Do you really need a team, a virtual assistant, a housekeeper, expensive software, and a complicated funnel to build a successful business?

I used to think so.

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm sharing why I followed the traditional advice to outsource and delegate everything—and why I eventually realized I was building a version of success I didn't actually want.

We're talking about how to build a lean, profitable business that fits your life, especially if you're a mom building in the margins of a 9–5, homeschooling, raising kids, or simply want...

What would it actually take for your business to replace your paycheck—or reach your first $5K or $10K month?

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm sharing the simple revenue planning method I use to stop guessing and start mapping out exactly where my monthly income will come from.

We'll talk about:

Behind the Business #9: How I Actually Get Work Done With Three Kids at Home

Hook: How I stay consistent in my business—even when motivation is gone.

Welcome back to Behind the Business, where I'm taking you behind the scenes of how I actually run Classy Career Girl.

Last week, I took you behind the scenes of my life—motherhood, homeschooling, travel, routines, and the choices we've made as a family.

This week, we're going behind the business.

Yesterday, I shared the one-page business plan I actually use.

But here...

What if you could plan your entire business on one page instead of 50?

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm taking you inside the simple one-page business plan I've used for over a decade to grow Classy Career Girl.

Last week, we went behind the scenes of my personal life—motherhood, homeschooling, traveling, and building a life around what matters most. This week, we're going inside the business and looking at the actual strategies, systems, and plans I use to run it.

I'll walk you through the five sections of my one-page bu...

Motherhood changed my definition of success.

Before becoming a mom, I thought success meant working harder, accomplishing more, saying yes to opportunities, and continuing to climb.

Then my first daughter was born—and suddenly, time felt different.

In this episode, I'm taking you back to something I originally wrote when she had just turned one and sharing the lessons that first year of motherhood taught me about success, work, fear, flexibility, and building a life on your own terms.

We'll talk about:

How do you keep a busy family organized when you're juggling work, kids, homeschooling, appointments, activities, meals, and everything else that comes with everyday life?

In Behind the Business #6, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the simple planning systems we use in our family every single week.

These aren't complicated productivity systems or rigid schedules. They're practical tools that help us communicate better, build routines, share responsibilities, and keep everything from living inside my head.

In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 tools I use to plan our weeks:

What do you do when you make a beautiful plan for the week…and by Tuesday, everything has changed?

Kids get sick. Appointments move. Work takes longer than expected. Your energy changes. And suddenly, the schedule you carefully created no longer works.

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm sharing the simple weekly planning rhythm I use to stay focused without creating a rigid schedule that falls apart the moment real life happens.

You'll learn my 4-part gentle weekly planning system:

My Daily Anchors: A Morning Routine for Peace in Busy Seasons

What keeps you grounded when every day looks different?

As a mom, entrepreneur, and homeschooler, I've learned that I don't need a perfectly structured morning routine—I need a few simple anchors I can return to when life gets busy.

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm sharing the daily practices that help me stay rooted in my faith, focused on my priorities, and present with my family.

I'm taking you behind the scenes of my real mo...

One of the biggest reasons I became an entrepreneur was freedom—but not just the freedom to work from anywhere or set my own schedule.

I wanted to build my business around my family instead of fitting my family around my business.

In this Behind the Business episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm taking you behind the scenes of why our family chose homeschooling, what our homeschool days actually look like, and how I balance homeschooling three kids with running a business.

I'm sharing our Charlotte Mason approach, why we only ho...

What does it actually take to run a business while traveling Europe for a year with three kids?

In Part 2 of my Behind the Business series, I'm sharing what life really looked like behind the beautiful photos—from homeschooling in tiny apartments and carrying groceries through London to missed flights, unexpected hospital visits, and some of our favorite adventures across Europe.

But I'm also answering one of the biggest questions I get:

What happened to the business while we were gone?

Surprisingly, it became one of our best years in business.

What if the doors that keep closing aren't setbacks, but direction?

