There are 2 Ways to Get to the Top.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode Title: There are 2 Ways to Get to the Top
Date: June 6, 2026
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Main Theme: Differentiating the motivations behind success and Gary's ultimate dream for humanity

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Gary Vaynerchuk speaks with a guest whose mission is to capture the dreams of 10,000 people worldwide. The conversation centers on what drives individuals to the top of their fields—contrasting journeys sparked by insecurity with those fueled by genuine confidence and love. Gary elaborates on his vision for a balanced world founded on real self-esteem and self-awareness, sharing personal anecdotes, his childhood dreams, and aspirations for his family.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Two Ways to Achieve Success (00:00–01:15)

• Gary introduces the core idea: There are two primary ways people reach the "top" in their careers or lives:
  • Motivation by insecurity: Wanting to prove worth, often rooted in childhood validation issues.
  • Motivation by confidence and love: A smaller group is driven by inner contentment and a desire to help others.
• Longevity matters: Those who reach the top via confidence "get to stay there and...deploy more value to help others get to the top." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 01:14)

2. The Dream Project & Gary's Vision (00:23–02:42)

• The interviewer (a content creator interviewing Gary as part of his “10,000 Dreams” life mission) asks Gary about his dream.
• Gary's Vision for the World:
  • A world where "people can build real self-esteem and real self-awareness, which...would eradicate darkness and negativity and hate in the world." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 00:44)
  • Emphasis on the idea: "Building your building does not require you tearing down everyone else's building." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 00:55)
  • Gary hopes for modern parenting to shift towards balance, real patience, and less materialistic measurement of worth.
    • "Ultimately, my dream is balance." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 02:35)
• Memorable moment: The interviewer responds affirmatively—"Dude, that’s red, man." (02:42)

3. Gary’s Childhood Dream & Consistency in Messaging (02:45–03:25)

• As a child, Gary's dream was to play for and then buy the New York Jets.
  • "As a fourth or fifth grader, my first dream was to play for the New York Jets. Around fifth grade, I'm like, uh, oh, I don't think I have the vessel for that, but I thought I had the vessel for a different version." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 02:50)
• Reinforcing his ‘real dream’:
  • Gary reiterates his dream of spreading self-awareness and self-esteem.
  • Encourages listeners to revisit his content with this context for a better understanding of his intentions—"If they now go back and watch my 20 years of content through the lens of that, I think they'll understand what I've been putting out and why." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 03:15)

4. Application to Personal Life—Family & Parenting (03:25–04:20)

• Asked about his dream as a father and husband, Gary says:
  • "Obviously, if that's my dream for the world, it compounds dramatically for the people that I love the most." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 03:29)
  • Wishes for loved ones to experience peace and "less anxiety, less worry, less tough moments." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 04:20)
  • Stresses the importance of helping his children avoid unnecessary future "baggage."
• Recommends healthy processes for loved ones—exercise, meditation, therapy—"How do they find ways to get lighter? How light can you get is my real dream for them." (Gary Vaynerchuk, 04:53)

5. Parting Thoughts (05:05–05:08)

• The interviewer thanks Gary for his inspiration.
• Gary encourages listeners to check past episodes, expressing gratitude for their attention.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There are two ways to get to the top. One is extreme insecurity. And then there's a smaller group of people that get to the top on a pure form of confidence driven by love, driven by patience. And those not only get to the top, they get to stay there."
  —Gary Vaynerchuk, (00:00)
• "Building your building does not require you tearing down everyone else's building."
  —Gary Vaynerchuk, (00:55)
• "Ultimately, my dream is balance."
  —Gary Vaynerchuk, (02:35)
• "If they now go back and watch my 20 years of content through the lens of that, I think they'll understand what I've been putting out and why."
  —Gary Vaynerchuk, (03:15)
• "How light can you get is my real dream for them."
  —Gary Vaynerchuk, (04:53)
• "Dude, that's red, man."
  —Interviewer, (02:42)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Gary introduces the primary theme: two paths to the top.
• 00:44 – Gary articulates his dream for the world.
• 02:35 – Gary sums up his dream in one word: balance.
• 02:47 – Gary shares his childhood dream: the New York Jets.
• 03:29 – Gary discusses his dreams as a father, husband, and for loved ones.
• 04:20–04:53 – Thoughts on parenting, self-improvement, and reducing anxiety in life.

