SPEAKER_02 0:00

As an entrepreneur, there is a ton of balls in the air at all times. We have marketing and sales and troubleshooting and customer support and accounting and technology and all the things, right? We have all kinds of things that constantly need our attention. I know from my personal experience, I know from talking to some of you, and then just from working with my own clients, that sometimes that the majority of that attention will go to something kind of sexy, like the marketing, maybe the sales, where we're talking about our offers, we're showing up on social media, we're doing videos, we're doing podcast episodes, we're writing emails, we're creating beautiful websites, beautiful logos, right? That that kind of stuff, even though sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, it can get the majority of our attention, um, especially in the beginning. And some other things may not be getting our attention that need our attention. And my guest today is Maria Spear Olus of Spear IP Law. And she is going to be putting a really fun and really easy to understand spin on the important legal pieces that we need to be aware of in our businesses so that we can keep doing the work that we are so passionate about doing. One, from a legal standpoint, there are some important things we need to know so that we don't, you know, get shut down or get sued or get a cease and desist letter right. And then also Maria identifies as an Enneagram type two, which is I thought was just such a great compliment to this podcast episode because we talk a lot about boundaries as well, both those legal boundaries, what do we need to be writing in our contracts, and then also uh creating those, you know, human being boundaries so that we can do the work, help our clients, and sustain that because we're not getting burnt out, right? That we're also showing up for our family, our friends, showing up for ourselves. And so I thought there's really no other, there's not a better person than a type two to talk about developing those healthy boundaries because I know you have had to do a lot of work around that if that is the type that you happen to identify with. So in this episode, we you are going to hear all about setting those sustainable boundaries for you and your business. We're going to be talking about the two biggest mistakes that coaches and consultants and service providers make in creating their contracts, really important here. Um, Maria talks about the difference between a copyright and a trademark. We get into um also at the end talking about five key areas to protect on your website. So be sure and listen to the very end to get that information. And then I just want to say I ran across Maria's Instagram page and I forget why, I don't know how I landed over there, but I was just blown away at the how beautiful her brand was. First of all, you wouldn't necessarily think that that anything talking about legal um things would be would be beautiful, but she has created this really fun, approachable, helpful brand around understanding all these things that we absolutely need to know, but aren't always sexy. So I I think especially after hearing our this interview with Maria, she is going to quickly become your go-to resource for getting help around the legal pieces of your business. So without further ado, let's jump into this episode to hear about Maria's expertise on this and what life is like as a type 2 business owner. Welcome to the Enneagram MBA Podcast, a show for aspiring and growing entrepreneurs and unfulfilled employees who know they are capable of playing bigger. If you are wanting to identify your gifts, find your purpose, do work that matters, and create a ripple effect that goes beyond yourself, you're in the right place. Each week you'll get resources, strategies, and support to help you get to know yourself, to get to know and understand others, like your future clients, and help you get known so that you can reach more people with your gifts and purpose. So grab your notebook or open up your notes app, and I will see you in class.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

I I first took a quiz in a book maybe 10 years ago before I ever knew what Enneagram was. And it's like any personality test, it's like oh, like this permission to be the way that you are. Um, and when I found out I was type two, the helper, I mean, it just everything clicked. I, my family, you know, but we're we're Greek American and it very much about um service and and especially the women in my family, you know, food and just like bringing the family together in that way is such a huge part of how I grew up. And so being the helper um and doing what I do too, um, it just the pieces kind of clicked together.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Yeah. Okay, so tell us a little bit in your own words, how you are helping your clients right now. What is the work that you do?

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Yes. So the work that I do is I work with um online brands, uh coaches, content creators, and I help them to find what I call the legal blind spots. And so things that, you know, you you you don't know what you don't know. And so I will go in and look for, you know, are the right contracts in place to protect your business? Are you protecting that creative content the way that it needs to be protected? Is your brand name protected? Um, are we doing all the things that we're supposed to be doing in terms of marketing? If there are sponsorships, if there are affiliate links, uh, you know, all those little tweaks uh to make sure that, you know, when you're making money online that everything's protected.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

What would you say is one of the most common blind spots that you run into a lot with your clients or that you see a lot out there with us coaches and consultants?