A few years ago, our family was living in a two-bedroom apartment in Wisconsin with three young girls. Our business was growing, life looked successful from the outside and yet something didn't feel right.

We thought the next step was obvious: buy a house and settle down.

So we tried.

And tried.

After nearly 30 offers on homes, nothing was working out.

Eventually, we started asking a different question: What if we're not supposed to stay here?<...

What does it take to leave a successful corporate career and build a business that gives you more freedom?

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, Anna Runyan sits down with entrepreneur, brand strategist, and podcast host Francheska Stone to talk about her journey from litigation paralegal to business owner. After experiencing burnout, Francheska made the leap into entrepreneurship, built a personal brand, and launched a podcast that's helping working moms create more flexibility and autonomy in their careers.

Together, they discuss how to discover your unique voice, build an authentic personal brand...

Can reading the right books change your career or business?

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, Anna Runyan sits down with Jen Kornoely, founder of the She Reads, She Leads Book Club, to discuss why business, finance, and mindset books are some of the best investments you can make in yourself.

After leaving her corporate career to build a successful real estate photography business, Jen discovered that the knowledge and confidence she gained through reading helped her grow faster than she ever imagined. Today, she's helping other women do the same through...

Did you start your business for more freedom... only to find yourself working more than ever?

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, Anna Runyan is joined by attorney, founder strategist, and Play Big Faster Podcast host Scherrie L. Prince to talk about how to build a business that supports your life instead of becoming another full-time job.

Scherrie shares the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make in their early years, why the decisions you make today impact your options years from now, and how to create a business with the legal and strategic foundation...

If you're trying to build a business while juggling motherhood, work, and everything else on your plate, this episode will give you permission to stop doing it the hard way.

This week, Anna sits down with business strategist and mom of three Renae Fieck to discuss why so many women are burned out trying to follow productivity systems that were never designed for the female body.

After navigating one of the most challenging seasons of her life—including her husband's brain tumor diagnosis, seizures, and raising three young children—Renae rebuilt her business around her ener...

🎓 Congratulations! You made it to the final day of Summer Business School.

Over the past 31 days, you've learned how to build a business from the ground up—from finding your idea and creating your offer to attracting clients, building multiple income streams, planning like a CEO, and creating a business that supports the life you want.

But today isn't really graduation.

It's your first day as CEO.

In this final episode, Anna reflects on everything you've accomplished together, shares the five CEO principles to remember as you grow your business, and walks...

What if the goal was never just to build three income streams?

In Day 30 of Summer Business School, we're bringing together everything you've learned throughout the series to show you how the Three Magic Income Streams Framework™ creates something even more valuable than income—it creates options.

When your business includes Quick Cash, Scalable Income, and Leverage Income, you're no longer relying on one client, one launch, or one paycheck. Instead, you begin building a business that is more stable, more flexible, and designed to support the life you want to live.

In this...

How To Plan to Build Your Business in 90 Days | Day 29 Summer Business School

What if you stopped trying to plan your entire year—and instead focused on the next 90 days?

In today's Summer Business School class, you'll learn why 90-day planning is one of the most powerful tools for building a successful business. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and big annual goals, you'll create a simple plan that helps you stay focused, take consistent action, and make meaningful progress.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why 90-day goals are more effe...

The Numbers Every Business Owner Should Track: Day 28 Summer Business School

Are you measuring the right things in your business?

One of the biggest differences between struggling entrepreneurs and successful CEOs is that CEOs know their numbers. They don't rely on feelings or hope—they use data to make confident decisions.

In Day 28 of Summer Business School, you'll learn how to create your own CEO Dashboard™ so you can stop guessing and start leading your business with clarity.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The five numbers every business owner shou...

Most entrepreneurs spend their days reacting—checking email, answering messages, scrolling social media, and tackling whatever feels most urgent. But successful CEOs don't build their businesses that way.

In Day 27 of Summer Business School, you'll learn how to shift from thinking like an employee to leading like a CEO. Anna shares the CEO Weekly Rhythm, a simple framework for organizing your week around the activities that actually grow your business instead of keeping you busy.

