Seed to Success

You know the conversation you need to have. You've known for weeks. Most of us were never taught how to have a hard conversation, and in a service-based business that gap can cost you sleep, income and the confidence to hold your boundaries. Left alone, a small issue tends to grow, and a two-minute conversation can quietly turn into a dispute. In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly sits down with...

There's a smart way to use AI in your business, and it has nothing to do with avoiding it out of fear. It's about knowing exactly where the lines are, so you can use it with confidence. Whether you're drafting client emails, researching a project, or letting AI handle admin in the background, a few simple habits make the difference between using it well and using it recklessly. In this episode, Ad...

The first year of business rarely looks like the highlight reel we see online. It's messy, it's humbling, and most of the real growth happens quietly behind the scenes while you're still figuring out your pricing, your boundaries and who your actual ideal client is. In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly sits down with Ashli Newton, founder of Three Leaves Admin and a member of the Inner Circle commun...

Have you ever wondered why some VAs and OBMs land the client and others don't, even when everyone on the shortlist has the same skills and experience? Sometimes the answer isn't about who's the most qualified. It's about who made the strongest first impression on paper. In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly pulls back the curtain on what she actually sees after reviewing hundreds of business proposal...

You’ve built something that works, but somehow you’re still the one holding every piece of it together. The systems haven’t caught up with real like, and delegation feels harder that it should, even though you know you can’t keep wearing every hat forever. In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly sits down with Inner Circle member Emma Bennett of Em & Co Consulting, who helps women in business untan...

There's a moment every VA or EA hits where you wonder if you're just ticking off tasks or actually making a difference to the business you support. It's easy to feel like the value of your work is invisible, especially when you're doing it well and nobody notices the chaos you've quietly prevented. This week's guest has spent close to three decades answering that exact question, both inside corpor...

Do you ever feel like being visible in your business just means posting more, showing your face more, and doing more video? Like there's some invisible checklist you're not ticking off, and until you do, you're not allowed to put yourself out there. If that feeling is familiar, get ready for a shift. It turns out visibility has very little to do with the social media hamster wheel, and a lot more...

It's July, and if you're anything like most business owners, you're having that strange moment where January feels like it was both yesterday and five years ago. You set goals at the start of the year, got excited about some, felt a little nervous about others, and then client work took over. That's exactly why the mid year check in matters. Not because you're supposed to be perfectly on track, bu...

There's a version of business advice that tells you to just follow the strategy. Map the plan, hit the milestones, stay consistent. And there's another version that says trust your energy, move with the seasons, follow what feels right. But what if you didn't have to choose between the two? In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly sits down with Kathleen Amy, OBM, soulful VA, and host of the Soulful Str...

If you've ever felt like you're on a content hamster wheel, posting consistently, trying to feed the algorithm, and still wondering why the leads aren't flowing, you're not alone. So many VAs and OBMs are pouring time and energy into social media and quietly burning out in the process. The truth is, marketing your service-based business is so much more than showing up on Instagram. And when the ec...

If you've ever caught yourself asking a client for a day off, chances are you already know something feels a little off about that. You're not an employee anymore, but sometimes the language hasn't quite caught up. Most of us come into business after years in traditional employment, and we bring that language with us without even realising it. It's not a problem. It's just part of the transition....

Are you waking up at 3am with your brain already racing? Dragging yourself through the afternoon and quietly wondering how you're going to make it to the end of the day? If any of that sounds familiar, you're in good company. And there are real, biological reasons it's happening. In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly sits down with Dr. Shauna Watts, a GP with a special interest in women's health...

There's a lot of noise online right now about AI replacing virtual assistants. And if you've spent even a few minutes scrolling, chances are you've seen someone declare that VAs will eventually be made redundant altogether. The reality looks a little different. Drawing on almost a decade of experience running her own VA and OBM business, Adrienne shares what future-proofing actually looks like in...

Running a service business is a lot to manage. Add a chronic illness and it can feel impossible before the day has even started. If you've wondered whether building something sustainable is realistic when your capacity changes daily, this episode is for you. In this episode Adrienne Donnelly chats with Laurissa Makings, founder of HealthPoint VA, supporting allied health professionals across Austr...

Pricing is one of those topics that can bring up all the feelings. Fear, comparison, imposter syndrome, and sometimes even guilt. If you've ever mumbled your rate, followed your price with a "but," or quietly wondered whether you're charging too much, this episode is for you.   Whether you're just starting out or long overdue for a pricing review, the emotions around money in our businesses a...

Have you ever felt like your story was too heavy, too personal, or too complicated to say out loud? Like the things you've survived don't belong in a professional space or a public conversation? So many women are carrying experiences they've never spoken about, not because they don't matter, but because no one ever created a space that felt safe enough to share them. In this episode, Adrienne Donn...

Signing a new client feels exciting. The discovery call goes well, the proposal is accepted, and you’re officially “in”. But what happens after that? In our industry, we talk a lot about attracting and onboarding clients. And yes, those stages matter. But if you want a sustainable, profitable VA or OBM business, the real work and the real opportunity sits in everything that follows. In this episod...

Some seasons of business feel exciting and full of possibility. Others feel like you’re carrying a lot of “what now?” questions around with you, especially if you’re coming out of a traditional career and wondering what’s next. You might be craving more flexibility, more creativity, and work that actually fits your life, but the idea of starting or growing a VA or OBM business feels big, messy, an...

This time of year can feel a bit strange. Everyone seems to be charging ahead with big goals and bold plans, while you might still be feeling tired, reflective, or unsure what you actually want next. If you’re a VA, OBM, or online service provider who wants your business to grow but not at the cost of your health, family, or flexibility, this episode is a gentle pause. A chance to slow things down...

Some days business feels really good… and other days it feels like you’re carrying your whole world on your shoulders. Client work, kids, school notes, invoices, laundry piles, and somewhere in there you’re meant to be “the CEO” too. You might be thinking about hiring or bringing in more support, but the idea of managing people, setting expectations, and “being a leader” can feel pretty heavy. If...

You know those moments in business where you’re trying to do “the right thing,” but every tool, platform, and strategy just feels… heavier than it should? Or when showing up online suddenly feels like the hardest part of your week? So many VAs and OBMs feel that, but we rarely say it out loud. And that’s why this conversation with Sarah feels like a deep exhale, honest, practical, and full of thos...

You know those seasons in business where everything feels fine… until suddenly it really isn’t? One day you’re getting things done, the next you’re staring at your laptop thinking, “Wow, my brain has officially checked out.” We’ve all been there, holding everything together, pushing through tiredness, promising ourselves we’ll take a break “after this one thing.” You’re allowed to pause before it...

If you’ve ever cringed at the thought of a photoshoot or wondered what to do with that folder full of untouched branding photos, you’re not alone. For many of us running online businesses, being the face of our brand can feel just as confronting as it is important. But here’s the thing, the right photos don’t just make your website look good. They help your audience see you. The real you, the huma...

If you’ve ever second-guessed your onboarding process (or realised your offboarding process is basically just an email and a wave), you’re not alone. Whether you’ve been in business for five minutes or five years, refining the way you look after your clients from first enquiry to offboarding, makes a massive difference. In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly chats with Inner Circle member and systems...

Ever found yourself trying to explain what you do… and watching the other person’s eyes glaze over? Or maybe you’ve had that gut feeling that your website, socials, or service descriptions aren’t quite saying what you mean or attracting the clients you really want to work with?   If you’ve been second guessing your messaging or wondering why the right clients aren’t knocking, this episode is...