How to Break Free from Your Comfort Zone at Any Age | Tea with GaryVee ep. 63

Summary

Podcast Summary: "How to Break Free from Your Comfort Zone at Any Age | Tea with GaryVee ep. 63"

The GaryVee Audio Experience episode titled "How to Break Free from Your Comfort Zone at Any Age | Tea with GaryVee ep. 63," hosted by entrepreneur and CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, delves into various personal and professional challenges faced by listeners. Released on December 16, 2024, this episode features Gary engaging with multiple callers, offering actionable advice on overcoming comfort zones, career transitions, balancing personal and professional life, and maintaining authenticity.

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1. Navigating Grief While Starting a Grief Coaching Business

Caller: Christina from Illinois
Timestamp: [00:38] – [03:17]

Christina seeks guidance on initiating a grief coaching business while grappling with her own grief and health issues, including COPD. Gary empathizes with her struggle, emphasizing the importance of personal healing before guiding others.

Key Insights:

• Authenticity is Crucial: Gary stresses that starting a coaching business on grief requires a solid personal understanding of the subject. Without personal closure, it’s challenging to offer genuine support.
• Patience and Self-Compassion: He advises Christina to prioritize her healing process, suggesting that authentic coaching stems from personal experience and strength.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Don't beat up yourself if you're not ready to build the business for grief. If I'm you, I'm figuring out my own grief first.” [01:00]

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2. Changing Career Paths at 34

Caller: Alex
Timestamp: [03:20] – [07:14]

Alex, a 34-year-old event production professional, expresses dissatisfaction with his current role and contemplates a career shift. Despite a stable salary, he fears it's too late to pivot.

Key Insights:

• It's Never Too Late: Drawing from his own experience of founding VaynerMedia at 34, Gary encourages Alex to pursue his passion, assuring that age isn't a barrier to change.
• Assessing Commitment: He challenges Alex to evaluate his desire for comfort versus his yearning for fulfillment, pushing him to prioritize his long-term happiness over immediate stability.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “If you go for it and it doesn't work out for three years, you're 37. You go right back to being a creative director somewhere else.” [05:40]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “At 34, you're very young and you can get that kind of job.” [07:00]

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3. Balancing Business Growth and Family Life

Caller: Unnamed Caller from New Jersey
Timestamp: [07:20] – [13:10]

The caller discusses his efforts in growing a corporate wellness and fitness business while managing family responsibilities. Though the business is stable, he senses complacency and seeks strategies to escalate growth.

Key Insights:

• Efficiency Over Hours: Gary emphasizes the importance of productivity during work hours rather than the sheer number of hours worked.
• Execution Over Planning: He advises the caller to focus on executing tasks effectively, possibly by delegating mundane tasks to enhance overall productivity.
• Avoiding Complacency: Encourages proactive measures to seize opportunities and avoid stagnation.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “It's not always how many hours you work. It's how productive you are in the hours that you work.” [11:48]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Don't fucking make me a list, my man. And don't do anything about it. I need fucking execution against the fucking list.” [12:38]

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4. Scaling a Music Video Production Business

Caller: Logan from Grand Rapids/Detroit
Timestamp: [13:14] – [21:55]

Logan, a 24-year-old music video producer, shares his journey from humble beginnings in Detroit to securing his first retainer. Seeking advice on scaling his business, he asks Gary for strategies to sustain growth.

Key Insights:

• Perseverance and Patience: Gary underscores the importance of enduring dedication and patience in building a business from the ground up.
• Building a Trusted Team: He recommends involving close friends and trusted individuals in the business to foster a supportive and reliable work environment.
• Over-Communication with Clients: Emphasizes maintaining strong communication with clients to ensure their needs are met and to foster long-term relationships.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Bring on homies, Bring on homies, Bring on homies.” [19:59]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “It's all just perseverance and patience and making sure you over deliver to clients.” [19:33]

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5. Rebuilding Life After Displacement

Caller: Dennis from Ukraine/London
Timestamp: [21:57] – [24:51]

Dennis shares his traumatic experience of evacuating from Ukraine due to conflict and starting anew in London. He seeks advice on rebuilding his life and business in a foreign land.

