#79 – Pt 1: The 90-Day Framework for Building High-Performing Teams

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