SPEAKER_00 6:22

The most common blind spots. Well, I I can think of two. One is kind of contract related, especially when it comes to coaches. Um, there are kind of two big things that stand out to be in a coaching contract, and one is online. Do you want to hear all of that? Yes, yes. Okay. Okay, so so in terms of a coaching contract, um, the two things that stick out to me most are number one, um, maybe not being specific enough in your in your scope, um, or you might call it, you know, your service package or whatever it is. But the devil's in the details. And and a lot of times, you know, people hear contract and they get a little bit tense and they just, you know, it grit their teeth a little bit because contracts sound like intimidating and you don't really want to have to deal with it, especially if you're like me and you're a helper and you're just like, I just want to get in there and do it. Um, but the contract is there to just make sure everybody's on the same page. And so being specific in what's included, and that's not just, you know, monthly coaching call, that's 60-minute monthly coaching call, you know, making putting those parameters in there so that again, everyone's on the same page and everyone's expectations are meeting up at the beginning of that relationship. So that's the first thing. The second thing is having some kind of cancellation policy. And that's not um, you know, a rescheduling policy. It's if you're signing a six-month contract for coaching services, what happens if the client wants to quit at month three? Um, is there some kind of fee? Is there not? You know, I always say, you know, as I am learning about boundaries myself, and boundaries are a big thing in coaching, anyway. You know, you you as a coach have so many hours in a day. And if someone terminates at month three, well, you've set aside that time and maybe turned down other business because you had that time filled up. So thinking through whatever that means for you, the coach, what would be fair, you know, compensation for someone that wants to terminate early? So those are my two big coaching contract things.

SPEAKER_02 8:37

That's so good. I'm glad you brought those up because I think that, you know, we oh most of us, whether you have the type two helper energy or not, like are in this type of work because similar, some type of reason around wanting to make a difference, make an impact. And, you know, you just think, oh my God, everything's gonna be great. I'm gonna work with these amazing clients, everything's gonna go great. And then something happens. And this actually happened to me recently, but around a speaking opportunity. And I had been planning and preparing and working on my slides and my content. And then about seven days before I was supposed to, a little over, I don't know, eight, whatever, it doesn't matter, a little over a week before that was supposed to happen, they um needed to cancel. And thank God I had something in there that talked about cancelling and disorder rescheduling because I would have lost all that time potentially had they just wanted to flat out cancel. So that was the first moment for me where I was like, thank God that I had had something in there, right? So it is important. Yeah, for sure. Um for somebody who, and I don't know if you do this, but I'm just kind of curious for somebody who's like, okay, I have a contract, I'm not sure how solid it is, or like I don't even know. Like I'm kind of starting out, I'm just shooting by what it was the shooting from the hip right now. Where what's a resource or how do you what would what would you recommend getting started with a solid contract?

SPEAKER_00 10:15

I would recommend, well, I do, I do do coaching contracts, um, but just start thinking of thinking through the client relationship and what you, you know, I kind of said the devil is in the details, what you're going to be providing and where the risks might be. Um, I think that communities are really helpful in this instance because especially when you're starting out, you want to know what's normal, quote unquote, in the coaching world and how to deal with certain situations. Um, so if you can find a good community to help you there, that's great. Um, of course, don't take legal advice in like Facebook groups. But um, and this is all this is all educational anyway. Um, what I'm saying, you know, legal advice would be very specific to someone individually. But um, in terms of getting started, yes, think through that client relationship, think through, think through things that could go wrong and what you would want to happen, you know, in that cancellation context, for example.

SPEAKER_02 11:18

Okay, okay. And then um speaking of relationships with our clients, I want just to hear a little bit about how that type two energy shows up for you and your client relationships, because I know from from my own experience working with type twos and then just you know what what you know the stereotypical two. Um they are known as the helper for a reason, right? And they get value and worth from helping others. And the the type two for listeners who maybe aren't as familiar, um, you know, they are really in touch with emotions being in the heart center, but it tends to be other people's emotions and really tending and caring for those. And then as a coach, consultant, service provider with that energy, I can see there being some challenges or some issues around potentially burnout and that type of thing. So I would just be curious like what about that resonates with you? What challenges have you had to work through and any advice for working through some of those challenges from your own lessons learned?

