The Classy Career Girl Podcast

Hosted by Classy Career Girl International, LLC

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682

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The Classy Career Girl Podcast Meaningful Work • Income From Home Hosted by Anna Runyan, entrepreneur, homeschool mom of three, and founder of Classy Career Girl, this podcast helps women build meaningful work and flexible income around what matters most. After leaving her corporate consulting career, Anna rebuilt work around motherhood and created a flexible online business while raising her family. Now she shares honest conversations, simple business strategies, and practical encouragement for women who want more freedom, flexibility, and purpose in their lives and work. Inside the podcast, you'll learn how to: • Build a business in small pockets of time • Make your first $1K from home • Grow with simple marketing systems • Transition from employee to entrepreneur • Create meaningful work without burnout • Build a business around your real life and priorities Whether you are starting over, rebuilding after burnout, dreaming of more flexibility, or trying to figure out what's next in this season of motherhood, this podcast will help you take the next step. New episodes weekly.

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60 recent

November 9, 202610 min

Scared of Being Rejected? How to Reach Out to Your First Clients (Ask Anna)

Are you scared to reach out to potential clients because they might say no? In this Ask Anna episode, I answer a question from a member of my $1K Mom Club. She is excited to earn her first $1,000, but she is so fearful of rejection that she fumbles when reaching out, and she struggles to close the deal when people do reply. This is honestly one of the biggest blockers I see, so let's talk about it. In this episode: Why you are not being rejected, you are starting conversations Why fear shows up when we think too much about ourselves (and how to take the focus off you) Practice coaching: why helping 5 to 10 people for free builds real confidence The simple math of your first $1,000 (at $250, that's just four people you get to help) A simple script to start the conversation and invite someone to a free call What to do on the call so it feels like serving, not selling Your clients are not waiting for you to feel ready. They're waiting for you to reach out. Want the 1K First Offer Kit I mention in this episode? It's inside my $1K Mom Club on Substack. You get every post plus a weekly printable to help you make your first $1,000 from home. Try it free for 7 days here: https://annarunyan.substack.com/fa3f37d8 You've got this.

November 5, 202619 min

Your First Offer and First Sale While You Still Have a Day Job (Employee to Entrepreneur, Part 2)

In Part 2 of my Employee to Entrepreneur masterclass, we get practical: how to check your business idea, make your first offer and plan your next 90 days without burning out. In this episode: The 5 signs of a strong business plan Why a simple digital product is the easiest first offer 5 steps to your first sale in about 30 days One offer first, more streams later (how I built Classy Career Girl one stream at a time) A 90-day plan without burnout: plan big, act in 90 days, work weekly Wins from women in our community The 5 pieces to have in place before you quit Ready to talk about your next step? Book a free strategy call with me at classycareergirl.com/apply You've got this.

November 2, 202618 min

How to Leave Your Day Job the Right Way (Employee to Entrepreneur, Part 1)

This week I'm sharing my free Employee to Entrepreneur masterclass with you in two parts. In Part 1, I walk you through my own story: I was successful on paper, with the salary and the promotions, but something was off. I didn't quit first. I started Classy Career Girl on the side while I was still working full time, and I resigned on August 1, 2014. In this episode: Why so many women feel stuck, and the common frustrations of a trapped entrepreneur The biggest mistake I see: doing the right steps in the wrong phase The Employee to Entrepreneur Success Path: Founder, Designer, Planner, Hustler, Entrepreneur and Influencer Why most women can build through Phase 3 while still at their day job Where to start if you are in the Founder phase right now Part 2 comes out Thursday. Ready to talk about your next step? Book a free strategy call with me at classycareergirl.com/apply You've got this.

October 29, 202622 min

How Career Coaches Make $10K Months Every Month

This is Part 2 of my live masterclass, Break Free From the Wrong Career. If you missed Part 1, go back and listen to Monday's episode first. In Part 2, I share: How the income adds up: start with one offer, then add a digital product, then a group program Why you don't charge hourly, and why a 90-day program works better What a 15-hour coaching week can look like, even with a day job or a full schedule The mistakes I see new coaches make (number five is the big one) The truth about certification and why it's a shortcut, not a permission slip Your questions from the live chat, including how to get clients without spending hours on social media This was recorded live, so you'll hear me talk about the chat. The income numbers I share are examples to show how multiple offers add up, not a promise. Your results depend on your effort and your market. If you're ready to talk about becoming a certified career coach, book a free strategy session with me: calendly.com/anna-runyan/certification-strategy-session Or grab my free Career Coach Startup Kit at classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar You've got this.