Key Insights:

• Embrace Resilience: Gary draws parallels with his father's immigrant journey, highlighting resilience and relentless effort as keys to success.
• Focus on the Future: Encourages Dennis to concentrate on building his future rather than dwelling on past losses.
• Utilize Available Resources: Suggests leveraging networks and remaining patient while focusing on long-term goals.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “If you were good enough to do it in Ukraine, you're going to be more. You're going to be even better at it doing it in the UK.” [23:50]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Life is very simple, my man. It's what you decide to look at, becomes your life.” [24:31]

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6. Balancing Being the Bigger Person with Kind Candor

Caller: Masega
Timestamp: [26:15] – [27:28]

Masega inquires about maintaining one's integrity and kindness while dealing with toxic individuals in personal and professional settings.

Key Insights:

• Setting Boundaries: Gary advises either cutting out toxic individuals or limiting interactions to maintain personal well-being.
• Understanding Control: Emphasizes that individuals have control over their reactions and interactions, regardless of others' toxicity.
• Personal Growth: Encourages embracing a mature approach to relationships by either distancing oneself or choosing to remain amicable without compromising personal values.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “When dealing with toxic people, there's only two ways. One, by cutting the toxic person out of your life... Number two, accepting that your parent in this situation had a very toxic upbringing.” [26:18]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “You are in control.” [27:28]

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7. Addressing Personal Insecurities and Social Maturity

Caller: Lou George
Timestamp: [27:28] – [End]

Lou poses a seemingly trivial question about dealing with personal insecurities—specifically, having a small penis. Gary uses this opportunity to discuss broader themes of personal growth and social maturity.

Key Insights:

• Acceptance and Confidence: Gary advises embracing one's genetic traits and maintaining confidence, reinforcing that personal insecurities don’t define one’s worth.
• Emotional Maturity: Highlights the tendency of adults to behave immaturely on social media, advocating for personal responsibility and emotional strength.
• Self-Determination: Encourages listeners to recognize their power in shaping their lives, irrespective of external judgments or societal pressures.

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “You decide F.” [End]
• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Life is not sixth grade, right? It's a great opportunity to really talk about... nobody fucking can stop you.” [27:50]

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Conclusion

In this episode, Gary Vaynerchuk provides heartfelt and pragmatic advice to callers facing diverse challenges, emphasizing authenticity, perseverance, efficient execution, and emotional maturity. Whether it’s overcoming personal grief, making significant career shifts, balancing business growth with family life, or rebuilding after displacement, Gary’s insights are rooted in personal experience and a deep understanding of entrepreneurial resilience. His candid and motivational approach encourages listeners to step out of their comfort zones, embrace their unique journeys, and continuously strive for personal and professional fulfillment.

Final Notable Quote:

• Gary Vaynerchuk: “Nothing can fucking stop you. Not a politician, not how you grew up, not a small fucking penis. Nothing can fucking stop you.” [End]

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This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to break free from their comfort zones, offering actionable strategies and motivational support to navigate life's various transitions and challenges.

Transcript

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

This is the GaryVee audio experience. Hey everybody. Actually, if you're a really hardcore listener, you know I never do this. I'm sorry to be jumping in the middle of the podcast. If this podcast has ever meant anything to you, please go to Spotify or Apple right now and leave a review. By the way, even if you give me a one star review because you think it's shit, I respect it, but just leave a review, an actual review, four or five stars and the actual details of why. Yeah, that would mean something for me. So thanks. Now back to the podcast. It's empty handed with Gary Vee this morning, this Monday morning here in New York City. Great to see everybody. Let's get into the first guest. Hi, what's your name and where are you from?

[Christina]

I'm Christina. I'm from Illinois.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Very nice to see you, Christina.

