Scooping Her Way to Freedom: From Corporate Project Manager to Full-Time Entrepreneur — Her Comeback with Gayle Todd

The Hidden Cost of Success - Her Comeback with Kellie Grutko

Episode Notes: Her Comeback with Kellie Grutko In this episode, Michelle sits down with Kellie Grutko, founder of Purposeful Pivot and a North Carolina–based coach for women navigating "post-success reinvention." After 30+ years in corporate marketing, Kellie shares the moment she realized success had become its own trap—and what she now calls "post-success drift," the slow disconnect between external achievement and internal direction. What you'll learn: * The "hidden cost of success" — why doing everything right can still leave you feeling stuck, and why no one checks in once you've "made it" * How to recognize drift even when life looks great on paper (Sunday scaries, fading motivation, pulling back from people and projects) * Why reinvention doesn't mean starting over — it means using the skills and wisdom you've already built toward something new * Kellie's PIVOT framework: Prepare your mindset, Identity exploration, Vision crafting, Opportunity mapping, Tailoring your path * The difference between burnout and a true pivot signal * Why confidence comes after action, not before — and how small steps build momentum * A simple two-column exercise to identify what brings you joy (and what doesn't) * Kellie's free "Hidden Cost of Success" assessment Memorable moment: Kellie shares a story about a client so steeped in corporate language she couldn't answer a simple question for herself — until Kellie asked her to imagine she'd never worked there at all. Connect with Kellie: Website: purposefulpivot.net [http://purposefulpivot.net] (free assessment on the resources page) Email: Kellieg@purposefulpivot.net [Kellieg@purposefulpivot.net] LinkedIn: Kellie Grutko A note from Michelle: Courageously You officially launches June 25th on Amazon! If today's conversation resonated, the book goes even deeper into frameworks like this one—with stories, reflection questions, and tools to actually do the work. Sign up for updates at hercomebackpodcast.com [http://hercomebackpodcast.com] so you're first to know when it drops.

Scooping Her Way to Freedom: From Corporate Project Manager to Full-Time Entrepreneur — Her Comeback with Gayle Todd

https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] Episode Overview In this episode, Michelle sits down with Gayle Todd, a Southwest Florida resident and kindred spirit, who spent decades as a software analyst and project manager for her county government — and then, at 62, quietly planted a brand-new flag. Gayle launched a pet waste removal franchise, Scoop Soldiers, as a side business while still holding down her corporate job, and two and a half years later, she's walking out the door with over 200 customers, her own territory, and retirement plans that start with running, not resting. This conversation is packed with honest talk about fear, identity shifts, asking for help, and what it really takes to build something from scratch when everyone else might expect you to coast. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start — Gayle's answer is a clear, joyful no. Key Topics Covered From Bored to Bold: The Moment Everything Changed Gayle didn't have a dramatic wake-up call — she had a slow burn. A decade after earning her master's, she found herself restless and concerned about spending another ten years in the same seat. That quiet dissatisfaction was the spark that sent her searching for something of her own. Why a Franchise — and Why This One With a love of animals and the reality of a full-time job, Gayle needed something she could run nights and weekends without building infrastructure from scratch. After six months to nearly a year of rigorous due diligence — interviewing three competing franchises — she chose Scoop Soldiers for one reason above all: they were a true partner, not just a franchisor. The Cost of Building Two Lives at Once Gayle is refreshingly honest about what those first two and a half years actually required — nights, weekends, burned personal time, a life partner who showed up to her events just so they could spend time together, and a moment, about a year in, when she nearly handed the keys back to the franchise owner. What pulled her through? Asking for help — the hardest thing she's ever done. Shifting Identity: From Employee to Owner After decades of building someone else's vision, stepping into ownership felt like freedom — and a little like standing at the edge of a cliff. Gayle talks about how corporate restructuring, salary caps, and position demotions were the final push she needed to stop waiting and start moving. The Myth That Entrepreneurship Has an Age Limit At nearly 65, Gayle is proof that "too late" is a story we tell ourselves. She shares the advice that changed her perspective on going back for her master's — and it applies just as powerfully to starting a business: you're going to be that age anyway. Wouldn't you rather have something to show for it? Asking for Help as a Comeback Strategy Gayle's biggest comeback moment wasn't a win — it was hitting a wall. Staffing issues, routing problems, a business that felt out of control. Her breakthrough came when she finally called her franchise support team and said, "I need help." The lesson she carries forward: ego is the enemy of progress, and the right mentors will show up when we're ready to receive them. Connect with Gayle Todd Website: scoopsoldiers.com [http://scoopsoldiers.com] Email: gayletodd@scoopsoldiers.com [gailtodd@scoopsoldiers.com] Host Michelle Thompson's book Courageously You: Seven Simple Frameworks to Create The Life You Love launches June 25!

