Business Over Cocktails - Behind the Business - Real Talk with Female Entrepreneurs

Lauren Najar, Business Coach
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Welcome to Business Over Cocktails — the podcast where female entrepreneurs, founder stories, and soulful business growth take center stage.  Hosted by business strategist and community builder Lauren Najar, this show dives into the “why” behind the business, the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shape women-led brands. Expect candid interviews with creative entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes reflections on small business growth, and bite-sized solo episodes inside The Business Chaser — where we explore authentic visibility, organic marketing, and building a business that actually feels good. Whether you're scaling a service-based business, navigating a pivot, or craving real talk for entrepreneurs, this is your spot. Pull up a seat. Pour your favorite drink. Let’s talk business.

  1. The Real Reason Selling Feels Icky w/ Lauren Najar

    2D AGO

    The Real Reason Selling Feels Icky w/ Lauren Najar

    Selling feels icky when you’re trying to rush to the pitch instead of actually getting to know someone. If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking when to pitch, how to transition a conversation, or why selling feels unnatural, this episode breaks down what’s actually going on. I’m sharing why that “icky” feeling shows up and how it usually comes from trying to sell before you’ve taken the time to truly understand the person you’re talking to and whether they’re actually a fit. I walk through what selling actually looks like in real life like recommending something you love, making plans with friends, or sharing a tool you actually use. None of that feels weird because there’s already trust there. That’s the part most people skip in their business. This episode brings it back to that and shows why forcing the sale is usually the problem. So, if selling has been feeling harder than it should, this will help you see what’s actually going wrong and how to make it feel a lot more natural. Chapters: 00:30 Why selling feels uncomfortable 02:30 The real reason sales feel icky 04:30 Why easy sales don’t feel like selling 05:30 The friendship example that explains everything 06:30 Everyday examples of natural selling 07:30 How recommendations turn into sales 08:30 Understanding the problem before you sell 09:30 Why timing in sales is not fixed 10:30 Relationship building vs cold outreach 11:30 Why I avoid high-volume sales calls 12:30 Letting sales feel effortless 13:30 Why forcing sales creates resistance  Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    15 min
  2. Your ‘Why’ Will Change And That’s the Point w/ Lauren Najar

    6D AGO

    Your ‘Why’ Will Change And That’s the Point w/ Lauren Najar

    You don’t start a business because you have it all figured out. Most of the time, you’re just trying to solve a problem right in front of you. Today, I’m sharing the real story behind how my business started. I didn’t start this with some big purpose or long-term vision. I started it because I needed to make more money and take some pressure off at home. That was it. But it didn’t stay that simple. This is a real look at what happens when your why stops making sense and you have to figure out what actually matters to you now. From chasing income to realizing the impact I was making, I’m walking through the moments that shifted how I see my work, success, and what I actually want out of all of this. I also share how becoming a mom reshaped everything for me, especially how I think about support, confidence, and what I want my daughter to learn from watching me. You might start for one reason, but if you stick with it, it’s probably going to turn into something completely different. Chapters: 00:40 I never planned to be an entrepreneur 03:10 Early beliefs about business and success 05:40 Choosing a “safe” career path 07:40 The moment business became interesting 09:10 Life events that changed everything 10:40 Climbing the corporate ladder 12:40 Feeling stuck despite doing everything right 14:10 Side hustles and searching for more 15:40 What didn’t sit right in MLM culture 17:10 Learning social media and sales 18:40 The real reason I started my business 20:10 Making money as the first motivation 21:40 When the why started to shift 23:10 Discovering my strength in creating connections 24:40 The shift from income to impact 26:10 How motherhood reshaped everything 27:40 Redefining success and support 29:10 Why your why will evolve 30:40 What actually drives me now  Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    33 min
  3. You’re Busy But Not Intentional w/ Alyssa Gawlinski

    MAY 1

    You’re Busy But Not Intentional w/ Alyssa Gawlinski

    You’re showing up to everything but getting very little out of it. It’s easy to say yes, stay busy, and feel like you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. But without intention, you end up scattered, drained, and wondering why nothing is actually moving forward. In this episode, Alyssa breaks down what it really means to be intentional in your work, your relationships, and how you spend your time. She shares how being clear on your goals, your role, and and why just showing up and saying yes to everything isn’t actually helping you the way you think it is. From professional settings to personal relationships and even nonprofit work, this conversation is a real look at what happens when you’re just going through the motions and how to shift out of it. And she also shares a simple question that can completely change how you show up in conversations: do you want to vent or do you want help solving it? So if you’ve been doing a lot but not seeing the impact you expected, this is where you start shifting how you show up. Chapters: 01:00 Why being intentional matters 02:00 The difference between busy and intentional 03:00 Showing up with purpose at work 04:00 How to be intentional in relationships 05:00 The question that changes conversations 05:45 Being intentional with service work 06:30 Choosing what actually matters to you 07:15 How intention changes your results Connect with Alyssa: Instagram: @alyssag28 Instagram: @buildwithalyssa LinkedIn: @alyssa-gawlinski Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    8 min
  4. The Moment She Found Her Purpose in Serving Others w/ Alyssa Gawlinski