[Christina]

So my question is, I've been trying to start a grief coaching business, but I'm dealing with my own grief and I'm sick all the time. I have copd. My question is, how can I stay inspired and motivated when I feel defeated?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, it sounds very hard to start a business teaching others how to deal with grief if you haven't figured it out yourself. Literally. My Instagram post that I posted this morning is about having a strong foundation. I don't know if you saw the steel and concrete in the building. Couple things. Don't beat up yourself if you're not ready to build the business for grief. If I'm you, I'm figuring out my own grief first. So, Christina, I think that you need to give yourself a little grace. You know what I mean? I think that there's a little bit more time. So many people try to start consulting and coaching businesses on things they haven't finished or completed themselves yet. You understand what I'm saying, right? I think it's okay for you to give yourself a little bit more time. In fact, I'd rather you put your energy into getting further along with your own grief than spending your energy on trying to start a grief coaching business. In fact, you know, even the way you asked the question, I think the answer to your question is to give yourself a little bit more time to get all the way there. Put your resources and your energy, your emotion and your monies to getting yourself into a stronger place and then you can start from a place of authenticity, your own actually griefing business. Does that make sense?

[Christina]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was, I had a lot of loss in my life, so my thing as a life coach. But I focus on grief because of the passing that I've had in my life.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I think that's beautiful that you're focusing on that, because I think so many people don't give themselves enough room, time, and grace when dealing with grief or a loss. So, baby, I think you just need to give yourself a little time, honestly. And you cannot make grieving the central operating system of your life. It needs to be the side dish, not your main meal. It's very heavy. It's a negative energy. It's very heavy. Look, mashed potatoes and vegetables and green beans and mushrooms and asparagus like salad. Those are important parts of the meal. I'm not saying push it aside. I'm not saying put it all the way down there and not deal with it, but try to make it the secondary energy. Try to find if you're grieving yourself and then your whole life is about being a grieving coach, you're just gonna be fucking grieving a lot, and I think it's time for a little fucking joy. Do you understand? And, like, this smile that you're giving me is what I want. Like, I think you need to. So I think you need to please, please find your balance. Okay?

[Alex]

Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

How are you, my friend? What's your name?

[Alex]

Alex.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Alex, where are you from? Very good. Where are you from, brother?

[Alex]

Originally, Brazil. But I live Miami.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Very nice, my friend. What's your question?

[Alex]

My question is I'm 34 years old, right? And I've been working with event productions for five years now. I like what I do, but I don't really love what I do. Right.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You don't love it?

[Alex]

I don't love it. Really love it. Is it too late to change my career path?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It's tired at 34.

[Alex]

I mean, I know what you're gonna say, but, I mean.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, let me ask you a question. Instead of me saying, you're young and you know what I'm gonna say. What do you think? Because you're talking to somebody who changed his career path at 34. At 34, I worked in my father's liquor store building a business for him. And at 34, I started VaynerMedia. And just to remind you, we did $83,000 in the first six months of VaynerMedia in sales. So we were a very small company. You're talking to somebody who changed his career at 34.

[Alex]

So what happened is, in Brazil, I had my own advertising agents for 10 years, right? And then it was super hard to grow that company. So that's why I decided to move to United States and start from scratch. Again from zero. So I kind of want to go back and do my own thing, you know, create my own business. But I'm kind of scared. You know, I have a very good salary now.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I got it. You're asking the right question. How bad do you want it? Most people aren't asking me, is it possible to change my career at 34, 39, 45? They're asking me, gary, do you think I have the humility to live humbly for the next three years and eat shit to build up my future happiness because I'm in a jail called. My salary and my status.

[Alex]

Well, I'm very comfortable.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I mean, Alex, let me ask you a question. What do you want more? Do you want the fucking comfort or is it burning a fucking hole in your heart that you want to live your future? And both, by the way. I'm gonna say something very important, Alex. Both are okay. You don't have to go fucking shoot for the movie. Like, it doesn't seem like you're devastated.

