biggest questions we keep hearing from the small business community. And in this week's Caught Doing Good segment, we're honored to feature Cleo, a company dedicated to solving the childcare problem that's arisen during this time. Want to learn more about their great work? Visit: www.hicleo.com  Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com 

Do you currently have a lease for your office or retail business? Are you considering opening a business that will need physical space during this time? In this week's episode, we go over some very important and timely considerations such as: - What if you're looking to get out of your lease? What options may you have? - Understanding some very important verbiage in your lease - Some questions to consider if you're looking to sign a lease during the pandemic Also, in our Caught Doing Good segment, we're excited to feature Ocala Drive-In Move Theatre in Florida. In fact, if you're looking for a unique movie-going experience right now, find a drive-in movie theatre near you at www.driveinmovie.com  Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com 

If you're considering the launch of your own business during this season, this episode is for you!   We discuss certain industries that may be worth exploring, pose questions every potential business owner should ask themselves, and talk about momentum... among other things!   In this week's "Caught Doing Good" segment, we feature a household name. Even though we typically like to feature small businesses that are doing good in their own community, Hanes caught our eye with what they're doing these days...   They've launched a campaign they call #maskaround geared toward encouraging Americans to wear a mask while out and about, AND they've donated 1 Million masks to those experiencing homelessness during this difficult time. Thanks, Hanes!   Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com   Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time.   Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com  

Have you considered the fact that your business insurance could be a lifeline for you during these times? In this week's episode, we're diving into a lesser-known asset pretty much all businesses have... insurance. And depending on your policy, you may have access to additional resources. Grab your policy and listen to this week's episode to learn more. To discover all of the resources mentioned on this podcast and more, visit: https://www.mypandemicproofbusiness.com/post/business-interruption-insurance-is-your-lifesaver  In our Caught Doing Good segment, we're excited to feature iFixIt, a startup focused on helping hospitals keep their devices up and running by distributing medical device manuals and other related documents since repair services are having difficulty keeping up with demand right now. To learn more, visit https://ifixit.com  

Are there more sources of funding out there for businesses struggling to get through this pandemic? If you're such a business owner, be encouraged! There are multiple sources of funding available and additional sources come online every month. In this week's episode, Legal Information Guide Steven Davidson walks us through a couple of those options currently available such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Want to read his full article? Check it out here: https://www.mypandemicproofbusiness.com/post/save-your-business-with-the-economic-injury-disaster-loan  In our "Caught Doing Good" segment, we feature two small businesses in the heart of Silicon Valley as this business-owner-couple redefines how their businesses serve clients as a hair salon and a nail salon. If you're in the Santa Clara area, learn more by calling them at: Sean’s barbershop: (408) 244-7488 Orchid Nail Lounge: (408) 244-7488 Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com    Don't miss a single episode! Subscribe today!

As a small business owner, are you or someone you know considering bankruptcy during the season? if so that's nothing to be ashamed about. And this week's episode we're talking about the different types of bankruptcy options a business owner may have during the season and we also discussed the different protections, options, and forms of flexibility bankruptcy may afford. Though it's a heavy topic we hope to take some of the stigma out of it and provide powerful resources and answers to questions business owners may have during these uncertain times.   Additionally, in our “Caught Doing Good” segment, we discuss a gym called Be Strong Gym located in Indiana that has discovered flexible ways of helping their customer base during this time to maintain loyal customers as well as bring additional revenues into the business. To find out more, visit https://be-strong.squarespace.com

Are you looking for outside funding during this season? Whether it be relief programs, loans, or even investor funding we've got your back! That's what we're discussing on this week's episode with our own Legal Information Guide, Natalia Navarro. Also, in this week's "Caught Doing Good" we focus on co-host Ginny's hometown, Phoenix, AZ, that's been hard-hit by COVID. The Phoenix Inn, Maricopa County, and Circle the City have linked arms to help the more vulnerable COVID victims during the heat of the summer... the County's homeless population. Also, check out all of the incredible resources our Pandemic Response Team has been working hard to create for you! Links referenced: https://sec.gov 