Dreams Delayed, Not Denied - Her Comeback bonus episode with Michelle Thompson

HER COMEBACK - BONUS EPISODE - "Dreams Delayed, Not Denied" A Live Talk by Michelle Thompson- hercomebackpodcast.com [http://hercomebackpodcast.com] Summary Something different is waiting for you in this bonus episode of Her Comeback. This week, Michelle is sharing a live talk she gave at a women’s networking event she recently co-hosted — and the energy in that room was everything. The talk is called Dreams Delayed, Not Denied, and it pulls directly from Chapter 3 of her upcoming book, Courageously You: 7 Simple Frameworks to Create the Life You Love. If you’ve ever wondered what the book is really about, consider this your first real taste. Michelle shares the story of a dream she carried for fifteen years — living at the beach — and all the detours, heartbreaks, and unexpected pivots that finally led her to Southwest Florida. It’s honest. It’s real. And it will make you think about the dream you’ve been putting off. She closes with the D.R.E.A.M. Framework from the book — a practical tool for anyone who’s been waiting, rebuilding, or wondering if their dream still has a chance. It does. And so do you. 📚 COURAGEOUSLY YOU IS COMING — JUNE 25TH Courageously You: 7 Simple Frameworks to Create the Life You Love by Michelle Thompson officially launches June 25th on Amazon. Go to hercomebackpodcast.com [http://hercomebackpodcast.com] to sign up for updates and be the first to know when it’s available. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE • Why so many women hold their dreams quietly — and what it really means to give yourself permission to want something • Michelle’s 15-year journey toward coastal living — including the marriages, the moves, and the rescinded job offer that nearly broke her • How a global pandemic, an empty nest, and a broken relationship became the exact combination of events that finally set her free • The cost of NOT pursuing your dream — and why regret is far more painful than failure • The D.R.E.A.M. Framework: a step-by-step tool for moving toward your dream even when timing, circumstances, or fear are working against you THE D.R.E.A.M. FRAMEWORK D: Desire Deeply R: Resilience E: Embrace the Wait A: Adapt M: Move Boldly The full D.R.E.A.M. Framework, with reflection questions and deeper coaching tools, is featured in Chapter 3 of Courageously You. ✨ THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION QUESTION What is one small action you can take TODAY toward a dream you’ve been postponing? Not tomorrow, not when conditions are perfect — what can you do right now to honor what is calling to your soul? RESOURCES & LINKS Purchase Courageously You on Amazon — available June 25th: ◦ amazon.com [http://amazon.com] (link active on launch day) Connect with Michelle: ◦ Facebook: michellethompsoncoaching ◦ Instagram: @michellethompsoncoaching ◦ LinkedIn: michelledthompsonmbapmp

She Saw What Therapy Was Missing, And Built Something Better; Her Comeback with Dr. Barbara Holstein

