It’s episode 100! I remember starting this podcast like it was yesterday. I was so excited. I had been wanting to do it for years and we finally did it. And then people gave me feedback and they loved it and they were tuning in and it was just so fun.  And then it got challenging and I took a couple of breaks. And recently I have been thinking about where we going with this show and what are we doing. I've had a lot of people ask me what does success look like for CU and what its...

The word of the year is something that so many people do. The idea is that you pick a word and commit to it throughout the year, it's your theme. The goal is that you're going to put more of a spotlight and an effort on that word to enhance your life, create change, and build upon something that you're trying to achieve. In today’s episode, I reflect on my word of the year from 2023. And talk about how I chose my word of the year for 2024 (because I had two really good words to pick from!)...

It's the final episode of 2023 and we are talking about something that's going to help you achieve a big goal. If there's something big you want to achieve in 2024, I am going to tell you the secret to getting it done!  Pick a deadline! Yup, that's it! Once you have set that deadline for yourself, you now have to work backward to accomplish it by that date.  Tune in today to as I talk about: Why keeping commitments to ourselves is such a powerful confidence booster.Walk you through how I...

In this episode, I want to share a mindset that has had a significant impact on my business results and sales. It's an idea that learned from Marie Forleo to not be 'attached to the results.'  I wanted to share with you what happened the first time I attempted to have a six-figure launch when my focus was only on the outcome. And then the difference it made when my team cut me off from the sales results when I hosted my first conference.  This is a journey of focusing on the process and...

In today’s episode, I’m going to talk about two tools that I use in my business. First up is DALL·E 3, a plugin with ChatGPT, that I’m a little obsessed with right now for creating really amazing graphics. I share how I recently used it to design a graphic to represent an upcoming retreat I’m hosting as well as some fun personal projects I used it for.  Next up is a tool that we can not live without at Crystal Media, our project briefs. This one tool allows us to fully outline an idea or...

This week on Crystal Uncorked I’m feeling the Christmas spirit!  I wanted to share with you about my recent experience interviewing Santa Claus on Rooted in Retail! It is by far the most effort my team and I have ever put into a podcast episode. The episode is full of amazing ideas for your business to use during the holiday season (retailer or not).  But even if you aren’t you should check it out because it is one of the coolest uses of AI. Santa’s part in the episode was developed using...

So I realized that when I shared how I started my first business (Three Elements) in episode 88, I kind of left you hanging because I told you that I closed that business because I missed working with a team and I was given this amazing opportunity to work at a SaaS startup, Snap Retail. And clearly, that didn’t take either because here I am running my own successful business! So today I want to continue the story by sharing what happened at Snap Retail, how I ultimately started Crystal...

In this episode of Crystal Uncorked, I’m sharing a recent experience I had on stage at Build Your Brand - Live!  Out of the 300 super connector mastermind members, I was one of 10 who was asked to be on stage to share my experience in the program. And while I shared about how much my life has changed since I made the decision to invest in myself through the program, I also seized the moment and shared with a room of 600+ people that my biggest dream was to host my own studio talk show.  The...

In this episode of Crystal Uncorked, I’m sharing with you five questions that can give you insights into the things that are really meaningful to you. Your answers will give you a different perspective on what it is you really want to do and give you an opportunity to look at those things and measure them against your current life. Hopefully, this exercise will help you to make some changes in your life by adding in some goals that are more aligned with where you want to be and what you want...

In this episode of Crystal Uncorked, we’re talking about AI, and in my opinion, this is one of the most important episodes that you might listen to on CU all year, if not ever, because it's going to help you understand the ever-expanding capabilities of AI.  There's so much we don't know about what's coming in the future, but when you understand what it can do today, it's going to help you when you see content online that could be fake. It's going to help you ask questions to determine if...

I’m not going to lie to you, I have been fighting feelings of resistance lately. And I think there have been a few reasons for that and I want to share with you how I pushed through it and the amazing benefits that I am seeing on the other side. (Plus a crazy story of synchronicity that made my procrastination worth it!) [01:17] My recent photoshoot with the amazing photographer Christina Gressianu [03:29] Why I needed a badass outfit to bring in that badass energy [05:09] What I have found...

This is a story that I bet so many people can relate to because so many times over the past 11 years of owning Crystal Media, there have been meetings, partnerships, and clients that have initially created this feeling of, "Oh, this is it. We made it. This is the tipping point. This is big!" And then things don't happen.  This is a story about perseverance because even though it doesn't happen you just keep going and you keep going and you keep going until you find your success.  This is my...