    APR 27

    The Moment She Found Her Purpose in Serving Others w/ Alyssa Gawlinski

    You didn’t plan to become the person others lean on. It usually starts with a moment that changes everything. In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Gawlinski to talk about how personal loss and experiences with cancer shaped the path she’s on today. What started as unexpected moments led her into deep involvement with organizations like Fighting Pretty, Girls on the Run, and the Boys and Girls Club, supporting women and young girls through moments that require connection, support, and guidance. They also get into the parts people don’t always talk about. The loneliness that can come with grief, what it feels like to walk alongside cancer without fully understanding it, and how relationships can either fall away or show up in ways you never expected. This conversation is a real look at how connection, community, and shared experience can change the way you move through life. It’s not about deciding to be a “serving” person. It’s about what life puts in front of you and how you choose to show up because of it. This episode will challenge you to look at your own experiences and ask what they’re shaping you into. So if you’ve ever wondered how the hardest moments in your life can lead you to something more meaningful, this is the conversation to listen to. Chapters: 00:40 Why Alyssa got into nonprofit work 02:00 How Fighting Pretty came into her life 04:00 Getting involved with Girls on the Run 06:40 The impact of showing up for kids 08:40 The reality of connection and community 11:40 Why being of service matters 14:40 The role of support during hard seasons 18:40 Navigating cancer, grief, and connection 22:40 How relationships shift in hard seasons 26:40 Turning pain into purpose 30:40 Life changes and finding direction 34:40 Processing grief and personal growth 39:40 Why therapy changed everything 41:40 Core values that guide Alyssa’s life 44:40 What impact looks like long term 48:40 How to start making a difference 50:40 Where to connect with Alyssa Connect with Alyssa: Instagram: @alyssag28 Instagram: @buildwithalyssa LinkedIn: @alyssa-gawlinski Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    52 min
  5. Your DMs Aren’t Converting to Sales & This Is Why w/ Lauren Najar

    APR 24

    Your DMs Aren’t Converting to Sales & This Is Why w/ Lauren Najar

    You’re sending messages, starting conversations, trying to sell and still not seeing results. In this episode, I break down what actually turns people off in the DMs and why so many common sales tactics feel forced, exhausting, and ineffective. I walk through what I don’t do in the DMs, from cold pitching to over-messaging, and what actually gets people to buy instead.  I also share how I’ve built a sustainable business through relationship-driven conversations instead of volume-based outreach. From closing four-figure deals to generating a $20,000 launch entirely through DMs, this is a real look at what it takes to convert without burning out, sounding robotic, or pushing people away.  Chapters: 00:30 Why DM sales feels off for most people 01:30 Sales calls vs DM selling shift 03:30 Why scripts don’t work in sales 05:30 The problem with launch cycles 06:30 What cold DMing actually is 08:30 Why volume DMing burns you out 09:30 Why conversations drive sales, not likes  10:30 Why scripts fail in real conversations 11:30 How selling actually works 12:30 Why you struggle to pivot in DMs 13:30 How to know if someone is actually a lead 14:30 The problem with spam engagement 16:30 What natural DM conversations look like 17:30 What not to do in the DMs recap 18:30 How I close sales in the DMs  Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    21 min
  6. 4 Years In. The Truth About Leaving My 9 to 5 w/ Lauren Najar

