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

Why do so many pet influencers go broke — and what separates them from the ones building six-figure businesses? In this Business Chaser, Ashley of Petfluencer Secrets breaks down how pet influencers and content creators actually make money, and the framework she teaches hundreds of creators to scale from hobby to real income.

Ashley walks through why most influencers quit at the "90-day hump," how to treat your content like a business from day one, and the real numbers behind brand deals at every follower stage — from your first paid video to five-figure partnerships. She explains why engagement matters far more than follower count, how to turn one-off brand deals into recurring multi-month contracts, and why diversifying your income across brand deals, the YouTube Partner Program, TikTok Shop, and affiliates is the key to a sustainable creator business. If you want to make money as a pet influencer or content creator, this is your quick-hit roadmap.

In this episode:

• Why most pet influencers quit within 90 days — and how to push past it
• Treating your content like a business (yes, her cat has an LLC)
• What brands actually pay at each follower stage
• Why engagement beats follower count every time
• Turning one-off brand deals into recurring multi-month income
• Diversifying your income streams as a content creator

Pour a drink and pull up a seat — let's talk creator income.


Connect with Ashley:

https://petfluencersecrets.com/

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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:
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Ever wondered how people actually make money as pet influencers? In this episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Ashley, founder of Petfluencer Secrets and the owner of the world's most famous Manx cat, to break down how she turned cute cat videos into a six-figure content creator business. Ashley shares the full journey — from posting pet photos for fun, to earning her first brand deals, to coaching hundreds of pet influencers on how to grow and monetize their channels.

They get into how the pet niche is different from typical influencer advice, the many ways creators actually earn money (brand deals, affiliates, creator funds, and more), and how Ashley priced and scaled her coaching without a marketing background. Ashley also opens up about the mindset shift that changed everything — learning to believe anything is possible, letting go of the need to control every outcome, and building a daily gratitude practice that carried her from a physical therapy doctorate and $70K of student debt to a business she loves. Whether you want to turn your pet into an influencer, build a creator business, or just need permission to bet on a "crazy" idea, this conversation will fire you up.

In this episode:

• How to make money as a pet influencer (and the many ways creators earn)
• Why the pet niche needs a different content strategy than other influencers
• Turning a viral moment into a real, monetized business
• Pricing and scaling coaching with no marketing background
• The "faceless" influencer path for people who don't want to be on camera
• Mindset, manifestation, and gratitude as business tools

Pour a drink and pull up a seat — this one's a fun one.


Connect with Ashley:

https://petfluencersecrets.com/

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and feel like your symptoms are being missed, this episode is for you. In this Business Chaser, Dr. Laura Glaser — board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of a whole-person women's health and med spa practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina — shares what every woman should know about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Dr. Laura breaks down why so many women are seen but not heard in healthcare, how perimenopause symptoms are too often misdiagnosed as depression, and why you shouldn't cherry-pick quick fixes for what is really a complex, whole-person issue. She talks through what to actually look for in a provider, her candid take on hormone pellets and other high-risk solutions, how affordable most HRT really is, and why treating your skin and external beauty concerns starts with addressing your hormones from the inside out. If you've ever settled for a solution that left you feeling like less than your best self, this is your reminder that you deserve more.

In this episode:

• Perimenopause vs. menopause: what's actually happening and when
• Why perimenopause is so often misdiagnosed as depression
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — and Dr. Laura's take on pellets and quick fixes
• How to find a provider who listens to your whole story
• Why internal hormone health shows up in your skin and aging
• Advocating for whole-person, women-centered care

This episode is a general educational conversation and not medical advice — always consult your own provider about your health.

Connect with Dr. Laura Glaser

https://auraemedspa.com/

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

What do you do when life completely interrupts your plans? In this powerful episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Dr. Laura Glazer to talk about resilience, rebuilding after tragedy, and building a business rooted in whole-person women's health. Dr. Laura is a doctorally prepared, board-certified family nurse practitioner and the founder of Aurae Modern Medical and Spa, where she combines concierge medicine with medical aesthetics through a deeply holistic, mind-body-soul approach.