During the Pandemic, have you moved more of your marketing online? Or are you thinking about bringing more of your marketing online? Either way, this week's episode was made just for you. We discuss the importance of knowing the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) requirements on things like claims you make, avoiding deception, and much more! Looking to read more about these requirements? Visit https://ftc.gov  And in this week's segment of Caught Doing Good, we want to recognize a new company called Global PPE who is working to make sure highly vulnerable groups of people, namely Native populations in the Southwest, have access to PPE. Well done! To learn more about their work, visit https://global-ppe.com  Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com 

It's a great question, right? And we certainly hope you're in the position to hire someone during the Pandemic. But several new concerns and questions arise around everything from the job description (What should you say about working remotely? Or safety concerns an applicant may have if the job is on-site?) to the interview process (What questions can you ask and which may violate new or existing laws?). And can you require an applicant to be tested for COVID? So many questions come up and our very own Legal Information Guide, Vanessa Chang, joins us to share all of the research she's done on the topic. And, in this week's "Caught Doing Good" we're featuring an art gallery/tattoo shop in Kentucky (wait til you hear why!). Learn more about them at https://galleryxartcollective.com

COVID has opened our eyes to the importance of businesses having an online component. But if your business is new to the online world, you may be wondering "What do I need to know about doing business online?" Great question! We've got you covered. In this week's episode, we talk about the very important issue of online privacy. Over time, legislation has supported the notion that businesses (and the access they have to their users/consumers information) have a responsibility to protect their users' privacy as it pertains to transactions that happen on their site. Pandemic Response Team member and Legal Information Guide, John Alec Stouras joins us today to share the research he's done on this increasingly important topic. In our weekly Caught Doing Good segment, we wanted to feature a couple of businesses that are using their platform to help support black-owned businesses: Yelp.com will be introducing a way to search for black-owned businesses. Uber Eats will be waiving their delivery fees for black-owned restaurants for the rest of 2020! And if you'd like to find more information on how to support black-owned businesses, we encourage you to visit: https://webuyblack.com  Want to learn more about how to pandemic-proof your business during this time? Visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Grab your copy of the Lucy Report today! In response to today's environment, we are making access to it FREE for a short period of time. Learn more at http://thelucyreport.com 

Last week we discussed what happens from a privacy and workplace safety perspective if an employee tests positive for COVID-19. This week we talk about paid sick leave implications during the pandemic. But before we get there, our "Caught Doing Good" segment features Optimusride.com, a driverless car startup that pivoted during this time to serve a community suffering from food insecurity by delivering these families meals. This week's Legal Information Guide, Rayan Omer, shares what she's learned in her extensive research on this topic. Since this episode is pretty dense with information and acronyms, visit the article she wrote complete with links to additional information here: https://www.mypandemicproofbusiness.com/post/paying-the-sick-and-tired

As an employer, what are your legal requirements regarding employee health? And if (heaven forbid) one of your employees starts showing symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive, what does the law require you to do to ensure privacy but also maintain a safe working environment? In this week's episode, we discuss this topic with legal information guide and member of Legalucy's Pandemic Response Team, Shelby Matsumura. We also reveal which small business was "Caught Doing Good" during this trying season. Additionally, we share some great news about a now-free resource created just for you: the small business owner who wants to not only survive but thrive in the post-COVID-19 world. To learn more, visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  And, a for a limited time only, to access your copy of the Lucy Report for FREE, visit: http://thelucyreport.com 

Surely you've heard the phrase: "The best offense is a good defense." But during this season of business, the key to a good defense to this pandemic may be a good offense... that is, moving forward and potentially starting a pandemic-proof business. Join us for this week's episode as we discuss this topic, highlight a small business "caught doing good," and hear what our Pandemic Response Team is doing right now to help YOU, the small business owner, thrive during this season. Want to learn more? Visit HTTP://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  

Has your small business been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, this is the podcast for you. Welcome to Season 2 of Think Outside the Firm. This season we'll be keeping you informed on important, trending legal issues that could affect your small business in this ever-changing economic and legal environment. In this episode, Harmony and Ginny share a bit about what you can expect this season AND share some great resources coming your way from our "Pandemic Response Team." To learn more, visit: http://mypandemicproofbusiness.com  Want to receive the even more critical updates that matter to YOU from our legal research team? Visit: http://thelucyreport.com  We'll see you each Monday this season!