    APR 20

    4 Years In. The Truth About Leaving My 9 to 5 w/ Lauren Najar

    Four years ago, I made the decision to leave my 9 to 5 and build my business full time. And while that decision changed everything, it didn’t happen the way I thought it would. In this episode, I’m reflecting on what it actually took to get there and what these last four years have really looked like. From starting with side hustles and trying to find a way out, to building a business while working full time, this was not a quick or straightforward path. It took years of figuring things out, making decisions without a clear plan, and learning how to trust myself along the way. I’m also sharing what no one really talks about after you leave your job. The freedom, yes, but also the pressure, the identity shifts, and the responsibility that comes with building something on your own. At the same time, this is a milestone I’m incredibly proud of. Four years later, I’m still here, still building, and still choosing this path. So if you’re thinking about leaving your 9 to 5 or wondering if it’s actually worth it, this episode will give you a real look at what that decision requires and what it can create. Chapters: 01:00 Why leaving your job feels so far away 02:30 Starting with side hustles and MLMs 05:30 From blogging to social media work 07:00 Hiring a coach and shifting direction 09:00 Building a business while working full time 11:30 The pressure of having a day job 15:00 Getting a new job that changed everything 17:30 When the business slowed down 19:00 Rebuilding confidence with new offers 20:30 COVID and unexpected business growth 21:30 Starting an agency and increasing income 24:00 Deciding to leave and making a plan 26:00 Moving and lowering expenses 28:00 The moment everything became real 30:00 Why setting a date matters 31:00 Life after leaving the 9 to 5 33:30 The hardest parts of entrepreneurship 35:30 Why it is still worth it 37:00 The real way to build confidence Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    39 min
  7. You Need to Fail Better Not Avoid It w/ Summer Borkowski

    APR 17

    You Need to Fail Better Not Avoid It w/ Summer Borkowski

    You’re not stuck because nothing is working, you're stuck because you’re trying not to fail. If you’ve been overthinking your next move, holding back from launching, or constantly questioning your decisions, today’s guest, Summer Borkowski, founder of Summer Gold, a beauty and wellness club, breaks down what’s actually happening when you fail. Avoiding failure might feel like a smart move, but it’s the exact thing keeping you from getting the clarity and momentum you need. In this Business Chaser episode, Summer walks through what it really means to fail better, how to use failure as feedback instead of proof you’re doing something wrong, and why some of your best business decisions will come from things not working the first time. So if you’ve been waiting to feel more confident before taking action, this will show you why trying is the only way forward. Chapters: 00:24 Fear of failure in business 01:27 Why failing feels public 02:27 Reframing failure and self-worth 03:14 What failing better actually means 03:54 When a launch gets zero sales 04:32 How to get the right feedback 05:20 Adjusting pricing and offers 05:55 Why testing creates clarity 06:23 When to pivot or let go 07:20 Trusting your decisions 08:05 How failure drives growth 08:56 The mindset shift around failure 09:35 Overthinking and analysis paralysis 10:14 Using feedback from your audience Connect with Summer: Website: https://www.summergoldco.com/ Instagram: @summergoldco Instagram: @sumshady Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    11 min
  8. What Actually Happens When You Bet on Yourself w/ Summer Borkowski

    APR 13

    What Actually Happens When You Bet on Yourself w/ Summer Borkowski

    You don’t randomly wake up and start a business that makes zero logical sense or do you? In this episode, I sit down with Summer Borkowski, founder of Summer Gold, a beauty and wellness club, to talk about what really happens when you follow an idea that doesn’t make sense on paper. From starting a spray tan business with zero experience to building a full beauty and wellness brand, this is the kind of story that challenges what you think entrepreneurship is supposed to look like. We get into the messy middle that most people don’t talk about. Burnout, figuring things out as you go, redefining success, and learning how to lead both yourself and a team. But more importantly, we talk about what shifts when you stop chasing what you think success should look like and start building something that actually feels aligned. So if you’ve been waiting until you feel ready, this episode is going to shift how you think about taking the first step. Chapters: 02:55 Where the idea for Summer Gold came from 04:40 Starting a business with zero experience 06:40 The deeper reason behind Summer’s “why” 09:10 How it evolved beyond spray tans 11:25 The burnout that forced a shift 13:10 From fixing yourself to investing in yourself 15:10 Why self-care feels hard to prioritize 18:10 Why she thought success had to feel chaotic 19:55 Redefining success through client impact 22:10 The trap of chasing busy over aligned 24:10 Thinking long term vs quick wins 25:10 Why you can’t do everything yourself 26:40 What leadership actually looks like 28:40 Building a team that feels valued 30:40 Why micromanaging kills confidence 32:40 Learning to trust yourself as a leader 35:40 The bigger vision for Summer Gold 40:40 How to stand out in a saturated market 44:40 Why people keep coming back Connect with Summer: Website: https://www.summergoldco.com/ Instagram: @summergoldco Instagram: @sumshady Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    50 min
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About

Welcome to Business Over Cocktails — the podcast where female entrepreneurs, founder stories, and soulful business growth take center stage.  Hosted by business strategist and community builder Lauren Najar, this show dives into the “why” behind the business, the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shape women-led brands. Expect candid interviews with creative entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes reflections on small business growth, and bite-sized solo episodes inside The Business Chaser — where we explore authentic visibility, organic marketing, and building a business that actually feels good. Whether you're scaling a service-based business, navigating a pivot, or craving real talk for entrepreneurs, this is your spot. Pull up a seat. Pour your favorite drink. Let’s talk business.

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