Episode Summary- https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] What happens when a psychologist looks around her field and realizes something essential is missing? For Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, the answer changed the trajectory of her entire career—and the lives of countless women. In this rich conversation with host Michelle Thompson, Dr. Holstein shares how she pioneered what we now call positive psychology decades before it had a name, why she built her practice around the concept of the “Enchanted Self,” and how her journey from classroom teacher to published author, playwright, filmmaker, and podcaster is proof that reinvention doesn’t have an age limit. Whether you’re carrying the weight of what went wrong, wondering if it’s too late to pursue a forgotten dream, or simply ready to see yourself through a new lens—this episode will remind you that your potential never disappeared. It’s been waiting for you to come back to it. What You’ll Discover in This Episode • How Dr. Holstein noticed what traditional therapy was getting wrong—and what she did about it, starting with 19 volunteer interviews over two years. • The unexpected near-fall at a conference that led to her first book being published—and why she calls it an absolute miracle. • What “the Enchanted Self” actually means in practice, and the beautiful shifts that happen when women begin to reclaim their potential. • Why women today still face many of the same internal barriers as generations before—and what it looks like to move beyond them. • How to use your past as a resource rather than a wound, including how understanding your ancestors’ story can reframe your own. • The childhood memories that unlock energy and self-belief—and why going back to age 8 or 10 can open a secret door within you. • What held Dr. Holstein back in her own journey—and how she kept moving forward anyway, choosing impact over income. • Why her coming-of-age films put young women’s voices at the center, and what we all gain when we stop and listen. • The simple, daily “Recipes for Enchantment” that create moments of joy, connection, and aliveness. About Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a positive psychologist, author, filmmaker, and the creator of The Enchanted Self—a philosophy and practice centered on helping women recover the best of who they are. A pioneer in strength-based therapy long before positive psychology became mainstream, Dr. Holstein has authored multiple books including her landmark first publication on women’s potential, the beloved children’s book I’m a Girl, I’m Smart and I Know Everything, Recipes for Enchantment, and her most recent work, Women’s Freedom. Her coming-of-age short films have been honored hundreds of times at festivals worldwide. Connect with Dr. Holstein Website: enchantedself.com [http://enchantedself.com] Email: barbara.holstein@gmail.com [barbara.holstein@gmail.com] Enjoyed This Episode? Subscribe to Her Comeback on your favorite podcast platform and follow Michelle on YouTube at Michelle Thompson – Life Coaching for more encouragement, real talk, and stories of women who refused to let their setback be their final chapter.

Reinvention Is Not Optional — Her Comeback with Shannaz Schopfer

Her Comeback with Shannaz Schopfer, host Michelle Thompson https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] What does it look like to rebuild yourself — not once, not twice, but again and again across five decades and multiple continents? In this episode, Michelle sits down with Shannaz Schopfer, a global beauty industry veteran and founder of The Beauty Architects, for a candid conversation about reinvention, grit, and what it really costs a woman to earn her seat at the table. From growing up as a serial entrepreneur's daughter traveling country to country — learning languages on the fly and hiding her shyness behind a forced smile — to launching her own skincare brand, selling it, and starting over in a new country, Shannaz has never let a closed door be the final word. Now based in LA, she's channeling 45 years of hard-won knowledge into helping emerging beauty founders navigate the complex world of global manufacturing. Today, Shannaz serves as a bridge between indie brand founders and the often-confusing world of international manufacturing, while mentoring the next generation of women entering the beauty space. * Connect: LinkedIn (search Shannaz Schopfer) * Company: The Beauty Architects Key Themes & Takeaways Reinvention as a way of life Shannaz has rebuilt her career more times than most people attempt once — from brand founder, to sales rep, to lab director, to M&A advisor, to consultant. Her throughline? A refusal to stop moving forward. "If you stop moving forward, you stop living." The culture classroom Growing up moving from country to country — and being placed in public schools where she didn't speak the language — taught Shannaz adaptability, empathy, and a global lens that became her greatest professional asset. Her father's solution to her shyness? Public speaking and theater classes. It worked. The gap no one was filling The idea for The Beauty Architects came from noticing that indie beauty brands and quality manufacturers kept missing each other. Big brands don't need a guide. New founders do. Shannaz built her business around being that trusted bridge. What sustainability actually means in beauty Shannaz breaks down the full supply chain of what "sustainable" really requires — from responsible ingredient sourcing to manufacturing practices, packaging choices, and the reality that retail infrastructure and inconsistent recycling systems still stand in the way. What it cost her to lead in a male-dominated space She doesn't sugarcoat it: she was fired for pushing back. Fired for reporting harassment. She watched a CEO take credit for her strategy, fail, and later admit she should have had the role. "Should I spend more time with those I love, and be present for those who need me?" — The kind of recalibration only lived experience brings. Lifting as she climbs Shannaz speaks at schools, mentors emerging women in product development, and advocates for equal pay and self-advocacy — because she knows the beauty industry's consumers and workers are largely women, while the boardrooms still often aren't. Her message to the woman sitting on an idea Follow your gut. Have grit. Surround yourself with non-toxic people. Get an NDA before you talk. Ask not "Is this a good idea?" but "What would the pitfalls and positives be?" And know this: failure is an education, not a verdict.