Why Followers Don’t Matter Anymore in Business | Money Buys Happiness Podcast

Summary

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The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: "Why Followers Don’t Matter Anymore in Business"

Podcast Date: September 2, 2025
Guests: The Money Buys Happiness Podcast team
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk

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Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, Gary Vaynerchuk sits down with the Money Buys Happiness Podcast crew to challenge the traditional idea that social followers equate to business success. Gary dives deep into the shift from “social media” to “interest media,” the illusion of vanity metrics, and what truly drives impact and happiness both in business and life. The wide-ranging conversation covers practical self-awareness, the realities of materialism, navigating AI disruption, and the foundation of true fulfillment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Followers: The Declining Metric

• Gary’s Take: Follower count is increasingly irrelevant in today's business landscape, with platforms shifting toward "interest media" rather than showing content solely from people you follow.
• “Interest Media” vs. “Social Media”
  • Social media was built around your social graph—your direct connections.
  • Interest media is now taking over: algorithms serve users content aligned with their momentary interests, not based on who they follow.
  • Memorable Quote:

    "All that life is is starting over. Every day is starting over. Like real talk, especially for winners." – Gary Vaynerchuk (02:01)

• Platform Dynamics:
  • Gary envisions a future with two platform options: a fully algorithmic "interest" stream and a curated list of personal “must-follow” accounts.

    “When I open my feed, there should be two options: left side, full interest graph. Just give me nothing. … On the right, let me have 150 followers, but I want to see every fucking post from them.” (02:34)

• Takeaway: The value is in content resonance, not in amassed follower counts. Content relevance beats vanity numbers.

2. Building for Passion vs. Chasing the Money

• Gary’s Philosophy: True fulfillment comes from being honest with yourself about what you want and understanding opportunity cost.
  • Gary shares personal watershed moments (ages 18, 22, 34) and his willingness to leave substantial amounts of money on the table to pursue what excites him.
  • Quote:

    "I spend my day to day to maximize my happiness. That, I believe, is my happiness." (08:16)

  • On selling out: “I actually think it's selling in, what you're saying… Selling out's the reverse.” (04:19)
• Practical Advice:
  • Pursue genuine interests, not perceived social validation.
  • Be aware of and comfortable with your choices—accept the bed you make.

3. Accountability & Self-Awareness

• Theme: Personal responsibility is crucial for sustained success and happiness.
• Gary’s Challenge:
  • Avoid blaming external sources for your own choices and outcomes.
  • Practice deeper self-awareness to see your own role in your circumstances.
• Quote:

  “People complain about shit they created and then start looking for who to blame. The government, their dad…” (09:42)
  “It starts with self awareness. You're not aware, if you can't see that you're up, you're in trouble.” (10:10)

4. Materialism & Brand Perception

• Questions Explored:
  • Should entrepreneurs have certain material goods for branding?
  • Is buying luxury items ever meaningful or is it always “posturing”?
• Gary’s View:
  • Spend on things that genuinely make you happy—not to impress others.
  • Don’t buy into traditional markers of success if they aren’t meaningful to you.
  • Quote:

    "Money buying happiness needs to be defined on what's your happiness." (11:02)
    “I see people sitting courtside that are there for the selfie who couldn’t tell you any of the 10 players on the court. That shit is what I’m interested in.” (12:25)

• Caveat: For some, brand image may matter in specific industries, but value-driven action and results matter most in the long run.

5. AI: Threat, Opportunity & Imperative

• Macro Risks: AI can be dangerous if weaponized by governments—potentially leading to war or social control.
• For Creators & Entrepreneurs:
  • Be proactive: Learn and adapt to emerging AI tools daily (“Either you go to the gym or you think about going to the gym.” —19:27)
  • Use AI for productivity and creativity, not just fear or avoidance.
  • Quote:

    “In any big technology, you either take that sword or that sword will kill you.” (17:09)

  • Gary demonstrates live prompting and AI workflow suggestions.

6. Campaigns & Business Sustainability: The “Hide the Cash” Viral Case Study

• Audience Question: Should a viral cash-giveaway initiative become the entirety of their brand?
• Gary’s Analysis:
  • Viral stunts (“campaign energy”) drive views but may not produce high-value or sustainable audiences.
  • Distinguish between volume and quality of followers/customers.
  • Use such campaigns as marketing tools, but build long-term valuable assets in parallel.
  • Quote:

    “My first reaction is the audience is not high value.” (21:39)
    “I think too many people are binarily addicted to the views and the followers without really breaking down the next part.” (24:37)

• Guidance: Prioritize thoughtful analysis over quick reactions. Use data and AI to analyze campaign longevity and potential pivots.

7. Purpose, Opportunity Cost, and When To Walk Away

• Deciding to Move On:
  • Evaluate whether the monetary return justifies time and opportunity cost.
  • Sometimes, cutting a moderately lucrative but unfulfilling project opens up space for greater success and joy.
  • Quote:

    “If you cut that $50,000 a year thing, all that time—even the hours you spend being upset about it giving back to you—will make you 100k.” (29:38)

• Decision Process: Identify “smoke” (early indicators of dissatisfaction), work through it, and take action when it becomes “fire” (full-blown problem).

