← Social Media Decoded
Social Media Decoded
Why Community Builders Will Win the Next Decade
00:10:35
As AI and automation continue to transform the way we work, human connection is becoming more valuable than ever. In this episode, Michelle Thames shares why community builders will have a major advantage in the next decade and how relationships, trust, and belonging are becoming the new currency of business.
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Opportunity Builder have you noticed something? The more connected we've become online, the lonelier people seem to feel in real life. Think about it. We can text anyone, DM anyone, join a Facebook group, join on a zoom call, watch somebody's entire life unfold on social media. And yet, people are craving connection more than ever. They're craving friendship, belonging, community, real conversations, real relationships. And honestly, I think that's exactly why community builders are going to win the next decade. Welcome back to Social Media Decoded. I'm your host Michelle Thames, visibility strategist, community builder and founder of Thames Media Solutions. And today I want to talk about something that has been on my mind a lot lately. Not content, not algorithms, not AI tools. Community. Because the more I look at where the world is headed, the more convinced I have become that the people who know how to bring others together are going to have a massive advantage in business and in life. In a world filled with AI, automation and endless content, human connection is becoming more valuable, not less. And I truly believe we're entering a decade where community becomes one of the most valuable forms of capital that you can build. Not follower count, not likes, not views. Community. So let's talk about why. Let's start with the obvious. AI is changing everything. And honestly, I don't think that we've even seen the beginning of it yet. Every week there's a new tool, a new platform, a new update, a new way to automate something. You can use AI to write emails, create social media content, build presentations, analyze data, create graphics, build websites, answer customer questions, and save hours of work. I use AI every single day and I think it's incredible. I think automation is incredible. But here's what I don't think enough people are talking about. As technology becomes more powerful, human connection becomes more valuable. The easier it becomes to automate everything. The. The more people crave something real, the easier it becomes to generate content. The more people crave authentic conversations, the easier it becomes to replace tasks, the more valuable relationships become, because AI can do a lot. But AI cannot replace trust. It cannot replace friendship. It cannot replace belonging. It cannot replace sitting across from another human being and feeling seen. And I think that's where opportunity is. One of the biggest problems that we're facing right now isn't a marketing problem. It's not even a business problem. It's a loneliness problem. People are disconnected. People work from home, people move away from family. People spend more time online than ever before. People have thousands of followers and very few meaningful relationships. And whether we want to admit it or not is taking a toll. I see it all the time. People don't necessarily need more information. There is information everywhere. People need connection. They need community. They need spaces where they feel like they belong. And that's what I've been seeing happen over and over again this year. When I started Coffey and connections back in 2023, it wasn't some grand business strategy. It was simple. Let's get good people in the room, let's have coffee, let's have conversations, let's connect. And what happened surprised me. People weren't talking about the coffee afterward. They were talking about who they met, the woman they connected with, the opportunity. They discovered the conversation. They couldn't stop thinking about the relationship that started there, because that's what people are hungry for. Not another webinar, not another download, not another PDF connection. The same thing happened with my community walks. What started as a simple walk has become so much bigger. People slowing down, walking together, talking, sharing ideas, meeting someone new, building relationships. And what I love about the walks is that nobody is trying to impress anyone. People show up as themselves. And something happens when people simply spend time together. Walls come down, conversations get deeper, relationships begin. And that's powerful. Then there's the Dinner series. Honestly, this one has been one of my favorite things that we've created, because when you put a small group of thoughtful, ambitious people around a table, magic happens. People share stories, people open up, people collaborate, people support one another. And what I've realized is that people aren't applying because they want another networking event. They're applying because they want meaningful connection. They want to be In a room where people genuinely care. And those type of experiences are becoming increasingly rare. Which is exactly why they matter. And then there's the collective. Because here's what I've learned after years of building online. People don't just need content. They need community. They don't just need information. They need support, encouragement, accountability, relationships. They need people who understand what they're building, people who understand the challenges, people who understand the vision. And that's what real community needs creates. And what's interesting is that when I look at the most successful people, I know they all have one thing in common. They are not building audiences, they're building ecosystems. They're building relationships. They're building networks. They are building communities because they understand something many people miss. Community compounds. A viral post might last a few days, but a relationship can last a lifetime. A piece of content might get attention, but a community creates opportunities. That's a completely different game. And honestly, that's a big reason why I'm so excited about our November event. Not because it's another conference, not because it's another event on the calendar, but because. But because we're intentionally creating a room. A room where ambitious women can come together. A room where relationships can form, A room where conversations can happen. A room where people leave with more than information. They leave with connection. Because I've seen firsthand what happens when the white people get in the same room. I've seen partnerships happen. I've seen referrals happen. I've seen collaborations happen. I've seen confidence grow. I've seen businesses change, all because somebody decided to show up. And here's what I'm thinking is coming next. The people who understand community will have an unfair advantage. While everyone else is chasing attention, they. They'll be building trust. While everyone else is chasing followers, they'll be building relationships. While everyone else is chasing algorithms, they'll be building ecosystems. And those ecosystems will become more valuable every year because community creates something AI never will. Belonging, Trust. Connection. Humanity. So if you're building business right now, here's my encouragement. Yes, learn AI. Yes, embrace automation. Yes, use the tools. But don't neglect the thing that will always matter. People build relationships, Create conversations, host gatherings, bring people together, invest in community. Because I genuinely believe that we are entering a decade where the people who know how to create connection will become some of the most valuable people in the world. And that's why I believe community leaders are the new influencers. Not because they have the most followers, not because they go viral every week, but because they create belonging, they create trust, they create opportunities, they create connection. And in the decade ahead, that's going to matter more than ever. So thank you so much for tuning in today and listening to social media. Decoded today's episode. I am truly excited about and if this episode resonated with you, send me a DM with the word community. I'd love to hear what you're building, how you're creating connection in your corner of the world. Until next time, remember, community leaders are the new influencers. I'll talk to you in the next episode.
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Pete Comcast is delivering extraordinary experiences in live sports through the incredible broadcast and storytelling from NBC, innovative and personalized viewing features on Xfinity and Peacock, and the country's most reliable WI Fi viewers can enjoy every game changing play faster and more seamlessly than ever, all on a network built to deliver unforgettable moments as close to live as possible. The ultimate experience for the American sports fan. Learn more at comcastcorporation.com sports this Father's
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