Showing Up with Tolu Michaels

Ever feel pressured to start a community to grow your business? Social media makes it seem like a massive following equals a thriving community, but is that really the case? Building a community that's profitable goes way beyond follower count or creating a good "vibe" in a group chat. Your WHY matters. It needs to be strong enough to drive the results you crave. But wait, is a community even righ...

Can you believe it's almost mid-year? Let's be honest - for some of us, it feels like we blinked and January became June. While some might celebrate the year's halfway mark with fireworks, others might feel a pang of panic.  Did you achieve what you set out to do in January? Don't worry, this isn't about guilt-tripping!  Instead of dwelling on what you haven't accomplished, use this mid-...

Are you a writer by day, entrepreneur by night, gym enthusiast some time during the weekends, with a side hustle in baking? Or just someone who wears many hats?  The struggle is real. I know.  But the truth is, balance isn't about giving equal attention to every area of your life. It's about prioritizing strategically based on the season of life you're in. Life is a journey with distinct...

Do you ever get stuck when you attempt to introduce yourself? All of a sudden, you only remember your name and you’re struggling to articulate the thing you know how to do best. You begin to fumble for words, your mind only thinking "uhs" and "y'know." Been there, done that! But practice makes perfect! Introducing yourself effectively is a crucial skill that can open doors in both professional and...

Ever feel like you're drowning in business advice? New hacks appear daily, promising to skyrocket your brand. You try them all, from the latest social media trend to the email funnel recommended by the “guru’s” but nothing quite clicks. Sound familiar? I’ve been there too. I was THIS close to quitting my business, until I discovered the magic of community-powered businesses. That's right, building...

There are so many narratives the world tells us about who we are and what we are capable of, but no story is as important as the ones we tell ourselves. Whose voice is in your head, and what does it say? Is it whispering fears or is it making a victory chant? Sometimes, the stories we tell ourselves are limiting our progress. In this episode, we explore the 4 most common limiting narratives that k...

Have you ever zoned out of a sales pitch because it was so dull? Yeah, me too. But what if your sales pitch did not feel like a pitch at all? Imagine holding your audience captive and making people desire your offer by telling a simple story.  You can do it, and yes, you have a story worth telling. In fact, you already have the stories you need in your head right now. . In this episode, we un...

Many introverts shy away from personal branding, because they cringe at the idea of  constant self-promotion and extroverted networking. But what if I told you there’s a better way and that your introverted nature is perfectly suited for building a powerful brand?  Introverted? Me too! You're not alone!  In this episode, we explore your hidden strengths as an introvert and how to le...

What better way to honor mothers than to amplify the voices of diverse mothers from the SHOWUP Circle community . These women share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs, offering words of wisdom and encouragement for mothers in all stages of life. One key reminder from this episode is that you don't need to be a perfect mom to be a good mom. Every mom is different, and there is no one-size-...

Do you think your current skills will still be relevant in the future?  Let’s face it, the work you’re doing now may not be the work you’ll be doing in 20 years time. It may not even exist. So, what can you do to stay relevant and in-demand, no matter what the future holds? The answer: Build a timeless brand that transcends your current career or business. This isn't just about a fancy title...

Ever feel like giving clients a discount when they ask? We've all been there. A potential client asks for a discount, and that little voice in your head whispers, "Should I just give it to them?" Hold on! This episode is packed with powerful alternatives that will keep your business thriving. You can be generous, kind, considerate AND still not offer discounts.  Tune in for creative ways to b...

Are you starting something fresh? Or starting something again? Maybe a fitness goal, or a product launch? Then, this episode is for you! It’s nice to have strategies and templates, but all that aside, how do you keep going when you have competing priorities? How do you make your mission a reality? How do you show up in spite of uncertainty? The truth? The decision to show up is the easy part. The...

