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Making assumptions in business can get expensive fast, and intellectual property is one of the easiest places to get caught out. In this episode, we unpack the question most business owners do not expect, who actually owns the IP in your business, and why “I paid for it so it’s mine” is not a safe default.

We talk through the common danger zones, including logos and brand suites, website copy, and the internal documents you rely on to run your business. You will hear what to check in your agreements, where the grey areas tend to hide, and how to avoid messy misunderstandings with designers, copywriters, lawyers, and consultants.

We also get into the newer minefield, AI and IP, and what business owners need to think about before using AI to create core assets like branding, frameworks, or methodology. If you discover you do not own something you assumed you did, we cover the practical next step that can help you clean it up and move forward with clarity.

Episode Website:
https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/do-you-own-your-ip

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

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Send us Fan Mail

Running a business can feel like living inside your inbox. You are always on, always reacting, and even when nothing is truly urgent, it can all start to feel urgent. In this episode, we talk about how to “make space” in a practical way, so you can stay productive without letting work take over your life.

Today I’m joined by Daniel Sih, founder of Spacemakers, a wellbeing and productivity coach who helps busy people make space and keep pace. Daniel is an award-winning author, productivity expert, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and founder of Spacemakers®, helping busy leaders reclaim focus, reduce overload, and make space for what truly matters.

Daniel’s award-winning books include Spacemaker, Raising Tech-Healthy Humans, and Wise AI, exploring productivity, digital wellbeing, parenting and the wise use of artificial intelligence in a rapidly changing world.

Together, we unpack what that actually looks like day to day, including boundaries, switching off properly, and why most business owners overestimate the consequences of not responding immediately.

We also go upstream into the real reasons people struggle to slow down, like guilt, fear of missing out, and the belief that no one else can do it. Daniel shares the mindset shifts that help, plus the habits and systems that support focus, better decisions, and a more sustainable rhythm.

If you want practical strategies you can start using straight away, this conversation will give you plenty to work with. We also mention Daniel’s Spacemakers podcast, his books Spacemaker and Wise AI, and his Email Ninja resources at emailninja.com if you want to dive deeper after you listen.

Episode Website:  

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/work-life-balance-productivity-with-daniel-sih

Connect with Daniel:

Website: https://www.spacemakers.au 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danielsih/ 

Podcast: https://www.spacemakers.au/podcast/seasons 

Email mini-course:https://www.spacemakers.au/email-ninja/ 

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here 

Send us Fan Mail

AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere in small business right now, and they can be brilliant for note taking, summaries, admin and creative idea generation. But there is a line business owners should not cross: using AI for strategic legal advice, especially when the stakes involve contracts, disputes and business risk.

More and more business owners are asking AI what they should do legally, then acting on it like it is professional advice. The problem is AI can sound confident even when it is wrong and in law, wrong advice is rarely a small problem.

I share real world examples of what can happen when you rely on AI for legal decisions, including a polished client agreement that missed key intellectual property and dispute resolution clauses and led to a $60,000 conflict. I also take a look at the risks of getting contractor vs employee decisions wrong and how AI-driven assumptions can trigger costly superannuation claims.

The takeaway is simple. Use AI for efficiency and brainstorming, but for legal advice, contracts, intellectual property, employment issues and disputes, speak to a qualified lawyer who understands your context and carries the responsibility.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/stop-using-chatgpt-for-this 

LINKS:

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here

Send us Fan Mail

Business gets heavier as it grows. More clients, more conversations, more moving parts, and less patience for the clean ups that come from miscommunication. If this is you, you need the five minute habit that prevents five figure problems. 

In this episode, we talk about a simple habit that can prevent some of the most expensive problems I see in businesses, putting key conversations in writing.

You will hear why clarity is not just a legal or admin thing, it is a client experience tool. We unpack how a small “yes, we can add that” can quietly turn into scope creep, timeline blowouts, fee disputes, and awkward conversations if nothing is confirmed in writing.

If you have ever worried about sounding distrustful, or felt like you do not have time, this episode will reframe that for you. Three to five minutes now can save hours later, and it can protect your time, your energy, and your relationships as your business grows.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/the-5-minute-habit-that-will-save-you-5-figure-problems 

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

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Send us Fan Mail

If business has been feeling heavier lately, this episode is your behind the scenes look at what actually keeps things steady. I’m sharing the four pillars that support how I run my business, the foundations that create calm, protect relationships, and give me the peace of mind I talk about so often.

We unpack why processes and systems are not just “nice to have”, they are how you stop holding everything in your head. I talk through the role of client agreements, fixed fee transparency, and why onboarding and off boarding are part of the client experience, not the admin you rush through.

You will also hear why protecting your intellectual property matters, why DIY is for Bunnings and not your business, and how engaging the right experts can change everything. We wrap with the pillar most people avoid, compliance and staying ahead, and why “I didn’t know” is never the safety net you think it is.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/behind-the-scenes-the-pillars-that-hold-my-business-together 

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here

Send us Fan Mail

If you have hit your 40s and started questioning what success is meant to look like now, this episode is for you. I am joined by Fi Mims, an award-winning personal branding photographer and business coach helping women 40+ step into greater visibility, confidence and demand, so they can grow profitable, sustainable service-based businesses.

