Behind the Scenes: Building My Community While Juggling Family

Summary

Podcast Summary: Social Media Decoded

Episode: Behind the Scenes: Building My Community While Juggling Family
Host: Michelle Thames
Release Date: September 4, 2025

---

Episode Overview

In this candid and inspiring episode, host Michelle Thames gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how she balances building a thriving online community, leading her business, and managing family life. Speaking directly to fellow entrepreneurs—especially women juggling parenting and business—Michelle shares the systems, boundaries, and mindset shifts that keep her grounded without losing momentum. She unpacks the realities behind “doing it all,” highlights the power of community support, and encourages listeners to value progress over perfection.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Myth of “Having It All”

• Michelle opens up about her daily life, noting how chaotic and demanding it can be to juggle business and family.
  • “It's not always glamorous. My daughter has basketball practices and games, I've got client calls, writing emails, planning events, and trying to make dinner happen.” (01:17)
• She emphasizes the importance of a supportive partner, celebrating her husband’s role in the household.

2. Building Community as a Support System

• The Elevate and Empower community isn’t just a business—it’s a lifeline for Michelle and other women going through similar challenges.
  • “By building my Elevate and Empower community, planning events... I am not just building a business. I am creating a support system for myself and for other women who get this life.” (02:00)

3. Top 3 Strategies for Managing it All

Michelle shares her concrete tools and tips:

a. Boundaries & Systems

• Utilizes batch recording: “I batch record this podcast. I am doing that right now, recording seven episodes in one day so that I can be ahead.” (02:40)
• Simplicity over tech overwhelm: Switched back from tools like ClickUp to “Google Sheets, pen and paper and Google documents… I’m a Google girl through and through.” (03:09)
• Weekly meetings with her husband for coordination: Discussing everything from parenting to business logistics. (03:27)
• Google Calendar for transparency on "work blocks": “My family knows when my work blocks are. Structure is what keeps me sane.” (03:55)
• Commitment to personal wellness and self-discipline, such as training for a 5K alongside her husband.
  • “Even when I am working out. I’m now training for a 5K coming up October 26.” (04:12)

b. Build With Your Community, Not Alone

• Invites her community to help shape the vision by asking what topics and events matter to them.
  • “Build with your community. Not alone. I involve my community in building the vision... It makes everything more aligned and less stressful.” (05:17)
• Programming for online events and retreats is community-driven, allowing flexibility and responsiveness to members’ needs.
• Publicly invites guest experts and listeners to reach out with collaboration ideas.
  • “If you’re an expert in marketing, business or mindset, I’d love to have you as a guest expert inside the community… DM me on Instagram and pitch me!” (06:07)

c. Let Go of Perfection

• Michelle stresses embracing messiness and challenges.
  • “Some days it is messy. Okay, life be lifeing.” (06:22)
• Shares a candid story about feeling overwhelmed during the summer, but consistently showing up for her community.
  • “Even through all of the things... I still showed up, I still recorded podcasts, I still did it all.” (06:48)
• Consistency over perfection is her “superpower” for building trust and authority.
  • “Showing up even when it’s not perfect is what builds trust, what builds authority.” (07:13)

4. Dealing With the Messiness of Real Life

• She normalizes messy moments: Zoom calls with kids nearby, answering emails in the car, meetings in between school runs.
  • “Sometimes I’m recording my podcast in the hotel, I’m answering emails in the car...” (07:01)
• Parenting confession: grateful for her independent 11-year-old, recognizes the shifting dynamics as children grow.

5. Encouragement and Mindset for Listeners

• Reassures listeners they don’t have to do it all, and that real authority is built in real life, not in a vacuum.
  • “The goal is not perfection... it’s progress. Build a community around your values, lean into systems and give yourself grace.” (08:03)
• Reminds those struggling with guilt or overwhelm that grace is essential.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Support:

  • “Shout out to the amazing husbands. Let me just stop right here and give him the flowers… he cooks dinner most of the time—and might I add, it’s good. Probably better than mine.” (01:28)

• On Community:

  • “I involve my community in building the vision... It makes everything more aligned and less stressful.” (05:17)

• On Systems:

  • “Simplicity is key. Sometimes you try to get all these cute fancy tech and asana and all that…sometimes you gotta go back to the basics.” (03:20)

• On Perfectionism:

  • “Consistency is my superpower. Showing up even when it’s not perfect is what builds trust, what builds authority.” (07:13)

• On Self-Compassion:

  • “If you don’t do anything, give yourself some grace.” (08:10)

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:46 – Episode begins, Michelle introduces the episode’s focus
• 01:17 – Discussing juggling family and business realities
• 02:00 – The entrepreneurial journey as community building
• 02:40 – Batch recording & productivity hacks
• 03:09 – Switching to simpler organizational tools (Google Sheets, pen & paper)
• 03:27 – Weekly family-biz meetings
• 03:55 – Calendar blocking for structure
• 04:12 – Personal health and family activities (training for a 5K)
• 05:17 – Building with the community, not alone
• 06:07 – Inviting guest experts and collaborations
• 06:22 – Letting go of perfection and operating amidst chaos
• 07:13 – Consistency as the path to authority
• 08:03 – Final encouragement: progress over perfection

---

Tone & Style

Michelle speaks with warmth, authenticity, a sense of humor, and a “real talk” vibe that resonates with busy women entrepreneurs. She’s encouraging but honest about the challenges, infused with practical advice and empowering affirmations.