What happens when you're working hard on a project and then the "real-life calendar" which includes the Holidays and family and even some time off collide? In today's episode, we discuss that tension and a couple of ways we manage all that needs to get done. PLUS, we have an incredible guest Rob Christopher. Rob is the Founder and CEO of JustResolve. In his 36 years as a business litigator, including as an attorney at Hopkins and Carley in San Jose, it became apparent to Rob that the U.S. adversarial system of justice, while the best in the world at dealing with high stakes disputes, is shockingly inept at delivering real and efficient justice in limited-stakes situations. His company has developed a simple, judge-driven method that preserves the best elements of the courts and popular alternatives while cutting out process that is wasteful and unnecessary. Don't miss this powerful episode as we wrap up 2019! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  This Episode: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com/post/episode15  Just Resolve: https://justresolve.com 

In this week's episode, we cover a lot of ground! First, Harmony shares an amazing story about an incredible introduction - and why we think it was meant to be! Plus, as we're on the journey to grow Legalucy, we've felt a strong call to up-level... But in a way that initially surprised us both. SPOILER ALERT: This business journey will always ask us to up-level our game in interesting and sometimes unexpected ways. PLUS... We interview the incredible Vito Scarnecchia about community, go-to-market strategies for scalable companies, and how the real secret for success is closely tied to your team. Vito is a business marketing expert, a real estate broker, a U.S. Marine Corp. Veteran, and a “rising star” in the world of entrepreneurship. He’s in the early stages of launching his next venture - a startup to help small business owners called Jet Office 360. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com  This Episode: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com/post/episode14  Jet Office 360: https://jetoffice360.com 

Happy Thanksgiving, Entrepreneurs! In this special episode, we take a beat to remember and acknowledge three big things we're grateful for this holiday season. We hope these insights (and the practice of being grateful in general) are inspiring to you as you approach Thanksgiving and the rest of the Holiday season. LOOKING FOR LINKS? Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com  This Episode: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com/post/episode13

Momentum is a powerful force in business. It can show up in many different ways - users telling other people about your product, media mentions, investor interest, and on and on.   Because it's such a powerful force, nurturing momentum is high on the list of executive responsibilities in a startup.   This week, Harmony shares a magical moment and the chain of events (the momentum) that led her to that event.   PLUS... we are so honored to have Deborah Gerhardt on our show! She is an Associate Professor of Law at UNC School of Law, where she specializes in the intersection of law and creativity. She has written leading articles in trademark, copyright, and art law. Deborah was awarded UNC’s 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award for Post-Baccalaureate Instruction. Deborah teaches Arts Entrepreneurship, Art Law, Copyright Law, Trademark Law, Contracts and a practical writing seminar on intellectual property strategies and transactions. Deborah also delivers valuable information to our users at legalucy.com, to help them better understand what it means to hold a Trademark.   And during the interview, we discuss the powerful use case that brought Harmony and Deborah across each other's path this past week.     LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:   Legalucy: https://legalucy.com   Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com   Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter! https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com/post/episode12

Have you ever been intimidated by the thought of sitting down to put some good time into knowing your numbers? Or... perhaps do you think it's a lesser priority as you're growing your business? If so, this episode will provide some encouragement and motivation to dive in and make sure your numbers are SOUND! PLUS... this week we have the honor of interviewing a young powerhouse of an entrepreneur who's truly going the distance: Jasmine Sanchez! This isn't just because she came up with a unique hydration solution while on a long-distance run! Learn all about the great business she's building and the innovative work that San Jose State University's IDEAS is bringing to Silicon Valley college students. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Think Outside the Firm: https:thinkoutsidethefirm.com  Vessel Athletics: https://vesselathlethics.co  https://vesselathleticsbeta.com  vesselathletics@gmail.com 

Are you working on a project that's either taking longer than you thought it would or is asking a lot of you during this season? If so, this episode is for you! Harmony shares some amazing doors that have been opened as a direct result of her consistently showing up (literally and figuratively, too!). PLUS, our special guest on this Veterans Day episodes none other than Ryan Micheletti, the Co-Founder and COO at Vet-Tech, Co-Founder and CFO at Shield Corps Security, and the Director of Global Operations at Founder Institute. In our discussion, he shares great advice for Veterans who are looking to transition into a civilian job (but the advice is SO GOOD it applies to anyone looking to make a shift). Special Offer for Our Veteran Listeners: Did you know Vet-Tech offers a fellowship to attend the Founder Institute? It's true! Check out thinkoutsidethefirm.com to learn more. LINKS OF RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS SHOW: Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com  Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Founder Institute: https://fi.co  Shield Corp Security: http://shieldcorpssecurity.com/  Vet-Tech: https://fi.co/join/vet-tech 

