Success is 49% Talent and 51% Work Ethic

Summary

The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: "Success is 49% Talent and 51% Work Ethic"

Date: August 12, 2026
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Guest/Interviewer: Unnamed female host (“B”), a mom of two

Episode Overview

In this candid and high-energy episode, Gary Vaynerchuk dives deep into his philosophy on legacy, parenting, impact, social media content, work ethic, and balancing public life with private values. He emphasizes the primacy of disciplined effort over raw talent, unpacks his personal motivations and approach to business, and offers tactical advice for entrepreneurs and content creators. The episode also features insightful reflections on mindset, authenticity, and maintaining perspective during adversity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legacy Over Money: Driving Motivations

• Gary stresses that his primary motivation is legacy and impact, not financial gain.
  • "I'm not playing for money as much as my contemporaries. I'm playing for legacy. My North Star is admiration and legacy." (00:00)
  • "I really don't give a fuck if I buy the Jets. I just like playing so much that the game of trying to is fun as shit." (07:01)

2. Parenting and Influence

• The value of listening as a parent:
  • “She listened.” (00:34)
• Warns against imposing own ambitions or succumbing to societal pressure when raising children.
  • “It's imposing the parent's ambition on the kid without actually watching the kid. And it's allowing other people's opinions to dictate their parenting.” (00:37)
• Shares personal story about being nudged (not crammed) into business due to being a poor student (01:54–03:25).

3. Distinctive Personal Brand & Impact

• Gary acknowledges his polarizing style and how authenticity might slow initial popularity but pays off for the long-term.
  • “I'm pretty convinced at this point that my style is slowing up the process... There’s an enormous amount of percentage of people that don't like me at first.” (04:38–04:53)
  • “If I was a hair, maybe 15 to 30% a little less. I think I would be much further along... but it wouldn't be my authentic self.” (04:54–05:16)
• Recognizes exponential growth in reach, particularly among young male audiences but emphasizes broader, cross-demographic impact. (05:57–06:06)

4. Authenticity, Giving, and Money

• Emphasizes intent to give, not extract.
  • “My intent is to give. Where I'm starting to realize with me is like, oh, right, I don't have anywhere close to as much money as I could. And that's because I actually don't value that part.” (07:23)
  • Shares concerns about future resentment for prioritizing giving over accumulating wealth (07:23–08:44).
  • “I don't monetize my audience the way everybody else does. I'm building a machine. Not for the business, for the long term.” (08:44)

5. Vision, Pattern Recognition, and Human Nature

• Attributes ability to see patterns early and understand human behavior:
  • “I see patterns much earlier than most, and I'm willing to have conviction to say it out loud. And I understand human beings, and so I understand what they're gonna do.” (09:19)

6. Privacy and Family

• Deliberate choice to keep family life private despite fame:
  • “We've chosen not to do that part. I really do think everybody will know me. And I do think the fact that I don't share that part subconsciously... people... don't bother because they realize that I didn't open that up.” (10:50)
  • Critiques parents who publicly use their children for social media engagement (11:13–12:06).

7. Fearlessness, Judgment, and Entitlement

• Doesn't shy away from controversy or criticism:
  • “It lacks fear. I'm not worried about fear... I have a thing... to join our team... Here comes the elitist creative community saying, fuck you, Gary.” (12:18)
• Advocates doing free work for opportunity: “For a lot of us, we're not as entitled as those people that are casting judgment and had mommy and daddy's money to go to the right school... you need to kick your fucking foot through the door. And the way you do that is by fucking doing something for free.” (13:07)

8. Mentors, Talent, and Work Ethic

• Skeptical of over-reliance on mentors:
  • “I don't believe in mentors to me... I wish I believed in mentors. Let me phrase, let me phrase. I wish my brain worked in a way that could learn from a mentor.” (14:37)
  • “Mentors are from what happened already. That's why I don't value them as much as most people.” (14:52–15:01)
• Breaks down talent vs. effort:
  • “I think work ethic and discipline is 51% of the equation and that talent's 49. I think I just see too much talent wasted daily. You have to do.” (16:22)