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Yes. So uh I started my practice in 2015, but before that, I worked for another law firm and we did litigation, which is going to court, right? And arguing in court. Um, and I knew when I started my practice that I was not going to do litigation because it is such an emotion. I mean, there's reasons why there are court dramas, right? It's so emotional. The client is extremely emotion emotionally invested. Usually there's a conflict, you know, of course, with the other side. And so I was feeling, you know, my client's feelings. And so that certainly has been something that I've had to, I mean, now that I don't do litigation, I will still do, you know, demand letters and cease and assist and that kind of thing for current clients. So I have to be careful with, you know, looking at the law, like remembering my role, not getting too emotionally invested because of that, you know, taking on of other people's emotions and just really wanting to help, like wanting to fix it and fixing everything. And I think also part of that is not wanting to disappoint a client. Um, one of the things that I do a lot for my clients is trademark work, and that's trademark clearance and making sure a name is available to be used. And, you know, at the very beginning, I would, if I would get bad results, it was like, you know, you feel that that crushing disappointment before I even tell the client, right? But some of it is reframing too, you know, yes, I want to get my client a registered trademark. I really do, but I also want to keep them out of a lawsuit and keep them from wasting money on a trademark that just doesn't look like it's going to work. And so, you know, these things that we learn as we're in business and kind of reframing and growing from places of tension, but uh not wanting to disappoint certainly is one of those things that creeps up too.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Yes, yeah, yeah. And again, like we can all deal feel these things, but it it does have, you know, these tendencies of these specific types. And so it really is interesting. Um, I know that you have also done some content um on your website, on social media, around boundaries in your contracts. What type of advice or what types of things should we be thinking about? Again, I know this isn't legal advice, uh, but just things to think about, ask yourselves around creating healthy boundaries in those contracts.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

I think that one thing to think about is um, you know, I mentioned being specific and what's included in your packages. If it's a monthly coaching call, how long is it? Um, and you know, people use Voxer a lot, right? In the coaching community or um, what's the other one? Polo Polo, Marco Polo. Oh, Marco Polo or um yeah, Marco, polo. Something in the video version, right? Yes of Voxer. And so what's the expectation in terms of how quickly you will respond to a client? Um, and so there's that response time, and there's also, you know, almost office hours, um, you know, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 8 to 5. When, you know, when should a client expect you to be available to them? Setting that out and creating that boundary, you know, it benefits it benefits everybody.

SPEAKER_02 15:57

Yeah, you know, and then I also, yes, boxer is very um, I know, widely used a lot. And then um, I also had um a friend who shared a contract of hers a couple years ago, and she has weekly sessions. And in her contract, she says, you're welcome to boxer me, you're welcome to email me, but I'm not going to respond. Like I'll just have that information for our call, but you're welcome to give me updates. And I was like, oh my God, I kind of like that. Yeah. And so she just said, you know, it's a space, it's here if you need a vent about something, but I will, I won't be responding until our next call. So, you know, again, just kind of that that there's all kinds of boundary options. I guess just understanding what's going to work for you.

SPEAKER_00 16:49

Yes. Yes, that's great. That's almost like, you know, you hear of people who say, I I check emails between 11 and two each day, but that's it. That's another type of boundary that you could set.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

Yes, I have heard I've heard that before too. Now, this is kind of a personal question. So if you don't want to answer it, you don't have to. We'll edit it out. But I I know that you are a mother as well as a business owner. Um, would you be willing to share a specific boundary that you have put in place, maybe that recently, or not recently, but when you became a mother that maybe changed or just something that like wasn't working that you maybe had to shift a little bit?

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Oh interesting. Um well, I I in terms of boundaries. I mean, I have I have help, which I didn't have with my firstborn. He was born in 2018. And so when he really started getting mobile and loud and everything, it was 2020 and everyone was at home. And I feel like that because everyone was at home, everyone was a little bit more forgiving in terms of noise and everything, you know, in the background. Um, so in terms of boundaries, I mean, he's almost four now, and so we're just starting to get into, you know, mom needs to be with the baby or mom needs to work. And so slowly learning those boundaries, which are constantly being pushed.

SPEAKER_02 18:16

You know, you brought up COVID, and this is a conversation that I I've I've had a lot, and I know that it has absolutely been happening with entrepreneurs and corporate professionals alike, where the boundary of like when you stop working, because you're working from home. And so that line, that transition that you used to have in the car or where whatever is is not as clear. Do you have any boundaries around like hard stop at this time? And then I don't look at it, or just what does that look like for you out of curiosity?

