Podcast
Effortless Online Systems
Hosted by Nivek Harrison | The Virtual Chapter · EN
Want a peek behind the curtain of your favourite online entrepreneurs? Welcome to The Effortless Online Systems Podcast - where we turn messy back-ends (😉) into smooth, scalable businesses.
Each week, I break down real business processes, review the best tech to save you time and boost profit, and bring in expert guests who’ve built systems that drive results. From automation and AI to project management, paid traffic, hiring, and leadership, we cover everything operations so you can scale smarter and stress less.
I’m Nivek - Online Business Manager, Systems Strategist, and Agency Owner—your guide to mastering the operational side of online business. Let’s get to work.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The AI conversation you need to have with your team
2d ago00:19:07Tap to summarizeYour team is using AI in your business. They've made their own decisions about what's okay - because you haven't made those decisions yet. That's probably fine. Until the client data ends up somewhere you didn't intend, or the work starts sounding generic in ways you can't quite trace back.In this episode:Why the AI rules in your business are a CEO decision - and what's actually at risk when no one makes themWhat data privacy looks like in practice - from client lists to financial data to the specific settings your team need to switch off in their AI accounts right nowHow much you actually need to know about AI to lead your team confidently - less than you think, but not nothingThe questions to work through before you open the conversation with your team - so you're not winging it on something you haven't thought through yetA checklist to take into a 30-minute meeting that covers everything that mattersAction step: Work through the checklist in this episode for your own business, then book a 30-minute call with your team this week. This conversation is overdue. It doesn't have to be complicated.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →The 8 Claude skills that run my podcast content workflow
1w ago00:17:51Tap to summarizeYou record the episode. The transcript lands. And then... it just sits there. Because turning it into a newsletter, shownotes, Instagram carousels, and threads posts requires opening six tools, making a hundred decisions, and spending three hours you don't have. So you don't. And another episode disappears.In this episode:Why the orchestrator skill runs everything else - without it you're still doing the prompting, which means you're still the systemThe sneaky reason to build your own Claude skills versus grabbing someone else's - and the security risk nobody mentions when you skip this stepWhat "80 to 90% done" actually looks like in practice - and why that number is the one that finally makes publishing feel possibleWhy your voice skill lives outside your content skills - and what that has to do with output qualityAction step:Before you build anything, map your current content workflow on paper. Every step, every decision, every tool you open. That's your skill blueprint. Then build the orchestrator first.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Why Most AI Advice Is Failing You (And Why You Feel Stuck)
2w ago00:17:00Tap to summarizeYou've done everything you were supposed to do. Watched the reels, saved the tutorials, maybe even paid for a course. AI still isn't working the way they promised.That's not a you problem.The advice has been built by people whose business model depends on you believing you're behind. This episode is about why it's broken - and where to actually start.In this episode:Why most AI educators have never run a business like yours - they've never held a mastermind, done a webinar launch, or worked 1:1 with clients the way you doThe AI influencer and bro marketing overlap - and why the "ick" feeling you get scrolling AI content is your discernment working correctly, not resistanceThe three questions that tell you where AI actually belongs in your business - and why everyone's skipping the first oneWhy implementing someone else's workflow might be costing you time, not saving it - and what to do insteadWhat AI genuinely can't fix - and why being honest about that is the most useful place to startAction step:Track your time this week - even loosely, even just for a couple of days. Use Toggl (free) or pen and paper. Alongside it, note which tasks are draining your energy the most. That list is your actual AI roadmap. Not someone else's shiny workflow.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Should you build an app for your business? Questions to ask yourself first