9. Online Education, Masterminds, and Monetization

• Candid rejection of high-ticket masterminds:
  • “Listen, I could tomorrow start a mastermind and probably make a hundred million dollars... It's not my favorite model because I don't think it's... I just think there's too... honestly, it's just supply and demand. It's no different than what I talked about video creators. I believe there's too much good information for free on the Internet.” (17:44–18:05)

10. Content Creation at Scale

• Content production is the single most important move for any modern business.
  • “Producing content at scale.” (20:25)
  • “I'm telling everybody produce 100 pieces of content a day.” (22:12)
  • “This is why Document over Create was my big breakthrough.” (22:38)
• Stresses documenting the journey over polished creation, leveraging every platform (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasting) (23:13–23:30).
• Cites personal experience creating content at scale, solo, while running a business (23:31).

11. Platform Opportunities

• Recommends focusing efforts on TikTok and LinkedIn for organic growth across audiences:
  • “No, TikTok and LinkedIn are more than enough... LinkedIn and TikTok have opened up for everybody in a real way.” (24:19–24:41)
  • Emphasizes that platforms evolve and can reach new, unexpected audiences over time. (24:58–25:17)

12. Daily Habits, Mindset & Perspective

• Reveals unique habit for cultivating perspective and gratitude:
  • “I make pretend that my family dies... I will role play in my mind the tragic death of somebody in my inner family.” (26:46–27:13)
  • Uses this exercise to keep setbacks in business in context and appreciate what truly matters (27:18–27:28).
  • “I'm being serious. I know it's ludicrous... it really works. Cause I get really sad and scared and really don't want that to happen. And then I'm super thankful that that didn't happen. And everything else is, you know.” (27:41)
  • Connects happiness to appreciation for health and loved ones (28:25).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting:
  “She listened.” (00:34)

• On Starting in Business:
  “My parents looked me dead in the face around 13, 14 and said, you're an atrocious student... you will be working in the liquor store, in dad's store.” (01:54)

• On Style and Authenticity:
  “If I was a hair, maybe 15 to 30% a little less. I think I would be much further along... but it wouldn't be my authentic self.” (04:54)

• On Money and Legacy:
  “My intent is to give.” (07:23)
  “I don't have anywhere close to the wealth that I could. And then I don't monetize my audience the way everybody else does.” (08:44)

• On Free Work:
  “You need to kick your fucking foot through the door. And the way you do that is by fucking doing something for free.” (13:07)

• On Mentorship:
  “Mentors are from what happened already. That’s why I don’t value them as much as most people.” (14:59)

• On Talent vs. Work Ethic:
  “I think work ethic and discipline is 51% of the equation and that talent's 49.” (16:22)

• On Content Creation:
  “Producing content at scale.” (20:25)
  “I'm telling everybody produce 100 pieces of content a day.” (22:12)

• On Perspective & Gratefulness:
  “I make pretend that my family dies... I use it as the framework to keep everything in perspective.” (26:46–27:18)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:34 — The most important thing Gary’s mom did for him.
• 01:54–03:25 — Story of being nudged into the wine business and lessons in guiding vs. forcing kids.
• 04:38–06:06 — On personal style, initial rejection, and demographic reach.
• 07:23–08:44 — On money, giving, and not maximizing monetization.
• 12:18–13:07 — Addressing criticism over spec work/free work and defending hustle over entitlement.
• 14:37–15:01 — On not valuing mentorship and why.
• 16:22 — “Work ethic is 51%, talent is 49%.”
• 17:44–18:05 — Critique of mastermind programs and the abundance of valuable free information.
• 20:25 — The must-do for every business: “Producing content at scale.”
• 22:12–23:30 — How to actually create at volume (document vs. create).
• 24:19–24:41 — Platforms to focus on: TikTok and LinkedIn.
• 26:46–27:28 — His unique daily habit for keeping perspective.

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Final Thoughts

Gary Vaynerchuk’s message in this episode centers around the supremacy of sustained effort, authenticity, and a giving mindset over shortcuts and pure talent. He insists on the power of creating and documenting at scale and continuously underscores perspective, gratitude, and real priorities in business and life.

