← Social Media Decoded
Social Media Decoded
What I'm Really Building: Why I Chose Community Over Content | CEO Diary
00:08:22
In this CEO Diary episode, Michelle Thames shares the vision behind her evolving business and why she's choosing to build community over simply creating content. She takes listeners behind the scenes of her events, partnerships, agency, and upcoming conference to reveal how meaningful relationships create lasting business opportunities.
Loading summary
Transcript9 lines
- [00:00]
A
The Colonels cooked up a new $10 bucket of the day just for you. Monday 24 nuggets for $10 Tuesday 8 piece fried chicken for $10 Wednesday 10 wings for $10 Thursday 8 tenders for $10 Friday 24 nuggets for. Oh, you guessed it, didn't you? $10. The $10 bucket of the day deal every weekday only at KFC. It's finger licking.
- [00:26]
B
Good prices and participation. Variable supplies. Last amount available on third party ordering platforms. Tax extra.
- [00:30]
C
Hi, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mob. Are you looking for a beach read this summer? May I suggest your big wireless bill? It's got suspense, mystery, a slightly flat emotional arc, and a shocking twist where you realize you've been overpaying the entire time. Fortunately, though, Mint's story is better. Every plan $15 a month. Even unlimited. That's it. Happy ending, zero tears. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment
- [00:53]
D
of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 or 12 month plan required $15 per month equivalent to taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. May slow when network is busy.
- [01:00]
E
See Terms Can I let you in on something? If you've been following me lately, you probably noticed my business looks different. I'm not posting the same way. I'm saying no to things I would have said yes to a year ago. I'm spending more time at coffee shops than conference rooms. I'm hosting dinners, I'm visiting local businesses. I'm planning events. I'm talking about community. Nonstop. And maybe you're wondering, what exactly is Michelle building? And today, I want to answer that. Welcome to my CEO Diary. Welcome back to Social Media Decoded. I'm Michelle Thames, a marketing strategist, community builder, and founder of Thames Media Solutions. Every once in a while, I like to pull back the curtain and let you into my world. Not just the polished highlights, but what I'm really thinking about as a CEO. Because I believe entrepreneurs need more conversations about building businesses, not just creating content. So today, I'm explaining exactly what I'm building, why it looks different, and where all of this is going. So you already know. Get your pens and your notepads. Let's dive in. First, I'm building something bigger than an agency. Now, don't get me wrong, I still love marketing. I still work with clients. I still help businesses become more visible. That is not changing. But I've realized I don't just want to help businesses market better. I want to Help communities grow stronger. That's a very different mission. The hidden gem videos that you've been seeing, they're not random. They are very intentional. Every business I visit, every owner I interview, every story I tell, I'm helping people discover places that have been serving the community for years. I love seeing someone comment, I've lived here my whole life and I never knew this place existed. That's impact. Marketing should create movement. Then there are my coffee and connections events. People think that they're networking events. They're really relationship accelerators. I've watched women meet for the first time and become collaborators. I've watched referrals happen before the event even ended. I've watched someone walk into a room nervous and leave feeling like they finally found their people. That's why I keep doing them. The summer dinners. Those have become one of my favorite things I've ever created. Small groups, intentional conversations. No pressure, no pitching. Just women sharing ideas, asking questions, encouraging one another, and building genuine relationships. Those nights remind me that some of the biggest opportunities in business don't happen on stage. They happen around a table. Then there's my collective. If you've been around for a while, you know this community has evolved. And honestly, I'm okay with that because I'm evolving too. I don't want to build another membership where people log in once and then disappear. I want people talking to each other, supporting each other, celebrating wins, giving feedback, showing up. Community isn't about content. It's about connection. And let's talk about my agency. This has changed too. I'm being much more intentional about the businesses I work with. I'm looking for founders who care about relationships. Businesses that understand visibility isn't about posting more. It's about creating experiences people remember. The right clients make everything easier. The wrong clients make everything harder. And I've learned that lesson. Another thing that I'm building partnerships. Not just sponsorships, relationships. I'm having conversations with brands. I genuinely believe in companies whose products I actually use, businesses that align with my values. Because I don't want to promote something just because there's a paycheck attached to it. I want partnerships that make sense for my audience. That's why affiliate marketing has become a bigger part of my business. If I already use this tool, if it genuinely helps me, why wouldn't I share it? That's a win for everyone. And then there's November. Honestly, every time I think about this event, I really get excited. Connected in Paid live isn't just another conference. It's the physical Representation of everything I've been talking about this year. Visibility, relationships, community, collaboration, leadership. I want women to walk into their room and leave with more confidence than they came before. I want them to leave with new friends, new opportunities, new ideas, maybe even new clients. Because one womb can change everything. I've seen it happen. People have also asked me, why are you talking about sponsors so much? Because sponsorships aren't just about funding an event. They're about building long term relationships with brands that believe in your mission. When a company chooses to sponsor your work, they're saying, we believe in what you're building and that's powerful. And that's the kind of business that I want. One that is built on trust, not transactions. So what am I really building? I'm building an ecosystem. Content leads to conversations, and conversations lead to to community. Community leads to collaborations, and collaborations lead to opportunities. And opportunities create impact. That is the vision. Every podcast, every email, every hidden gem, every event, every workshop, every partnership, every sponsor, they're all connected. Nothing is random anymore. Everything has a purpose. And here's what I've learned. You don't have to build your business the way everyone else does. You don't have to chase every trend. You don't have to launch what everyone else is launching. You don't have to become a carbon copy of someone you follow online. Build the business that matches your values. Build the business that gives you energy. Build the business you're excited to wake up and run. That's exactly what I'm doing. And honestly, I've never felt more aligned. So if you've been wondering why things look different now, you don't. I'm not chasing attention. I'm building something that lasts. And I hope that this episode encourages you to think about what you're building to. Not what Instagram says you should build, not what the algorithm rewards, what you want to build. Because that's where the magic happens. And if this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a DM on Instagram ichellellthames with the word event. I'll share more about what we're creating for Connected in paid live, what's happening behind the scenes, and how you can be a part of it. And if you enjoyed today's CEO diary, let me know for real. I want to know. I have a feeling this won't be the last one. Thank you so much for your support and for listening to social media Decoded. And if you haven't already, go ahead and subscribe to the show, Leave a review and share this episode with another entrepreneur who is building something meaningful. Until next time, keep showing up, keep building relationships and keep creating opportunities. And remember, the best businesses are not built by accident, they are built with intention. I cannot wait to talk to you in the next episode. Peace.
- [09:23]
B
Maxing is so maxing right now bro. Get ready for Spicy chicken maxing because Carl's Jr. Is saving you big with a 5.99 maxed out double stack double stack double stack spicy chicken sandwich. Seriously, just 5.99 double stack stack spicy chicken. This is unreal value in the bromosphere. The new Spicy Chicken Max Wallet Friendly Max Tasty only at Carl's Jr available for a limited time at participating restaurants. Tax not included. Not valid for use within a combo or a combination with any other offered discount.
- [09:53]
D
When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place. So nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [10:24]
B
If you like the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help the show to grow.
- [10:31]
A
Thank you for listening.