[Alex]

I like what I do. I just don't love it. I mean, I think, you know, I can do more. I'm kind of, you know, I'm. I'm at, you know, the peak that I can go here in this company. I can grow anymore. Like, I'm a director, you know, a creative director. So there's nowhere else to go. Right.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

My point of view is that you jump because if it doesn't work out for three years, you're 37. You go right back to being a creative director somewhere else.

[Alex]

Got it?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

That. That's the part that I think people miss. The part that people miss is if you go for it and you leave your kush and you sell your. Like, I'm talking about everybody now, and you sell your house and go rent, or you no longer go on nice vacations, or you can't buy every fancy thing, or you can't order out to dinner every night and use postmates and fucking go out to dinner on Friday and Saturday, or you can't drink $35 martinis anymore. My point of view is if you go backwards and you go for happiness, love. You go for the thrill, you go for the upside. If, God forbid, it doesn't work out, you just go right back to a fucking job. Jobs are gonna be always fucking. You have time. In fact, you're a more interesting candidate for a lot of companies at 37 trying it for three years because they've seen you done the other thing for 10 years.

[Alex]

Yes, I know what I mean. And I've been doing a lot of things, like side projects and trying to do both things, but, I mean, it doesn't work right. You have to fully committed to something and go for it. I mean, I've been for years. You know, I did like NFT project. I did my own, you know, freelance agency. I did all of that, but I don't have the time. I work like 14 hours a day, you know, 12 hours a day here.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So it's, you know, I think you should go for it because I think at 30, you'll always regret not going for it if it's already bothering you. At 34, you're very young and you can get that kind of job, you know.

[Alex]

All right, got it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All right. Good luck, brother. Great to see you. Take care, Alex. Coach, fire away. Where are you from?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Originally from New Jersey. I'm out here in dc.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What part of Jersey area?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Right now. Big fan, man.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Thank you, brother.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Let's go Jets. Just want to say. Let's go Jets.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What a mess.

[Walters]

I'm sorry.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I love you, though.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What, What. What part of yours? Thank you, brother.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

And, yeah, I'm just. I. I'm trying to stand out on LinkedIn, man. I got a small family. I'm trying to spread time out with the family and building the business. I've been following you for a long time, trying to send out those jabs and trying to.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What's. What's the business, brother?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm a corporate wellness health and fitness provider.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And so you're trying to get. You're trying to. You're trying to get to B2B's so that they hire you for their corporation and you're focused on LinkedIn.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm pushing into LinkedIn right now. Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Just starting.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Yeah. I mean, I'm on it. I've been on it, but I've.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But you've been bullshitting.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All right, so what's holding you back?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Oh, man, I almost feel like I've gotten to a point where I've grown really well organically. I feel like I've been doing really well with the company. I feel good at where I'm at, but I know I need to grow, but I feel good at where I'm at.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I got kids. Well, good. I mean, hold on. Let's talk about chapters in life. You've brought it up twice right now. And let's bring value to people. There are chapters in life when. There was times when I was starting my family where I didn't go as hard, you know, like, you know, I just wanted more allocation. There was times when I went harder. Even though I had little kids, it was a moment in time. As you know, I don't really share my personal life that much, but over the last 20 years, I've had different chapters, different seasons in my personal life, and my business life has followed that. It sounds like you're solid. You have two kids under five.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

One's eight. One's two.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Great. First of all, you have to go to veefriends.com cartoons.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm there. I'm there.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I'm gonna be very upset if I don't see a tweet with the back of your heads of the kids heads watching on YouTube the Veefriends cartoons. That's number one. Number two. Number two. I think, personally, I think that you're just in a really cool chapter right now. It sounds like the business is solid and you've got a nice work life balance. And don't fucking try to impress me or anybody else that you're going hard. I think going hard is finding the balance that works for you and your partner and the kids. I think you're in a nice spot right now.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

How do I know when I'm. When to go out of it? I don't. I'm like. I've been in this for, like, two years now. I kind of feel like. And I'm not sure you feel complacent.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And worried that the business might decline because you're not going hard.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

No, because it's still growing slowly, but it's. But I know. I see opportunities that I miss and.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I see where they go. Tell me all the truths to the following questions. What time do you work?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I work, like, all day, four days a week from, like, sun up to sundown. And then.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So what is. What is. What is. What does that mean? Give me, give me, give me hours.

