In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx is joined by Brooke Dumas, the Fractional COO brand of Tailored Premier, to examine one of the most overlooked drivers of team performance: ONBOARDING.

While many founders dedicate significant time and resources to hiring, far fewer implement a structured onboarding process that ensures new team members are set up for success. The result is often misalignment, underperformance, and early turnover—despite hiring highly qualified individuals.

Jessica and Brooke introduce their proprietary 90-day onboarding framework, a system implemented across client organizations to reduce owner dependency, improve clarity, and accelerate employee performance. They emphasize that the first 90 days are not only a critical evaluation period for the employee, but also a reflection of the company’s leadership, systems, and operational standards.

Through real-world observations, they outline the common mistakes founders make—such as assuming experienced hires require minimal guidance—and explain why clearly documented processes, defined expectations, and consistent feedback are essential to building a high-performing team.

This episode covers:

• Why onboarding is a key determinant of employee success and retention
• The risks of relying on assumptions rather than structured training
• How lack of clarity leads to inefficiency and increased turnover
• The importance of defining and communicating company standards
• Why SOPs, checklists, and documentation are foundational to scaling
• How to structure feedback and milestones within the first 90 days
• The long-term impact of a well-executed onboarding experience

This episode serves as Part 1 of a two-part series designed to help founders implement a scalable and effective onboarding process that supports both team performance and business growth.

Listen now and stay tuned for Part 2, where we will provide a detailed breakdown of the onboarding framework and how to implement it within your organization.

Mini-timeline

• 00:14–01:03 — Introduction to the 90-day onboarding framework
• 01:04–02:15 — Why onboarding is critical to employee retention
• 02:16–03:18 — The role of onboarding in shaping company culture
• 03:19–04:53 — The risks of assuming new hires will “figure it out”
• 04:54–06:30 — Common onboarding mistakes made by founders
• 06:31–08:15 — Defining and communicating standards of excellence
• 08:16–10:39 — The importance of SOPs, checklists, and structured plans
• 10:40–11:31 — Hiring under pressure: build first or hire first?
• 11:32–13:57 — The consequences of onboarding without infrastructure
• 13:58–15:20 — The cost of early employee turnover
• 15:21–17:52 — Case example: effective onboarding in practice
• 17:53–19:30 — Building employee engagement and long-term commitment
• 19:31–20:27 — Making informed decisions within the first 90 days
• 20:28–22:42 — Preview of Part 2 and framework overview

Resources

• 90-Day Onboarding Framework (Download): https://astounding-founder-8808.kit.com/products/onboarding-blueprint
• Follow @millionsweremade on Instagram for frameworks + strategy tips

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Website: Millions Were Made