Skool Magazine — Issue 15 By Cristal Vancarson I have a confession. I love Skool communities! Every time I discover a new one, something interesting is happening. Someone teaches a new skill, hosts a LIVE event, shares an experience, or creates something I never even thought about. And before I know it, I've joined another community! Sound familiar? As I approach my first anniversary on Skool, I've discovered that one of my biggest challenges isn't finding communities worth joining. It's finding enough time to participate in all of them! So Many Communities, So Little Time Every community offers something valuable. There are classrooms filled with lessons, LIVE events, challenges, networking opportunities, and wonderful people to meet. But here's where things get interesting. You join a community because something catches your attention. Then you discover another community that teaches something completely different. Before long, your calendar is filling up with LIVE events, your notifications are multiplying, and you're wondering how you're going to keep up with everyone! And that's before you've even worked on your own business! In my case, I'm running my Photography by Cristal community, photographing clients remotely around the world, and sharing my memoir journey LIVE, raw, and unedited. I've also created Memoir School, a place for writers to share their experiences, preserve their memories, and bring their stories to life. And somewhere between all of that, I'm still discovering wonderful Skool communities I want to be part of! Membership vs. Participation Here's something I've been thinking about. Does joining a community mean we're actually participating in it? We can belong to dozens of communities, but realistically, how many can we actively engage with? And does being less active mean we're getting less value? I don't think so. Sometimes we're learning quietly. Sometimes we're busy building our own businesses. And sometimes we simply don't have enough hours in the day.

I'm so excited to have an incredible article featured in this month's issue! ❤️📸 And here's something you might not know! ✨ You can advertise with a full-page feature for just $14 in next month's issue! ✨ The Skool Magazine community is FREE to join! ✨ Every month, they welcome volunteers to help create and build the magazine. ✨ You could even write an article of your own! What a wonderful opportunity to share your story, showcase your business, and support other Skool community members! If you've been looking for another way to get your name and business out there, this might be just what you're looking for! ❤️ Who's ready to be featured in Skool Magazine? 📰🎬

Yay Love being here

First impressions matter, especially when you're building a business or growing a community! With over 30 years of experience in Hollywood photography and acting, I'm now combining LIVE Remote Headshot Sessions with custom 55-second promotional videos to help Skool community owners stand out. 📸 A professional headshot establishes your presence. 🎬 A promotional video brings your community and message to life! I've attached an example of what I'm creating. Could your Skool community benefit from its own 55-second promotional video? Headshot + 55 Second Video

There's much more to Hollywood than what you see on screen. “Looking back now, I realize that was one of the quiet lessons Hollywood taught me. Not every transformation is physical. Sometimes the greatest pressure is becoming someone you're not. And in Los Angeles, it was surprisingly easy to forget the difference between reinvention... and pretending.” ❤️ An excerpt from my upcoming memoir, I Escaped Hollywood, Barely. From the streets of Hollywood to the modeling world of Tokyo, these are my real stories, told in my own words. 📖 My short stories are already available on Amazon, and my full memoir is coming soon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HNWDLF11 And believe me… there's so much more to the story. 🎬 Cover Photography by Steve Ellison circa 1980s