SPEAKER_00 18:48

Yes, I have a hard stop at 245 every day. Okay. And I, it's not something that I necessarily, you know, put out there into the world in terms of like in my email signature or even in my contract, but from 245 until you know, after dinner time, I'm in family zone and with my kids. And that's just kind of with the season that I'm in right now. Um, I also, in terms of work boundaries, started um when my second born was born, um, started doing a almost like a QA session instead of live consultations. I do now have a 15-minute consultation if you need some help figuring out where to go next. But in terms of these QA sessions, which I used to do, um, where you know, you sign up, you pay the fee, and you I'll just answer your legal questions for you know a half hour, 45 minutes. I've transitioned that completely because it was too hard to schedule with doing my actual client work and you know being there for my family. Uh, so now I've changed those to a pre-recorded, basically, uh the client will fill out a form and give me the questions, and then I will, you know, do a pre-recorded almost like a presentation. Um, so that in a way, you know, that was a boundary that I had to draw in terms of, you know, spending my time in the most valuable way.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

Okay. And I saw that offering on your website and I was like, that is so, and even like on the receiving end, that felt really freeing because I was like, oh, I'll just ask my question. And then I don't feel the pressure to have like another Zoom call on my calendar. It's just like you'll send it. And I I absolutely love that. I can see that being used in all kinds of different areas of business. And so I just I love, I love that you brought that up. Um, okay, so I'm gonna ask you just a couple more Enneagram questions. And I know that they're always a little personal. So again, just share what you want to share. Um, so I don't know how familiar you are with the arrows, like the stress arrow and the growth arrow, a little bit maybe. I'm always kind of curious. Um, for the twos, especially women twos, tend to come across as like really soft and warm and friendly and helpful and caring and giving and all those things, right? And then also, um, there tends to be like when you have like maxed out your coping strategies in a stressful situation, those defense mechanisms, type twos have a tendency to make a lateral move to the most stressed-out qualities of the type eight, which the type eight is the most aggressive, they get um dubbed as being really domineering, they get dubbed as being angry. Sometimes they'll just say they're really passionate, though. But for some twos, I just was interviewing this this female too a couple of months ago. She said, I have a highway to my age. Um so when I get angry, like my goal, I have this highway. Does that resonate with you? Do you experience that for our fellow twos who sometimes might feel like, gosh, it's bad or I shouldn't get mad, but you know, I do. I help, help, help, give, give, give, and then I break. Does that resonate with you?

SPEAKER_00 21:59

Wow. Yes. And that is so interesting because I always thought it as kind of a heritage thing for me because, you know, you said passionate. That is, that is the word, right? I tend to get very passionate about something just when I'm pushed to a certain point. Otherwise, I very much, and I kind of talk about this in business, you know, especially as women, business owners and entrepreneurs. There's this, I don't know if you want to call it a theory, but this stance that people take that we have to be, you know, just as just as aggressive as men can be and like do business in a very masculine way. And I say no to that. I say you can embrace your feminine, you know, whatever it is to you, whatever it means to you, your naturally um, you know, your natural emotions and your natural, natural strengths in your business. You don't have to force something that's not working. But yes, if I'm pushed to a certain point, yeah, Mama Bear comes, Mama Bear comes out.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

You got the t-shirt. For those of you listening, she literally has a t-shirt that says this. So that is a true story. That is true. It's on a t-shirt.

SPEAKER_02 23:10

Um, okay. And then I uh always, again, this is just really interesting to hear like how this shows up, if it does for you in real life versus like what's in the book. Um, but according to Enneagram Theory 2, the flip side of that is we have this like growth arrow for the type two, it's the type four, which tends to be a little bit more individual, um, focused on themselves and how they're feeling. And so it's a great compliment to put in that energy for the two who tends to be also others focused. So I'd be curious how you, if if that at all resonates with you, if that's something you've been intentional about. And if not, what are some things as a mom, as a business owner, just as a human being that you do to care for yourself beyond maybe just, you know, I know we talk about like self-care and that that's kind of overused, but I would be curious like, what is that for you so that you can continue to be a great mom, to be a great partner, to be a great business owner? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 24:15

Um, yes, that certainly resonates. It's hard. It's it's really hard. Um, it's really hard to do, um, especially, you know, as as my family grows. Um, and I feel like some of this is seasonal, right? And in some seasons, I mean, if there's a newborn, it's it's the hardest. Um, but I'm currently in a season where, you know, before I open a single email, before I start engaging and doing client work, I set aside 10 minutes, I open my calm app. Um, sometimes it's to meditate, sometimes it's to hear, you know, like birds chirping and, you know, just some some peaceful background noise. I can write out, you know, journal for four or five minutes on how I'm feeling in my body and you know, really tune into, I've worked to really tune into, you know, what do I feel like doing today? Some things, yes, have to get done in a certain time frame, but do I feel like recording a YouTube video today? Or do I feel like maybe, you know, looking through some analytics and seeing how, you know, my emails are doing or or or something like that? So so um to me, that's that's my self-care is carving out a certain amount of time before I have to jump into client work to kind of set the stage, if you will.