In 2008 when I was 23 years old, I started a company called 3 Elements. Today I'm going to dive into why I started it, how I started it, and some really great lessons that I think we can all apply, whether you're starting a business or not. Let’s dive in: [01:41] How I got into the social media industry. [04:38] Let’s take a moment to talk about my love of Kevin Rose from Diggnation. Who may or may not have inspired Crystal Uncorked? [09:10] The writing was on the wall with my job so I...

I have a confession to make. I love it when podcasters show us behind the curtain. I think it's very relatable when we can hear what businesses are going through, their thought process and what led them to make certain decisions. And so that's what we're going to be doing in today’s episode. So let's cheers and dive in! [2:49] What is happening with Crystal Uncorked - hint we are going to be sharing more stories! [5:12] At Crystal Media we are looking at our operations through the lens of...

I've got a juicy story to share. Despite being an experienced speaker, I always got nervous before events. But this summer, I had an “Aha!” moment. I had a mindset shift that made me a more confident speaker, and I'll spill the beans on how it happened and what it is. Plus, I've got a nifty tip from Donald Miller on being entertaining when all else fails in content creation. Enjoy this week’s CU! Mentioned in this episode: http://crystalmediaco.com/insider

Hey there from Lake Tahoe! I just woke up from one of my energizing power naps. Today, I share a neat motivation trick I found on Instagram. It's a game-changer! I'm thinking of using this in my talks, especially for encouraging folks to dive into short-form video content like Reels and TikTok. Remember, motivation is great, but it's all about doing the hard work and setting up your environment for success. So, let's get motivated and chase those goals! See you on the next...

You know they say, “Don’t meet your heroes?” Well, the day before I recorded this, I met mine, and it’s better than I could’ve imagined! So, I'm spilling the beans on my whirlwind adventure at a two-day writer's workshop with none other than Don Miller. Get ready for some creative nuggets, the secret sauce to staying disciplined in writing, and a sneak peek into my upcoming book titled "15 Mile Famous: From Best Kept Secret to Local Celebrity." Cheers to the writer's life! Mentioned in this...

Social media is scary. There, I said it. And with what we’re seeing online about how people react so easily because they’re behind a keyboard, it can be scary not only for personal profiles but also for business accounts to post. And some hide behind the excuse, “I don’t have time to post”. Whether it’s fear of judgment or a lack of time, erase that. Move forward and show up. Mentioned in this episode: EVOLVE 2024 Crystal on Instagram

At a recent conference on the topic of finances, an AI generated video depicted the “Faces of Wealth” as 100% male.  In today’s episode, I’m sharing ideas, tips, and advice to develop a positive relationship with money, especially for my female listeners!  Whether you’re looking for ways to invest and grow your portfolio or you just need some seeds to plant for your money mindset, you’ll walk away with value after listening. 

Are you feeling stuck personally or professionally? ....or both? I’ve been there! Success is a unique journey for EVERY individual, but I have three tips for building momentum that have done wonders for me and can work for anyone! Tune in to see how I've utilized therapy, put pressure on my goals, and developed a solid routine for even more momentum! Mentioned In This Episode: EVOLVE 2024 in Denver, CO - Crystal Media [email protected] Crystal Media Crystal on Instagram

I wish I could bottle up the feelings of these stories in today’s episode. I share some behind the scenes moments that lead to some pretty exciting announcements, and prove you have to TRY… even if you’re not sure of the answer. And stay tuned till the end for a special lesson on the importance of not hiding those big ideas. Mentioned In This Episode: EVOLVE 2024 in Denver, CO - Crystal Media [email protected] Crystal Media Crystal on Instagram

I’m coming to you a bit worn out after an especially long travel day and a whirlwind of small mishaps. Despite the fatigue, though, I felt it’s crucial to keep up my commitment to you – which is the topic of today’s episode! See, my promise to you is a unique one: I’m going to mess up. Yes, you heard that right. There may be times when I’ll repeat stories, miss opportunities to delve deeper into a topic, or even fail to fully land a joke. These are just part of being human. But you know what?...

This episode is all about acknowledging what's working, what isn't, and making changes where they're needed. It's about giving ourselves permission to do what's necessary for our business and ourselves, and not being afraid to ask for help. So come on, let's uncork this topic together! http://crystaluncorked.com Episode 15 of Rooted in Retail - https://www.crystalmediaco.com/rooted/evolve-or-dont-exist-lessons-from-my-evolve-conference/

In this episode, your host Crystal Vilkaitis walks you through her journey of hosting her first-ever EVOLVE business conference. Crystal navigates the ups and downs of event planning, discussing everything from unexpected logistical hurdles to the pursuit of ticket sales. Despite the challenges, she managed to successfully host the conference at the Gaylord in Denver, Colorado. Crystal shares the joy of reaching the milestone of selling over 100 tickets, affirming that every challenge faced...