You'll discover why revenue-producing activities should always be your top priority, how to stop reacting to every notification, and the we...

Are your offers starting to feel disconnected?

Maybe you have a course, a coaching program, a membership, or digital products—but you're not sure how they all fit together.

In today's episode of Summer Business School, you'll learn how to build a Business Ecosystem™ where every offer has a purpose and every step naturally leads your customers to the next. Instead of creating random products, you'll design a clear customer journey that builds trust, creates consistent sales, and helps your business grow sustainably.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Feeling like you're constantly chasing your next Instagram post, Reel, email, or podcast episode?

The secret isn't creating more content—it's learning how to teach one idea in multiple ways.

In today's Summer Business School class, you'll discover The Content Multiplication Method™, my simple system for turning one great idea into weeks of valuable content across every platform. Instead of starting from scratch every day, you'll learn how to create once and repurpose strategically so you can stay visible, save time, and grow your business without burning out.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What if Instagram disappeared tomorrow?

Would you still have a way to reach your audience?

In today's episode of Summer Business School, you'll discover why an email list is one of the most valuable assets you can build—and how to create a lead magnet that turns followers into subscribers and subscribers into future customers.

Anna introduces The Lead Magnet Ladder™, a simple framework for creating free resources that do more than collect email addresses. Instead of offering random freebies, you'll learn how to design a lead magnet that solves one small problem, intr...

Create Your First Digital Product This Weekend: Day 23 Summer Business School

Think you need to create a huge online course before you can sell a digital product? Think again.

In Day 23 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan shares The Tiny Offer Method™—a simple framework to help you create your first digital product in just one weekend.

You'll learn why your first digital product doesn't need to be complicated, how to choose the right format, and why solving one specific problem is often the fastest path to making your first leverage income.

In...

Everyone seems to be talking about passive income.

"Create a course."

"Sell a digital product."

"Make money while you sleep."

But here's the truth: digital products aren't where most successful businesses begin—they're where they grow.

In Day 22 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan introduces the third and final income stream in The 3 Magic Income Streams Framework™: Leverage Income. You'll discover why digital products work best after you've validated your ideas through coaching and group programs, and how to create resources people are already asking for.

In this...

Do you think you need a huge audience before you can launch a successful group program or membership?

In today's Summer Business School class, I'm sharing why that's one of the biggest myths in online business—and why you don't need 1,000 members to get started. You only need your first 10.

In this episode, you'll learn how to confidently launch a small beta group, personally invite your first members, create meaningful transformation, and gather the success stories that make every future launch easier.

You'll discover:

Stop Reinventing Your Business Every Month: Day 20 Summer Business School

Do you find yourself asking the same questions every week?

What should I teach? What should I post? What should I create next?

If you're constantly reinventing your business, you're probably spending more time making decisions than making progress.

In today's Summer Business School class, you'll learn The Membership Success Calendar™—a simple planning system that helps you create consistent content, keep your members engaged, and build a business that feels organized instead of overwhelming.

Inside this episode, you'll disc...

Why Community Is Your Secret Growth Strategy: Day 19 Summer Business School

What if the biggest reason people join—and stay in your programs—has nothing to do with your content?

In today's Summer Business School class, you'll discover why community is one of the most valuable assets you can build in your business. In a world where information is everywhere and AI can answer almost any question, connection has become your greatest competitive advantage.

You'll learn The Community Flywheel™, a simple framework that shows how community creates momentum, momentum leads to action, action produc...

Have you ever bought an online course, watched the first module... and never finished it?

You're not alone.

The problem isn't that most courses contain bad information. The problem is that they contain too much information and not enough implementation.

Whether you're creating an online course, group coaching program, membership, or certification, this episode will show you how to simplify your content, create momentum, and build an experience your students will love.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Create a Signature Framework and Become Known: Day 17 Summer Business School

In today's Summer Business School class, you'll learn why the fastest way to build your reputation, grow your audience, and attract more customers isn't by teaching everything you know—it's by creating a simple, memorable framework people can remember and share.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What if the secret to a successful group program isn't creating more content—but creating a clear path to transformation?