[Dennis]

Seeing.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm seeing clients. I'm networking. I'm going.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

No, no, I apologize. I apologize. Dead hours. What time do you wake up every morning? Don't bullshit me.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

For like, 5:30.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Epic. And then what?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

And then I take care of the children until breakfast time so my wife can wake up.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All right, first of all. First of all, you're already in, like, father the year category. Keep going.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

And then.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I'm being dead serious. I'm trying, man.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm trying it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Does your wife work?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Yeah, she. She work. I retired her from working. She's working full time for the company now.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Understood. Keep going.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

And so we. When I'm not working, she's working on the business, basically. And when I'm with the kids, she's working on the business. When she's with the kids, I'm working on the business.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So what the problem?

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I don't know. I don't know when the complacency should stop.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I feel. It sounds like you guys are fucking hard. What are you talking about? It sounds like you guys are going fucking hard. You're either with the kids or you're working. It doesn't sound like you're doing anything else.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm never satisfied, Gary.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, good. You know, that's fine. But like, then it becomes a question of what are you doing when you're working, Right? So this. No longer is this a. How many hours are you putting in? Now it becomes, are you good at executing while you're awake? So people are flabbergasted when I tell them that I sleep seven or eight hours a day, right? They're like, what the fuck? And I'm like. It's because when I'm awake, those 16 or 17 hours, I'm crazy efficient.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Yeah. I think that set a light bulb. When you said it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It hit you, right? You're just. And I've been in this moment, brother, where you're just going through the motions. You may need to hire someone to take care of your dumb shit. You probably can feel that you're doing a lot of dumb shit and you need to be more on the attack. And I think getting a minimum wage employee or something you could afford, I think could be a real hit for you. It's not always how many hours you work. It's how productive you are in the hours that you work. There's some people that work eight hours a day that crush people that work 15 hours a day because they're fucking good at the eight hours and other people fucking suck at their 15 hours.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Yeah, no, that's true, man. Yep. I got.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You use this moment of serendipity that we're together to fuck. Don't. Don't take this moment and now in a week, be in the same place. I'm gonna go.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

I'm gonna go write a list right now.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But fucking act on the list. Because the amount of fucking lists that people make that they don't do. You know what fucking pisses me off more than anything in life? A list. A list that people don't act on. You better fucking execute.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

Whiteboard.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, right here. A whiteboard. A list. A 20, 24 notes on your iPhone, that little yellow app I never use. Because I don't make list. I do. Don't fucking make me a list, my man. And don't do anything about it. I need fucking execution against the fucking list.

[Unnamed Caller from New Jersey]

All right, all right, all right, all right, my man.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Love you. See ya.

[Alex]

Hello, brother from Pakistan.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It's a pleasure, my friend. Big love to everyone in Pakistan.

[Alex]

So I have just a question. You know, I listen to you, I make reels, I make, you know, theory for my LinkedIn content. I'm posting like 30 to 40 contents per day on. And, you know, but the thing is, I feel like, you know, I've been stuck. Like, I just making reels, I'm just doing theory and, you know, I'm just doing YouTube shorts. I. It's like, you know, I don't know how to innovate and be creative more. How can I make more content on TikTok? How can I make more content on LinkedIn? How should I proceed it forward? Just a little brief. My business is about BET industry.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Are you still doing the green screens?