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Tone & Style

• Authentic, motivational, and reflective, with Gary blending personal anecdotes with actionable wisdom.
• Conversational and encouraging, with warm rapport between host and guest.

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This episode offers a concise, impactful reflection on the sources of ambition and Gary Vaynerchuk’s enduring message about cultivating self-esteem, awareness, and balance in both personal life and broader society.

Transcript

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

There's two ways to get to the top. One is extreme insecurity. And then there's a smaller group of people that get to the top on a pure form of confidence driven by love, driven by patience. And those not only get to the top, they get to stay there. This is the GaryVee audio experience.

[Interviewer]

Okay, bro? So I'm on a life mission called 10,000 Dreams.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And.

[Interviewer]

And I'm filming 10,000 people seeing what their dream in life is. I've done it for 10 years and I've filmed two and a half thousand people.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Incredible.

[Interviewer]

This is my life mission, bro. I want to help the planet dream.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I love that.

[Interviewer]

Take me all over the world. So I'm gonna ask you, Gary.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

What's your dream?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

My dream is that people can build real self esteem and real self awareness, which I think would eradicate darkness and negativity and hate in the world. That when you're good and you know yourself, you struggle to have energy to hurt others. That you realize that building your building does not require you tearing down everyone else's building. And you start to struggle to deploy envy and jealousy, and instead you deploy gratitude and, and humility and the ability to cheer for others. I don't think people understand that there's two ways to get to the top. One is extreme insecurity. It's a driver, right? You just want to prove it to your mommy or daddy or the girl or guy that didn't like you or whatever happened in your life. And it's this. It's an incredible fuel to get you to the top. The problem that most people don't know, especially when they're youngsters, is to sustain. Being at the top. When you got there from insecurity is almost impossible. And then there's a smaller group of people that get to the top on a pure form of confidence, driven by love, driven by patience. And those not only get to the top, they get to stay there and they get to deploy more value to help others get to the top. So what is my dream? My dream is that modern parenting gets readjusted to find a really great equilibrium that allows for real self esteem, not entitlement for real patience. Not now, now, now for a simple world that is less driven by materialism, followers, bank accounts, views, all which are wonderful if you have them calibrated. Ultimately, my dream is balance.

[Interviewer]

Dude, that's red, man.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Thank you, man.

[Interviewer]

What was your dream as a kid?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

To buy the New York jets.

[Interviewer]

That was the dream. As a kid?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. As a fourth or fifth grader My first dream was to play for the New York jets around fifth grade. I'm like, uh, oh, I don't think I have the vessel for that, but I thought I had the vessel for a different version. And, you know, that's my silly dream. My real dream is exactly what I told you. And I would tell you that for the people that watch this, if they now go back and watch my 20 years of content through the lens of that, I think they'll understand what I've been putting out and why. And so, yeah, just my dream is that everybody had what I was blessed with.

[Interviewer]

That's amazing, man. And that's what your dream as a father, bro. As a husband?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, obviously, if that's my dream for the world, it compounds dramatically for the people that I love the most. And so, you know, for my children, as a husband, as a brother, as a son, I just want that level of, you know, everything I just talked about. There's a level of peace that comes along with study and play, come together on a Windows 11 PC.

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[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Everything I just talked about, and I wish less anxiety, less worry, less tough moments. I think life can be remarkably light. And I, you know, obviously when you have children, they're growing up so you're trying to figure out how to not create the baggage that later they're trying to dispose of. And then obviously for my parents or my siblings or my best friends, you know, for them to find their process, whether that's through exercise or meditation or therapy. Like, how do they find ways to get lighter? How light can can you get is my real dream for them. That's beautiful, man.

[Interviewer]

Dude, thank you for chasing your dreams, bro.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Thank you for having me.

[Interviewer]

So inspirational.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Thank you for having me, 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.

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[Gary Vaynerchuk]

journey. See you later.