The Online Business Manager Show with Sarah Noked

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 on your shoulders.

But the structure? The systems? The support you need?

Nowhere to be found.

In this episode of “The OBM Show,” I’m sitting down with Accredited OBM and agency owner Adayah Balog, who knows that experience firsthand. Her journey didn’t begin online, she started in corporate banking, shifted into VA work for more flexibility, and quickly found herself doing high-level operational leadership… without the systems or support to match it.

Her business didn’t collapse… it grew too fast.
COVID hit. Her husband’s work stopped overnight. She had a newborn. And suddenly she was the sole income earner, running a business built on overextension instead of sustainability.

The turning point?

Realizing she couldn’t keep being the “yes to everything” agency, and that real leadership often begins with slowing down long enough to rebuild.

We’re breaking down what it actually looks like to move from reactive growth to intentional, sustainable scaling as an OBM. One where your systems support you, your team stands with you, and your business finally gives you the freedom you started it for.

Here’s what we cover:

• How Adayah went from corporate banking → VA → overwhelmed OBM → intentional agency owner
• The signs your business is growing faster than your systems can handle
• What rebuilding your backend (and your boundaries) really looks like
• How she created a team culture rooted in accountability, communication, and quality
• Why narrowing your offers can unlock more efficiency and better client results
• What a sustainable OBM agency can look like when you stop trying to do it all yourself

Whether you’re a VA stepping into the OBM role, an OBM navigating growth, or an agency owner trying to scale sustainably, this episode will help you see what’s possible when you lead with intention instead of urgency.

Join us for our upcoming info session to learn more about finding success as an Online Business Manager: https://www.obmschool.com/info/

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Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind 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 Show,” I’m sitting down with Accredited OBM Milani Lau, who knows that feeling all too well. Before stepping into the OBM role, Milani spent years living in that in-between space: doing high-level work while charging VA rates, juggling too many responsibilities, and constantly bouncing between overbooked months and dry spells.

The turning point?
Realizing that the work she was doing wasn’t “extra effort”… it was OBM-level leadership.

And that realization changed everything.

We’re breaking down what it really looks like to move out of VA mode and step confidently into the strategic OBM role. One where your ideas are valued, your expertise is trusted, and your business supports your life as a mom of two.

Here’s what we cover:

• How Milani shifted from underpaid VA work into the OBM role with clarity and confidence
• The moment she recognized she’d outgrown her existing clients — and what she did next
• How she landed her first OBM client during Accreditation and rebuilt her confidence
• What strategic OBM work actually looks like behind the scenes
• How hiring her first VA transformed her capacity and leadership
• What a sustainable, aligned OBM business can look like when you stop operating from scarcity

Whether you’re a VA who knows you’re already doing OBM-level work, or an OBM wanting to deepen your leadership and create more alignment, this episode will help you see what’s possible when you finally own your expertise.

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Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 successful VA, supporting small business owners with everything from email marketing to customer support, but over time she realized she was doing more than managing tasks. She was leading.

That realization changed everything.

We’re unpacking what it really looks like to build a sustainable OBM business that supports both your clients and your life, without burnout or compromise.

Here’s what we cover:

• Amy’s transition from VA to Accredited OBM and what it taught her about sustainable growth
• How to rebuild your business around your real life without losing momentum
• The mindset shifts that helped Amy step into leadership and own her expertise
• Why boundaries are the foundation of freedom in your business
• What a part-time OBM business can look like when it’s designed with intention
• How to define success on your own terms and stop chasing someone else’s version of it

Whether you’re a service provider ready to evolve into the OBM role or an established OBM looking to simplify and realign, this episode will inspire you to design a business that gives you both freedom and fulfillment.

Join us for OBM Accreditation: applications are open for the last time in 2025, and early bird enrollment ($900+ OFF) is on until November 20th, 2025. This is your moment to become an Accredited OBM and step fully into your next level of leadership. → https://www.obmschool.com/accreditation/

—----------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 confidence and clarity. Because the truth is, every high-achieving OBM feels it at some point… the difference is in how you handle it.

Here’s what we cover:

 • Why feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. It means you care
 • How to build your “Evidence File” to ground yourself in facts, not feelings
 • The leadership phrase that builds instant trust with clients
 • How to reframe your role from “expert” to “leader” (and stop trying to know it all)
 • Why defining your Zone of Genius is the fastest way to boost your confidence
 • A real story from an OBM Accelerator student who turned fear into leadership and raised her rates by 30%

Whether you’re just starting out or already leading multi-six-figure projects, this episode will help you silence the imposter voice, show up as a confident leader, and own your value as an Online Business Manager.