Recommended for: entrepreneurs, content creators, parents, and anyone interested in practical advice on discipline, hustle, and legacy over fame or immediate wealth.

Transcript

[A]

Impact is very simple. And this is why I think I can be the greatest entrepreneur of this generation. I don't think anybody wants to give more than me. I'm not playing for money as much as my contemporaries. I'm playing for legacy. My North Star is admiration and legacy. This is the GaryVee audio experience.

[B]

Okay, so I'm gonna ask you, my first question is obviously from where I am in my life. I'm a mom with two small kids. What would you say the one thing that your mom did for you that every mom should be doing for their small kids?

[A]

She listened.

[B]

Okay. Listened.

[A]

I think the number one mistake that is happening in modern day parenting is a mix of two things. It's imposing the parent's ambition on the kid without actually watching the kid. And it's allowing other people's opinions to dictate their parenting.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

So it's their own selfish want. Like me cliche. I want my kids to be an entrepreneur without watching that they have none of those tendencies. Or number two, me, because I was so parented well by my parents, listening to them of what I should be doing or the worst of the worst, which is people just letting their friends dictate. Like, it just. It's crazy for me to watch the. It's. What an incredible, important role it is for everybody in the world when they're a parent. The impact is enormous.

[B]

Well, right. Especially at a young age. Right. Then your peers become very much involved and become your influence. But, you know, I've seen a lot of different videos with your parents, and obviously you're in the wine business and you always, like you just said, but obviously you wanted to go into the wine business at some point. Was it because your parents kind of pushed you that way and then you kind of realized you wanted to pivot?

[A]

I think there's a really interesting thing that I've been thinking a lot about based on this question around nudging versus cramming. So my parents were the initial nudge. And it actually, in my opinion, was a remarkable nudge because it was based on something I believe in my. My parents looked me dead in the face around 13, 14 and said, you're an atrocious student. Let me rephrase. My mom did. My mom does the talking. You're a terrible student. That means on your 14th birthday that's coming up, you will be working in the liquor store, in dad's store. From now on, no more baseball card shows, no more friends. Every weekend, you will be going with dad to the liquor store. Every Thanksgiving vacation, every. Every Christmas, and every single day of your eighth grade. This was my eighth grade of your summer. You will be working, because if you're not gonna be a good student, that means you're gonna be a worker. And I am struggling right this second to fully, fully know what I thought. I was devastated about the baseball card shows, and I kind of negotiated very quickly. I'm like, I gotta do some. So I got that in. Thank God I wasn't devastated about playing. I was kind of like, okay. And pretty quickly, by the fifth or sixth day weekend that I went to work, I kinda liked it. Even though I was doing terrible shit, bagging ice. It was boring. It was boring. It was two bucks an hour, and I was making real money as a kid at baseball cards. So they nudged, and that nudge turned out okay. So, I mean, you could also say they forced it. I don't know. They nudged. They pushed me in that direction, and it worked out. But I also watched them push my brother in that direction, and he didn't want to work at AP and then at the wine store, and they didn't force it. They adjusted.

[B]

So besides the baseball cards, did you ever think, like, you now? I feel, well, everyone, now you've become like the Oprah of entrepreneurs. Right. Like, you've kind of like, transcend any group at age everyone seems to. Like, when I told people I'm doing this podcast, people are more excited about you than, like, I could have said any other person on the. In the world. Right. First of all, did you ever think that you'd have such an impact?

[A]

No.

[B]

Okay. And that's. That's a good question. That's a good answer.

[A]

Yeah. It's just the truth. I didn't. If you asked me four years ago or six years ago, I would say yes. If you asked me in the way I think you asked me, which is at my youth, I. I thought it was a businessman.

[B]

Right, right, right.

[A]

And so a businessman doesn't get the luxury to actually have such an impact on humanity.

[B]

But what's the one thing about you that you think is the reason why it resonates and impacts so many people? Like your style, obviously.

[A]

Well, you know, I actually would. This is something I'm really thinking a lot about. I'm pretty convinced at this point that my style is slowing up the process.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Why?

[A]

There's an enormous amount of percentage of people that don't like me at first.

[B]

But you grow on people.

