The Martha's SOS Blog
Enjoy!
Practical operations thinking for CEOs who are done winging it.
What you'll find here is direct, practical, behaviour-based thinking on running a business that doesn't run on you! Systems, team management, operational strategy, and the honest conversation most business advisors won't have with you.
Updated regularly. Worth your time.
How Behaviour Science Makes Your Business Systems Stick
You documented the process. You implemented the system. Your team agreed it made sense. And then, three weeks later, everyone was doing it the old way again. Here is why that happens, and how behaviour science fixes it permanently.
What Happens in an Ops Clarity Session?
The Ops Clarity Session is a 90-minute deep dive into your business operations, what is working, what is broken, and what to fix first. Here is exactly what happens, what you walk away with, and why most people describe it as the most useful 90 minutes they have spent all year.
5 Systems Every Agency Owner Needs Before Hiring Their Next Team Member
Hiring before you have the right systems in place does not scale your agency, it scales your chaos. Here are five operational systems every agency owner needs to have working before they bring another person onto the team.
How to Build a Team Accountability System That Actually Work
"Hold your team accountable" is advice that sounds useful and means almost nothing without a system behind it. Here is how to build one that actually works, grounded in behaviour science rather than just project management tools.
The Real Cost of Being Your Own Operations Manager
Running your own operations feels free. It is not. Here is what founder-led operations actually costs your business in time, revenue, and the compounding effects of decisions that do not get made because you are too busy doing everything else.
OBM vs Fractional COO: Which Does Your Business Actually Need?
Both work fractionally. Both touch operations. But an OBM and a fractional COO are not the same thing and the distinction matters when you are deciding which one your business needs next. Here is the clear breakdown.
How to Document Your Business SOPs (Without Losing the Will to Live)
Nobody wants to write SOPs. But every business that scales without burning out has them. Here is a practical, no-faff guide to documenting your business processes so your team can actually follow them without asking you the same question three times.
When to Hire an OBM: A Revenue-Stage Guide for CEOs
Hiring an OBM too early wastes money. Hiring one too late wastes you. Here is a straight revenue-stage guide to knowing exactly when an Online Business Manager makes sense for your business and when it does not.
What Is ABC Analysis and How Does It Apply to Business Operations?
ABC Analysis -- Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence -- is a framework from applied behaviour science that explains why people do what they do at work. Here is what it means, why it matters for business operations, and how it changes the way you build systems that actually stick.
7 Signs You're the Bottleneck in Your Own Business
Every decision routes through you. Nothing moves without your approval. Your team is capable but somehow the whole business still depends on you for everything. Sound familiar? Here are seven signs you have become the bottleneck in your own business.
What Is an Online Business Manager (And Do You Need One)
An Online Business Manager is not a VA, not a project manager, and definitely not someone who just keeps the wheels spinning. Here's exactly what an OBM does and the signs that tell you it's time to hire one.
OBM vs VA: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
Both work remotely. Both support your business. But an OBM and a VA are doing fundamentally different work at fundamentally different levels. Here's the real difference and how to know which one your business actually needs right now