Join us for OBM Accreditation: applications are open for the last time in 2025, and early bird enrollment (15% off) is happening right now. This is your moment to become an Accredited OBM and step fully into your next level of leadership. → https://www.obmschool.com/accreditation/

—----------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 much?
Maybe I should lower it… just in case.

Sound familiar?

In this episode of “The OBM Show”, Sarah Noked is helping you break free from the hourly pricing trap and start charging for your true value, not your time.

Here’s what we cover:

  • Why hourly billing keeps you stuck on the income hamster wheel
  • How to calculate your ROI before setting your prices
  • The key to creating value-based, outcome-driven packages
  • How to confidently present your rates without apologizing or overexplaining
  • The mindset shift that helps you own your worth and lead with confidence

This episode is your official permission slip to stop charging for your time, and start charging for your talent.

When you position yourself as a strategic investment (not an expense), everything changes… your income, your confidence, and the clients you attract.

----------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 business still depends entirely on you, you don’t own a business, you have a job.

In this episode of “The OBM Show”, Sarah Noked shares her five-step framework to help you stabilize, systematize, and prepare your business for scalable growth.

This is about learning how to be the Online Business Manager of your own business so you can start building the foundations you’ll need to eventually hire one… and yes, finally step fully into your role as CEO.

Here’s what we cover:

 • The task audit that reveals where your time (and energy) really go
 • How to automate and delegate recurring tasks without overwhelm
 • Why documenting your systems with simple SOPs changes everything
 • The power of centralizing your tech stack for real team efficiency
 • The mindset shift that helps you let go and lead like a true CEO

Whether you’re still doing everything yourself or getting ready to grow your team, this episode gives you the roadmap to build a business that runs smoothly, strategically, and sustainably.

------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 with clarity, confidence, and professionalism.

Here’s what we cover:

 • Why fear, scarcity, and people-pleasing keep OBMs stuck with bad-fit clients
 • The 5 red flags that mean a client relationship has expired
 • How to use the “Graceful Exit Protocol” to offboard without drama
 • A real story of an OBM School student who let go of a toxic client - and instantly signed her dream one
 • Why letting go is stepping into leadership - and the key to calling in aligned clients

Whether you’re holding onto a draining client or just want to set stronger boundaries, this episode will give you the clarity and tools to make brave, CEO-level decisions in your business.

Join us for our next round of OBM Week - a three day, LIVE virtual event where we’ll dive deeper into how to step into the OBM role with confidence and clarity. → https://www.obmschool.com/info/

—----------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 show up every single day.

Here’s what we cover:

 • The difference between “helpers” and true leaders (and why it matters)
 • How to recognize when you’ve slipped back into support mode
 • The daily mindset shifts that help you embody OBM leadership
 • What it looks like to step into the CEO gap with confidence and clarity
 • Why this shift is the key to being seen (and paid) as a strategic partner

Whether you’re transitioning from VA work or you’ve been an OBM for years, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shifts to lead boldly, position yourself strategically, and thrive in your role.

Join us for our next round of OBM Week - a three day, LIVE virtual event where we’ll dive deeper into how to step into the OBM role with confidence and clarity. → https://www.obmschool.com/info/

------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 an interrogation.

Here’s the problem: when you let clients lead these conversations, you end up sounding like just another freelancer instead of the strategic partner you really are.

In this episode of “The OBM Show”, Sarah Noked shares how to flip the script and lead discovery calls with confidence so potential clients see you as indispensable from the very first conversation.

Here’s what we cover:

  • Why letting clients steer the call keeps you stuck in “order taker” mode
  • The mindset shift that changes everything about how clients see you
  • How to handle “rate talk” gracefully without underselling yourself
  • A simple framework for positioning yourself as a strategic partner, not just a task-doer
  • What it looks like to set the tone for a long-term, premium client relationship

If you’ve ever walked away from a discovery call feeling like you had to prove yourself, this episode will show you how to take back control, stand in your value, and attract the right clients with ease.

-------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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 for leading differently.

Here’s what we cover:
  • Why bottlenecks happen (and what they reveal about leadership gaps)
  • How to name pause points clearly without creating tension
  • Tools and systems to make decision-making fast and simple
  • Boundaries that protect your timelines and keep projects on track
  • How to step into the CEO gap so your client feels supported, not pressured

Whether you’re just starting out or already established as an OBM, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shifts you need to turn frustrating delays into opportunities to lead.

------------------------------

Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence.

✨ Ready to take the next step?

 Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter
Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources
Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com

🧭 Not sure where to start?
Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz

📺 Prefer to watch?
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM

Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.