How do you handle the stress that can build up during extremely demanding seasons? In this week's episode, Harmony opens up and shares some of her best go-to tools for keeping stress at bay while building a legal tech company AND finalizing funding at the same time. This start-up game isn't for the faint of heart but that doesn't mean we need to let stress reign supreme during these seasons. PLUS, we have the honor of interviewing a Silicon Valley icon, Fred Stein of the Keiretsu Forum in Palo Alto and VLAB. Both he and Harmony have their fingers on the pulse of how legal and AI are connecting to bring some incredible improvements to the industry (for both lawyers and their clients!) so join us to hear more about these great changes. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com  Keiretsu Forum, Palo Alto: http://www.keiretsuforum.com/global-chapters/silicon-valley  VLAB: https://vlab.org 

Whether you're thinking about starting a business or are already on your way, user feedback has immense value. Whether you're thinking about starting a business or are already on your way, user feedback has immense value. But feedback isn't limited just to features and content... Feedback can even inform pricing and business models. Today Harmony shares a story about a surprising interaction she had with an industry peer regarding this specific type of feedback. PLUS, we are honored to feature Dr. Vidya Hebbar, winner of last week's Break the Roles pitch competition which is sponsored by Legalucy. You'll hear just a bit of her story on how she used her graduate school experience to prepare for her current role (and it's probably not what you think it is!), and she encourages all listeners to make small but brave decisions... as these are the source of compounding interest in the currency of life. LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PODCAST: Break the Roles: https://breaktheroles.com  LifeScient: http://www.lifescient.com/  Legalucy: https://legalucy.com  Think Outside the Firm: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com 

Do you love the idea of an underdog winning the race in business or otherwise? If so, we've got a great story for you that happened just this past week and the top two reasons WHY this founder pulled ahead to win the race! PLUS... we've got a special treat for you. Angel Investor Irwin Ki is on our show and he brings the gold revealing everything from what he looks for in an investable company, how to develop trust (the real superpower) with potential investors, and he even shares an inside story about the 3 questions Steve Jobs asked himself that led to the iPhone. It's another can't miss episode! Links Mentioned in This Episode: Legalucy's Livestream Channel: https://bit.ly/legalucylive  Play Bigger: https://amzn.to/32DdGpS  Angel: https://amzn.to/2MEkuOp  Irwin Ki's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irwin_ki/  Irwin Ki's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irwinki/  SeedInvest: https://www.seedinvest.com/ 

Tell me if you've experienced this issue... as you're building your business, multiple priorities bubble up to the surface. AND, as you make efforts to address them, you realize how integrated they actually are. That's what we mean by a "chicken and the egg problem"... which really comes first? Which one do you solve first? In this week's episode Harmony shares how she's handling the chicken and the egg problem of building Legalucy which is a marketplace model: and both sides of the market need to grow. PLUS, in our weekly feature, we interview Ryan Miller, the President of Warrior Rising, a powerful organization committed to help "Vetrepreneurs" (their term for a Military Veteran turned entrepreneur) Tune in to hear more about a unique collaboration, some GOLD nuggets on productive networking and some thoughts on how to solve your own "chicken and the egg" problem. LINKED MENTIONED IN THIS SHOW: Legalucy: https://legalucy.com Legalucy's Livestreaming Channel: https://bit.ly/legalucylive Warrior Rising: https://warriorrising.org 

Are you looking to raise funds for your business? In today's episode, Harmony and Ginny talk about the importance of having a plan to pursue this critical business function - just like all executive activities. PLUS, we have the honor of talking with the founder of the International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA), Azam Ghani about how pricing packages foster trust and how collaborations can win the day. Want to learn more? Visit: https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com Discover more at: https://legalucy.com

