The Unscripted Entrepreneur: Roundtables

You know that feeling when you are holding everything together on the outside but running on fumes underneath? This episode of OBM Unscripted dives straight into that space — the quiet chaos behind high performance. In this episode, we get real about burnout, overcommitment, and the mental gymnastics of being the “go-to” person who is secretly exhausted. From the psychology of workaholism to the m...

What if your biggest business growth hack isn’t another tool or funnel, but collaboration ? In this episode of OBM Unscripted , we dive into why working with other Online Business Managers and service professionals can completely change how you do business. They unpack how partnerships help you expand your capacity, deliver better results for clients, and build a network that actually supports you...

Ever found yourself doing just one more thing for a client... and suddenly you're knee-deep in extra work that was never part of the deal? That, my friend, is scope creep — and it’s every OBM’s nemesis. In this episode of OBM Unscripted , we unpack what scope creep really looks like in practice, why it sneaks up even on experienced professionals, and how to stop it before it derails your proje...

In this final part of our “How We Got Started” mini-series, Layna, Christy, and Muneeba wrap up their journey into Online Business Management with hard-won lessons on freedom, boundaries, and building a business that actually fits your life. We talk about the power of owning your time, setting rates that reflect your worth, and learning when to pause before burnout hits. From trusting your gut to...

Continuing our conversation from last week, this episode dives into the messy middle of becoming an Online Business Manager. We unpack what it really takes to shift from “doing the work” to leading it – branding yourself, finding your niche, building case studies, and learning how to speak the language of strategy. You will hear our unfiltered stories of evolving from Virtual Assistants to OBMs –...

Every OBM has a story, and none of them are tidy. In this episode, Muneeba, Christy, and Layna get real about how they each found their way into the Online Business Manager world. From corporate burnout to bold pivots, they unpack the highs, lows, and “what-am-I-doing?” moments that shaped their careers. Expect candid stories about first clients, underpricing mistakes, boundaries learned the hard...

Money talk time. 💸 In this episode, we get real about how OBMs can price their work without losing their minds—or their value. From hourly rates that drain your soul to retainers that actually make sense, we unpack what works, what doesn’t, and how to charge for the real transformation you deliver. We cover: • Why hourly rates are a trap (and what to do instead) • The power of retainer and projec...

  Trigger Warning:  This episode includes discussion of suicide and the psychological impact of AI. Please listen with care or skip this one if you need to. Mental-health resources are listed below. This week, we went  off-script —and we mean really off-script. What started as a casual chat about AI in everyday business turned into a deep, occasionally uncomfortable look at the darker side of arti...

The conversation continues! In Part 2 of What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an OBM , Muneeba, Christy, and Lena get real about the messy, eye-opening lessons of stepping into the Online Business Manager role. From client droughts after certification to the blurred lines between VAs and OBMs, this episode digs into the real challenges behind the glossy title. We talk pricing strategies, the hype ar...

So you became an OBM… and reality hit different. In this first part of a two-part series, we dig into the things no one tells you before stepping into the Online Business Manager role. From pricing mistakes to client misconceptions, from VA vs OBM confusion to the myth that certification alone brings clients knocking—we are pulling back the curtain. We share the lessons learned the hard way: why a...

Some clients are a dream. Others… not so much. In this episode of OBM Unscripted , Layna, Christy, and Muneeba get real about handling difficult clients—spotting red flags, setting boundaries, tackling scope creep, and knowing when it is time to call it quits. Expect straight talk, personal stories, and a few hard-won lessons from the online business trenches.

How many drafts are sitting on your desktop right now because they are “not quite ready”? In this episode of OBM Unscripted , we get real about perfectionism, resentment, and why hitting publish matters more than polishing forever. The three of us swap stories from the trenches of Online Business Management, balancing client independence with support, the sting of over-helping, and how communicati...

In Part 2 of our deep-dive, hosts Muneeba Brooks, Layna, and Christy go beyond the job title and get into the truth of the OBM role. From leadership and strategy to certifications and proving ROI, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it takes to step into operations management at a higher level. You will hear: Why an OBM manages outcomes, not just tasks The line between “levelling up”...

In this episode of OBM Unscripted , we break down what it really means to be an Online Business Manager (OBM). From separating the role from Virtual Assistants (VAs), to unpacking systems, strategy, and team leadership, we explore why OBMs are more than just task-doers. Expect candid talk on market misconceptions, the growing demand for OBMs, and why standardization matters for the future of the p...

In this episode, Christy, Muneeba, and Layna get real about what it actually means to build your business around your strengths and why your superpower probably is not “doing everything yourself.” We are talking energy drains, delegation guilt, niching pains, and that slow burn of confidence that comes from owning what you do best (and letting go of the rest). Whether you are still figuring out yo...

Are personality tests a secret business superpower… or just another label? In this episode of OBM Unscripted, we unpack the good, the bad, and the occasionally ridiculous side of tools like the DISC profile. From hiring decisions to team dynamics, we talk about how these assessments can help — and where they can go wildly off course. We also explore what they mean for neurodivergent folks, why con...

Is a business coach a game-changer… or a waste of time? In this week’s OBM Unscripted, we put Christy Beard in the hot seat to tackle the big questions. From spotting red flags to knowing when (and when not ) to invest in coaching, it is an unfiltered Q&A packed with real talk, laughs, and a few hard truths. Whether you are an experienced OBM or just starting out, this episode might change how...

Ever felt like you're one lucky break away from being “found out”? You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not an impostor. In this episode, Layna, Muneeba, and Christy pull back the curtain on impostor syndrome in the OBM world (and beyond). We unpack the mind games, the spirals, and the sneaky ways self-doubt shows up, no matter how experienced you are. In this episode: Why impostor syndrome...

In this episode, Muneeba, Christy, and Layna dive into the underrated powerhouse behind OBM success: soft skills . From navigating tricky client dynamics to setting firm (but friendly) boundaries, we unpack why emotional intelligence, communication, and adaptability aren’t just “nice to have”, they’re non-negotiables in a digital-first, people-driven business landscape. We also dig into the limits...

In this candid episode of OBM Unscripted, Christy, Muneeba, and Layna dive into one of the hardest parts of running a service-based business: rejection. From the top of the funnel to the final stages of onboarding, the trio explores the emotional and strategic impact of hearing “no”, especially when you’ve already envisioned the transformation you could deliver. Layna shares a particularly fresh r...

So you want to find clients? Cool. Just post on Instagram and wait for the DMs to roll in… right? Yeah, no. In this episode of OBM Unscripted , Layna Maye, Muneeba Brooks, and Christy Beard spill the real tea on what it actually takes to start building your client roster as an Online Business Manager. We’re talking rejection, trial and error, and all the mindset junk that shows up along the way. F...

Welcome to the very first episode of OBM Unscripted , where we’re throwing out the polished scripts and getting real about what it’s actually like to build a business behind the scenes. In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest success factors that rarely gets enough airtime: community . Whether you're just starting out as an Online Business Manager or you’ve been in the game a while,...

Meet your hosts: Layna Maye, Muneeba Brooks and Christy Beard; three Online Business Managers with different backgrounds and one shared mission: to pull back the curtain on what it actually means to run the show behind the scenes. In this trailer, we’re laying the groundwork for OBM Unscripted: what to expect, why we’re here, and why this podcast isn’t your average highlight reel. Spoiler: it’s re...