Laura opens up about breaking her back in three places, the long road to recovery, and the mortality check that pushed her to finally go back to school and pursue her purpose. From there, she and Lauren — a two-time cancer survivor — get real about perseverance, the fear of failure, mom guilt while building a business and raising three kids, and losing a mother to cancer. They also dig into why women are so often underserved by modern medicine, the difference between traditional primary care and the concierge model, and what whole-person, women-centered care actually looks like — from perimenopause and hormone health to caring for yourself before something goes wrong. Whether you're an entrepreneur, navigating a hard season, or looking to advocate for your own health, this conversation is about coming out the other side stronger.

In this episode:

• Rebuilding your life and business after a life-altering event
• Turning fear of failure into the courage to bet on yourself
• Why women are underserved by traditional healthcare — and how to advocate for yourself
• Concierge medicine vs. primary care: what whole-person care really means
• Perimenopause, hormone health, and caring for the whole person
• Building a business while raising kids and navigating mom guilt

Pour a drink and pull up a seat — this one goes deep.

Connect with Dr. Laura Glaser

Website - https://auraemedspa.com/

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

Going to networking events but not turning those leads into clients? This live coaching session breaks down exactly how to follow up after events and convert leads with email marketing. 

In this Business Chaser mini-coaching episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Krista Nguyen— nurse practitioner and owner of Cardinal Functional Health Center — for a real, unscripted lead generation coaching call for small business owners.

They dig into why smaller events often convert better than big ones, how to capture and segment email leads with a simple QR code and opt-in, and why your post-event follow-up plan matters more than the number of business cards you collect. Lauren also shares how to turn real client stories and case studies into social media and email content that actually gets people to reach out — plus where paid ads like Meta should (and shouldn't) fit into your marketing strategy. Whether you run a health and wellness practice, a service business, or any local business built on relationships, this episode is a practical roadmap for working smarter, not harder.

In this episode:

• Why intimate events often convert more clients than large ones
• How to set up email marketing and lead capture with Flodesk
• Building an opt-in or lead magnet that gets event attendees to sign up
• Turning client case studies and testimonials into content that converts
• The right order of operations: organic marketing first, then Meta ads
• Follow-up systems for busy business owners with no time to spare

Pour a drink and pull up a seat — let's turn those event leads into loyal clients.


Connect with Krista -

Website: https://www.cardinalfunctionalhealth.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cardinalfunctionalhealth

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/cardinalfunctionalhealth/

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

Being married to an entrepreneur isn't easy but you don't have to be a business owner yourself to support one. 

In Part 2 of this candid conversation, host Lauren Najar sits down again with her husband Darrin to talk about marriage and entrepreneurship: what it really takes to support an entrepreneur spouse, why so many successful business owners' marriages fall apart, and how the two of them have stayed grounded through nearly eight years of building a business together.

They get honest about the ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship, leaving a 9-to-5 to start a business, making fast decisions vs. making a plan, and how becoming a business owner changed both Lauren and their marriage — for better and for harder. Whether you're an entrepreneur, married to one, or somewhere in between, this episode is a real look at partnership, sacrifice, and support behind the scenes of building a company.

In this episode:

• Why successful entrepreneurs' marriages often struggle — and what keeps yours strong
• How to support a spouse's business when you're not an entrepreneur yourself
• Balancing family, ambition, and "there's always work to be done"
• The plan vs. the leap: navigating risk as a couple
• How entrepreneurship reshaped Lauren's confidence, discipline, and identity

Pour a drink and pull up a seat — this one gets real.

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

Does hitting record for your business make you want to crawl under a blanket? If you struggle with showing up online, creating content, or being visible on social media, the problem might not be your confidence—it might be your nervous system.

In this episode of Business Over Cocktails, Prassede Kemp of Numinous Creative breaks down why being seen online can trigger perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and a fear of being perceived—and what you can actually do about it.

Instead of waiting until you feel confident enough to post, Prassede shares practical tools for nervous system regulation, including breathing exercises, grounding objects, safe exposure, and the 70% rule for creating content without getting stuck in perfectionism.

You'll also learn how to build evidence against imposter syndrome, work through the “visibility hangover” after posting, and gradually train your nervous system to feel safer being seen.