[A]

Fair. But if I was a hair, maybe 15 to 30% a little less. I think I would be much further along.

[B]

Much further.

[A]

I mean now that being said, I also think that that would then have a cap because it wouldn't be my authentic self. So I think maybe today I would be further along. But at 63, I think I will

[B]

be like, well, that's crazy to me because I think that. Well, I think everyone would say that you're just, you're growing exponentially fast.

[A]

I am.

[B]

And you've become like a household name when really besides like Elon Musk in the entrepreneur space, I don't really know many other people that would actually have that. You're synonymous with that word, you know,

[A]

I mean, I mean look, there's others that obviously have it. I think as it gets, as it skews younger, I'm in a real spot. Like I've gotten to the point subconsciously when I walk by young males anywhere publicly, I. I'm now surprised they don't know who I am.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Which is crazy. Cause 3 years ago I was stunned anyone did. Right. So that's clearly happened.

[B]

And women by the way too.

[A]

Plenty of women, by the way. Plenty of women. Plenty of 60 year old men. Plenty. But if you're talking 17 to 26 year old dude walks by me in the airport, I'm looking at him like, bro, what the fuck? You don't know who I am. That demo for sure. Look, there's a lot of entrepreneurs that I still think if you look at Google search queries are further ahead than me. I think I might have the most momentum. Right, right, right. You know, Mark Cuban's ahead of me because of Shark Tank. You know, all the Sharks have the potential, I think. Well, impact, impact is very simple. And this is why I think I can be the greatest entrepreneur of this generation. I don't think anybody wants to give more than me.

[B]

Well, that's the thing. That was my next thing.

[A]

I'm not playing for money as much as my contemporaries. I'm playing for legacy and admir. My North Star is admiration and legacy and trying to buy the New York Jets. That's a very, it's a very important kind of like sentence because I really don't give a fuck if I buy the Jets. I just like playing so much that the game of trying to is fun as shit.

[B]

Right. So that's their goal. That's the goal.

[A]

That's like a business goal. I'd really like that to happen.

[B]

But like, okay, besides the style then what do you think? That's one quality about you that has that type of influence and impact.

[A]

My intent is to give. Where I'm starting to realize with me is like, oh, right, I don't have anywhere close to as much money as I could. And that's because I actually don't value that part. And that's where I always have to really know somebody to know where they sit on the curve of only about the money, not about money at all, or somewhere in between. Like me, I just used to think I was 50. 50. I'm starting to realize maybe I'm even 20 to the. And honestly, I think that could change. There is a concern in my own mind that somewhere in my 70s or 60s, I may get resentful that I gave so much and I didn't get mine. That I may change my behavior. I'm hoping not, but I'm being really transparent here. It runs through my mind. I'm leaving an uncomfortable amount of money on the table. My whole life, I built a business for my dad and left with nothing. I. I started with a company with my brother and gave him 50. 50. He left early on and I bought him out. I don't have anywhere close to the wealth that I could. And then I don't monetize my audience the way everybody else does. I'm building a machine. Not for the business, for the long term. So right now, if you're a really thoughtful money person, you shit on me. If you knew everything about me. I just think it actually works out.

[B]

See that when you said that, I didn't even realize that about you. See, I thought that you would be a master at monetizing. I mean, not this 25 minutes, but

[A]

I think I am. I just think I'm losing 31 to nothing in the first quarter.

[B]

But it's a long game, right?

[A]

It is.

[B]

I mean, this is it. You're young.

[A]

Still, I believe that to be true.

[B]

Now, were you. But were you always, like, a forward thinker? Like, I'm thinking, like, because you predict things. Like I saw on a bunch of things I watched about you on Larry King, God knows how many years ago that was. You predicted things that actually do happen. Like, you were just. But seriously, a lot of people, that

[A]

doesn't happen, you know, it's funny. I see patterns much earlier than most, and I'm willing to have conviction to say it out loud. And I understand human beings, and so I understand what they're gonna do.

[B]

Yeah, you understand human nature.

[A]

I understand human nature.

[B]

Right. So you should have been a psychologist also.

[A]

I am a psychologist.

[B]

Every Day you are.