October 26, 202622 min

How to Turn Your Career Experience Into a Coaching Business

This week I'm sharing the recording of my live masterclass, Break Free From the Wrong Career, in two parts. This is Part 1. Part 2 comes out Thursday. If you've ever thought, "I'm good at this. I just don't know how to build something around it," this one is for you. In Part 1, I share: Why success and fulfillment are not the same thing, and the one question that started Classy Career Girl Why your corporate experience, career change and life story are your coaching superpower (and how to find your niche in your own story) Why career coaching is so in demand for women right now The myths that keep women stuck: needing more experience, quitting your job first, being salesy, needing a big audience, competition and AI My 5-step Career Coach Success Path This was recorded live, so you'll hear me talk about the chat. Come back Thursday for Part 2, where I show you how career coaches make $10K months. Want to see if coaching could be your next career? Grab my free Career Coach Startup Kit at classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar You've got this.

October 22, 202625 min

Paychecks to Profits | Replay

Replay: This week on the podcast we've been talking about building your business while you still need a paycheck. So I wanted to bring back the episode where I share my whole story of doing exactly that. In this episode, I share: How I went from a steady paycheck as a corporate consultant (crunching numbers I didn't love) to building Classy Career Girl from scratch How I navigated burnout, an MBA, imposter syndrome and a side hustle that became my full-time business, even before I quit my job The real story of planning, saving, facing my fears and building a business that supports my family and our lifestyle Whether you're dreaming of quitting your job, starting a side hustle or just need a reminder that you can do this, this episode is for you. Want to see if coaching could be your next career? Grab my free Career Coach Startup Kit at classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar You've got this.

October 18, 2026Episode 67814 min

Want to Run Your Business Full Time But Still Need a Paycheck?

"I want to run my business full time, but I need a paycheck." If you've ever said that, this episode is for you. You don't have to choose between walking away from your job tomorrow and giving up on your business. In this episode, I share how I built my business while I was still working full time, why that in-between season isn't a failure, and how to use it to get to full time on purpose. You'll hear: Why keeping your paycheck can be the smartest move for your business right now How to name the season you're in so you stop feeling behind Five practical tips for building your business while you still have a paycheck The signs your next career is already right in front of you Thinking about becoming a certified career coach? Applications for this year's Career Coach Certification close soon. Apply at classycareergirl.com/apply You've got this.

October 15, 202614 min

How to Balance Life AND Make Time for Your Goals | Replay

Replay: this one is for you if your week feels full and your goals keep getting pushed to "someday." I recorded this episode a few years ago, and I still come back to it because it is true every single season of life. You do not need a free year to go after the work you love. It takes about 15 minutes a day or 1 hour a week, as long as you are taking the right steps. In this episode: Why you should stop believing you do not have enough time How to balance your life with building your business Why the biggest mistake is thinking it will take forever to start How baby steps add up when you are doing the right things Want help getting started? Grab the Startup Kit: classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar You've got this!

October 11, 2026Episode 67711 min

The Scheduling Secret I Wish I'd Known When I Started My Business

You know what you need to do. So why is it so hard to find the time—and energy—to actually do it? When I was building my business with a newborn, one simple question stopped me in my tracks: "What's your schedule?" My answer changed how I worked. In this episode, I'm sharing that story, why I still face this challenge as a homeschooling mom of three, and seven practical ways to make room for your goals in the middle of real life. You'll learn how to: • Choose work hours that fit your current season. • Protect your best energy for your most important work. • Give each work block a clear purpose. • Focus on three daily priorities. • Batch, simplify, and ask for help. Start with one protected block of time this week. Your dream deserves a place on your calendar. Ready for work that supports the life you want? Join my free live webinar, Break Free From the Wrong Career, on Wednesday, October 14, at 6 PM Eastern. Save your seat: https://www.classycareergirl.com/breakfree

October 4, 2026Episode 67617 min

Why You Keep Planning Your Business But Never Start

Do you keep planning your business but never quite start? This week I closed the doors on CLASS and sat on coaching call after coaching call with smart, capable women. On almost every call, I heard the same thing: big plans with no finish line. In this episode, I share what those calls taught me: Why "join anytime" quietly kills momentum, and why I put a real deadline on CLASS How one new member gave her plan a finish line instead of another draft Why "I don't have time" is often doubt in disguise Why 90 days beats an open-ended commitment, for your clients and for you What's carrying me through a season where I'm doing too much If you've been sitting on a business idea or a dream of becoming a coach, this episode is your sign to give it a date. Ready to talk about becoming a certified career coach? Book a free strategy call: https://www.classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar You've got this.