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 from04:40 Starting a business with zero experience06:40 The deeper reason behind Summer’s “why”09:10 How it evolved beyond spray tans11:25 The burnout that forced a shift13:10 From fixing yourself to investing in yourself15:10 Why self-care feels hard to prioritize18:10 Why she thought success had to feel chaotic19:55 Redefining success through client impact22:10 The trap of chasing busy over aligned24:10 Thinking long term vs quick wins25:10 Why you can’t do everything yourself26:40 What leadership actually looks like28:40 Building a team that feels valued30:40 Why micromanaging kills confidence32:40 Learning to trust yourself as a leader35:40 The bigger vision for Summer Gold40:40 How to stand out in a saturated market44:40 Why people keep coming backConnect with Summer:Website: https://www.summergoldco.com/Instagram: @summergoldcoInstagram: @sumshadyThis podcast is brought to you in partnership with Liz Chapman & COUpcoming Events:Napa Retreat - October 5-8, 2026 - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/cetj223rsrGrowth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqwSave 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKLLet’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.