The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: Forget Algorithms – Here's How to Actually Grow in 2026
Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Format: Keynote & Q&A at BizX 2025 Conference

Episode Overview

In this high-voltage keynote and Q&A from the BizX 2025 conference, Gary Vaynerchuk dives deep into the real drivers of business growth—now and heading into 2026. His message is clear: Forget chasing mysterious algorithms and platform changes. The real game is about relentless adaptability, building brand (not just visibility), and outworking complacency. Drawing on candid stories, tough truths, and his trademark directness, Gary addresses small business resilience, branding in an evolving tech landscape, why “more content” isn’t up for debate, pricing bravely, and protecting your private life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Core of Entrepreneurial Resilience

• Resilience is Non-Optional
  • For entrepreneurs, resilience is like oxygen—it’s the baseline for survival.
  • “If you aren’t resilient, if you’re not adaptable… you’re out of business.” (01:32)
• Adaptability is Everything
  • Staying nimble in the face of tech and personnel shifts is critical.
  • Anticipate talent demands; retention depends on how much you truly value your people.
  • “I know that the biggest way to grow their business by a country mile with no money is social media. Creative.” (02:49)

2. Brand-Building in the AI Era: Survive & Thrive

• Big Tech & The New Funnel
  • Gary warns that as AI-powered platforms (like ChatGPT) develop, they’ll likely own more of the customer discovery funnel—potentially sidelining small businesses unless brands stand out.
  • “I think we're going into a very dangerous era of big tech where they're going to be like, fuck the nickels that come along with advertising. We're going to take the whole funnel.” (04:05)
• Why Brand Is Your Moat
  • Don’t be a faceless commodity! Consumers need to ask smart speakers for your business by name.
  • “If you do not build brand you will become a commodity.” (05:17)

3. Fame vs. Influence: Keeping Personal Life Private

• You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Privacy
  • Gary shares his extreme separation of business and personal life: “I'm the most private public person on earth. I don't share my life. …I put out content about business. That's number one.” (05:55)
  • You can scale your brand (think Coca-Cola or IBM) without becoming personally famous.
• You Don’t Have to Love Content Marketing—You Just Have to Do It
  • “I hate working out and eating well. I hate it, but I do it. Cause it’s right.” (08:01)
  • If you won’t post, hire someone to do it relentlessly.

4. Authenticity over “Flexing”

• Don’t Fake Lifestyles or Signal Status
  • Gary calls out those who flaunt wealth online: “By the way, I'm that rich, and there's zero photos of me in a private jet... I'm not a douchebag either.” (08:48)
  • Content wins on business value, not flash.
• Content Should Reflect Who You Really Are
  • The kernel: You can document your real work, your philosophies, and company journey without ever crossing lines that feel inauthentic or show-offy.

5. Pricing: Charge What You’re Worth—And Then Test For More

• Discover Your Market Value, Iteratively
  • Understand your worth by bumping up your price until the market says no, multiple times. Then adjust.
  • “The concept of not constantly trying to get more money for what you do is crazy. Why wouldn’t you? …But you need to ask for more as often as possible and don’t stop.” (12:15)
• Don’t Get Discouraged By Early Nos
  • Expect and persist through rejection, then find your ceiling.
  • “You need 10 nos, seven nos before you've really figured out your price.” (13:08)

6. Coaching, Self-Awareness & Candor

• Coaching as a Growth Lever
  • Even natural talents need outside eyes—coaches help see your blind spots.
  • Gary admits his leadership flaw: candor with employees—waiting too long to give honest feedback.
  • “My kryptonite in business has been candor… If I had a coach, I think that would have been addressed much earlier.” (18:19)

7. The Power of Losing & Loving the Grind

• Self-Esteem Comes from the Hard Path
  • Gary loves being a die-hard NY Jets fan because they lose:
  • “I love the pain. I love the grind. I love the hardship. I love when people make fun of me about the Jets. I love that shit.” (19:26)
  • Translates to business: True fulfillment comes from staying committed through adversity.

8. Education, the Next Generation & Veefriends

• Entrepreneurial Education
  • Formal college isn’t for everyone, especially creative or entrepreneurial kids.
  • Gary’s Veefriends project is designed to instill skills and emotional tools for kids who might take non-traditional paths.
  • “The creative set should never go to university. It’s not built for that. It’s built to make workers.” (21:57)

Audience Q&A Highlights

Social Media:

• If You Only Have One Hour?