SPEAKER_02 25:34

Yeah, absolutely. I I love that. Um, well, that was, you know, that's really interesting just to always hear like people's experience of the different types. And I had a question, Maria, and I lost it. So if I think of it again, I'll I'll come back to it. I do this because I'm like, oh, that makes me think of a question. So well, I might I might be coming back to that. But while you're here, I would love to tap into some of your expertise around contracts, uh, trademark copyrighting. And one of the questions that I am curious about, and I don't think I'm the only one. I kind of feel stupid for asking, but I I don't think I'm alone, is what is the difference between copyright and trademark?

SPEAKER_00 26:16

This is the question that everyone has. Okay, okay. And you'll you'll remember it from this day forward. So um, so trademark applies to branding, whether it's literally the name of your business, um, whether it's the name of a podcast, whether it is sometimes it's your personal name if you're Oprah or Tony Robbins. Um, and sometimes it's like me, my business is Spear IP. So um, even though Spear is my last name or my main name, you know, it can be something completely imaginative and new, or it can be as basic as um your personal name. And so trademark branding, you can kind of hear the R's in those two words, trademark branding. Um, and it can be a logo as well, of course. And then copyright applies to your creative content. So think copyright creative, uh, you know, double C. And that can be art and music and film and those traditional, you know, sculpture, those traditional things that we think of as artistic. But as you can imagine, now it is course content. It is podcast cover art. It is um, you know, maybe your your downloadable PDF, your lead magnet. Those things are creative works. They're video, they're text, they're, you know, literary works that you have worked hard to write. Maybe graphic design elements are in there. So those things too are protectable. The copyright office, bless them, they have caught up with technology a little bit, and you can actually register um microblogs, Instagram captions, basically. So long as there are 50 words or more, you can register captions with the copyright office because those are written works that you have come up with. So there are all kinds of creative things, copyright creative. There are all kinds of creative things that fall under copyright law now.

SPEAKER_02 28:18

Okay, and then with trademark and maybe with copyright too, I guess how like how do you, and you don't have to give us the like the the the step by step necessarily, but is it a matter for both of like I need to fill out this form and it's official, or how does that work? How do we have something copyrighted or trademarked?

SPEAKER_00 28:38

So in the US, you have trademark rights the minute you start using your trademark in connection with offering something, whether it's an actual product you can purchase or service. So the minute you start doing business and selling, you have protection in that trademark. It might not be, you know, throughout the 50 states. If you register it with the trademark office, then you do automatically have protection in the in all of the United States. Um, but again, you get right, you have rights the minute you start using it, um, not when you start registering. Register registration is not a prerequisite. Um and for copyright, kind of the same thing. An idea is not protectable, but if you flesh it out into something that's a literary work or something on paper that other people can view or hear or interact with somehow, that's when you start to have rights in that creative work.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

Okay. Okay. And then this is a little bit on the flip side, and this actually ties into the question I just remember that I was going to ask you about. So we'll we'll kind of tie these together. My question was around um showing up on video and have a question about music. But before that, um, a lot of times type tons are very much of service. And there I hear from certain people that they'll say, I don't want to show up because people don't care about me. I'm just kind of behind the scenes, which things are excellent at. But I would say you are excellent at showing up on video. And I'm just curious like what advice you would offer or what advice you have had to give yourself to be able to do that. Because I think video is is so powerful, but it can also be scary and we can also believe the excuses if we allow ourselves to. So I'm just curious what advice you would offer.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yes. Um, I think the best advice in terms of getting on video is to remember or to think as though you're talking to one person. And so I, at the risk of, you know, slightly self-deprecating, I don't think it's deprecating, but I have a pretty small audience if you compare me to other, you know, entrepreneurs on social media. And so I feel like I really get to know people that interact with my content. And so remembering that, you know, you're talking to someone who you might sit down and have a cup of coffee with, that's that's what kind of fuels me through my videos. Um, I was also a music major in college. Oh a performance major. And so this is almost like my little outlet, uh, my performance outlet, if you will, um, so that I can, you know, keep it fresh and and keep getting out there.

