Seed to Success

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 and midlife medicine, to talk about sleep, energy and burnout and how all three show up for women running a business. Dr. Shauna brings the medical knowledge without the overwhelm, and the kind of honest, practical guidance that actually makes sense in real life. This one is worth saving.

You'll hear about:
🌱 Why so many women wake between 2 and 4am and what's driving it
🌱 How to create an end-of-day routine that helps your brain switch off
🌱 What to eat at 3pm instead of reaching for sugar or another coffee
🌱 The signs of burnout that are easy to miss in yourself and in others
🌱 Why a normal blood test doesn't rule out perimenopause

You're the heartbeat of your business and your family, and when your energy is stretched thin, everything around you feels it. Dr. Shauna makes the complex feel manageable, and this conversation gives you both the language for what you're experiencing and some genuinely practical steps to start working with your body rather than against it.

Resources and Links
Join the Seed VA community:
Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au
Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants
Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community
Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Dr. Shauna Watts:
Website: www.youbydrshaunawatts.com.au
Instagram: @dr.shaunawatts
Podcast Instagram: @allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 practice, and why the human element isn't going anywhere. This isn't about ignoring AI or pretending it isn't changing the way we work. It absolutely is. But the story is more nuanced than the headlines suggest, and there's a lot of opportunity in that nuance if you're paying attention.

You'll hear about:

🌱 Real client examples where AI fell short and humans got the job done
🌱 The risks of outsourcing business-critical work to AI
🌱 How embracing AI can elevate your role rather than replace it
🌱 Why niching into growing industries is a smart long-term move
🌱 What a business continuity plan looks like for solo operators

Whatever the future looks like, the VAs and OBMs who will thrive are the ones who embrace technology, deepen their expertise, and double down on the human value they bring. That's not going out of style anytime soon.

Resources and Links

Join the Seed VA community:
Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au
Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants
Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community
Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

Bec at The Ops Side: www.theopsside.com.au

🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal. Ready to Boss Legal offers online legal templates that protect your business without the fuss or the large fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off. Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au

If this episode made you think about where your business is heading, share it with a fellow VA or OBM who needs to hear it. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 Australia. Laurissa shares how she built a niche business while living with multiple chronic health conditions, why honesty with clients has been her greatest asset, and the project she's creating to help others in the chronic illness community find the support they need.

You'll hear about:
🌱 Niching into allied health from day one and why it worked
🌱 Spoon Theory and managing energy in a client-facing business
🌱 Designing your offers around what you can actually sustain
🌱 Why transparency with clients is a strength, not a liability
🌱 The Spoonie Support Hub and the story behind it

You don't have to hide who you are to run a successful business. The right clients will always meet you where you are.

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:
Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au
Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants
Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community
Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Laurissa and HealthPoint VA:
Instagram: @healthpointva_
Facebook: Healthpoint VA

🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal. Ready to Boss Legal offers easy-to-use legal templates to help protect your business without the stress or high legal fees.
Use code SEED10 for 10% off.
Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 are real and valid. But pricing isn't just about numbers. It's about positioning, confidence, and building something that's actually sustainable.  

In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly gets honest about her own early pricing mistakes including the cringe-worthy moment she based her first client rate on her old payslip and shares the practical shifts that helped her build a financially sustainable business over the past decade. This isn't about telling you what to charge. It's about helping you think about pricing with more clarity, more strategy, and a lot less second-guessing.  

You'll hear about  

🌱 Why "you're too expensive" doesn't mean your pricing is wrong and what it actually tells you about positioning  

🌱 How to add some science to your pricing so it's based on your real numbers, not fear or comparison

🌱 What to expect when you raise your rates with existing clients and why the conversation might surprise you  

🌱 The simple discovery call shift that helped one Inner Circle member start closing clients on the spot  

🌱 The honest truth about working for free in exchange for testimonials, and what to consider instead  

Wherever you're sitting with your pricing right now, know that getting it right is a process and you don't have to have it all figured out today. What matters is that you start backing yourself. You bring real skills, real experience, and real value to the clients you work with. The right ones are out there, and they will pay. Give yourself permission to charge with confidence and trust that clarity builds as you go. 🌱  