Ring Ring You pick up the phone and your friend, in a frenzy, says, ‘the economy is crazy, what are we going to do? How are we going to survive? How can we make more money?’ Your bank account is screaming "SOS" and the financial news just makes you wanna crawl under the covers. Fear not, friend! You’re not alone. The economy might be shaky but it doesn’t mean you have to be. This episode is your q...

Just like we have seasons in nature, we have seasons in how we work and show up . You may not particularly like Winter, but seasons must change. For living things to stay alive, Spring must at some point give way to Summer, and then Fall to Winter again. Same thing with you . To stay relevant, you must reinvent. To stay profitable, you must pivot. If you feel like you’ve outgrown your current busi...

We’ve all been there: staring down a to-do list with complete lack of enthusiasm. You won’t always feel motivated. That’s for sure! However, what separates successful people from others is the ability to keep showing up even when they don’t feel motivated.. Wondering how to do that?  In this episode, you’ll get actionable strategies to keep going even when you absolutely don’t feel like it.&n...

Self-awareness isn’t just about knowing your favorite ice cream flavor or worst place to have dinner.  It’s about understanding yourself enough to complete your sentences... to know what lights up your eyes... to know how you would react in weird situations- just like you understand your best friend. It's about knowing what makes you, you. This self-awareness is a superpower because it is the...

It's Content o'clock. You stare at a blank screen, not sure what to say, the pressure to create is mounting. We’ve all been there... And this is normally the part where you’d get tips about overcoming writer’s block. But not today. Take a walk with me as I dive into my content mindset, new actions, and strategies I’m finally using in 2024. It won't cure writer's block, but it will kill the fear of...

Are we going to wait 131 years to close the global gender gap? I think not. This is a timely reminder that investing in the progress of women is not just a matter of fairness or moral imperative, but it's also a strategic advantage for businesses. Tune in for a refreshing perspective on whose responsibility it is to invest in women, specific steps to include yourself, and actionable steps to creat...

You don't need a million followers to make millions.  In a world obsessed with numbers, many don’t understand that having a large audience doesn’t particularly guarantee success. Bigger does not necessarily mean better. IS IT NICE to have a large audience? A thousand times Yes IS IT NECESSARY for your next level of success? NO. Except if your success is directly tied to social media popularit...

The only way to be remembered and preferred is to be different.  In a sea of experts, you want clients to choose you and opportunities to find you. But if you're like everyone else, there's nothing for them to choose. The first step to being preferred is to be different.  Tune in to elevate your brand, differentiate yourself from other experts, and make it clear that you're the best pers...

Welcome back to your "House of How." After a break from the podcast, we're back and better. You’ll get heart-to-hearts, handholding, and how-tos so you can show up to your best life, stand out online, and share your message with the world. This is a quick, sweet, honest comeback where I unveil our new name, how this podcast has evolved, and what to expect going forward.

The purpose of parenting is not to parent a child, and what really makes the difference is not what you think it is.  Remi Makanjuola, Founder of Grace to Parent, Creator of  Graceful Parenting , and member of  SHOWUP Circle  sits on our couch today, to reframe and answer some of the questions we all have regarding what it takes to show up for your career AND for your child(ren...

What to remember : Personal branding is not a trap to make you disclose things you don’t want to share. You have a choice, you have agency in this matter and you get to choose.  Links and tools related to this episode  FREE Tutorials, Private Q&As, and Insider Emails : Sign up to get our free lessons and insider inspiration on personal branding and online business. Keep up with us on...

Continuing the conversation from the last episode with Tobi Otokiti, my favorite thing about her is how she has made a sweet cocktail out of her several skills and diverse experience. Tobi shares her journey as a woman who wanted to work in tech, but didn’t know where exactly she’d fit.  This is not a regular career conversation though. This episode gives you permission to test the waters, in...

It turns out that building a successful community doesn’t have to do with whether you’re extroverted or introverted.  In this episode, Tobi Otokiti, senior product manager and founder of Product Dive shares the 3Rs that you can use to 10x your community. They are: Relevance, Relatability, and Resourcefulness. If you own a community or you’re thinking of starting one, this episode is the best...