---

Final Takeaways

• Build support systems both at home and in business: Don’t do it alone.
• Prioritize systems and structure that actually work for you—simplicity often wins.
• Progress matters more than perfection; consistency and grace are key.
• Show up as you are—even in chaos, your community will appreciate your authenticity.

---

“Progress over perfection—keep showing up. Your community is waiting for you.”
—Michelle Thames (08:21)

Transcript

[A]

With a variety of options, US Cellular Prepaid makes finding the right wireless plan for you easy. That means you can get what you need at a price you can afford, all while staying connected. Like two lines of unlimited data for just $60 a month and a free device like The Samsung Galaxy A16.5G US cellular prepaid terms apply. See uscellular.com for details.

[B]

Oh my gosh. Have you been to Marshalls lately? They have all the brand name and designer pieces you love, but without the jaw dropping price tags. Alright, so here's the truth. You should never have to compromise between quality and price. And at Marshalls you don't have to. Marshalls believes everyone deserves access to the good stuff and that's why their buyers hustle around the clock. To make it happen for you, visit a Marshalls store near you or shop.

[C]

[e-mail] welcome back to Social Media Decoded, the podcast that helps entrepreneurs get visible, build authority and attract high ticket clients without burning out. I'm your host Michelle Thames and today's episode is a little bit different. It's a peek behind the scenes of how I'm building my community while also being a wife, a mom and a CEO. I know that a lot of you listening are juggling family life and business too. Maybe even a 9 to 5. So I want to be real about what it takes, the challenges and the systems that make it all possible. I want to be honest with you, it is not always glamorous. My daughter has basketball practice games, I've got client calls and in between I am writing emails, planning events and still trying to make dinner happen. Luckily my husband is amazing Chef Shout out to the amazing husbands. Let me just stop right here and give him the flowers because he is amazing and he cooks dinner most of the times. And might I add that it's good. Okay, his dinner is really good. Good. Probably better than mine. There was a time when I thought that I had to choose like be fully present as a mom or build my business. But what I have learned is that community has been that bridge. By building my Elevate and Empower community, planning events like my coffee and connections and elevating Empower Live is not just building a business. I am creating a support system for myself and for other women who get this life. And that is what excites me and lights me up every single day. So how do I do it without losing my mind? This is like the number one question that I get. People are like Michelle, how are you doing all these things? Here are three things that help me. And I'm being 100 with you. Boundaries and systems. Like, I am so on this. When I say on it, I am on it. I batch record this podcast. I am doing that right now, recording seven episodes in one day so that I could be ahead. Now, I used to use ClickUp to plan and all the things, but baby, I done went back to Google sheets, okay? And pen and paper and Google documents in my Google Drive. It just works better for me. I'm a Google girl through and through. And sometimes you try to get all these cute fancy tech and asana and all that, that's great. But sometimes you got to go back to the basics. And that's what I did. Me and my husband, we have meetings every week. We just met this week. It was a really great meeting. And sometimes these meetings aren't even like over 45 minutes. We talk about my daughter, what she has going on, our business, our finances, what we have going on, who's traveling, if my daughter has practice or games or things going on at her school. We are part of the PTSO now. So all of those things. And so we meet and we just talk about all those things. And Google Calendar, My family knows when my work blocks are. Structure is what keeps me sane. I'm a very organized and structured person and I like to stick to that, even like when I am working out. I'm now training for a 5k coming up October 26th. Last year I trained and I did a 5k in September for my birthday of last year. We decided to not do that same one this year, but to do one at my alma mater, Governor State University, where I graduated with my master's from. There is a 5K run walk on October 26th and I'm gonna join it. And my husband's joining. So I am in eight weeks worth of training. Today is August 30th that I'm recording this podcast and we today is day two of our eight week training. So after I record these podcast episodes today, I'm going to get in the hot tub and then tomorrow is a rest day. So when I say boundaries and structure, all of that, okay? I put family events on the calendar. My. My niece is one and she's having a birthday party on Monday. Then I turn around and go to Dallas next week. I have that on the calendar and I need to make sure I have everything done that needs me physically to do before I go to Dallas. Structure keeps me sane. Build with your community. Not alone. So when I started, I thought I had to carry it all now I involve my community in building the vision. I like to ask them what they need, what topics matter and what type of events they want. It makes everything more aligned and less stressful. I literally just plan out a lot of the programming in my community for my online events, my retreats for the rest of 2025 and into 2026. I already know the programming, like where I'm going to have in person events, all the things that are going to happen and I will continue to ask my community and ask them what they want. Like last month we did a session about digital products and it was a really good session. So when my community asked for like guest experts to come in, we bring in amazing guest experts. So if you're listening right now and you are a expert in marketing business mindset, I would love to have you as a guest expert inside the community. DM me on Instagram Ichelle themes and pitch. Pitch me. Let's get to know each other and let's build together. So build with your community. Not alone. And then let go of perfection. Some days it is messy. Okay, life be lifeing. I will say July, August baby. I. I'm a person of faith and I want you to know that I accept everyone. You might say the universe, but I'm going to say God. Listen, life was laughing and I was like God, okay, really? Is this what I'm cut out to do? Like this is so freaking hard. And I just feel like now I'm coming up from the weeds. But I still showed up, I still recorded podcast, I still did it all, even through all of the things that were going on. So I want you to know that some days it's messy. Sometimes I'm recording my podcast in the hotel, I'm answering emails in the car, I'm doing a zoom in the car in between school drop offs, I'm going to the gym, I'm doing all the things, coming back and meeting, having meetings, zoom meetings, going to in person meetings. It's real life. But one thing that I do know is consistency is my superpower. And showing up even when it's not perfect is what builds trust, what builds authority. And I think that I just, I am so I know that this is the path that I'm supposed to be on, that I show up even when it's hard because it's really hard. And I continue to just put my best foot forward and show up for my community. So if you're listening today and you're feeling like you can't do it all you do not have to. The goal is not perfection. I don't know who said that. It's progress. Build a community around your values, lean into systems and give yourself grace. If you don't do anything, give yourself some grace. Authority isn't built in a vacuum, it's built in real life with real people. And yes, with kids running around sometimes. I know some of you have small kids now. I have an 11 year old. We are not having any more children. So it's one and done. She's 11 and very very responsible. I'm so grateful she's independent but really just raising a good human in this world. Parenting is important to me and I can go off in a tangent, but this podcast is not about parenting. But maybe I should start one because Woo. Okay, but no running the kids running around. Sometimes you may be on a zoom call. It's okay. And if the person on the other end gets mad, then they are not for you, right? So thank you for tuning in to today's episode and if it resonated with you, I would love for you to grab my 7 day authority shift private audio series in my private podcast. It's the exact steps I use even in the middle of the family chaos. All the things to show up as the Authority online without burning out the link is in the show notes. And if you are local to Chicago, come and hang out with me at one of our coffee and connections events. Make sure you click down below in the show notes to join the wait list. When you go to my profile, you'll see right where you can sign up. Because building authority is easier when you're in the room with other women on the same path. Until next time. Remember, progress over perfection keeps showing up. Your community is waiting for you.