Resources and Links  

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:  
Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants  
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728  
Learn more about the Inner Circle: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle  
Grab the Base Rate Calculator spreadsheet here  
Listen to the episode with Tahnée Sanders here  

🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal.
Ready to Boss Legal offers online legal templates that protect your business without the fuss or the large fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off.
Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au  

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 Donnelly sits down with Cat Dunn, award-winning OBM, mentor, speaker, and founder of the live speaker event and global podcast Life After I Left. Cat shares the deeply personal journey behind building a platform dedicated to amplifying women's stories, from surviving domestic violence to creating one of Australia's most courageous storytelling communities. This is a conversation about vulnerability, purpose, and what becomes possible when women are finally given the stage.

You'll hear about:

🌱 The story behind Life After I Left and why Cat built her own stage

🌱 How vulnerability became Cat's greatest tool in business and life

🌱 Why women's stories need dedicated spaces to be heard

🌱 Running a passion project alongside a busy OBM business

🌱 What's coming in 2026, including Bali and a nationwide tour vision

Your story has weight, it has reach. And there is someone out there who needs to hear exactly what you've been through. You don't have to share it all at once, and you don't have to have it perfectly packaged. Showing up honestly, even when your voice shakes, is enough.

Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au

Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community

Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

Website: www.catlouisedunn.com I

nstagram: @lifeafterileftpodcast and @catlouisedunn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunn

Ready to Boss Legal offers easy-to-use legal templates to help protect your business without the stress or high legal fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off. Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au

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 episode, Adrienne Donnelly chats with Michelle Broadbent, business mentor and founder of Accountability Circle, about the four stages of the client lifecycle and how to manage each one with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. Michelle works closely with female founders and brings a refreshingly honest perspective on what makes client relationships thrive, and what quietly causes them to unravel.

Together, they unpack how to position yourself as a trusted partner, protect yourself with strong foundations, deepen retainer relationships, and confidently navigate renewals or endings when the time comes.

You’ll hear about:

🌱 The four stages of the client lifecycle: Attract, Engage, Manage, and Renew (or Release)

🌱 Why positioning yourself as a business owner, not an employee, changes the dynamic instantly

🌱 Setting clear expectations, boundaries, and terms from the very beginning

🌱 Adding value during long-term retainers so you become indispensable, not replaceable

🌱 How to handle renewals proactively and release misaligned clients gracefully

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to move beyond “just doing the work” and into becoming a true strategic partner in your clients’ businesses, this episode will give you clarity and confidence. You’re not just support. You are building a business of your own. And the way you manage the full client lifecycle shapes the sustainability, profitability, and energy of that business long term.

Resources and Links

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:

Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728

Learn more about the Inner Circle: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Michelle Broadbent and Accountability Circle:

Website: https://michellebroadbent.com.au

Instagram: @michbroadbent

🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal.

Ready to Boss Legal offers easy-to-use legal templates to help protect your business without the stress or high legal fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off.

Visit: https://www.readytobosslegal.com.au

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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, and a little unknown. If you’re somewhere in that in-between space, this conversation will help you feel less alone and a lot more grounded about what’s possible.

In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly chats with Hannah Caruso, the creative behind Virtually Hannah and a solutions-driven virtual assistant who moved from the legal world into flexible, values-led virtual support. Hannah shares how she went from “wizard of the legal realm” to small-but-mighty business owner, what surprised her most about running her own business, and how she’s learning to slow the noise, back herself, and build something that feels like her.

You’ll hear about:

🌱 What prompted Hannah’s shift from the legal field into VA life

🌱 The mindset moves that helped her step into “business owner”

🌱 What CEO time and time blocking look like in real life

🌱 Finding clients in ways that feel natural, not salesy

🌱 Redefining success and choosing patience over “10k month” pressure

If you’ve been wondering whether you’re “ready enough” to start or grow your VA or OBM business, take this as your gentle nudge to begin before it’s perfect. Start with what you have, learn as you go, and let your brand, offers, and idea of success evolve over time. Your pace is valid, your path is yours, and you’re doing better than you think.

