Creativix Media, launched by Victoria Reitano, builds stories to sell— to sell you, your brand and your services
CreatiVix Media is a digital agency in Manhattan built to disrupt the agency model. We build stories to sell — to sell you, your brand and your services. From non-profits, to talent, to entrepreneurs and brands, we put a unique, human spin on your messaging to appeal to a broad digital audience and then we monetize that audience across all platforms and content types. Social Media management, website builds and management, content production and strategy — we handle everything you need to create a powerful digital brand and see results!
Do you have hobbies? What are they? Is it important to take “time off” and focus on other things such as friends, family, hobbies etc.? What do you think of the stereotype that entrepreneurs are workaholics?
I do have hobbies! You need to take time off to be creative and to get inspired. I meditate daily (a new thing for me) and also workout 5-6 times a week at SoulCycle (something I’ve been doing for about 5 years). I’ve done yoga, boxing, everything you can think of — I like to be active! I’ve even walked the length of Manhattan on a few, warm summer days. I find that to be the best kind of time off for me — success is doing what I want with the people (and pets!) I love, so I make sure I block time to do that. I do live by my calendar but I’m very Type-A and always have. Being an entrepreneur makes me more focused on savoring my downtime because there is less of it. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a workaholic (or labeled as such!) if you block time to enjoy your success.
What is failure? Do you think it’s a crucial step to success?
Failure is not a word I choose to use. Lessons are a crucial step to success. Failure isn’t relevant because, at the time you were doing whatever you were doing that led to a lesson, you believed that you were doing what was in the best interest of your business. Sometimes, we have to take a curve on the lazy river of life to actually advance to where we’re meant to be. It’s never a setback, but a lesson to either repeat or remove from your pattern of behavior.
Why do you think it is that women get less funding than men? What can we do to change that and close the gender gap?
I think it’s because we don’t ask. We’ve been trained to gauge reactions of people in power (typically, sadly, that’s often men) before we ask a question. We think about the 360 angles of the convo, and usually, 5-6 ways it can play out. All of that thinking can lead to exhaustion and the conclusion that we are better off waiting for the chance to come to us than fighting for it. I think women who go after what they want are often labeled aggressive and that word has connotations that don’t feel great for many of us. But that sweet taste of victory? That feels great. Every time I feel I’m being “harsh” or aggressive, I do a mental check-in. I ask myself if I were a man or if a man asked me this question, would I think it was harsh? It’s a LOT of self work to get to a place where you answer yourself honestly (and often requires a few rounds of GChat and iMessage with close, honest girlfriends!) but you can get there.
What is one thing you find to be true that most people would disagree with?
I believe successful people must be selfish about the right things. And this isn’t the first interview where I’ve shared that! In order to be successful, we must make decisions that protect our interests first and foremost. And sometimes, that means being selfish or, more often, being perceived as selfish. We spend a lot of time judging the actions of others — and social media has made us even more aware of this process — and we often judge ourselves very harshly whenever we do what we don’t think is the mass consensus for the word “right.” Imagine if you didn’t do what you thought you should do and instead did what you wanted to do, deep down in your gut? That’s what being a successful person is.