SPEAKER_02 31:27

I love that. And I think a lot of us that are listening to this podcast can probably also relate. Like we are not, you know, million subscribers or followers yet. Yes. Let's say that. Um, and then I wanted to ask you about music, because we'll put music in our podcast and maybe a little, a little touch of music in front of our YouTube videos or our reels. What should we be aware of when it comes to the legality or just you know, staying on the up and up with that? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

Um, well, let me speak in terms of, I guess there are two aspects to that. So there's stock, um, you know, stock, stock photos, certainly, and and and music where you can buy um the rights to use it in a certain context. And when you're using, when you're buying something specifically for whether it's a YouTube channel or a podcast or whatever it is, to use in your business, you want to look at the fine print and make sure that commercial use is included. That's kind of the key because that means a business use as opposed to, you know, a personal video that you're making for a family member with photos or something in it. That's personal use. You want to make sure that you can use the stock photo or music or whatever it is for a commercial purpose. Now, if we're talking about reels and TikTok and using sounds that are on those platforms in connection with your business, it's evolved a little bit and it's not completely clear. So, so Facebook, Meta, Instagram, um, that world, um, the last I checked the terms of use, they said if you have, if you're using um our services as a business, you cannot use music, period. Um, now I think since then, because I have a business account on on Instagram, uh, but a creator account on TikTok. And so on Instagram, my music selections are very limited. Yes. And mine is too. Yes. So you know, you know, you're not you might not be using a top 40 song on your video, but you know that the music that's available to you, you can kind of rest assured that yes, you can use that because and that and that that's why it's available to you. Um on TikTok, they've kind of separated it out into creator account, business account, and the or maybe it's a brand account. But basically that it's all a little bit clear as mud. Um, so we have to look through and kind of make our best guesses. Um, but my advice, my kind of overarching advice for TikTok is if you are doing a sponsored post, so you're, you know, you're being paid to promote something that's not yours, a brand that's not yours, be really weary about the music that you're using. I would be extremely careful because it's it's really an advertisement. Um, on other posts, even if you're a business or a content creator, it seems like it's a little bit more lax on TikTok and you can use. Um, I mean, there's a popular Lizzo song on TikTok right now that lots of people are using, and there's a little, almost a little check mark or something next to it so that you know the creator has said, yes, use this. Taylor Swift did this um a couple of months ago when she was re-releasing uh all of her music. She said, Can't wait to see what you all come up with with one of her songs. So there are instances where you can use a little bit broader of a music library on TikTok.

SPEAKER_02 35:03

Okay, okay. Um what would you say to somebody who's maybe hearing this and thinking, yeah, but like I'm not big enough or like I don't have a big audience right now. I'm just not gonna worry about it. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 35:18

Um, I mean, everything is risk tolerance. So it's up to you, of course, at the end of the day. Um, in the UK, over the course of the last year, they started to, this is slightly different, but you there are certain disclosures that you have to make if you're if you're creating an ad on social media, right? You've seen the hashtag ad or promotion or whatever it is, if someone's pushing an ad on social media. Well, in the UK, they've said if you're not doing those disclosures properly, we are starting to put creators on a list. And if if you're a creator and you're a brand, you have a creator and a brand, a brand sees you on this list, that's gonna mean you know, a brand might not want to work with you because you don't you don't follow the rules and they might have some liability, you know, if they're working with you. So this just happened over the course of the last six months to a year. It could come to the US. Um, US could catch on to that. So, I mean, I'm a rule follower. So, you know, and I'm very risk averse. So take that for what it's worth. But uh, you know, it it's it's easy to follow the rules, it's less stressful to me.

SPEAKER_02 36:30

I was gonna say that that's some that's some wing one energy right there. The rule follower. Yes, yes, and I am a wing one. Okay, okay. I was like, I wonder with the performance if it was the the wing three, but you just you're just kind of tapping into both of them there. Um, okay, so the other thing that I wanted to ask you about, I have have a list, and you know, we just have a certain amount of time. I'm going to absolutely recommend your Instagram feed, especially like so many like helpful videos and and posts. Um one, I have I have um I have three questions left for you on this, and I have a couple rapid fire. One question is uh I know there's all kinds of things that we can get into for so there's a group that listens to this podcast who are working a nine to five job, who are dreaming and planning of starting their own coaching consulting service-based business. What piece of legal advice would you offer them? Like what's something that um is like a big mistake or just a really easy thing to make your life easier for those of us who are just starting?

