Micaela “Cae” Thomas is a wife and mother. Co-Captain of a large, blended family, parenting 6 biological children, 4 stepchildren and 1 bonus child with Husband and best friend of 9 years, Kendrick. Born in March 1987, she grew up in East Cleveland, OH to a single mother and a loving family village. Micaela has always had a knack for writing. Whether it was poetry, plays, songs, books, or short stories, she was always able to utilize her imagination to keep her centered from the internal turmoil that brewed within. Eventually relocating to Columbus, OH., this is where she began discovering her various talents. The story of Micaela’s life has been kept secret the majority of, her 33-years of existence. She has now decided to share her journey for the encouragement and betterment of others who may be suffering in silence. It is her hope to assist in being an advocate for the intentional healing of others through her own journey of self-awareness, healing, forgiveness, and manifestation. Micaela “Cae” Thomas has experienced the traumas and various peaks in highs and lows that have caused her life to unravel. However, it has been her greatest mission and her greatest passion to bring, not only her struggles but her victories to light. She has done this in hopes of not only acquiring her own healing but also instilling valuable lessons and key components to assist others in getting out of their own way. Her intent is to be straight with her audience, no chaser, in delivering raw truth, honesty, and transparency as someone who was able to be pulled from the rock bottom of their own rock bottom. In this lifetime, there is not one individual approach that works for every single person. Micaela “Cae” Thomas has been trained through certification and personal experiences, in a wide range of communication and interaction to help others find their true purpose(s) in life, become clear on what you want in life, build confidence, help you find tools and resources necessary to reach both long term & short term goals, to support you during your process(es) and to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is through her journey that she hopes to encourage the intentionality of and for your life.
LM: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
MT: I am the Co-Captain of a beautifully, large blended family. I have always looked to my writing as my salvation and way of looking at the world from a different perspective. I am family-oriented and love making connections with others while trailblazing in this thing we call life. I love caring for people, enjoying the little things that matter most, and being able to express myself with my various talents. I am human before all else and believe in reciprocating and radiating love at all times.
LM: Tell us about your business.
MT: As an author, I have written Stripped to my Truth: Unpacking the Emotional Baggage to not only share my own trials and tribulations but also to utilize my story as an example that anyone and everyone can be healed from their traumas. It is a guide, so to speak, in getting out of your own way. In this world, there isn’t enough transparency to alleviate the falsehood of what and how things should be or could be. I have made it my goal and mission to not only provide eye-opening opportunities but a chance for those struggling to finally look in the mirror and reflect. To see their own truths without turning away.
LM: What prompted you to start your business?
MT: Initially, this started out as a journal. I had no intentions on sharing this with the world. As it grew and evolved into a book, I came to the conclusion that keeping this to myself was selfish. So I decided to share it with the world in hopes that it would reach, at least one person. To aide in their willingness to change their mindset, so that they can change their life.
LM: Have you always aspired to be an entrepreneur? Why or why not?
MT: Yes! Absolutely! I guess you can say that I haven’t given up on the world just yet. I still have hope that people can be more than what they show or even choose to be. Inspiring to be an entrepreneur is and has never been an easy feat. It takes courage, confidence, hard work, love, passion, and many other things that this world lacks. But I love a challenge. More so, I love creating my own pathways while leaving my footprint in the sand. I just want to make sure it stays there and that I can make an impact on others along the way.
LM: What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?
DS: I love connecting! I have always been a “people-person”. So I have always been interested in meeting people from different walks of life. I’ve always been interested in hearing their stories. I’m also a creative. So it’s always been a major important factor to be in being able to express and manifest my creativity in whatever form I can deliver it. There are many things that are AMAZING about being an entrepreneur! I can never just choose one.
LM: What’s the worst part of being an entrepreneur?
MT: Of course with the good, sometimes there is the bad. With being an entrepreneur, you have to give so much of yourself to create your legacy not only for you but for others. I’m not sure that I would call it a bad thing or a downfall, but being an entrepreneur can take a lot out of you. However, it teaches you how to balance entrepreneurial life in accordance to your personal life and self-care. It teaches you discipline. You won’t always have your great days or max sales, but you have an opportunity to always try it again the next day. I’ll count that as a plus any day.
LM: Who’s your inspiration? Why?
MT: Where do I start?! First and foremost, my children, my family have definitely been my largest source of inspiration. Always rooting for me, pushing me, encouraging me, and bringing me back to center when I’ve gone left lol Next to them, I’d have to say, Tyler Perry. That man’s story is INCREDIBLE! It’s very humbling and the prime example of being stripped down to your absolute, undeniable truth! Going from being homeless…Living in a car and then to a box to where he is now is truly unspeakable. In a good way! He has a purpose and he’s given so much back through not only his purpose, but his talents, and I can appreciate that. He’s definitely one of my top favorite people and sources of inspiration.
LM: List some of your greatest achievements
MT: Outside of being a mother, one of my greatest achievements is really just being the woman that I am today. The ability to continuously evolve and be a better daughter, a better granddaughter, a better mother, spouse, friend, etc. By society’s standards and statistics, I wasn’t supposed to be here. But I am. I’m grateful to be able to share my light and spirit with others.
LM: Name a time when things didn’t go right. What happened and how did you get past it?
MT: Well……after having a good 2 hour cry lol I had a conversation with God and my Star Player (me). We were homeless. I was working 2 jobs, 90% of my income was going to attorneys and a Guardian ad Litem as I was battling a long custody case for 3 of my children (from a previous relationship) against their father. My husband and I were not seeing eye to eye at all, we weren’t together and living in separate places. We were living off of food stamps, so we were able to eat. Thank God for that because I barely had enough to pay the babysitter and put gas in my SUV. During the day, my babies were in school while I worked the day job. At night, they slept at the babysitters while I worked the night job. Well one night, I was beyond my wit’s end so I dropped my babies off at the babysitter’s house, went to my night job, pulled up in the parking lot in front of the building, and just sat there and cried. I never even went in. I sat there and told myself that I was going to talk to God until He spoke back to me. My relationships with my family and Husband were rocky, my mother especially. I was being challenged as a mother, my character being destroyed and I was bending over backward, sideways, and frontwards to jump through various hoops and accommodate a man and a court system who could care less about my children. I was here, not by the fault of anyone else, but by my choices that I made to place certain people in my life. In our lives. I was “people-pleasing” and I was silent when I needed to be heard. I slept in my car and actualized that it was time for me to stop crying. It was time to clean up the spilled milk, pull up my big girl panties, and put one foot in front of the other, even if it meant I would fall again. I pushed myself where some encouraged me to give up or take the easy way out. I challenged myself because taking the “easy way” of things essentially prompted a lot of my choices and landed me where I was in the first place.
LM: Where do you see your business in 3 years?
MT: I see exponential growth for my business in 3 years. I see a continuously growing platform where I am able to speak to people, motivate and inspire and help enable their healing versus their own self-destruction. I see my business and brand expanding on a national front and creating more businesses and opportunities for others to not only find their light in the dark but to acquire their own purpose(s).
LM: What advice would you give a new entrepreneur?
MT: I would advise a new entrepreneur to never give up. It won’t be easy, but it is rewarding. I would encourage them to sit down and face any uncertainties, insecurities, or challenges head-on. It won’t all be perfect either, but I would advise them to just START! Everything can be perfected in their vision along the way. Even if they only get 1 like or 0 comments, TRUST that people are watching, they’re being seen. Keep going!
You can connect with Micaela here:
Cae Thomas
Stripped to my Truth
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https://www.micaelalthomas.com