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Stop Chasing Hacks and Start Building Real Content | Tea with GaryVee Ep #83 - The GaryVee Audio Experience | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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Stop Chasing Hacks and Start Building Real Content | Tea with GaryVee Ep #83

The GaryVee Audio Experience

Thu Sep 04 2025

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: The GaryVee Audio Experience
Episode: Stop Chasing Hacks and Start Building Real Content | Tea with GaryVee Ep #83
Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk

This lively, no-nonsense episode centers on the importance of focusing on authentic, consistent content creation instead of chasing “hacks” or shortcuts. Gary fields a wide range of questions from his audience, covering topics such as knowing when to go all-in on your side hustle, handling toxic workplaces, balancing algorithmic demands with personal authenticity, organic vs. paid reach, managing collaborators, overcoming self-doubt, dealing with burnout, and embracing simplicity for happiness. The signature GaryVee blend of tough love, practicality, and optimism drives every answer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. When to Go All-In on a Side Hustle

[00:45–02:43]

Timing Calculation: The key moment is “the second you can eat shit for a year.” This means being able to cover your basic needs and giving up luxuries if needed.
Don’t Underestimate Your Hustle: If your side hustle is working part time and earning some money, consider the exponential growth possible if you went full-time.
Gary's Math Example:
“You make 93k in salary, you make 24,000 in side hustle. But when you jump and do side hustle, you make 100k in side hustle. And now you’re thrilled. You have more flexibility.” (Gary, 01:39)
Quality of Hours Argument:
“Your 40 hours at work are shitty hours. Your 40 hours on your newfound primary hustle is A-plus hours. So it’s compounded.” (Gary, 02:24)

2. Dealing With Nepotism & Toxic Workplaces

[02:43–05:54]

Straightforward Advice: “Leave. Like fucking leave leave, leave, leave, leave. Like you can’t fight it.” (Gary, 02:58)
Life’s Choices: “Loved ones limit, non loved ones leave. Leave the job.” (Gary, 03:15)
Accountability:
“Complaining and pointing figures is fucked. Accountability to the max.” (Gary, 03:35)
Forgiveness as Freedom:
“Lack of forgiveness is the poison that is ruining your life.” (Gary, 03:52)
Perspective on Others:
“Nobody who’s not hurting makes fun of people.” (Gary, 12:20)

3. Teen Entrepreneurs & Algorithm vs. Authenticity

[05:54–07:17]

Balance Both: “You can make content that’s somewhat in you—can’t say shit you don’t believe—but it’s ok if it’s not all the way you. The answer is both.” (Gary, 06:38)
Personal Stories Matter: Gary talks about posting a wine video with his dad, not for algorithmic gains, but for personal legacy.
Long-Term Value: “When my dad’s gone, I’m gonna be happy I posted that, over getting an extra hundred thousand fucking views.” (Gary, 06:59)

4. Helping Struggling Employees

[07:17–07:57]

Kind Candor: “You know how to assist by telling the honest truth with kindness.”
Letting Go: Sometimes the right thing is to let employees go, which might ultimately help them—not hurt them.

5. Organic Reach vs. Paid Reach

[07:57–09:55]

Organic = Merit: “Organic reach is higher now for good content and lower for bad. I think it’s more merit than ever.” (Gary, 08:05)
Paid Ads Still Matter:
“Ads are guaranteed. Organic reach is only based on your merit.” (Gary, 09:00)
Strategy: Use organic content to test, then amplify successful posts via paid ads.

6. Managing Volunteers & Accountability

[09:55–10:47]

Clear Leadership: “If you’re not paying someone and they’re not doing the task, you release them of that task. That’s what leadership and ownership looks like.”

7. Overcoming Self-Consciousness and Shyness

[10:47–13:19]

Accent and Shyness:
“If someone makes fun of you, they, the person making fun of you is a piece of shit… Hurting only comes from a hurt place.” (Gary, 11:19)
Reframe Weaknesses as Strengths:
“Her accent is her strength, not her vulnerability.” (Gary, 12:39)
Be Authentically You: Gary jokes about wishing he had a strong accent for greater uniqueness.

