time for a new story

A woman with strong boundaries

Yesterday I talked with a gal in LA who founded a growing social enterprise. When we scheduled the call, she gave me a thirty minute window, so I knew up front that she was a woman with strong boundaries. When we began to chat, one of the first things out of her mouth was,

I’m an ROI girl. What can I do to make sales?

There was a time when those words would’ve stopped me in my tracks, thinking to myself, Then why in the world are you talking with me? I’m the party bus, I’m NOT the ROI girl. But that was my old story that used to hold me back.

I have a new one now.

What I’ve learned is this, if you make choices based on feelings alone, you’ll almost always regret them. Choices have to be made based on our values. Yes, feelings and instincts play a role, but they can’t …

When I first heard about Colette Sol USA it was by way of an Instagram photo. My sister in Florida sent me a post about these cool shoes that were made to fight human trafficking and told me to check them out for this shop I was planning. I was surprised and excited.

Who knew there was such a thing?

Who knew there were beautiful, high quality shoes being made anywhere that gave 100% of the profit to fight human trafficking? Not me. I did a quick google searched and swooned. They have darling ankle boots, this gorgeous wedge, basic sandals and even colorful bucket bags.

There was just one minor glitch.

I’ve never been a person to buy high-end shoes. When I saw the price tag, I almost fainted. And that’s the truth. I’ve always been a Target, Forever21, and even garage sale shopper. This was serious business.

But, I loved the shoes so …

by Crystal Gornto Fashion Friday Female Social Entrepreneurs Love In Action Our Story Priorities 2 comments chat

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly running? Like you’re figuratively running from one thing to the next?

Our lives are so busy, sometimes we’re literally running.

When I think about all of our running though, it makes me wonder where we are headed.

Do we even know?

It’s not uncommon for me to be putting on earrings while I’m running through the kitchen towards the car, carrying my shoes because those will just have to wait for a stop light.

I have two speeds: Turbo and Asleep. If I’m not in one of those, I feel kind of lost, and vulnerable.

If I’m honest, those speeds make it easy for me to hide.

If I’m running fast, you can’t catch me, to talk about what’s really going on inside. If I’m asleep, well, good luck with that. Both speeds are really running away from something uncomfortable.

If I slow down, I have to live with …

by Crystal Gornto Love In Action Leave a comment chat

As a society, we place a lot of value on knowledge.

It’s more than getting into an esteemed college or getting a certain GPA. It’s making sure you don’t start any task without first fully understanding exactly how to complete it.

It can easily become a crutch.

I see it in my kids often. When they encounter a task they don’t know how to do (could also insert don’t want to do), they say “I don’t know how” as a crutch, an excuse. It’s a stall tactic. It’s true, of course. After all, they’re just kids. There are a lot of things they legitimately don’t know how to do.

There are also a lot of things they’re afraid they won’t succeed at doing, so they use I don’t know as protection against failure.

But, it’s beautiful to watch them learn how to do something, while they’re doing it.

When …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Family Motherhood Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

If you’re not the type to jump in head first into a new venture, and some of the stories we tell have scared you into pushing your dreams down further, this one is for you. Especially if you, or a loved one has ever battled mental illness, this one is for you.

Elizabeth’s story will touch your heart and put you on the hook to make change that matters.

Yep. Even you.

Please welcome Elizabeth to HeartStories with me! Let’s start by getting to know her a little bit.

Hi Elizabeth, It’s hard for many heart-centered female entrepreneurs to step up to be the face of our companies. What’s that journey been like for you?

This journey has been truly life changing for me. I have learned a lot in the short period of time since I started and I continue to learn to this day. Link of Hearts was born and inspired by my own story. I suffered from …

by Crystal Gornto Female Social Entrepreneurs Inspirational Women Love In Action Leave a comment chat

Have you ever flown Southwest Airlines on a full flight and hoped somehow, you’d be able to save that middle seat? Have you ever actually employed a strategy to keep it?

I totally do this.

I guess because of the stress and chaos of airports, that middle seat is like a treasured gem. It’s not that I’m anti-social, it’s just that two feet of space between me and a stranger, instead of two inches, makes all the difference in the world.

Brittany and I were flying back from the Nomi Network Gala on Southwest this week and I was employing full seat saving strategy. Sitting there with my tray table down and my food and drink covering it. My huge, overflowing purse in the seat next to me and my eyeballs glued to my phone, trying to FaceTime with my boys.

The last passengers where boarding and we’d almost secured our treasured seat when. . .

All …

by Crystal Gornto Love In Action Love in Friendship Roadblocks in Life 6 comments chat

Are you running today?

I don’t know how

Meet Elizabeth, Founder of Link of Hearts

Hi Elizabeth, It’s hard for many heart-centered female entrepreneurs to step up to be the face of our companies. What’s that journey been like for you?