[A]

If one of my two kids is a very renowned psychologist, I'd be like, knew it. You know, if they decide to go the other way, fuck, Andre. Look, you know, growing up one of my two children, if, you know, looking at the level of success, the cliche thing kids do is they run away from it.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They don't want to be compared. I wouldn't want to be compared to, you know, who wants to be Michael Jordan's fucking son playing basketball, Right? Who wants to be Wayne Gretzky? And, you know, like, I'd like to be all time. And, like, I would have empathy for my children being like, yeah, I don't need a world of everyone comparing me to what he.

[B]

But no one knows who they are. Like, you've done an amazing job at having. No, there's such a disconnect between your family and you. I mean, honestly, like, I haven't found one. I mean, if I went and searched, but I would think that you were a single dude just running around New York.

[A]

I get it.

[B]

Like, you. You actually have kids and a family. So how being so public, like, your entire world is, like, videotaped.

[A]

Yeah, except my personal life, like, nothing. Nothing.

[B]

But don't people see you, like, walking around the streets with your kids and they take pictures?

[A]

My kids think I'm massively famous. There's not a single time that we go out that somebody doesn't stop us and.

[B]

Right. And then. Yet I never see those pictures.

[A]

Yeah, we've chosen not to do that part. You know, I don't want to compound it. I really do think everybody will know me. And I do think the fact that I don't share that part subconsciously. A lot of people see me with my kids, my wife, or what have you, and don't bother because they realize that I didn't open that up. Other people are putting their children in every single thing, and then they're gonna roll up. You've given the public the permission to engage. People do it because they get. I don't speak for everybody, but a lot of people do it because it gets more likes, which is fucking devastating to me. I'm devastated by that. And so, you know, a lot of people tell me a lot of things and then, you know, throw judgment at me. And then I'm watching them whore out their children for social media likes. And I say to myself in my mind, cause I never put people on blast one on one publicly. I generically put things on blast, but I will never put anybody on blast one on one I'm too empathetic. And no, I don't know everything. But when somebody casts judgment on me, like literally a friend, an acquaintance, a stranger will cast judgment over a drink, a dinner, or walking in the airport. And I sit there and think, especially if it's a friend or acquaintance, and I know that they do what they do with their children, I laugh inside my head. I'm like, you're telling me I curse too much? You're fucking. You're putting your children in furious position at your own self interest.

[B]

It's amazing your perspective. I think it's because it's a little bit. It's so unique to what the masses are. And that's why people are so grab. Like they gravitate to it so much. Like, I watched this. Another thing.

[A]

It lacks fear. I'm not worried about fear. I'm going through one right now on LinkedIn. I have a thing that is a program to join our team. And I want you to make stuff to join the team. Here comes the elitist creative community saying, fuck you, Gary D spec work. You're better than this. You're making fucking. You should pay people. What the fuck? And I'm like, I don't believe that I do shit for free all the time like this. I speak for free, even though I get paid 150,000. Cause I strategically believe that attention is. And that audience was worth it for me. This is America. I'm not imposing people to make me free videos. We're trying to. I pay plenty of people to make. It's not that it's my only thesis. I just want to grow a little bit and hedge my bet. We've picked a lot of wrong people. I'd like to see people make something for me. I don't feel that it's exploitation.

[B]

It's not.

[A]

Nobody's requiring them to. If they are so great and get paid, they don't need to. But for a lot of us, we're not as entitled as those people that are casting judgment and had mommy and daddy's money to go to the right school and things of that nature. And you need to kick your fucking foot through the door. And the way you do that is by fucking doing something for free.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

You like that one?

[B]

No, but it's true, though.

[A]

It is true. And I'm sorry we're hurting your market value. But this is called supply and demand.

[B]

And I'm sure you get offers probably by the thousand a day for people to work for you for free. Thousands, thousands.

[A]

I'm sure I mean, thousands.

[B]

And even that's a competitive market. Right?

[A]

I'll be honest with you. I think people that are mad that there's spec work going on now are gonna be really mad in a decade when people pay people to work for them. Wait till that can opens. Wait till people understand what's really going on. It's just supply and demand.

[B]

It is supply and demand.