In Day 16 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan shares The Transformation Roadmap, a simple framework for designing a group coaching program, membership, or course that helps people get real results.

Instead of asking, "What should I teach?" you'll learn the better question every successful program creator asks—and why your students need a roadmap, not a library of information.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized there's simply no room for another client?

If your income only grows when you work more hours, you've built a business with a ceiling.

In Day 15 of Summer Business School, we're beginning the second income stream in the 3 Magic Income Streams Framework: Scalable Income.

In today's lesson, you'll discover why successful entrepreneurs eventually stop trading time for money and start creating systems that allow them to serve more people, make a bigger impact, and build a business that doesn't depend on working longer hours.<...

What does it really take to make your first $1,000 in business?

In Day 14 of Summer Business School, we're bringing together everything you've learned over the past two weeks into one simple action plan you can start using immediately.

If you've been wondering how to turn your business idea into real income, this episode will show you that your first $1,000 isn't about luck or going viral, it's about consistently taking the right actions.

In today's class, you'll learn:

• The Quick Cash Action Plan
• The four weekly habits that lead to paying clie...

Have you ever opened Instagram, stared at a blank screen, and wondered...

"What should I post today?"

You're not alone.

One of the biggest reasons entrepreneurs struggle with marketing isn't because they lack creativity—it's because they don't have a simple plan.

In Day 13 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan shares The 30-Minute Marketing Plan™, the repeatable weekly marketing system she's used to consistently grow her business for years without spending all day creating content.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Think you need thousands of followers before you can get your first client?

Think again.

In Day 12 of Summer Business School, I'm sharing one of the biggest mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to make: clients don't come from going viral—they come from building trust and having conversations.

In this episode, you'll learn The Visibility Triangle, the simple framework that has helped me grow Classy Career Girl from one blog post and one client into a business that's served thousands of women around the world.

You'll discover:

How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy: Day 11 | Summer Business School

Do you ever hesitate to talk about your business because you don't want to sound pushy or "too salesy"?

In Day 11 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan shares The Serve, Don't Sell Framework, a simple mindset shift that will completely change the way you think about selling.

You'll learn why selling isn't about convincing people to buy. It's about listening, serving, and confidently offering a solution to someone who is already looking for help.

In this episode, you'll discover:

W...

Why isn't anyone buying your offer?

It might not be your pricing.

It might not be your experience.

It might not even be your offer.

More often than not, it's your messaging.

In Day 10 of Summer Business School, Anna Runyan shares The Irresistible Offer Formula, a simple framework for creating offers that are clear, compelling, and easy for people to say "yes" to.

Because people don't buy coaching.

They don't buy courses.

They buy transformation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What if the biggest reason people aren't buying your offer... is because they don't actually understand what you're selling?

In Day 9 of Summer Business School, you'll learn one of the most important lessons in building a profitable business: people don't buy coaching—they buy transformation.

If you've ever struggled to explain what you do, attract the right clients, or confidently package your expertise into an offer, today's lesson will help you simplify your message and create something people actually want to buy.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Are you spending months building a course, website, or digital product without making any money?

You're not alone—but there's a faster way.

In Day 8 of Summer Business School, we're kicking off Week Two by focusing on the first of the Three Magic Income Streams™: Quick Cash.

If I were starting my business from scratch today, I wouldn't begin with passive income.

I'd begin by helping real people solve real problems.

In today's episode, you'll learn why coaching, consulting, freelancing, and service-based offers are often the fastest path to your...

Your first paying client probably isn't going to come from Instagram.

Or your website.

Or your logo.

It's going to come from a conversation.

In Day 7 of Summer Business School, you'll learn why so many entrepreneurs wait far too long to start selling—and the simple action plan that helps you land your very first paying client without a big audience.

Instead of chasing more followers, you'll discover how to leverage the relationships you already have, start genuine conversations, and build momentum one client at a time.

In...