Commit to the Journey, Not the Outcome

One year ago, on 11/11, I raised a glass of Prosecco and told Dustin, “I did it.”I’d just received an informal offer from the people who would eventually buy my business. Nothing was signed yet, but after years of wanting something different, I could finally feel it happening. Later that night, I caught a shooting star on video. Seriously. What are the chances?!In this episode, I’m sharing that story and why you’re allowed to want a change—even when your life and business look great on paper.Then we’re taking a turn into AI because… we need to talk. I use it every day, and I’m also questioning how much access we should give it. A debate on The Diary of a CEO had me yelling at the TV, and I have some thoughts about AI agents, protecting our accounts, and who we’re supposed to believe when even the experts disagree.Plus, I’m getting into my AI writing pet peeves. If I read “what everyone gets wrong” one more time…All of this has me craving more real conversations and time together in person, which brings me to a new experience I’m excited to share: The Epic Council. 🎉In this episode:The 11/11 moment that made my next chapter feel real.Giving yourself permission to leave something successful.Loving AI’s possibilities while questioning how much to trust it.The account security steps I’m taking and the boundaries I’m setting.The power of being in a room with people who help you see new possibilities.Interested in The Epic Council?I’m bringing together 5–10 business owners for quarterly in-person experiences, business hot seats, meaningful conversations, and space to figure out what you actually want next. I’m planning to begin in early 2027, once we have at least five committed members.Sound like your kind of room? Tell me about yourself and your business at thisiscrystal.com/learn.And tell me where you stand with AI. Are you all in, a little freaked out, or somewhere in the middle like me?Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

I went to New York for a birthday and to cheer on a lifelong friend at the marathon. I came home with stories I could not make up. A Broadway onstage accident, a spectator experience I was wildly unprepared for, and an uninvited dinner guest… we have a lot to talk about. Plus, somewhere between the chaos and the flight home, I found a clue about what I want to do next. If you’ve been asking yourself “What now?” - that part’s for you.In this episode:I was imagining a worst-case scenario at a Broadway show… and then an actual accident stopped the performance.I went to NYC to cheer on my friend at the marathon. Somehow, I ended up in my own race against time - with a bathroom emergency.“Excuse me, we have a friend.” The restaurant story I really wish I didn’t have to tell.When everything’s been said before, what makes your voice worth listening to? What I’m learning as I get back on the mic.What if the thing you keep doing when you’re “just relaxing” is worth paying attention to?Timestamps:00:01 - Episode 102 kickoff and Courtney's birthday01:00 - The birthday rhyme and the "quote three times" rule01:48 - Courtney's deafness and the Chili's new-hire prank03:11 - Seeing And Juliet with Joey Fatone04:56 - Imagining worst-case accidents mid-show05:26 - The wall pins the Shakespeare actor07:13 - Curtain down and the nervous show manager08:10 - Stand-in takes over; the show goes on10:00 - Felicia: a friend since birth, and her 40th birthday12:05 - Why spectating the marathon is hard work14:51 - Walking across Central Park with IBS trouble18:08 - Making the grandstand with 20 minutes to spare19:33 - The live cockroach at the Irish pub22:51 - Listener feedback and saying "excited" too much24:14 - Why stories are the only original thing25:33 - Send a voice note via speakpipe.com/crystaluncorked27:22 - Following clues to the next chapter30:33 - The SBA's content creator categoryKey Takeaway: You don’t need your whole future figured out to take the next step. Notice what you keep coming back to - the things you want to learn about, talk about, or do just because you enjoy them. There may be a clue there. 💫Send a voice note: speakpipe.com/crystaluncorked. You get 90 seconds of audio only, and you can say if you don't want to be on the show.Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