3w ago00:20:29Tap to summarizeEveryone's out here vibe coding. And if you're not building an app right now, you might be wondering if you're already behind.You're probably not. But there's a version of this that could genuinely move your business forward - and one that'll cost you time, money, and brand equity if you rush it.In this episode:Whether app building is actually for you right now - the difference between an internal tool and a market-ready product, and why mixing them up is the most common mistake happening right nowThe prototype trap - AI will hand you something that looks finished in an afternoon. The testing is where it breaks, and breaks, and breaks againSecurity, data handling, and your privacy policy - the parts that aren't as fun as building the interface, but are genuinely non-optional the moment you collect any user dataWhen an app makes sense as a value add vs. a new offer - and why starting with your existing clients is almost always the smarter first moveAction step:Before you open Claude or Replit, answer three questions out loud: who exactly is this for, what specific problem does it solve, and have you validated that with real humans who aren't just being nice to you.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Intro to Claude Skills: Training Claude on YOU
4w ago00:22:16Tap to summarizeEveryone's using AI now. Most of it sounds the same.Not because the AI is bad - because no one's told it who they are.Skills are how you fix that.In this episode:Why Claude skills aren't custom GPTs - and the specific difference that changes what you actually get out of themWhy buying someone else's skills gets you someone else's way of doing things - the case for building your ownWhat actually goes in a skill file - the difference between a skill that works and one that just existsThe number one skill to create first - and the exact resource Niv uses to build itHow to test a skill properly before you trust it with real workAction step:Go and try Ruben Hassid's interview prompt: https://ruben.substack.com/p/i-am-just-a-text-fileUse it and let Claude interview you and build your brand voice skill. That's the one skill that sets the foundation for everything else.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Claude Cowork - Stop Prompting, and Start Briefing Like a Boss
Apr 2800:17:55Tap to summarizeThe time savings AI promised you two years ago? They exist. You just haven't found them yet - because most people are still using AI like a fancy search engine. Claude Cowork is where that changes. It's the part of the tool most people are sleeping on, and it's the closest thing to actually delegating your work to a machine.In this episode:Why Claude Cowork is different from every AI tool you've tried before - it doesn't just answer questions, it executes tasks, and that distinction is everythingThe briefing framework that makes Cowork work - context, step-by-step process, example outputs, and your non-negotiables, because vague briefs get vague resultsWhy your SOPs matter now more than ever - the better your process is documented, the less you have to babysit Cowork as it runsTwo real tasks Niv has fully handed off - a one-off platform migration and a weekly client reporting process that used to take a VA an hour, now fully automatedAction step:Pick one task you do every week that has a clear start and end point. Write the SOP - context, step-by-step process, what done looks like. Then take that SOP to Claude Cowork and ask it to build you a scheduled task. Start there.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Is AI making you intellectually lazy?
Apr 2100:19:45Tap to summarizeThe Great AI Deskilling is trending. And yes, the research is real - repeated AI use does reduce cognitive activity in specific contexts. But the way everyone's writing about it is a lazy read of what's actually happening.In this episode:Why the Harvard and MIT research is real - and also being used dishonestly in every hot take about itThe specific tasks it's genuinely fine to outsource your brain for - and the work you cannot hand over without consequenceWhat passive participation in Claude does to your brainwave activity - and what active participation actually looks likeWhy your clients could just go to Claude themselves - and what that means for the value you're actually sellingThe one Claude setting to change today if you want a tool that sharpens your thinking instead of replacing itAction step:Open your Claude or ChatGPT settings today and write a custom instruction telling it to challenge your ideas, push back, and stop defaulting to "that's amazing." Then name the one area this week where you've been outsourcing your thinking - and put yourself back in the driver's seat on it.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →The Difference Between ‘High Touch’ and ‘High Maintenance’
Feb 2600:27:18Tap to summarizeFeeling like your premium services now require you to be constantly “on call”? In this episode, I'm unpacking how supposed “high-touch” offers can devolve into high-maintenance headaches - especially for women in service-based businesses, coaching, or creative industries.Here’s what we cover:The High-Touch Trap: Why “more access” isn't the same as “more value.” Shifting from Reactive to Intentional: Learn how intentional systems - and not just being constantly available - create true transformation for your clients. Signs Your Offer Has Slid Into High Maintenance: Explore the red flags - like repeated requests, clients chasing replies before the agreed response window, or feeling resentful of your own offers. Redefining Support and Boundaries: Practical strategies to review and communicate your boundaries. Self-Serve Options to Empower Clients: Find out why self-serve resources, curriculum, and intentional AI tools (like Delphi) actually elevate the client experience and help you step away from constant notifications. Scaling High-Touch Offers (Without Sacrificing Your Sanity): Yes, high-touch can be scalable! Predictability Builds Trust: Why the best businesses are sometimes “boring” (in a good way!). Consistent and predictable outcomes let your clients feel confident in re-signing, investing, and spreading the word.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Why Visibility Will Break You If Your Backend Isn’t Ready