[A]

It scares the fuck out of me that I could have an entire team, Gary, in 20 years, I'm predicting that it's paying me to be there. Whether I can get there emotionally, that is already the next step I'm able to do. I believe in show me your work. Others clearly with the comments said, no, the next one's an interesting one. But I think it's gonna happen whether I decide to do that or not. I don't know. I lean towards no. As I sit here today, my POV may evolve. It's a much better use of money than going to art school.

[B]

Oh, I agree. But then you. But you don't believe in mentors. So these people are all wanting to be mentors.

[A]

I don't believe in mentors to me. And I believe there's some other people out there that only learn by listening and watching and doing. By the way. I wish I believed in mentors. Let me phrase, let me phrase. I wish my brain worked in a way that could learn from a mentor.

[B]

Right? Or I thought, well, I saw something that was very, very clever, which was that mentors are from what happened already.

[A]

That's why I don't value them as much as most people.

[B]

And you're so much about the future

[A]

or the current or the current. And so you're right. And then I think most things are commoditized. Like they're gonna. Like I'm at the. You know, first of all, I had it intuitively. Cause I learned it from. Listen, one thing that I underestimate is I was a true businessman from the age of 6 years old. It's all I did. I sold, I bought, I traded, I made signs. By the fucking time I even went into my dad's store. I fucking wish I was making content at 14 when I tell you that the videos of my audacity of what I was gonna do in my dad's liquor store, like the level of shitting on my dad, and it wasn't shitting on my dad, but like, that's wrong, that's wrong, that's wrong, that's wrong, that's wrong. As a 14 year old and then now Being able to look at it 30 years later, I was right. They weren't guesses. And then I say to myself, my God, I Learned natural talent DNA, right? And I learned a lot from 6 to 14. Who the fuck's even doing that? People are going to like, people don't learn until they're like 22 on is their first day.

[B]

But how do you even teach that? See, like you said yourself, you had a natural gift, a natural talent.

[A]

You can only get people. I can be a much better singer, but I'm not gonna be, you know, Rihanna. So you can teach it. But yes, talent is part of the equation.

[B]

I mean, how much do you think is work ethic and discipline versus just pure talent?

[A]

I think work ethic and discipline is 51% of the equation and that talent's 49. I think I just see too much talent wasted daily. You have to do.

[B]

Right.

[A]

This is something I've been talking a lot about.

[B]

Do it.

[A]

You have to make, you have to practice, you have to. Watching athletes especially, it's very obvious they're two people and one's so much more talent. It's not even close. But they're jerking off, they're not putting in the work. And slowly but surely the tortoise catches up, catches up and passes the hair. Because where Y is less about actually the physical talent. It's all the stuff they're doing off the field, it's all the mentality stuff that actually undermines their whole career.

[B]

You think that the mentality I thought that actually helps their whole career is the mental. Is their mental strength, their mental discipline to work it.

[A]

Yeah, it's the better athlete, it's the better entrepreneur, it's the better executive at skill that their mindset of like work ethic and just like mindset under. Under minds them and they lose.

[B]

Speaking of mine, when you think of these masterminds that all these people on social media are just making, they're doing, they're charging a hundred thousand model, right? And then they're taking a lot of people who are putting all their money and investment into these masterminds.

[A]

I've been a very historic. Listen, I could tomorrow start a mastermind and probably make a hundred million dollars.

[B]

Oh yeah, I'm not.

[A]

I really believe that that's how you

[B]

can make all the money that you think you're losing or leaving on the table.

[A]

It's not my favorite model because I don't think it's. I don't, I don't think, you know, I just think there's too honestly, it's just supply and demand. It's no different than what I talked about video creators. I believe there's too much good information for free on the Internet.

[B]

Google.

[A]

Google. Listen, I'll be honest with you. It's a very big agenda of mine to not force people to buy into bad masterminds.

[B]

Right. Well. And also like all these great Internet marketers who put themselves on a platform where they're teaching people these things but they're charging people all their money.

[A]

And so like I'm not a fan. There's a lot of bad behavior going on. I'm sure there are people out there who charge people.