Resources and Links:

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:

Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728

Learn more about the Inner Circle:

https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Hannah: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtuallyhannah_/

🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal. Ready to Boss Legal offers easy-to-use legal templates to help protect your business without the stress or high legal fees.

Use code SEED10 for 10% off.

Visit: https://www.readytobosslegal.com.au

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 and think about what you’re really building, not just what you feel like you should be working towards.

In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly, guides you through a thoughtful approach to goal setting for 2026. Rather than rushing straight into new plans, Adrienne invites you to reflect on the year that’s been, define what success actually means for you, and choose goals that align with your current season of life.

If you are wanting clarity, direction, and intention, without pressure or perfection, this episode is for you.

You’ll hear about

🌱 Why reflecting on 2025 is just as important as planning for 2026

🌱 How to define success in a way that feels personal and realistic

🌱 Choosing a theme for the year to guide your decisions

🌱 Setting a small number of goals that match your capacity

🌱 Using January as a gentle reset rather than a full sprint

You don’t need everything mapped out right now. Growth doesn’t have to be loud or rushed to be meaningful. This episode is a reminder that steady, intentional steps count, and that your business is allowed to support your life, not compete with it. Take what resonates, leave the rest, and trust that clarity builds over time.

Resources and Links

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:

Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728

Learn more about the Inner Circle: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 that’s where you’re at, this conversation with Ash will help you feel seen and a little more supported in what you’re carrying. 🌱

In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly chats with Ash Battye, founder of Emerald HQ and co-founder of Secret Women’s Collab. Ash shares how she went from resume writer to VA to the go-to hiring and culture partner for small business owners who want values-led support, not corporate HR. Together, they talk honestly about juggling business, kids, and a shift-working husband, what it really takes to lead people well, and how to build a business that fits your actual life.

You’ll hear about:

🌱 How Ash grew from resume writer and VA into running Emerald HQ

🌱 What juggling business, young kids, and a shift-working partner really looks like

🌱 Simple leadership shifts to stop doing everything yourself

🌱 Early signs you’re heading towards burnout and how to reset gently

🌱 Finding community that fits your season, not your “shoulds”

If you’ve been thinking, “Something has to change, but I’m not sure where to start,” this episode is your reminder that you don’t have to fix everything at once. You’re allowed to take small, steady steps, ask for help, and set your business up in a way that works for you and your family right now. Your version of success gets to be flexible, human, and completely your own.

Resources and Links

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:

Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728

Learn more about the Inner Circle:

https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Ash Battye & Emerald HQ

Website: emeraldhq.com.au

Instagram: @emeraldhqau

Facebook: Emerald HQ

LinkedIn: Ash Battye

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱

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 those “oh thank goodness, it’s not just me” moments.

In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly chats with Sarah Thomson, Digital Marketing Coach, trainer, speaker, and founder of Online Social Butterfly. Sarah shares what 14 years in business has really looked like… the pivots, the overwhelm, the visibility wobblies, and the freedom that comes from keeping things simple and human.

You’ll hear about:

🌱 How Sarah’s business changed completely over the years (and why that’s normal)

🌱 Why visibility feels so personal and the mindset shift that makes it easier

🌱 The real reason so many women feel overwhelmed by tech and tools

🌱 What VAs and OBMs can share online to build connection and trust

🌱 Simple ways to review your workload and systems so business feels lighter

You don’t need perfect branding, fancy software, or endless confidence to grow a sustainable business. You just need clarity, honesty with yourself, and the courage to show up as you are. Small steps count. And you're doing better than you think.

Resources and Links

🌱 Join the Seed VA community:

Website: https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728

Learn more about the Inner Circle:

https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle

📲 Connect with Sarah Thomson and Online Social Butterfly:

Website: www.onlinesocialbutterfly.com.au

Instagram: @onlinesocialbutterfly

If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s new on Seed to Success. 🌱