Feb 1700:16:19Tap to summarizeWould Your Business Break or Thrive If You Suddenly Doubled Your Leads?Visibility is golden - but can your systems keep up? In this episode, I'm asking the crucial question: would more leads fill you with excitement, or just pure panic? If the thought of a viral post makes you want to hide, it’s a sign your business backend needs some love.We’ll explore:How scaling visibility puts a spotlight on system gapsMore outreach means more eyes (and more potential clients), but increased traffic highlights underlying operational issues. Are your client journeys, workflows, and team systems ready for a growth spurt?The four ways increased visibility can actually break your businessFrom collapsing lead handling to clunky onboarding, inconsistent delivery, and becoming your own bottleneck, I'll lay out the most common growing pains for female founders who want more, but fear the chaos.Key systems to audit (before your next growth leap):Lead & sales workflows: Can you follow up with every genuine enquiry without dropping the ball?Onboarding: Are new clients guided smoothly, even if they’re brand new to your world?Delivery: Can you personalise and overdeliver at scale, without sacrificing quality (or your sanity)?Team & task management: Is everything living in your head, or documented somewhere your team can access too?Data & feedback: Are you spotting red flags and missed opportunities early, or losing them in the noise?Why operations confidence = selling confidenceWhen you know your backend can handle more, you’ll show up and promote with ease, not fear.Action Step:Pick one system this week - whether it’s automating your lead follow-up, refining your onboarding, or plugging holes in delivery. Take it 10% further, so the next wave of clients is a win, not a warning sign.Loved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →Automation Isn’t About Doing Less, It’s About Doing Smarter
Feb 1100:24:12Tap to summarizeScaling your business doesn’t have to mean sacrificing sleep, sanity, or the human touch that makes your brand truly special. In this episode I'm taking you inside the art - and science - of intentional automation, so you can work smarter, ditch repetitive admin, and create systems that put people first (including you!).Here’s what we’ll cover:Why “human-first” automation matters: Discover how to use automation strategically, keeping both you and your clients at the heart of your business experience.The three tiers of automation—and where to startThe Leverage Ladder: Learn the five priorities for what to automate first in your business - from high-frequency tasks you do daily, to those error-prone high-risk moments (like welcoming a high-ticket client at midnight).Protecting your time and focus: Get practical examples of how I automate the little things (like calendar reminders or moving files for the podcast), so you and your team can zero in on the juicy, high-impact work.Decision-making before you automate: Should you really automate that process, or would you be better off delegating (or just deleting) it?Your first automation action step: Ready to get your hands (just a little) dirty? Pick one repetitive or friction-full task, automate a single step this week, and see just how much freedom it creates in your schedule.This episode is packed with clear, actionable guidance - no jargon, no tech overwhelm, and absolutely no ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ promises that leave you with broken processes. Whether you’re new to tools like Zapier or ready to double-down on systematising your operations, I'm here to make tech feel less scary and a lot more empowering.Takeaways:Automation works best when it supports people - not when it replaces themStructure your automations to support consistent client experiencesFocus on automating tasks that drain your energy or slow your progressStart with small wins to build confidence and momentumLoved this episode? Don't miss out!👉 Subscribe to the Effortless Online Systems podcast to stay updated with our latest episodes and master your business back-end.🎧 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the content we provide.🔗 Key Links:https://www.thevirtualchapter.co/Shop the Templates: https://thevirtualchapter.co/shopWork With Us: https://thevirtualchapter.co/servicesFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualchapter/Connect with Nivek on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thevirtualchapterThank you for listening and supporting the show. We appreciate you!
Transcribe →