8. Career Pivots, Family, and “Gray Thinking”

[13:19–23:23]

Patience and Planning: One caller contemplates starting over in a new city post-divorce with family constraints.
Gary’s Wisdom:
“You’re making a lot of moves. You’re going down to Boca a fuckload every second you can, every second you don’t have a responsibility to your son.” (Gary, 17:35)
“Be happy that you can be there for 60 days versus crying that you can’t be there for 365 days.” (Gary, 22:00)

9. Burnout and Wanting to Switch Paths

[23:25–25:16]

Burnout Happens: Caller runs a successful business but doesn’t love it anymore.
Gary’s Parallel:
“[Wine Library TV] was so important… but one day I woke up and I’m like, fuck this shit. I don’t want to do it anymore.” (Gary, 24:03)
Advice for Content Creation:
“By you being your full self… by you talking about guitars, by you talking about car dealing, by you talking about your Candace. Right, that’s it.” (Gary to Candace, 24:44) “If you’re trying to follow clicks, you’re dead right? Because clicks is clicks.” (Gary, 25:05)

10. Stop Chasing Content Hacks

[25:16–27:14]

Authenticity > Hacks:
“Everybody’s generic out here. And even worse, everyone’s trying to figure out the hack to go viral.” (Gary, 25:29)
Play to Your Context:
“You gotta start making way more authentic you—your passions, your hard ships, your hacks in the game.” (Gary, 26:53)

11. Simplicity and Happiness

[27:17–end]

Simplicity is Key:
“The answer to the quiz of life for almost everybody… is to downgrade, to simplify.” (Gary, 27:38)
The Price of Complexity:
“Almost every human over skeezes themselves financially… We’re confused out here.”
Financial Self-Awareness (Community Exercise):
Gary asks listeners if their worries about money are contradicted by discretionary expenses, like multiple streaming services and high-end coffee.
Takeaway:
“Simplicity is happiness.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Taking Risks:
“The second, you can eat shit for a year.” (Gary, 00:53)
On Leaving Toxic Situations:
“Either go for the work… Or shut your fucking mouth.” (Gary, 03:22)
On Authenticity vs. Algorithm:
“The answer is both.” (Gary, 06:58)
On Accountability:
“Lack of forgiveness is the poison that is ruining your life.” (Gary, 03:52)
On Simplicity:
“Simplicity is happiness.” (Gary, 27:59)
On Comparing Yourself:
“Be happy that you can be there for 65 days, which is unusual for people in your situation… versus crying that you can’t be there for 365 days.” (Gary, 22:00)
On Content Hacks:
“Everybody’s generic out here… Everyone’s trying to figure out the hack to go viral.” (Gary, 25:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:45 — When to go all-in on a side hustle
02:43 — Handling nepotism/toxic workplaces
05:54 — Teens and content authenticity vs. algorithms
07:26 — Managing struggling employees
08:03 — Is organic reach dead?
08:59 — Paid vs. organic social media for brands
09:55 — Keeping friends accountable in collaborative projects
10:47 — Starting a brand while shy or self-conscious
13:19 — Caller: Losing ambition and planning a move with family constraints
23:25 — Caller: Burned out in a successful business, wants to pivot
25:16 — Standout content through authenticity, not hacks
27:17 — Pursuing simplicity and happiness

Tone, Style, Highlights

Original Language & Tone: Unfiltered, practical, high-energy, direct, empathetic where necessary, with Gary’s trademark swearing and urgent positivity.
Memorable bits: Calls with listeners about nuanced life decisions, Gary’s blunt exercises on financial self-awareness, and his signature motivational reframing of “weaknesses” as competitive advantages.