[B]

Yeah. Like 50 or $100,000. I had some guy yesterday tell me he spends $175,000 a year on these masterminds from the same people that you and I. I'm sure the ones that I'm thinking of that you know. Right.

[A]

Yeah. I'm not a fan.

[B]

It's a.

[A]

And by the way, what I was about to say, I'm sure there's somebody who's just starting out who's she's got a fifteen hundred dollar a month or year masterpiece and I'm sure it's ROI positive but as you go up the scale.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think, you know, I think, I think people are doing that. It'd be the reason I build a hundred million dollar one it because people would want to say they're in it because I'm a brand.

[B]

Well, yeah. Well, also got it.

[A]

It's the same reason people wear $80. It's the Gary Vee's, it's the Nike. It just you know, whatever. Like it's how we express. An entrepreneur would be expressing themselves by being a part of it.

[B]

Right. And all these people who.

[A]

It's why I like doing sneakers and wines. I apologize because I also want to build businesses but I want it to be there in case you drink wine, in case you wear sneakers and you are grateful for the free. You can do it.

[B]

But you are building a business. VaynerMedia, Vayner Sports.

[A]

I mean my closest to having anything with my audience is actual physical product that I feel they can, if they live that life could do versus me holding back my best content to charge you. What everyone's doing is they're putting out their worst content to then make you pay for their best content.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

And I'm putting out my best content. And it's better than everybody else's content.

[B]

It is. Because it's nap. It is Actually, So that's what's happening. Can I ask you one more question? I know you have to like jump now I can't even remember the question.

[A]

No, go ahead, go ahead, slow it down.

[B]

What was I going to say? I was just going to say it and now I can't remember what it is.

[A]

So go somewhere else and then maybe it'll come back to you. That's what I always do when I forget something.

[B]

Yeah, I was going to say something. What's the one thing that you think that everybody, no matter what the business is that they're in, should be doing right now?

[A]

Producing content at scale.

[B]

Producing. Exactly.

[A]

I mean, it's just. This is what's so fun to be consistent. One of my favorite things that are going on now that I have so much scale on Instagram is, is when people leave a comment and they think they're trolling me. And it's the biggest compliment. Gary, you say the same shit. It's my single favorite moment in my career right now.

[B]

How many people do.

[A]

I'm like, yes, I do.

[B]

But that's good. That's because it's the same.

[A]

And what makes me talented is I say it in 1800 trillion different ways. And I will always say it in the newest places to say it. And it will be contextual to TikTok and LinkedIn just like it was for Twitter and Instagram. And I'll eventually catch you at the moment that you're ready to hear me.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

After you go to all the other shortcuts and all the other things that you don't want to be doing. My way slow, shitty. Right. Kind, good giving. When you hate that. Cause you want fast, quick, a lot. And you go through it all and none of it works. Or my favorite one, when it worked and then it collapsed. My best people consuming my content for me are the ones who actually had success for a minute in the other way and it all came down.

[B]

Right, Exactly.

[A]

And then they realized why and they come. Not the ones that don't have success fast. They're also good. They believe in my way, you know, success. The one that's most interesting to me is she fucking did it. She made a ton of money in 18 months and all went away.

[B]

I'm curious, because you're such a motivating, such a motivator, what's the percentage? I know you probably don't know this, but the percentage of people who actually implement and execute on what you say.

[A]

Well, to what I really am saying, currently, almost no one. I'm telling everybody produce 100 pieces of content a day.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, that wouldn't mean that there

[A]

was anyone doing it.

[B]

Well, how would someone actually do that much?

[A]

60 tweets a day. Yeah. Write 60 things. Everyone has thought, talk about everything and anything. Like, you can do it. It can actually happen.

[B]

Right. I understand that.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, if you get. This is why Document over Create was my big breakthrough in that one. Sit down with that kid. It helped so many people. I'm not asking you to create 100 things. I'm asking you to make 100 things that can be. If you go all the way religiously there. When we leave here, not only do we take a selfie together, but you take a photo of that and you say, this is Gary's view. Why doesn't he want to buy the Knicks? And it's like, question. You know, you're just making. All of a sudden because you put, why doesn't he want to buy a Knicks? Somebody sees Knicks and engages with you and they become aware. People don't get how it actually works.