We talk about the shift that happens in this season of life, where confidence can feel both stronger and shakier at the same time, and where the old version of hustle starts to feel less appealing. We unpack the “until” trap, the habit of waiting until you feel more ready, more certain, more qualified or even more resourced before you let yourself be seen.

This is a grounded conversation about lifestyle first, then profit, and why boundaries are not admin, they are a strategy. If you are ready to redefine success on your terms, protect your energy and build a business that supports the woman you are becoming.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/permission-granted-redefining-confidence-and-success-for-women-over-40 

Connect with Fi:

Fi Mims Website here

Fi Mims Instagram page here 

Fi Mims LinkedIn page here 

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here

Send us Fan Mail

Running a business makes it very easy to ignore contracts and paperwork in favour of the work that actually brings in revenue. In this episode, we talk about the real cost of outdated agreements, and it is not just unpaid invoices. It is the energy drain that hits when something goes wrong and you are stuck in back and forth, awkward conversations, and preventable client issues.

We unpack why outdated contracts create gaps, and how those gaps quickly turn into friction. When your agreement does not match how you actually deliver your services, what is included, or where your boundaries sit, it can lead to confusion, scope creep, payment pushback, and a client experience that feels harder than it needs to be.

You will also hear the simplest place to start, a contract audit that helps you spot misalignment early, plus when it is time to get proper advice and update your documents. Because when your contracts are clear and current, you feel it. You send them with confidence, clients know what they are agreeing to, and you keep your momentum where it belongs, on delivery, growth and the next chapter.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/when-your-contracts-havent-kept-up-with-your-business

LINKS

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever found yourself awake at 2:00 a.m. running through worst case scenarios for your business? Yes? Well then this episode is for you. I’m joined by crisis management expert Sally Branson to talk about why crisis management for small business is not a “one day” task, it is part of sustainable business growth, especially when you are scaling and there is more at stake.

We unpack what crisis planning actually looks like in real life, including the myth that small and medium businesses are too small to need a crisis management plan. Sally shares practical ways to reduce business risk, what she calls crisis hygiene, plus how to build a reputation buffer so you have trust in the bank before anything goes wrong.

We also talk about values in crisis response, why there is always a solution, and how to build your own wisdom council so you are not trying to make high pressure decisions alone. If you want your business to feel steady, protected, and ready for whatever comes next, you will get a lot out of this conversation.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/crisis-management-for-your-growing-business-sally-branson

Connect with Sally: 

Sally's website https://www.sallybransonconsulting.com/

LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallybransoncrisisprreputation/

Free guide: sbcg.au (Calm in a Crisis) https://www.sallybransonconsulting.com/store

Crisis and Issues Starter Kit: sbcg.au/crisis-kit

https://www.sallybransonconsulting.com/store/p/crisis-and-issues-starter-kit

LINKS:

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

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If imposter syndrome has been creeping in lately, this episode is your reminder that you are not alone, and you are not behind. We’re talking about the rise of women-led businesses in Australia, why women entrepreneurs are a force in the economy, and what it means to build success on your own terms.

We’ll unpack the shift happening right now as more women business owners choose flexibility, purpose, and sustainable growth over outdated business models that lead straight to burnout. Because success does not have to mean running yourself into the ground, and you do not need to earn your place by exhausting yourself.

This is also a practical reality check on why strong foundations matter, especially when small business risk is real and planning and support are what keep things steady long term. If you’re building something meaningful and want it to last, this conversation will leave you feeling grounded, proud, and clear on the bigger movement you are part of.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/must-know-statistics-for-women-led-business-owners

LINKS:

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here

Send us Fan Mail

Independent contractors versus employees has been coming up a lot lately, especially for business owners who are growing their teams and trying to work out the “right” way to bring people on. In this episode, we’re unpacking why contractors are not automatically the easier option, and how a small misstep here can turn into a messy (and expensive) problem down the track.

We’ll talk about what actually makes a contractor a contractor and why an ABN and invoices are not the magic ticket people think they are. You’ll hear the key things that matter in the real-world working relationship, including autonomy, control and what it looks like when a contractor arrangement quietly starts functioning like employment.

We’ll also cover why templates can be risky if your agreement does not match how the relationship really operates, plus the superannuation piece that catches a lot of business owners off guard. If you’re hiring support, engaging freelancers or building a team in any way, this episode will help you spot the red flags early and know what to get sorted before it becomes a clean-up job.

Episode Website:

https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/rise-up-in-business-podcast/the-independent-contractor-discussion-you-need-to-have

LINKS:

Sign up for my fortnightly Atelier Briefings here

Check Your Legals with the Essential Legal Checklist here

Book a Complimentary Introduction Call with me here

Join me on Instagram here