Summary Takeaway

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Episode #83 is a powerful testament to focusing on real, authentic content and living a life defined by personal happiness and accountability. Gary debunks the myth of viral “hacks,” urges listeners to take full responsibility for their choices, and delivers a masterclass on making bold, practical moves—whether in content creation, entrepreneurship, or personal life. The secret? Honesty, resilience, and keeping it real.

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Transcript

A (0:00)

Hey everybody. Actually, if you're really hardcore listener, you know, I never do this, but the truth is I'm like shitting the bed on this. Everybody else is getting people to review on Spotify and Apple and like the vaynernation does none of that because I've never asked. So 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. This is the GaryVee audio experience. All right, we are in the game. Good morning everybody. Welcome to another episode of tea with GaryVee. Episode 83 here live on whatnot, but simulcast on all my socials. Aaron, let's get to the first question.

B (0:45)

This question is when you're building your side hustle Outside of your 9 to 5, when do you know the right time to jump and go all in on your side business?

A (0:53)

The second, you can eat shit for a year. Now, whether that is you saved enough money and you're willing to go there or you don't give a fuck and you're willing to give up a lot of luxuries, you can pay your basic needs like roof over your head and transportation, right? But if it's really burning a hole in your heart, in your stomach, not your heart, you know, you may even decide to take public transportation instead of having a car and you give up your lease. This is about how much you're willing to, to like be resilient, right? How much do you love your passion? But I will say this, Aaron, this is super common. This is incredibly common. A lot of people do not jump when. Let me just paint you this picture. You make 93,000 a year job and your side hustle is making $2,000 a month. So you're thinking 93k and 24k. But your side hustle is getting so little of your time cause you have a job. If you're at 93k in income and 24,000 in side hustle, you're likely when you jump, gonna do 100k in side hustle cause you have so many more hours. This is the math, this is the calculus that most people don't get. Sid, you've never heard this from me. This has been. I see how you react. This is one of my best pieces of content. You make 93k in salary, you make 24,000 in side hustle. But when you jump and do side hustle, you make 100k in side hustle. And now you're thrilled. You have more flexibility. People think you have to have even. Even you make 100k, you need to get to 100k because you gotta pay your bills. You don't realize that those 40, 50 per week. If you've been able to make 24k with a couple of hours a week, when you go all in, plus you're happy. Plus your 40 hours are not equal. Your 40 hours at work are shitty out. Your C minus, your 40 hours on your newfound primary hustle is A plus hours. So it's compounded. That's the answer, Aaron. Ask the next question.

A (2:58)

Leave. Like fucking leave leave, leave, leave, leave, leave. Like you can't fight it. Leave. And by the way, leave everything. You can't fight your mom for 60 years who has was bipolar or narcissist. You don't leave her, you just limit her. It's either limit or leave. Loved ones limit, non loved ones leave. Leave the job. Like marriages, a lot of people need to hear it's tough. I'm not advocating for that. At least go through the therapy. Like work for it. Like do something, don't eat it. Either leave. Either go for the work. Which would be therapy. Exercise life is leave or work or shut your fucking mouth. Because complaining limit or leave or put in the work or shut your fucking mouth. Complaining and pointing figures is fucked. Accountability to the max. Here's the nuance that almost no one sees. Accountability. Even when you're right. Being the bigger person, even when you're right. I have someone in my life who cannot go there because they can't forgive. Lack of forgiveness is the poison that is ruining your life. There is nothing, Aaron, you can say to me that would not allow me to forgive. Including the ultimate darkest shit that can come out of your mouth. Let alone stealing money, let alone cheating, let alone backstabbing, let alone talking shit. These are things that people literally eliminate loved ones and friends for. Literally. Do you know how many people right now have eliminated loved ones and friends for talking shit? For talking shit. As if they never talk shit. You know What I love right now is like watching people shit on people as if they've never done anything wrong, even when they die. Hulk Hogan died. He fucking died. And people were giving tributes. And of course, like every other human. And he's done some bad stuff. I get it. But I love those comments. I'm like, I'd love to know what bad stuff you did. Fucking tired of this bullshit. Can we get the fuck out of this matrix? This is why I'm doing tea with GaryVee. I'm gonna create a fucking cocoon of positivity and accountability that is gonna fucking dominate. Sid. I'm gonna fucking dominate 2026. I'm gonna be IRL ing. You know, this court. I'm gonna be video blogging. I'm gonna make way more content. I'm gonna be sub stacking. I'm gonna be fucking AI ing. I'm about to go fucking ham on motherfuckers faces gonna suffocate all the excuses and it gonna instill all the opportunities. It's gonna be good. Aaron, ask the next question.