[B]

It actually. Everything's a conduit.

[A]

And then if you could afford it, you start building out the thesis. You record and you post, produce at scale, and you produce for TikTok and YouTube and Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and your podcast. And, you know, that's how.

[B]

That's a lot.

[A]

It's a lot. But to remind everybody, before everybody goes exactly where I know they're going, I was doing it at scale in 2006-2011 by myself while running a liquor business. I was doing. That's why I have so many tweets and it's all documenting. Go back to what I was doing on Twitter in 2006. Seven, eight. It's all there. It's all there. I know, because you're gonna say it's drock and it's the team and it's this and that, and I'm like, cool. That's. Now that's what you can get to if you do it right. A decade later.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

So I just believe in bringing value to the audience is the biggest leverage point.

[B]

Is there any other companies I know. I'm trying to wrap it up. Is there anything besides. I know. TikTok is another one. Another thing that you see that people should be kind of keeping their eye on.

[A]

No, TikTok and LinkedIn are more than enough. I've been very loud about this the last hundred days. Back to why I love this question. Before we get to the next one. Good news, we have two right now. We really didn't have that many a couple months ago. A year ago, I wasn't that excited about much. It was more Instagram. LinkedIn and TikTok have opened up for everybody in a real way.

[B]

TikTok is kind of like, isn't it? Very. And maybe this is just me because I'm an old woman. Isn't it kind of like a young person thing?

[A]

You mean like Facebook was.

[B]

Well, yeah, but like, besides making like videos, what else could you do? I'm not gonna start singing a song on. Well, maybe I should.

[A]

Why don't you just put out the content that you'd put out on Instagram? See, what people understand is platforms evolved. If this interview was happening in 2011, you would say, but Gary isn't Instagram for photographers who are taking nice photos. It wasn't kids yet. Instagram did not start as kids. Instagram started as photographers.

[B]

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[A]

Period. End your sentence there. Then it evolved. What I'm good at is understanding the potential evolvement of a platform that already has scale.

[B]

Right. I understand that.

[A]

You got it.

[B]

I do.

[A]

So all my. You know, there are people right now that are getting views under TikToks that they don't get anywhere close after four years of investment on Instagram. And they're doing things that have nothing to do with TikTok. It's not on trending. It's not lip sync, it's not VSCO girls. It is. They're doing a burger video, painting a cowboy video for 60 year olds. And it's working. Cause there's so much attention on the platform and there's not enough creators. Yeah, it's just supply and demand.

[B]

Supply and demand. Okay, I'm gonna wrap it with this. Because this podcast is all about habits and hustle. We know you got that. What are some of your daily habits that you do daily to keep you as on point?

[A]

I make pretend that my family dies.

[B]

You make pretend that your family dies.

[A]

There's something I do maybe not every day, but comes through my head pretty often. If you ask me why I'm me, it's because every day, every other day, no shorter than minimum, once every four days, I will role play in my mind the tragic death of somebody in my inner family.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Really.

[B]

Okay. And what do you do with that information?

[A]

What I do with that information is I use it as the framework to keep everything in perspective.

[B]

Okay, that sounds good.

[A]

It's really easy for me to be okay with the three bad news things that I got today about lost revenue at Vayner, when yesterday I made pretend that a tree landed on my dad's head and killed him.

[B]

So you keep respecting.

[A]

I'm being serious. I know it's ludicrous. Back to I say different shit. I really mean what I'm talking about. And because I'm good with feeling feelings, with myself, it really works. Cause I get really sad and scared and really don't want that to happen. And then I'm super thankful that that didn't happen. And everything else is, you know. One of my best friends lost his father last night. Real life.

[B]

I'm sorry.

[A]

And he's really, really sad. And all the shit we've been talking about for the last year around business and other things just miraculously didn't matter at all for the last three months that he's been in the hospital every day and every second just doesn't fucking matter. So if that's what we all do when it happens, why not live like that when it doesn't happen?

[B]

That's 100% true.

[A]

There's no question that I am much happier than the majority of the universe because of perspective. And it is completely predicated on the singular variable of health of the people. I love 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 being part of this journey. See you later.