After a prolonged summer break, The Referral Effect is back! In this episode, host Paul Dulieu sits down with Sarah Smith, founder of Orbital Assistant Services, a premium virtual assistant and business support company based in Chelmsford.

Sarah shares her journey from asking for carbon paper and business stationery for Christmas, to 25 years in top international law firms, and finally taking the leap into self-employment - and why swapping a corporate IT department for DIY tech support has been both liberating and mildly terrifying. She talks about learning sales the hard way, the power of saying “yes” and figuring it out later, and her secret superpower: having lists of lists.

Expect laughter, honesty, and a few confessions along the way, as Sarah reflects on her first few months in business and how networking through Essex Business Forum has helped her grow.

Packed with insight, energy, and humour, this episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about starting their own business or mastering the art of organising chaos.

🔗 Find out more about Orbital Assistant Services at orbitalassistant.com

💼 Learn more about Essex Business Forum at essexbusinessforum.com