  • No excuses: “I would focus on having more than fucking an hour a day, Giles.” (23:16)
  • But seriously, prioritize creating value-driven LinkedIn content: Share actionable expertise, use humor, and provide real tips instead of pitching.

• How Much Should You Post? Don’t Fear Repetition or Imperfection

  • Boring content is fixed with practice—talent emerges through reps.
  • “The first time you and I walked, it was ugly... The first time people in this room decide to make content, it's not going to be great.” (27:19)
  • Stop obsessing over production value; post “in the dirt” and human.

• Ignore the Haters

  • Online trolls are deeply unhappy; don’t let their negativity halt your progress.
  • “If somebody takes time to go around the Internet, find you and leave a negative comment, think about how sad their life is.” (30:01)

AI and ChatGPT Discovery:

• SEO for AI is Early & Uncertain
  • Explore, but don’t get trapped chasing speculative tactics in AI search—focus on brand and social content since platforms are moving targets.
  • “I would say it’s early and I think a lot of people could waste a lot of time and money trying to win it. It’s like wet cement.” (31:09)

Content for “Unsexy” Industries:

• Any Brand Can Be Interesting
  • HR? Gary argues it’s actually “the sexiest”—because people problems are universal and drive lots of engagement, especially on LinkedIn.

Niche vs. National Content:

• The Algorithm Finds Your Audience
  • The modern algorithm distributes content to hyper-targeted viewers—don’t stress about size, focus on making hyper-relevant content.
  • “The content is finding the people… It would be like… the shows that you most likely will love just come to you, not you clicking the channels.” (36:15)

Cross-Platform Strategy:

• Tailor for Platforms, But Start Simple
  • Craft for each platform by tweaking language, thumbnail, and format, but don’t let that complexity keep you from starting.

Measuring Success:

• Views Trump Followers
  • “Following” is dying; focus on reach (views), not vanity stats.
  • “I look at views achieved by the post. Not clicks, not comments… but the number one KPI… is views.” (40:22)

Company Page vs. Founder Page?

• Both!
  • “Both. Everywhere. Everywhere, all the time.” (41:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the changing landscape:

  • “I'm not sure [AI platforms] are going to be as gracious as Google and wanna give away the business... I think we're going into a very dangerous era of big tech.” (03:07–04:05)

• On authenticity in content:

  • “Some people sell the lifestyle, other people live it. I'm a confusion to a lot of people.” (09:11)

• On the business case for endless content:

  • “Your business needs to put out 20 to 30 pieces of content a day throughout social. You don't have to. And you can do occasional stuff. The clip from this can be clipped and used.” (05:55)

• On not loving the work, but doing it:

  • “I hate working out and eating well. I hate it, but I do it. Cause it’s right.” (08:01)

• On getting rejected as you test your price:

  • “You need 10 nos, seven nos before you've really figured out your price.” (13:08)

• On value-driven content:

  • “The ones that work are the ones that provide value... Jab, jab, jab, right hook. Give value, give value, give value and then ask.” (39:26)

• On the social media moment:

  • “There is not a historical comp in business and marketing history where the predominant attention of society was on a platform and that platform was willing to for you to get attention on it for free.” (42:14)

• Parting Shot & Call to Action:

  • “It's fucking free." (43:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 01:22 | Resilience in entrepreneurship | | 03:07 | AI, ChatGPT, and implications for small businesses | | 05:55 | Separation of public content and private life | | 08:01 | Doing what you need even if you don’t love it | | 12:15 | Pricing yourself and reading the market | | 15:40 | The value of coaching and vulnerability in leadership | | 18:47 | NY Jets fandom and loving the grind | | 21:57 | Education, Veefriends, and career paths for kids | | 23:16 | Social media priorities for small B2B businesses | | 25:55 | Getting past perfectionism and embracing practice | | 30:01 | Online negativity and self-esteem | | 31:09 | Why SEO for AI is still “wet cement” | | 36:15 | Algorithms now serve, not hoard, the right content | | 40:22 | Most important social metrics: Reach, not follows | | 41:12 | Company vs. Founder page—do both | | 42:14 | Historical significance of the social era | | 43:55 | Final call to action: “It’s fucking free.” |

Final Takeaway

Gary Vaynerchuk’s message for 2026—and for anyone who cares about growing a business:
Quit waiting, quit worrying about being perfect, and quit underestimating both the fleeting power of social platforms and the enduring value of brand. Outwork the lethargic, focus on serving value, and never forget:
"It’s fucking free." (43:55)
This is your once-in-a-generation chance—don’t blow it.