SPEAKER_00 37:44

Oh, that's a great question. I think, well, the first thing that can't that comes to mind is this, and it's kind of one of these common myths that I hear about contracts and copyright. And so when you're just starting, you're maybe tinkering around on Canva, you're starting to develop your logo and those creative parts, your website, the creative parts of your brand. And so just keep in mind that the default rule in the US is that if you're working with a contractor, um, anything they create is their property, unless you have it in writing and that that work product is transferred to you. So this is super important when you're talking about those creative things like logos and websites. Um just remember that uh when you are kind of in those beginning steps of developing a visual, the visual aspects of your brand to get it in writing. And a lot of people will have their own contract. Um, so you might look for that. Um, it would be probably in a rights section or an intellectual property section to make sure that the work they do for you will be trans ownership will be transferred to you.

SPEAKER_02 38:52

Okay. Oh my gosh. See, it's something I would have never thought about. Um now, for those of us who are maybe in this other group where we have been doing what we're doing for a while, um, most of us in this group have a website. And um, we've spent probably a lot of time working on the design and the words, but I'm going to guess um we haven't spent a lot of time thinking about the legalities, the technical side of that. Um, what I know you have um an incredible video, and you'll tell us about it in here in just a second of five key things to protect on your website. Um, will would you be willing to share just one of those things and then where we can find out the others?

SPEAKER_00 39:37

Yes. So um, so the first thing that I look for when I'm kind of doing, I call it a website audit, but I'm looking for those five things. And the first thing is using the TM symbol. And a lot of people think you can't use it if you don't have a registered trademark. That's not true. Um, you can use it. You can use it as soon as you, you know, get your business up and running. So add the TM symbol. And why? What does that do? Well, the truth is that a lot of people don't know the difference between TM and the R in a circle. The R in a circle means that it's a registered trademark, but it kind of shows people, hey, this is my trademark. And if someone sees that TM symbol, they think, oh, I can't, you know, this is taken. I can't use this name. Um, so it kind of acts as a like a shield for your for your brand name to add that TM symbol. You don't have to add it every single place in your website where that name appears. I would say, you know, at the very top, definitely, maybe in your footer and in headings, but but you don't have to add it, you know, in every paragraph instance, uh, just at the top and at the bottom is even enough. So using the TM symbol, that's my that's my go-to.

SPEAKER_02 40:50

What a great nugget. My mind is blown because I thought you had to use, I thought you had to have it like official trademark, officially trademark, registered, I guess is the word. So what a great, what a great tip. And then you have four more. And where can we find out the other four?

SPEAKER_00 41:07

Yes, I have a free workshop. It's 10 minutes long where I literally go through a website and point out those four or five things. Um, and you can sign up at my website, spear-ip.com. Uh, but it's yeah, it's a website spot check of those five legal blind spots um and where they are and how to fix them. You know, I won't leave you hanging.

SPEAKER_02 41:27

Okay. Okay. And I love that it's 10 minutes and not you know two hours. So I know we have a lot of multi-passionate moms just doing all the things. So um I'm excited about that. And then where are you hanging out over on Instagram?

SPEAKER_00 41:41

On Instagram, I'm at Spear IP Law.

SPEAKER_02 41:44

Okay. And then you mentioned YouTube. You have your own YouTube channel as well. I do, yes. Okay. Um, we'll include all of those links below because I feel like that's just gonna be. I mean, this episode alone was packed with all kinds of nuggets. And I know from stalking you and those other places that you have a lot of other nuggets. My last question uh before we get into the rapid fire is it's kind of out of left field, um, but it has to do with the interview that you were that you contributed to in Authority magazine around why we were female founders and what to do about it. Because um I I'm I'm targeting just a little bit over the next few weeks and months, but I've always been um really interested in how to get more women in decision-making roles. And I love that you had a whole article interview about it. And so I'd be curious, what would you say is one of the biggest reasons why we need that? And what can we do to maybe clear a path so that there can be more female founders?

SPEAKER_00 42:52

Um, so what was the first part of that question?

SPEAKER_02 42:55

Um, what like why is that even important? Like what what what does it matter?

SPEAKER_00 42:59

Okay, I think especially in terms of um work-life balance and even, you know, I just Jenna Kutcher has been talking about the blend, how it's not a balance anymore, it's a blend, um, which I kind of love. But but we take on a lot as women and um as mothers, if you're a mother. And the the to-do list and the things that kind of percolate in the back of our minds, it's just, you know, I share it with my husband, and he's like, all of that is in your head, you know, just now. And so in the professional context, I think we can't expect, you know, those who have corporate jobs or are working with corporate clients where you have to be, you know, attached to your phone or you have to be back at work, you know, six weeks after you have a baby. All of these things are just not working. And I think maybe COVID has helped to shine a little bit of a light because everybody was at home during that time. And I think the more women we have in these higher powered roles and doing some. Moving and shaking, the more we can share our experiences and help to come up with something that is a little bit more women friendly or even infused with a little bit of you know feminine energy, whatever that means to you. So that's that's why. And in terms of what to do about it, I think what comes to mind one of my um internships in law school was it was me and three other interns. We were all female, and our female boss, and she her advice to us on our last day was help each other. You know, no mean girls culture, no, you know, you have to pay your dues because I had to pay my dues. Help each other, lift each other up because if we're not gonna do it, nobody's gonna do it.

