The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: Business Advice: Pivoting Your Career, Fear of Wasting Time, How To Stop Overthinking & Difficult Life Transitions l Best Episodes of 2025
Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk

Overview

This episode features a rapid-fire, no-nonsense series of Q&A with listeners and callers seeking advice on business pivots, overcoming fear of wasted time, career transitions, mindset blocks, social media strategy, and finding fulfillment. Gary Vaynerchuk, with frequent contributions from his associate Mike and occasional input from Mackenzie and other guests, delivers tough love, practical wisdom, and signature mix of empathy and straight talk.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pivoting and Career Fulfillment

(00:10 – 08:45)

• Caller 1, an MMA trainee and coder, shares his plateau in coding and questions whether he should continue or pivot, struggling with fear of wasting time and the pressure of feeling stuck.
• Gary and Mike emphasize the freedom to change one’s mind and reject “sunk cost” mentality.
• Gary’s Core Message:
  • You’re allowed to pivot, even if you’ve invested years in a craft.
  • You can choose to “eat shit” (grind through unfulfilling work for a bit longer for practical reasons) or pivot entirely because youth gives you the runway.
  • The only “wasted” time is time spent beating yourself up about the past.

Notable Quote:

“Everybody’s obsessed with this notion of wasted time… No, you didn’t waste that time. You learned how to fucking code. You learned to process. You had your fucking memories of being with your boys in a house in Puerto Rico.” – Gary (04:08)

• On Ambition vs. Contentment:
  • Gary advises giving oneself grace—appreciating the current reality before chasing another high.
  • Encourage self-compassion and gratitude for what you’ve already experienced.

Memorable Moment:
Mike affectionately mocks the caller's sense of time:

“Of course it’s been the best season of your life in recent memory. You're fucking 23. You were like, sperm six seconds ago.” – Mike (06:57)

2. Overcoming Fear of Wasted Time & Mindset Blocks

(03:55 – 08:33)

• Gary reframes “wasted time” as part of the human experience, not a failure.

• Emphasizes the value of learning from every “wrong” turn:

  “How about believing it was just part of your story? You think any book that’s interesting doesn’t have the chapters where there’s adversity, there’s conflict?” – Gary (05:31)

• On people at any age reflecting and regretting:

  “You didn’t waste shit.” – Gary (06:36)

3. Finding Direction as a Content Creator

(09:12 – 10:40)

• Alex asks about storytelling and whether ideas can distract from the story itself.
• Gary insists storytelling is about trial and adaptation—success is about the storyteller’s willingness to experiment.

“When something’s not working, it’s the storyteller, brother. Try different shit.” – Gary (10:37)

4. Navigating Uncertainty in Business (Recession Anxiety, Product-Market Fit)

(10:44 – 11:51)

• Trisha asks about running a “nice-to-have” business during looming recession fears.
• Gary advises focus on innovation and doubling down instead of succumbing to paralyzing worry.

“If you actually believe your business is in trouble, then you have to go harder and you have to innovate. That’s it.” – Gary (11:34)

5. Social Media Growth & Content Strategy

(11:51 – 15:57)

• Tiasha, a violinist, wonders about main vs. niche IG accounts.
• Gary demonstrates with his own TikTok that follower counts matter less than the quality and context of individual content.
• Encourages content creators to test, publish a wide variety, and not worry about some posts performing worse.

“It’s about the piece of content finding the audience. Don’t think about where do I post it, think about how do I make content that’s different and interesting and brings value…” – Gary (15:10)

• On followers unfollowing:

"Who gives a shit. Find new people." – Gary (15:54)

6. Brick & Mortar Business Decisions

(16:03 – 17:16)

• Elizabeth asks about picking a retail location.
• Gary: If possible, pay an expert; failing that, thoroughly research using online tools and apply common sense.

“If she can’t afford an expert… she has to start really using ChatGPT, Perplexity, and spend 10 hours getting herself educated… and if she’s too lazy… then use common sense.” – Gary (16:35)

7. Social Media Balance and Discipline

(17:17 – 20:24)

• Davin asks: How to build a business with social media without getting addicted?
• Mike and Gary say the answer is simple (but hard): discipline.
• Extended, passionate rant about society’s lack of discipline and culture of blame.

