Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: Don’t Change Who You Are Because of One Person
Date: July 26, 2026
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Featured Guest: Alicia (aspiring author)

Episode Overview

In this highly motivational episode, Gary Vaynerchuk speaks directly to a young aspiring author, Alicia, who has just experienced rejection from a writing program. Gary addresses the emotional toll of rejection, emphasizes the dangers of altering oneself for others’ approval, and delivers classic, unfiltered advice on preserving one’s authenticity and self-worth. The episode is a powerful reminder that one person’s subjective opinion should never dictate your life’s trajectory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Source and Impact of Rejection

Alicia’s story: Alicia shares her passion for writing and her disappointment over being declined by the YC Teen writing program. (00:09–00:36)
- “I spilled my heart out. It was just me words. Yes, they declined me… that's me. Yeah, they're not accepting me.” – Alicia (00:17–00:41)
Gary’s Immediate Response: Gary quickly reframes the rejection for Alicia, focusing on the subjectivity of such decisions and the insignificance of one random person’s opinion.
- “First of all, they didn't decline you. One random fucking person that read your shit declined you. Fuck them.” – Gary (00:41–00:45)

2. The Danger of Changing for Acceptance

Alicia’s Doubt: Alicia considers if modifying her writing or voice would have led to a different outcome. (00:53–00:58)
- “But it's like imagine if I changed some stuff up. If I changed me, they would have probably took me.” – Alicia (00:53–00:58)
Gary’s Firm Advice: Gary passionately rejects this thinking, insisting that Alicia is placing too much value on one opinion and warning of the long-term risks.
- “You're valuing somebody else's opinion too much. You're wrong. I'm just telling. This is not a debate. You're fucking wrong. Do you understand?” – Gary (00:58–01:10)
- “You can't let something be valuable more than you're pandering to them. Let them come to you.” – Gary (01:25–01:33)

3. The Power of Self-Awareness and Authenticity

Gary’s School Experience Analogy: Gary parallels Alicia’s situation with his own academic struggles, using his past report card as an example of disregarding traditional metrics in favor of self-awareness.
- “Go to Instagram. Go to GaryVee… 10, 11 posts back, you'll see my report card. I was ranked 243rd out of 254 in my class… You have to know who the fuck you are.” – Gary (01:15–01:39)
Ownership of Your Work: Gary advises Alicia to share her writing on her own terms and let the broader audience (the market) provide feedback, rather than gatekeepers.
- “Take that same essay and post that shit on Instagram with a photo and see what happens. See what happens. Let the market decide. Not some bullshit middle management person that read your shit.” – Gary (01:41–02:26)

4. Empowerment for Young Creatives

Addressing Youthful Uncertainty: Gary reminds listeners that young creatives often overestimate the importance of gatekeepers, and encourages direct action.
- “When you're young and 13 and 15 and 9, you think you gotta change your shit up because you don't know how it's played. That's why I'm here, to tell you exactly how it's played. One fucking person. Read your story, my dear, and fuck that person. For real.” – Gary (02:28–02:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“First of all, they didn't decline you. One random fucking person that read your shit declined you. Fuck them.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (00:41)
“You're valuing somebody else's opinion too much. You're wrong. I'm just telling. This is not a debate. You're fucking wrong. Do you understand?” – Gary Vaynerchuk (01:00)
“You have to know who the fuck you are. But for me, it was bullshit. Cause I didn't need it. Cause I wasn't. I didn't give a fuck what Saturn, how many rings?” – Gary Vaynerchuk (01:35)
“Take that same essay and post that shit on Instagram with a photo and see what happens. See what happens. Let the market decide.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (01:41)
“One fucking person. Read your story, my dear, and fuck that person. For real.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (02:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:09–00:36: Alicia introduces her story and expresses disappointment over rejection.
00:41–01:10: Gary’s initial and emphatic response about subjectivity and the irrelevance of one person’s opinion.
01:11–01:40: Gary shares the story about his academic ranking to illustrate his point.
01:41–02:26: Gary empowers Alicia to self-publish her work and let the audience respond.
02:28–02:50: Gary gives closing advice on independence and self-worth for young creatives.

Episode Takeaways

Don’t base your self-worth or creative voice on the approval of a single person or institution.
Authenticity and self-awareness are more valuable in the long run than pandering for short-term acceptance.
Let the audience (“the market”) judge your work, not just a single gatekeeper.
Rejection is subjective—stay true to yourself and keep creating.

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Transcript23 lines

[00:00]
A
This is the GaryVee audio experience. How are you?
[00:07]
B
I'm good.
[00:07]
A
How are you? What's your name?
[00:08]
B
Alicia.
[00:09]
A
Alicia, how you doing?
[00:10]
B
I'm good. Good. Okay, so me, I want to become an author.
[00:15]
A
Okay.
[00:16]
B
Just like you.
[00:17]
A
Amazing.
[00:18]
B
And I have been writing. It's my passion. And I have. I had applied to this writing on YC Teen and I spilled my heart out. It was just me words. Yes, they declined me. Ye. Like, it's like they.
[00:36]
A
Yeah, I get it.
[00:37]
B
It's like, that's me. Yeah, they're not accepting me.
[00:42]
A
Fuck them.
[00:43]
B
But it's like, should I?
[00:45]
A
No, but honestly guys, first of all, they didn't decline you. One random fucking person that read your shit declined you. Fuck them.
[00:54]
B
But it's like imagine if I changed some stuff up. If I changed me, they would have probably took me.
[00:59]
A
You're wrong. You're wrong. Listen to my face. I'm telling you right to your face, you're wrong. You're valuing somebody else's opinion too much. You're wrong. I'm just telling. This is not a debate. You're fucking wrong. Do you understand? You're letting one random person. Do you understand how many people would have hired me? None. Who's got Instagram in here? Cool. Go to it right now, please. Do me a huge fucking. Go to Instagram. Go to GaryVee. That's my account. Go. 10, 11 posts back, you'll see my report card. I was ranked 243rd out of 254 in my class. 243 out of 254 in my class. You know why? Because I knew it was bullshit for me. It might not be bullshit for you. This is about self awareness. You have to know who the fuck you are. But for me, it was bullshit. Cause I didn't need it. Cause I wasn't. I didn't give a fuck what Saturn, how many rings? Listen to me. You can't let something be valuable more than you're pandering to them. Let them come to you. Take that same essay and post that shit on Instagram with a photo and see what happens. See what happens. Let the market decide. Not some bullshit middle management person that read your shit
[02:27]
B
good.
[02:28]
A
Of course it's true. And when you're young and 13 and 15 and 9, you think you gotta change your shit up because you don't know how it's played. That's why I'm here, to tell you exactly how it's played. One fucking person. Read your story, my dear, and fuck that person. For real.
[02:51]
C
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[03:34]
A
Everybody. If you enjoyed this podcast, please go back and look at the prior episodes. They're loaded. I appreciate your attention and thanks for
[03:43]
D
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[04:14]
A
See you later.