If you've been overthinking your content, avoiding the camera, or waiting to feel confident before you show up online, this episode will help you rethink what it really takes to become more visible in your business.

Connect with Prassede:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/numinous.creative/

Website: https://www.numinouscreative.com/

Free resource:  https://www.numinouscreative.com/if-posting-online-makes-you-nervous 

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

What does it actually take to build a business and brand that feels like you?

In this episode of Business Over Cocktails, Lauren Najar sits down with Prassede Kemp, founder of Numinous, to talk about authentic branding, entrepreneurship, and the messy reality of building a business.

Prassede shares the story of getting fired from her corporate job, finding her way into entrepreneurship, and building Numinous through some of the hardest seasons of her life. They talk about why successful business owners need to be willing to fail fast, how perfectionism can keep you stuck, and why authenticity isn't a destination—it’s an evolving process.

Lauren and Prassede also explore what it means to create an embodied brand, build a business from conviction rather than pressure, and make your work feel meaningful and alive.

Plus, Prassede shares the belief she had to let go of in order to grow, why rejection can be redirection, and what she wants entrepreneurs facing a major career or business pivot to know.

If you're building a personal brand, growing a business, or trying to create work that actually feels aligned with who you are, this conversation is for you.


Connect with Prassede:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/numinous.creative/

Website: https://www.numinouscreative.com/

Free resource:  https://www.numinouscreative.com/if-posting-online-makes-you-nervous 

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

What if one sentence could make your business instantly more memorable—and make you the obvious choice?

In this episode, Lucy Bedewi breaks down how to write a business one-liner that actually gets people to pay attention. Your one-liner isn't just a mission statement or a sentence about what you do. It's one of the most important pieces of your brand messaging—and it should create enough intrigue for someone to want to know what comes next.

Lucy walks through the three key elements behind a standout business one-liner:

• Your Dismantle: What are you challenging, changing, or doing differently from the status quo?
• Your Process: How do you solve the problem in a way that makes your business different and difficult to replicate?
• Your Link: Why are YOU the person uniquely qualified to do it?

You'll learn how to move beyond bland messaging like “I help,” “I empower,” and “I transform” and create a one-liner that communicates your differentiation, personality, expertise, and point of view.

If your current elevator pitch feels generic, your website headline isn't landing, or you're struggling to explain what makes your business different, this episode will help you rethink your messaging and create a sentence you can confidently use across your website, Instagram bio, content, networking conversations, and more.

Because the goal isn't to be one of many options.

It's to become the obvious choice.

Connect with Lucy:

Website: https://www.mywritehandwoman.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mywritehandwoman/

Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/67979624c16f720015e296ad 

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.

What happens when you stop trying to sound like everyone else and start building a business around who you actually are?

In this episode of Business Over Cocktails, Lauren Najar sits down with messaging strategist and copywriter Lucy Bedewi founder of My Write Hand Woman, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, personal branding, storytelling, and finding the confidence to own your voice.

Lucy shares the story of getting fired from her first job, writing a seven-page manifesto to her former CEO, and turning that experience into the catalyst for her entrepreneurial journey. She also opens up about how she scaled to $5K months, why she believes action creates clarity, and why investing in your strengths while outsourcing your weaknesses can accelerate your growth.

Together, Lauren and Lucy dive into:

• Why your personality can be your biggest business differentiator
• How to create a brand voice that is bold, multidimensional, and memorable
• Why storytelling doesn't require a dramatic or traumatic life story
• How to turn everyday moments into compelling content
• Why templates and cookie-cutter strategies can keep your brand from standing out
• The importance of following the data while trusting your intuition
• How to stop shrinking yourself and become a category of one
• Why you don't always need a business coach—sometimes you need to figure out what works for you first

If you've ever felt like your content sounds too generic, struggled to articulate what makes your business different, or felt the pressure to fit into someone else's formula for success, this conversation is your permission slip to do things differently.

Because your personality isn't something you need to hide from your business. It might be the very thing that makes people remember you.

Connect with Lucy:

Website: https://www.mywritehandwoman.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mywritehandwoman/

Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/67979624c16f720015e296ad 

Upcoming Events:

Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw

Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL

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.