SPEAKER_02 44:48

Yeah, that's such great advice. And it's free and it's easy, and it's something you could literally do today, like sharing someone's post, sharing calling someone out in your newsletter. Um, yeah, all the all kinds of things, sharing someone else's new program. I mean, um, I love, I absolutely love that. That's such a good reminder. Um, okay, before we call this episode complete, just a couple of quick rapid fire questions. Yeah. Um, what is a business tool that is making your life easier?

SPEAKER_00 45:21

Ooh, um asana. It's not particularly an original answer, but I live and breathe on Asana. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 45:31

Okay. I may actually have to get on it one day because it's a repeat resource. So okay, okay. And then what is a book? It can be it can be a legal book, it can be a business book, female founder type of book, but what is a book that has been really impactful in your life to kind of where you're at right now?

SPEAKER_00 45:51

Um, I would have to say Do Less by Kate Northrop. It's just the title is beautiful, right?

unknown 45:59

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 46:00

Um, but it's all about, you know, women and asking for help, which as you can imagine is for a two, is uh, you know, a mountain to climb. And so asking for help and kind of um, like I said earlier, kind of feeling into your body and figuring out what to do next because you're more most productive when you're when your body cooperates.

SPEAKER_02 46:21

Such a good one. And then last question is there is so much talk these days about living your best life and being your best self. And I'm just curious, what does living your best life look like for you personally? Like what would that be for you?

SPEAKER_00 46:40

For me, it is a slow life. So not rushing in the morning, not rushing to get into work, you know, a slow morning where you know we don't we have a good hour before we have to be out the door, a slow day where I can take my time to do my little ritual before dig diving into work. I think, and this is kind of you know, my what I have to go back and remind myself sometimes, but slowing down, slowing down, because I think, you know, I heard a phrase the other day, microwave culture where we expect everything, you know, in an instant. And my ideal, you know, life would be the opposite, slower.

SPEAKER_02 47:22

I love that. I love that. Um, well, thank you so much for being here. I I really do. I know you have a lot going on, work, motherhood, all the things. Um, so I appreciate you carving out time and I appreciate you just being open about your own personality and experiences of type two and sharing some of your expertise. Is there anything else that you would like to say, to share, to reiterate, um, to kind of make this episode feel complete that maybe I haven't asked you about yet?

SPEAKER_00 47:52

No, I just think, I mean, from a professional standpoint, um, legal doesn't have to be scary. It doesn't have to be intimidating. Um, it doesn't have to be, you know, this thing that you think about when it hits the fan. It's not, you know, where I don't have to be a firefighter. I I think that, you know, like anything else, it's just a tool in your business to make sure everyone's on the same page and get you protected.

SPEAKER_02 48:17

You know, and I will say, I wasn't gonna say anything after this, but I will just say that I I I thank you for saying that, because there are so I think this happens a lot more maybe with women than than men, but I'm sure it happens to men too, where sometimes we treat our coaching businesses, cult consulting businesses like, oh, this little thing I'm doing. Um and we don't take it seriously. We just kind of peddle here and there, even though we say that. And I think that if we want to get to this place where, you know, we're we're we're making decisions, we're impacting um, you know, politics and funding different things and bringing other women up and that type of thing. Um, you know, I know I this is a stretch, but it's like taking ourselves seriously, taking our businesses seriously is a is a place to start with that. Yes, yes. And so I will just say that is something very much I am working on myself because the idea of like legal and I'm like, you know, cookies and I don't, you know, email laws, and I'm just like you know, blank stare. But at the same time, um, I want to have a sustainable, thriving business. I want to be taken seriously, I want to take myself seriously. Um, you know, not all the time, but but that's so the I, you know, this is really important. And I just appreciate all that you shared and and what you're doing in general. So thank you. Thank you. All right. Well, we will see you um around um social media learning from you. I appreciate you being here so much.

SPEAKER_00 49:56

Thank you so much for having me. This was this was really fun.