[A]

With a variety of options, US Cellular Prepaid makes finding the right wireless plan for you easy. That means you can get what you need at a price you can afford, all while staying connected like two lines of unlimited data for just $60 a month and a free device like the Samsung Galaxy A16.5G. US Cellular Prepaid Terms apply. See uscellular.com for details.

[D]

Your new beginning starts now. Dr. Horton has new construction homes available in Ellensburg and throughout the greater Seattle area. With spacious floor plans, flexible living spaces and home technology packages, you can enjoy more cozy moments and sweet memories in your beautiful new home. With new home communities opening in Ellensburg and throughout the Seattle area, Dr. Horton has the ideal home for you. Learn [e-mail] Dr. Horton, America's builder and equal Housing opportunity builder.

[E]

Our state has changed a lot in the last 140 years. We know because MultiCare has been here guided by a single making our communities healthier. That comes from making courageous decisions, partnering with local communities to grow programs and services, and expanding healthcare access to those who need it most. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org.

[A]

This episode is sponsored by Morgan Stanley's Thoughts on the Market it can be difficult to stay up to date on the financial market in today's ever changing environment. With so much commentary at any given moment, it's hard to cut through the noise to gain quality, actionable insights. Morgan Stanley is here to help with their podcast Thoughts on the Market. Thoughts on the Market is your daily market snapshot covering trends across the global investment landscape and offering perspectives from Morgan Stanley's leading economists and strategists. It's one of the only daily podcasts providing real time commentary from a financial institution on the day's biggest questions and topics, and with Most episodes under 5 minutes long, market clarity can fit seamlessly into your daily routine. Staying informed has never been easier. Listen and subscribe to Thoughts on the Market wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

Oh my gosh, have you been to Marshalls lately? They have all the brand name and designer pieces you love, but without the jaw dropping price tags. Alright, so here's the you should never have to compromise between quality and price, and at Marshalls, you don't have to. Marshalls believes everyone deserves access to the good stuff and that's why their buyers hustle around the clock. To make it happen for you. Visit a Marshalls store near you or shop [e-mail].