[Alex]

Yeah, I do every day.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So I think you should go live. I think you should go live on Instagram and TikTok and answer people's questions. You should literally do exactly what I'm doing because it will force you to make new content and then you can clip it from your live and you have new content. You can break out of creative ruts by bringing the community into you and answering questions. Now you're receiving energy instead of creating energy. Instead of using your brain to create ideas out, you're using the community to bring ideas in. Do you understand?

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, that's it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, got it.

[Alex]

Another thing. Yeah, another thing, just to mention, I'm also doing my personal branding as well, where I'm posting on LinkedIn about my industry. I'm also doing this, you know, my personal branding on LinkedIn as well, and on other platforms as well. You know, it's just not about those 30 contents and posting. It's like 20 more of my personal branding, you know, because as you said, you know, content is not like how much you should post. It's like how good it is, how creative it is, and what kind of, you know, help or motivation it brings to the people.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Quality, quality and quantity are both very important. But I think for you, my friend, what I can feel is you have to bring the community in, start doing more lives and start doing Q and A sessions live. Okay.

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, that's fun.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All right, my friend. Love you. Good luck. Talk to you soon, Walters. What's good, brother?

[Alex]

Hey.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Hey.

[Walters]

How's it going?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Great, my friend. Where are you from and what do you do?

[Walters]

Yeah, so I'm from Oklahoma. I have a day job, but I am doing bartending on as my own company called the Walters. And I recently broke into more of the consumable side of things. Started making simple syrup. I thought that went well with the actual bartending side of things. I recently went to an event this past weekend and handed out a bunch. And there's this company called not your average Joe's Coffee who supports really good causes. And a lot of people like their why behind their what. And so they came up to me and they said they wanted to do like a partnership deal. But I started making the simple service about two months ago and they have a ton of locations around Oklahoma. And if I do end up partnering with them, I'm going to need basically a better way to make them. First, how do I prepare for a partnership conversation? And secondly, how do I get to that size to where I can produce that much with almost upfront capital?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Honesty and humility. Let's break it down. On the partnership side, it's honesty. Don't try to front and act bigger than you are. You need to tell the coffee company, I'm flattered as fuck, but I'm eight fucking weeks in. I'm eight weeks in. I know I've got it. You know I've got it, which is why you guys want to do something with me. But I have to be honest with you, I don't feel like I'm ready for that level of scale. And I want to be upfront with you because I don't want to let you down, what that will lead to. That level of honesty may lead to, believe it or not, them being the people that wanna put in the capital to help you grow. Like, if you said that to me and I could feel that, you're like, literally, I felt it and I looked at the chat and someone said, the kids got it. I literally felt. I don't know if you can see the goosebumps. I could literally feel like you've got it. Which makes me think a group of entrepreneurs or operators who built up that coffee company would probably know you've got it too. If you come in with levels of humility and honesty, like I just told you, they may overly react and be like, oh, fuck, we want to support this kid. Could be caught a future tiger by the tail. And they themselves may be the people that fund you and even help you on the manufacturing side, since they're already there and you're going to need a manufacturing partner and that's a good game of Google and networking. In fact, email [e-mail] and break down what you're making. I'll send it to my people and they'll give you two or three people that might be able to help you.

[Walters]

I will definitely. Thank you.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Always tell the truth. Even if you want to be in a place where you're like, whoa. Like, I get where you don't know how to fully play it because this is a big opportunity. But I'm telling you, the humility and the honesty, the double H combo of humility and honesty, when you're talking to somebody who's above you always over index. Logan, what's good, brother? Where are you from? What are you doing?

[Logan]

I'm from Grand Rapids. I currently stay in Detroit.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Very nice.

[Logan]

First, I want to say thanks for bringing me on. I've been watching you since I was like 16.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I love it. Logan, welcome.

[Logan]

24 now.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Amazing. I'm humbled.

[Logan]

So basically I've been doing a lot of music video production work, etc. Grinding that out. I moved to Detroit when I was 18 for it. I was living in a studio apartment I made into a whole, like music video setup. Was living there, showering at the ymca, building up like an income for it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Love it.