In a surprising series of events, the venue where Legalucy hosted its inaugural launch event spent some time in a harsh national spotlight... In case you're wondering where the event was held, it was a WeWork property. And while we adore the team there and they've always been so supportive of us and our events, a few items remained out of even their control to help as news came to a head during our launch week. So, how did we handle it? Listen to this week's episode to find out. PLUS... we've introduced live-streaming into our strategy and have been using a powerful platform designed specifically for entrepreneurs and startups called Introvoke (https://introvoke.com). And our special guest this week is their Founder and CEO, Oana Manolache. We discuss how our live stream events actually went and Oana drops some GOLD nuggets for entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the power of live-streaming as they grow their businesses. LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PODCAST: Want to connect with Harmony directly on LinkedIn? Reach out to her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harmonyoswald/ Are you a female founder looking to fund your startup? Or, are you a female investor looking for your next startup to fund? Apply or reserve your seat at our upcoming Break the Roles event: https://breaktheroles.com Looking to bring live-streaming into your business? Check out today's guest's company at https://introvoke.com Want to learn more about Legalucy? Discover more at https://legalucy.com Thanks again for joining us today.

Building a company from the ground up can ask a lot of its founders... priorities tugging at you from all sides. BUT, it can be very helpful to take a moment and think through which priorities will help you gain the most ground in different seasons. In this episode, Harmony talks about shifting priorities from building the platform and getting customer feedback to capitalizing on funding season. PLUS, we talk with Roman Rodomansky who leads a software development firm in Ukraine that Legalucy has contracted to build and expand the platform. We discuss a couple of golden best practices around working with a remote tech team: How to make sure everyone is on the same page and when to ask questions and clarify. Interested in learning more? Discover details about this episode and much more over at https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com

Early money. It's important to anything that you're building, whether that's a business or even a political campaign. This week, Harmony shares an experience she had at an EMILY's List event and what she took away to empower Legalucy. PLUS... this week's special guest is Rachel Sheppard, the Global Head of Marketing for the Founder Institute in Palo Alto. She and Harmony are planning something special in October of this year and they want to share some of the best details. LINKS FROM THIS SHOW: Break the Roles Pitch Competition Are you, a female founder, looking to raise funds for your startup? Apply at https://breaktheroles.com to pitch at our upcoming event in October! The Founders Institute https://fi.co Learn more at https://thinkoutsidethefirm.com

Without exception, it'll happen... You're focused and working hard on a list of ever-growing priorities that demand the best from you. Then, without warning, something that doesn't FEEL as important pops up and demands your attention. How do you handle situations like this? Legalucy founder, Harmony Oswald, shares a humorous story about how this happened to her just this week and how she handled the surprising distraction. PLUS... our special guest, Managing Attorney at The Law Office of George R. Bravo and Legalucy Advisory Board Member, George Bravo digs deeper into a sincerely important question: When should founders start thinking about equity? He gives a very clear explanation of the benefits and shares some questions that founders would be wise to ponder. Links mentioned in today's episode: Break the Roles Pitch Event: https://breaktheroles.com Are you, a female founder, seeking funding? Apply now for our upcoming pitch contest in October! Launch and Roar: An Entrepreneurial Event Series https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-and-roar-an-entrepreneurial-breakthrough-series-tickets-70705838065 In our first of seven events, we'll be covering IP: Harmony Oswald, U.S. Army Veteran, Member of the CA Bar, Founder & CEO, Legalucy, Inc. - How to Secure a Lead Investor in 30 Days Ellie Ahi, Chief Technology Officer, Legalucy, Inc., Angel Investor, Keiretsu Forum - Spot and Secure Inventions in Tech Dev. Wendy Ryan, Founder & Principal, SJ Leadership Coach, Lead Investor, Legalucy, Inc., Angel Investor, Golden Seeds - Becoming Fundable: Here's What Investors are Looking For in an Early Stage Startup

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to launch a Silicon Valley tech company? But this isn’t just ANY startup, this company is changing the way legal gets done! Legalucy empowers business owners to spot issues, take action, and stay safe... To earn, protect, and attract more money. Because in business, it pays to know what you don’t know! Hosted by Harmony Oswald and Ginny Townsend, welcome to Think Outside the Firm, the podcast where business owners get the inside scoop from Legalucy, your interactive, pre-lawyer assistant, and we’re inviting you along for the ride. Together, let’s change the way legal gets done! Discover more at thinkoutsidethefirm.com