Memorable Rant:

“How do you use Social for your business but not get caught up in it? Discipline… You’re not fucking disciplined, you motherfuckers. Are we allowed to- Can discipline come back?… You want to get fucking happy? Get to discipline. Stop fucking blaming.” – Mike (17:32, 19:50)

8. Re-entering Workforce, Single Parenting, and Adversity

(20:53 – 25:28)

• Nez, a single mom facing financial and logistical hurdles after a long break, seeks advice.
• Gary offers gratitude reframes (remote work is possible now!), practical advice (seek flexible, part-time in-person work if needed), and tactical personal brand strategy (shout out her Instagram live to his audience).

Notable Moment:
Gary spotlights Nez’s IG (“thatveganphotog”) and encourages listeners in Boston to connect with her.

“You got some beautiful skills. Now we just need... people if you're in the Boston and Mass area, especially if you're looking for photography… that would be awesome.” – Gary (24:21)

9. Knowing When to Ask for More or Move On in Your Job

(25:33 – 26:53)

• Andrew: 10 years at same company, did all their digital, wondering when to ask for equity or leave.
• Gary’s advice: If you’re asking, it’s time now. Don’t fear the boss’s reaction; if they fire you for asking, that’s a sign.

“The answer of when should I is almost always right now. Nobody has been happy that they’ve sat on something that’s been eating away at them in the history of life.” – Gary (26:37)

10. Scattered, Overwhelmed, but Ready: How to Find Focus as a Creator/Entrepreneur

(26:53 – 30:33)

• Elizabeth (content creator, mom, full-time worker) wants to leave her job but feels scattered.
• Gary recommends a two-pronged approach:
  • Micro: Review Gary’s free 47-page “attention” deck for practical social growth strategies.
  • Macro: Keep experimenting to find what you love, then double down for a year once you’ve got a strong gut feeling.

“Don’t be crippled yet by you being all over the place… keep playing… then no bullshit, go with your gut and just double down on something for a year.” – Gary (28:15)

• On platform focus: pursue TikTok and Instagram and Facebook – “Your audience is on Facebook. I want you on YouTube shorts. I want you on everything.” (30:18)

Notable Quotes – Quick Reference

• “You’re allowed to fucking change your mind... There’s 97 trillion other things you can do.” – Gary (00:49, 02:02)
• “Everybody’s obsessed with this notion of wasted time. … No, you didn’t waste that time. You learned how to fucking code. You learned to process.” – Gary (04:08)
• “How about believing it was just part of your story?… You’re living life.” – Gary (05:31)
• “When something’s not working, it’s the storyteller, brother. Try different shit.” – Gary (10:37)
• “It's about the piece of content finding the audience… Don’t think about where do I post it, think about how do I make content that’s different and interesting and brings value.” – Gary (15:10)
• “How do you use Social for your business but not get caught up in it? Discipline… You’re not fucking disciplined, you motherfuckers.” – Mike (17:32, 19:50)
• “You want to get fucking happy? Get to discipline. Stop fucking blaming.” – Mike (19:50)
• “Nobody has been happy that they've sat on something that's been eating away at them in the history of life.” – Gary (26:37)
• “Don’t be crippled yet by you being all over the place… then no bullshit, go with your gut and just double down…” – Gary (28:15)

Useful Timestamps

• 00:10 – 08:45: Pivoting, career fulfillment, fear of wasting time
• 09:12 – 10:40: Storytelling and idea gravity
• 11:51 – 15:57: Social media content strategy; growth advice
• 16:03 – 17:16: Finding retail locations
• 17:17 – 20:24: Social media discipline; tough talk
• 20:53 – 25:28: Life/career transition after divorce
• 25:33 – 27:00: Asking for equity, knowing when to move on
• 27:00 – 30:33: Scattered creators, platform focus, entrepreneurship

Tone & Language

• Direct, raw, empathetic, and often profane – Gary and his crew don’t sugarcoat, but always mix tough love with encouragement and pragmatic advice.
• Frequent use of vivid analogies and memorable one-liners, rallying listeners to action and self-compassion.
• Maintains an inclusive, conversational, “no excuses” energy throughout the discussions.

This episode is essential listening for anyone feeling stuck at a pivot point, overthinking life and work transitions, or looking for practical, honest insight into making bold business and personal moves.