[Logan]

I ended up transitioning, getting in a house for myself and then I've been working on scaling that. I've been actually, I just got my first retainer this week.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Congratulations.

[Logan]

Moving to kind of like corporate. And my main question for you was, you know, like, as you were creating your agency and doing and scaling it from the very start, what would you suggest for someone like me who kind of came from nothing, putting every dollar back into this stuff?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, I think the recommendation you don't need, you've already decided to go for it. It's all just perseverance and patience and making sure you over deliver to clients. Make sure that you're communicating very heavily to this client the whole time, making sure what she or he likes and wants and needs. The other thing I would recommend is as you start bringing people on, I'm a big fan of bringing homies to the table. The first five or six employees we had at VaynerMedia were all my brother's friends from high school and college.

[Logan]

My manager is basically my best friend. My grandma's kind of like my accountant.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I love it. Yeah, bro. I would, I would start really with that crew. And honestly, it's gonna be patience the biggest issue. And this is why I always talk about it in my content. The only reason when I hear that level of fucking hunger, when I hear showering at the fucking Bro, no shit. Cause when I hear showering at the ymca, I lose my mind. Like I want to invest in every person that ever showered at the ymca. Cause it's black and white to me, that level of humility and hunger. But the problem with humility, excuse me, the problem with hunger is oftentimes it's not coming with humility and patience. And people get fucked up. I've seen 22 year old you get fucked up so many times in my career because you wanted it too fast.

[Logan]

I was going down that lane for right around to the age of 18 when I made that move to move and go full on. I like I thought about it before I actually went about doing it for so long. So when you make that final move to say, all right, let's proceed with this and stop caring about everything else and just go full blown.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. When you go full blown and you can't hear anybody else, it's game over. The biggest issue for all 700 people that are watching right now, in the tens of thousands that will watch this content in the future, is they just give a fuck about other people's opinions and they live their life based on fucking other people's opinions. So anyway, to answer your question, make sure you're over communicating with the client that you do have. Make sure that you're making content or making moves or emailing or phone calls or networking to get more clients. It's more clients keep clients, more clients keep clients, more clients keep clients. And then bring on homies. Bring on homies, Bring on homies. Okay, got you.

[Logan]

I appreciate it very much, Logan.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I'm rooting for you, bro. Stay well. Got you. Dennis, how are you? Where are you from? What do you got?

[Dennis]

Originally I'm from Ukraine, but last year I live in uk London here.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Very nice. I wonder why. I'm sorry, brother.

[Dennis]

Yeah, so actually it's probably my question. I just, I'm not sure, should I go ahead with my question or talk about about myself a bit?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Whatever you want. Whatever you want.

[Dennis]

Yeah, so probably like you already mentioned. So my best question, if it's happened to you, if you like already have, you know, not bad life, like you rent all your own apartment in the middle town, you have you second car, you own, I mean you have like small business and like work happened to you. So. And you should build your. You know, because when work started, so I from Kharkiv, it's very close to Russian abroad and for two months I help evacuate people from dangerous area. So. And then I'm not really have something too much left in Ukraine. So it's like one way ticket to new life. And if you need build your second life and this happened with you in 25, what's you gonna do?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I know what you're saying because I watched my father do it. My father left the former Soviet Union and at 24 years old came to America and we lived in a studio apartment with fucking eight family members. And he fucking picked up garbage outside the house and would sell it at the flea market. And then he got a job as a stock boy in a liquor store. And I watched him build his life. What I know is that so many people from the part of the world that you and I come from over the last hundred years have been uprooted by war and have gone to other places to start their lives again. You know, what would I do? My intuition. Based on my chemicals and my DNA and who I am. I would fucking eat shit and restart and build a bigger fucking empire. And that's what you're gonna do. That's exactly what you're gonna do.