I'm back!! 🎉 Welcome to episode 101 of Crystal Uncorked!After selling my business earlier this year, I've had a lot of time to think, travel, brainstorm business ideas, and try to figure out what's next. And you know what I've realized? Nobody has it all figured out. I've missed being on the mic, and instead of overthinking what this podcast should be, I've decided to just hit record and talk!In this episode, I'm catching you up on life lately: my thoughts on retirement (is it really all it's cracked up to be?), the business ideas I've been exploring, why astrology almost stopped me from relaunching this podcast, and my ongoing love affair with New York City. Plus, the story behind my very special June 5th shirt.New episodes every Wednesday! Subscribe and come hang out. I'm so happy to be back on the mic!!Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 purpose?This show started as a passion project for me. I just wanted to do this and have fun while connecting with an audience in a different way. And I honestly feel like it was a stepping stone to help me launch Rooted in Retail. But as I reflect, journal, and plan for 2024, I needed to get really clear on my priorities as I plan to travel more, get married and continue to grow Crystal Media. And it became clear that it’s time to conclude this show, at least for now. I had a really hard time coming to this conclusion because I really felt like I am letting my listeners down because I made a promise that I was going to continue this show at least until I was 40 (which is in 2025). And I felt I was letting myself down by not keeping my commitment. And in a way there's a part of me that kind of feels like a failure by stopping the show. I talk more about why I felt like this was he right decision in today’s episode. But I want to thank you so much. It really means the world to me that you have been on this journey with me. I'm wishing you a very amazing 2024. Thank you so much. Cheers. Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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!) But in the end my word was chosen because I want to make an effort to change how I think about my business and focusing on one word over the other would help me do just that!If you would like to spend some time planning for the next year, I invite you to join me for my three-day live transformational challenge happening January 15-17th at 8:30am MT. I have massively transformed over the past year. I’ve never felt more clear and confident with where my business is going. What I want personally. An how I show up for myself for my business. I'm in a really good place, but I had to work really hard to get here. And so I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing how I did it. Day One: We're going to be focusing on clarity and vision. I'm going to share my hacks and the tools I've used to help me get really clear on my vision.  Day Two: Is about action and momentum. I'm going to talk about what we can learn by getting into action and give you some exercises to help you jump into action and help you get really clear about where you need to create action to then give you momentum.Day Three: Is about growth and visibility. We're going to talk about digital marketing, being seen and getting yourself out there. I will share some hacks that will save you a lot of time and ways to have your content seen by more. So if you want to join me on this three-day transformation challenge, go to crystalmediaco.com/transform and register.Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 used this strategy with my biggest dreams for 2024 (hello podcast studio!)Talk about what it means if you miss your deadline (and some ways to make it a stronger commitment)Next steps once you have picked your date!Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 staying unattached from outcomes that ultimately result in increased sales and business growth. As you begin to plan for 2024, I want you to focus on the journey rather than the outcome. Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 project before bringing it to the team. It helps us to stay focused and keeps the project idea in one place for everyone to review. I shared how we used it for our upcoming retreat, how I used it when creating a course, and how a retailer might use it for an upcoming promotion.  Tune in to learn:[00:00] Welcome[00:58] Using DALL·E 3 to create a graphic for the Oasis of Opportunity Retreat and More![07:04] The power of the Project Brief[19:01]  Check out my amazing photographer and a special offer for you![20:28] What's coming next weekGet links to all of the tools mentioned here: https://crystaluncorked.com/blog/tools-to-boost-productivity-and-creativity/Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 synthesia, an AI software that focuses on creating training videos with AI avatars and voices. We then recorded following the AI and edited the whole thing together to look and sound like it happened in real time. Its truly something I’m proud to have created.Then continuing with the holiday magic I share with you what I do with my staff at Crystal Media to show my appreciation for their hard work and give them a much needed break at the end of a busy year. While this might not work for every business at this time of the year, I would encourage you to find a way to bring this practice into your business at another time of the year. Links:Get your tickets to EVOLVE at www.crystalmediaco.com/evolve/Santa’s Interview on Rooted In Retail: https://www.crystalmediaco.com/episodes/secrets-to-holiday-retail-success-with-santa-claus/Let's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎

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 Media, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. If I can offer you some encouragement right now. If you have a pull towards something in your life, it might be to start a business, a hobby, a new career, travel, whatever - don’t ignore it! Journal on it and discover what it is you truly want and then go for it! You never know what might come from it. This week I share:[01:37] Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a great holiday![03:10] What happened at Snap Retail?[07:35] A huge lesson I learned in corporate - I want to be building something bigger.[08:49] The idea for Crystal Media started on a cruise[10:09] New Moon Journaling Ritual (this is really great way to vision cast your ideas!)[12:19] As with the start of all great companies - It starts by getting laid off[15:19] Launching Crystal Media [17:39] How I landed my first clients[21:59] Launching A Membership Site[25:31] How did I choose my first service offerings and how did they evolve?[26:41] Burning Out and Bringing on a TeamLet's stay connected:Follow my journey on Substack: https://buildingmyepicempire.comEmail me: [email protected] Instagram: @crystalvilkaitisI'll CU on the next CU! 😎