AI Won’t Replace You. But It Might Require You to Rise.
Let’s not dance around it AI is everywhere.
It’s in your client’s inbox, in the launch funnel, on every webinar chat and Slack thread.
And maybe, like a lot of OBMs I speak to every week, you’ve quietly wondered:
Am I still needed?
Here’s why.
AI Is Brilliant But It’s Not a Strategist
AI tools like ChatGPT are fantastic for what they’re designed to do: fast content drafts, SOP templates, automations, quick analysis. They save time. They improve workflows. They do some of the heavy lifting.
But that’s where it ends.
What AI can’t do and will never do is lead.
It doesn’t understand team dynamics.
It doesn’t make judgment calls under pressure.
It doesn’t see what’s not working when the metrics look fine but the vibe is off.
That’s your zone.
What’s Really Happening in Online Business Right Now
Let’s talk about what I’m seeing behind the scenes:
Clients are running leaner teams, assuming AI can “fill in the gaps”
VAs, content writers, and even OBMs are being let go because “we’ve got GPT now”
But... launches stall. Funnels fall apart. Momentum fizzles.
Why? Because AI doesn’t manage projects, people, or outcomes.
Tools are only as useful as the person driving them. And if there’s no one driving? The whole business goes off-road.
That’s where OBMs come in.
What You Bring That AI Can’t Touch
Let’s be clear on what Certified OBMs actually do:
We build systems that reflect reality, not theory
We lead teams with empathy and structure
We keep CEOs out of the weeds and in their zone of genius
We anticipate problems before they surface
We drive the right momentum, at the right time, with the right people
AI can process a thousand lines of data.
You can turn that data into a clear decision.
That’s not competing that’s commanding.
What to Say When Clients Don’t Get It
Here are a few lines you can borrow for your next discovery call or check-in:
🗣 “AI is brilliant at doing the doing. I’m here to lead the doing.”
🗣 “Automation helps but it doesn’t replace judgment.”
🗣 “If AI is the engine, I’m the driver.”
🗣 “ChatGPT can write the email. I make sure it’s the right message to the right audience at the right time.”
Not only does this reframe your value, it positions you as someone who isn’t resisting AI you’re leading with it.
Real Talk: OBM vs AI (A Day in the Life)
Here’s what happens in real businesses:
AI flags low open rates.
You spot the email went to the wrong segment.
AI suggests changing a subject line.
You discover the opt-in page link is broken.
AI automates a follow-up.
You realise the client didn’t get the lead magnet and is now confused and ghosting.
In every case, AI helps you act faster. But it doesn’t make the final call. You do.
OBMs Who Leverage AI Are the Future
This isn’t about picking sides.
This is about evolution.
The OBMs I train inside Thrive OBM Academy don’t fear AI they integrate it.
They use it to reduce admin.
To plan launches more strategically.
To set up systems that run without endless micromanagement.
But they know: AI doesn’t care if the system is aligned, team-ready, or sustainable.
That’s the OBM’s job.
So if you’ve felt that wobble that “maybe I’m becoming redundant” whisper in your head I want you to hear this loud and clear:
Your role is not dissolving.
It’s evolving.
You are not just a task manager. You are a strategic partner.
You are not a tool operator. You are a people-first, results-driven leader.
AI is not your enemy.
Fear isn’t your strategy.
Leadership is.
And the future of OBM isn’t just about staying relevant.
It’s about rising up.
With confidence.
With clarity.
With tools in one hand and leadership in the other.
Ready to grow into the future-ready OBM your clients truly need?
Join us at Thrive OBM Academy where strategy meets systems, and leadership isn’t optional.
