The Online Business Manager Show with Sarah Noked

In this episode of The OBM Show, we're exploring a question that many Virtual Assistants, online service providers, project managers, and corporate professionals eventually ask themselves: "Wait a minute... am I basically running this business?" You’re not trying to take things over. You’re simply noticing that somewhere along the way, you became the person keeping projects moving,...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by longtime entrepreneur and educator Gillian Perkins for a conversation about what operational leadership actually looks like inside a scaling business. Because at a certain point in growth, business owners stop needing more help… and start needing someone who can help hold the business together operationally. Gillian has worked alongside the same OBM f...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Jessica Bonilla for a conversation that completely challenges what people think qualifies someone to become an Online Business Manager. Before Jessica ever called herself an OBM, she was an executive assistant inside a corporate IT department managing moving parts across teams and executives. At one point, she was the breadwinner in her family. Then l...

In this episode of The OBM Show , I’m joined by Emily Reagan for a conversation about something more business owners (and OBMs) need to understand as they grow. At a certain point, scaling is no longer about getting more clients or doing more marketing. It becomes about what is happening behind the scenes. So many founders assume that if they just keep pushing, keep hiring, or keep optimizing thei...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Beth Johnson for a conversation about something I think more aspiring Online Business Managers need to hear.  You do not have to start from scratch to build a successful OBM business. So many individuals assume that stepping into the OBM role means reinventing everything. A new niche, a new business model, a new version of themselves. But often, the s...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m talking about one of the most common reasons discovery calls start to feel messy for OBMs and why it usually has far less to do with confidence than people think. It often starts with a simple question: “What does working with you actually look like?” And for a lot of Online Business Managers, that is the exact moment the call starts to unravel. Not because the...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m sitting down with Rae Raczka, founder of The Ops Collective and Accredited Online Business Manager, to talk about the moment she realized the way she was working simply wasn’t sustainable. At 25, Rae was running operations, payroll, bookkeeping, and accounting across five entities in three countries. She was working 60–65 hour weeks, carrying enormous responsib...

In this episode of The OBM Show, we’re talking about a boundaries problem most Online Business Managers think they have… but actually don’t. What happens when you’ve communicated your hours, set expectations, and genuinely want better work-life balance but still find yourself answering Slack messages at 8pm? When you know the boundary… and break it anyway? This conversation is for the OBM who feel...

In this episode of The OBM Show , we’re talking about a visibility problem most Online Business Managers feel, but rarely say out loud. What happens when you’re great at your work, trusted by your clients, and still feel invisible online? When every time someone asks what you do, your answer spirals into tools, tasks, or vague “backend support”… even though that’s not why clients actually hire you...

In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Adriana Strama, Accredited OBM and founder of her own growing OBM business. We’re diving into what it takes to stop overdelivering, set boundaries that stick, and build a business rooted in intention—not just hustle. Whether you’re feeling like you’re carrying too much or trying to figure out how to step into more leadership, this episode will meet yo...

There is a version of burnout that many OBMs experience but rarely talk about. Your business technically works. You have clients. You know what you are doing. And yet logging in every day feels heavier than it should. In this episode of The OBM Show , Sarah Noked talks directly to the OBM who feels tired, uninspired, or quietly questioning whether this business still fits their life. This is a rea...

There’s a moment in every OBM’s journey when what got you here won’t get you there. You’ve built strong systems, landed solid clients, and grown your team… but you’re craving more sustainability, stronger leadership, and space to evolve. In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m sitting down with Accredited OBM Jackie Appleby, founder of Diligent Assist, who’s been working in the OBM space for over eig...

There’s a moment in every OBM’s journey when you look at your calendar, your inbox, your Slack notifications… and realize the business you built is running your life instead of supporting it. That was exactly where I found myself one Friday night in the early days of my agency.  Slack pinging nonstop.  A 3-hour client debrief still looping in my mind.  My shoulders tight, my wine untouched.  And t...