[Dennis]

Yeah, actually. Actually that's why I try to do my best with that. And, you know, all you.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All you have to do is stay patient and not think about what you used to have and focus on what you're gonna have. Life is very simple, my man. It's what you decide to look at, becomes your life. And so if you decide to look at this as a huge opportunity and because. Because you're so talented, you're now in a bigger game in London versus a smaller game in Ukraine. And it sucks that you lost what you used to have, but you're excited because you're only 25. There's people who've been uprooted their lives in the Ukraine who are 59. And that's harder. You're a fucking kid, so you have your whole fucking life in front of you to build again. That's the fucking game.

[Dennis]

I'm already 27. I just already probably.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I don't give a fuck. 27 and 25 is the same fucking shit that is. You think there's a fucking difference between 25 and 27? Yeah, I feel.

[Dennis]

I feel like I'm become old.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, because you're a fucking idiot. What do you mean you became old? You're 27. Fucking years old. You're a fucking child.

[Dennis]

Yes, sorry I still have a bit shock you know like I just can't like accept it and believe you can just speak to your follow followers or someone. Yeah because you know I find you like before I find you just some some few ages ago in LinkedIn. Some might be like reels or something like that and not really I keep a keep eye on you so I just probably it's happened a few months ago or maybe three so and you know I something left comment on LinkedIn and some probably guys comer like give me a link go to Instagram and I have actually a nice chat with this scammer and he not really something charged for me or I mean and he looks like like really you but he just listened. Yeah I mean he not aspiring. He not talk like you but you just listen my story what like you gonna do and just he ghosted me so like I guess maybe he's real but then I just find this your title I don't have telegram channel so.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Everybody I do not have a telegram. People are trying to rip off on telegram please. I do not have a telegram. Thank you, brother. Listen, Dennis, I feel very optimistic about you. I swear I feel it. If you were good enough to do it in the Ukraine, you're going to be more. You're going to be even better at it doing it in the uk. Do not be confused and you've got plenty of time. Promise. Love you brother. Masega, how are you brother?

[Alex]

I'm good, how are you? Can you hear me?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, I can hear you. Go ahead, my friend.

[Alex]

So my question is, how do you balance being the bigger person with kind candor?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

When dealing with toxic people, there's only two ways. One, by cutting the toxic person out of your life, even if it is a very close relative. Cutting or limiting or limiting. If your mother's toxic and you talk to her two times a day and she's toxic, you don't want to never talk to your mother again. But talking to your mother once a week instead of two times a day can work. Number two, accepting that your parent in this situation had a very toxic upbringing and that you're okay with that and that you will be the bigger person. You feel bad for her, not for you. And that goes for employee, that goes for spouse, that goes for brother, that goes for father. It is about understanding you're in control. Even if your mother, brother, father, sister, wife, husband is the toxic one, you're in control. And by the way, I have decided sometimes to cut or limit people out. And other times, I have decided to be the bigger person and keep them in my life.

[Walters]

Hold on.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I have an important question from Lou George. Lou George says, what do you do if you have a small penis? Lou, you accept the truth of your life, that is your DNA, and you move on happily with your life. It is not a bad thing. Honestly. It was a very simple question. There was nothing wrong with that. I know we all laugh like it's middle school, but that was the question and I gave the answer. Like, you deal with it just like fucking anything else in life and you realize that nothing is bad. Everything is fine. It's all fucking life. I don't understand. Like, it's not sixth grade, right? Fuck. It's a great opportunity for me to really talk about, in the last couple minutes, this theory that I have, which is for some reason, 99% of the world does not leave high school as grownups. You may go to college, you may go into the corporate world, you may become 30. But we fucking stay in high school. Watching people fight each other on social media, about everything. Politics, sports, like anything, anything. Social issues, anything. Just a bunch of fucking 8th graders running around Earth. No class, no grace, no emotional strength. A bunch of fucking softies out here, everyone's crying. Bunch of fucking crybabies. Nobody fucking can stop you. Not a politician, not how you grew up, not a small fucking penis. Nothing can fucking stop you. You decide F.