A (27:33)

No, it's not risking at all. You're gonna sell it. You're gonna get an asset. You're gonna live. Notice how he said downgrade? Fucking genius. Do you know this? This is insane. From, like a. Go get it. Go do it. Fucking. I mean, there's an ambitious angel who does not know anything about veefriends. Say don't know in the chat right now. If you don't know anything about veefriends or very little. Say don't know in the chat right now. Say don't know. I'm gonna show you something right now. I'm gonna show you something. This is my little universe. I'm just gonna show you a little glimpse of it. Here's some of the characters. Right? Swaggy sea lion. Excuse me. Let me see the. Where is it? Oh, it's high. Intuitive iguana. Outgoing octopus. Resourceful robin. Right. Optimus Otter. You know, rare robot. Here's the versatile Viking hustling hamster. Patient pig, selfless sloth. Here's the moral monkey. Oh, I know where she is. Thank you, though. Here she is. And she might be the one I most associate with out of all the things. Ooh. Do that again, Court. Holy shit, Court. Do that again, Court. Holy shit, Court. There's the ambitious angel. Oh, do I love the ambitious angel. I might associate with her more than anyone. I am as ambitious as they come. But I'm gonna say something right now that might be a curveball, that if you haven't listened to me carefully, you don't realize I've been saying it the whole time I said it in Crush it, the first book I wrote. The answer to the quiz of life for almost everybody. Think about what I just said. Is to downgrade is to simplify. Less New York and LA and Miami and more Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Des Moines. Iowa and Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The secret to life is a stillness in your chest. How many people in the chat worry about money? Put money in the chat right now. Let's talk real. Let's talk real. Everyone say money in the chat. We're getting somewhere real here. I'm gonna keep it in its own. The amount of people that said money in there, I would die to be able to look at all of their expenses and bills. I would die for it. Almost every human over skeezes themselves financially. This is what happened when credit cards were introduced. When people used to not be able to buy on credit, they paid for cash. They don't get it. We're confused out here. What do I think? I think he's ready to go enjoy his life. And he's gonna live in a simpler house with a simpler car, with simpler day to day luxuries. Watch this. I need you to be honest. Cause we're teaching a community lesson. If you said money in the chat, but you were subscribed to three or more streaming services. Netflix, espn, hbo, Max, Amazon Prime, Hulu. Please don't lie. Put the number three in the chat. Three in the chat. If you said money, but you have three streaming services. It's a lot. You see it. It's a lot. If you struggle with. If you worry about money, we're gonna keep playing. And you buy coffee at a coffee shop that's over $5 often enough. Let's just leave it at that. Please put a $5 mark in the chat. Be honest. Don't bullshit me. Please. Please say that. Be honest. This matters. See who's got rent or a mortgage that's over their skis. They worry about that. In hindsight, they realize it was too much. Put t o o much. Put too much that the car or the house was too much. In hindsight, put too much. Be honest. You're helping everyone, including yourself. Look at that. By the way, Cyclone Signer said I buy too much. Veefriends. Stop. On the record clip this forever. Do not buy anything. Veefriends. Do not buy anything. WineText by the way, you should all buy this. Thursday's Winetex. It's the best deal of all time. If you can afford it. Because it's an actual $125 Napa cab for less than 30 bucks. It's insane. Big shout out. Brandon, Jeff. The Rose. Dad. And then none of you should buy that if it's something you can't afford. My friends, this is where it's at. Simplicity is happiness.