There’s a moment in every service provider’s journey when you realize you’re doing everything you can… and still not getting the momentum you expected. You’re learning. You’re trying. You’re showing up. But nothing is quite landing. You’re supposed to be building a business that gives you freedom, but instead you’re juggling every detail, working late nights, saying yes to everything, and quietly...

There’s a moment in every service provider’s journey when the business starts growing faster than you can keep up with… and the weight of it becomes impossible to ignore. You started out supporting clients. Then suddenly, you’re managing launches. You’re coordinating contractors. You’re solving operational problems before anyone else notices them. You’re carrying the entire backend of the business...

There’s a moment in every service provider’s journey when the work you’re doing no longer matches the title you’ve been using. You’re being hired as a VA… but you’re planning launches. You’re coordinating teams. You’re spotting system gaps before anyone else sees them. You’re leading… quietly, strategically, instinctively. But you’re still being paid like a task-doer. In this episode of “The OBM S...

You started your business for freedom. Freedom to choose your clients, your schedule, and your lifestyle. But somewhere along the way, that freedom started to feel more like a full calendar than a full life. In this episode of “ The OBM Show ”, I’m sitting down with Accredited OBM Amy Crowe , who shares how she rebuilt her business to finally work for her, not against her. Amy started out as a suc...

You’re managing launches. You’re leading teams. You’re building the systems that make your clients’ businesses run like clockwork. And yet… you still catch yourself thinking, “Who am I to be doing this?” That’s not proof you’re a fraud… it’s proof you’re growing. In this episode of “ The OBM Show” , I’m breaking down how to overcome imposter syndrome and finally own your OBM expertise with confide...

You’ve just had an incredible discovery call with a potential client. You see their vision, you know exactly how you can help them, and your proposal is practically writing itself until you reach that one section that makes your stomach drop: The Investment. Suddenly, your excitement turns into second-guessing. What’s my hourly rate again? How many hours will this take? What if they think it’s too...

You started your business for freedom. To work on your own terms, serve clients you love, and build something that actually lights you up. But somewhere along the way, that freedom started to feel a lot like… busyness. Every client question still lands on your plate. Every decision still needs your approval. And if you stop working, even for a few days, everything stalls. Here’s the truth: if your...

You’ve put in the hours. You’ve delivered the work. But every interaction with that client leaves you drained. Here’s the truth: keeping every client is self-sabotage. Real leadership is knowing when it’s time to say “no.” In this episode of The OBM Show , I’m breaking down the five undeniable signs it’s time to walk away from a client, and giving you the exact step-by-step process to offboard wit...

You’re answering emails. You’re checking tasks off the list. You’re keeping the wheels turning. But here’s the truth: if you’re still stuck in “helper mode,” you’re holding yourself back. In this episode of The OBM Show , I’m breaking down how to stop playing the VA game and step fully into your OBM leadership. Because leadership isn’t about having a big team or a fancy title, it’s about how you s...

You’ve landed a discovery call with your dream client. You’re prepared, excited, and ready to show them the value you bring. But then… the call takes a turn. Instead of a collaborative conversation, you’re hit with rapid-fire questions:  " How many launches have you managed? What tools do you know? What are your rates?” Suddenly, it feels less like a partnership in the making, and more like a...

Your systems are solid. Your team is prepped. The project plan is ready to roll. But then your client goes quiet. Approvals stall, decisions get delayed, and suddenly they become the bottleneck. In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m diving into what to do when clients stall and how you, as the OBM, can lead with clarity, and confidence. Because here’s the truth: bottlenecks are just opportunities f...

Your business is growing, but so is the chaos behind the scenes. You’re juggling projects, contractors, and clients, while trying to keep everything running smoothly… and it feels like if you step away, the whole thing might fall apart. Sound familiar? These are the warning signs you’re about to max out. And they’re also the signs it’s time to bring in an Online Business Manager (OBM) to help you...