Humor and Heart from Paul de la Garza

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. 

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.

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!

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. 

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 week

Get links to all of the tools mentioned here: https://crystaluncorked.com/blog/tools-to-boost-productivity-and-creativity/

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/

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 Team

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 response to my testimonial was intense with conference attendees coming up to me asking to take pictures with me so they could say “I knew her when.” Their belief in me and my dreams (even when they didn’t know me) helped me to remember that one of the most powerful things we can do is share our ideas, dreams and hopes openly with the world. It's through sharing that amazing things can happen because you never know who's listening and how they can help get you closer to that dream.

If you aren’t sure what your big dream is yet, then take a minute and think about this. At the end of your life - what will you regret not having tried? What dreams would you regret not chasing? Then how do you get started? I know it's uncomfortable and I know you don't have it all figured out, but you're not going to figure it out until you do it.

Journal on it. If you are up for it, feel free to share with me your thoughts!

This week we talked about

[01:07] The ultimate game to play at Epcot and riding Guardians of the Galaxy at Disney World.

[04:23] Why I invest in attending in-person conferences

[06:40] Being asked to speak on stage at Build Your Brand Live!

[08:00] What has contributed to my transformation over the last 18 - months?

[10:24] I took my shot while I was on stage and shared my ultimate goal with 600+ people.

[13:21] The impact of sharing my dreams on stage (hint: I felt like a rockstar!)

[15:46] Are you clear about what it is you truly want?

[18:40] What would you regret if you didn’t go after your dreams?

Resources:

Build Your Brand Live 

Super Connectors

Oasis (retreat)

Evolve (Conference)

Connect with me:

Instagram: Crystal Vilkaitis

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 to do.

You are going to want to set aside 30 - 60 minutes (maybe more) so that you can fully answer these questions. 

I’m so excited to talk about these five questions. And not only am I going to give you these five questions, but I'm going to share some of my answers as well. And to be honest, that feels a little scary and a little vulnerable because I’ll be sharing things with you today that rarely anyone in my life knows that I have desires to do. So I'm going to be very open and honest and uncorked on CU today.

Let’s Jump to it! 

[02:27] First things first, wedding updates! We have the most amazing wedding favors for our guests from today’s episode sponsor Christina Gressianu. 

[06:07] A little background on these questions. They aren’t mine, I got them from Lindsay Schwartz's podcast, Powerhouse Women. 

[07:46] Question 1: If nothing were bad or wrong, and no one would be upset with you, what would you want? 

[16:20] Question 2: If you knew you had one year left, what would you want to do, experience, or accomplish?

[20:28] Question 3:  What would you do if, with 100 percent certainty, you would not fail?

[21:43] Question 4: What is something, when you see others doing it, that it triggers envy or jealousy?

[24:33] Question 5: Unicorn Brainstorming. This is your chance to finish the statement “Wouldn’t it be cool if….” Don’t limit your responses, we now live in a world where everything is possible and unicorns exist. So what would be cool for you then?

Episode Sponsor: 

Be sure to check out Christina Gressianu. She is a Northern Colorado photographer that I’ve worked with for over 15 years! She does headshots, lifestyle shots, family portraits, solo portraits, and pets. She’s also willing to travel to businesses to create your amazing branding kits. Special offer! If you work with her she’s going to give you a free wall art upgrade! So check her out! 

Resources:

Photographer Christina Gressianu 

Lindsay Schwartz podcast-Powerhouse Women

Super Connectors

Ep52 of CU: Don't Even Worry About It with Janel Dickin

Evolve

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 what you're seeing, hearing, or reading is actually real or not. 

To demonstrate this I’m going to share with you a story about marketing legend Seth Godin and how he was able to create a podcast episode using AI and even his wife couldn’t tell the difference! 

Beware - this episode may shock you!

Episode Sponsor:

Be sure to check out Christina Gressianu. She is a Northern Colorado photographer that I’ve worked with for over 15 years! She does headshots, lifestyle shots, family portraits, solo portraits, and pets. She's also willing to travel to businesses to create your amazing branding kits. Special offer! If you work with her she's going to give you a free wall art upgrade! So check her out!

Get all of the resources for this episode here: https://crystaluncorked.com/blog/a-cautionary-tale-about-ai/