8. On Age, Wisdom, and Mentorship

• Cultural Insight: Society undervalues age and experience. Wisdom from older generations should be lifted and disseminated (e.g., Gary proposes a podcast with AI and real 80-year-olds).
• Gary’s Experience: His own trajectory has made him an OG worth listening to—initially from hard-earned reps and pattern recognition.
• Quote:

  “51 year olds were [the culture]. … Those motherfuckers know how to live. They know what life is and we fucking make fun of them. It’s crazy.” (32:11)

9. Veefriends: Building the Next Pokémon (With Purpose)

• Project Vision:
  • Gary’s Veefriends collectible is both a massive business play and a vehicle for spreading positive values and practical life skills.
  • Cards feature characters teaching lessons (e.g., “Focus”, “Compassion”, “Decisiveness”).
  • Quote:

    “I'm actually genuinely, really building the next Pokémon and Marvel. And I'm doing it in everyone's face. But because everyone's so distracted about Gary Vee of it all, they don't even see it.” (34:23)

• Purposeful Entrepreneurship: He’s explicit that wealth and impact are not mutually exclusive; making billions and changing culture go hand in hand.
• Notable Moment:
  • [37:18] Interviewers read the "Focus Falcon" card, drawing out Gary's vision for character-driven, values-based brand building.

10. Empathy, Judgment, and Life Perspective

• Radical Empathy:
  • Do not judge others’ financial decisions—everyone has unseen struggles.
  • Happiness comes not from the absolute amount of money, but from living within your means and tuning out comparison and envy.
  • Quote:

    "What buys happiness is living within the money you make." (43:17)
    "I don't judge others who don't want to give back to society. I really don't. Honestly, I just don't have a lot of judgment in me. I don't give a fuck enough to be honest. And I'm too empathetic." (40:13)

• Personal Mission: Gary wants to be the mentor he never had, helping the next generation win the life game authentically.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:05] Gary: “Because they don't matter as much right now.”
• [02:01] Gary: “All that life is is starting over. Every day is starting over. Like real talk, especially for winners.”
• [08:16] Gary: “I spend my day to day to maximize my happiness. That, I believe, is my happiness.”
• [11:02] Gary: “Money buying happiness needs to be defined on what's your happiness.”
• [17:09] Gary: “In any big technology, you either take that sword or that sword will kill you.”
• [19:27] Gary: “Either you go to the gym or you think about going to the gym.”
• [24:37] Gary: “I think too many people are binarily addicted to the views and followers without really breaking down the next part.”
• [29:38] Gary: “If you cut that $50,000 a year thing, all that time—even the hours you spend being upset about it giving back to you—will make you 100k.”
• [32:11] Gary: “We've been so obsessed with youth culture... we've lost our way on putting the OGs on a pedestal.”
• [34:23] Gary: “I'm actually genuinely, really building the next Pokémon and Marvel. And I'm doing it in everyone's face. But because everyone's so distracted about Gary Vee of it all, they don't even see it.”
• [43:17] Gary: “What buys happiness is living within the money you make.”

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:01-04:05 — Why Followers Don’t Matter, Rise of Interest Media
• 04:19-10:10 — Passion vs. Selling Out, Self-Awareness & Accountability
• 11:02-13:34 — Money, Happiness, Materialism, and Brand
• 16:10-19:46 — AI’s Risks & Opportunities for Creators
• 21:39-25:03 — Breaking Down Viral Campaigns and Business Value
• 29:31-34:08 — Opportunity Cost: When to Walk Away
• 32:00-33:43 — The Value of Age, Wisdom, and Mentorship
• 34:23-39:27 — Veefriends as the Next Pokémon: Impact & Purposeful Wealth
• 41:47-43:17 — Radical Empathy, Living Within Your Means, and Final Life Lessons

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Final Takeaway

This is Gary Vee distilled: Followers are not your business’s worth—meaningful engagement, self-honesty, sustainable value, and thoughtful innovation are. In an algorithm-driven, AI-accelerated world, only the adaptable, self-aware, and empathetic will thrive. Money can amplify, but true happiness and success are built on authenticity, internal alignment, and a willingness to think and act differently.

“What buys happiness is living within the money you make” – Gary Vaynerchuk [43:17]

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Transcript

[Interviewer 1]

Gary?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer 2]

You've been saying that in the next five to 10 years, followers won't matter as much.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

Why is that?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Because they don't matter as much right now.

[Interviewer 2]

And what do you think's happening?

[Interviewer 1]

Why?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know, just to kick off the show right away? Like, I don't predict.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I talk about things that are actually happening that I'm aware that I might just be a little faster to the observation because of what I do when I wake up in the morning, in the same way that I know some people are skinnier or stronger or better at golf. When I wake up in the morning, as I did this morning at 4:30am, which is unusual, I actually believe in seven, eight hours of sleep. But I was in Oklahoma city for game one. Even on the way to the airport at 4:45 in the morning, I'm looking at what's happening in culture. Like, how's this Trump Elon beef going? What's going with the boo boos and that fucking toy? Like, what are the it girls doing? What are the fucking golfer bros from Yale doing? What's the lacrosse girls at Duke doing? What's the Jamaican bros that, like, skate? I am a cultural anthropologist. And then where does that culture play out? Well, it plays out in social.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes, right.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So then the next thing I'm looking at is like, what are the platforms doing? What's the algo doing? You know, is there a new feature? What's happening with live? Why is this happening? Why is this happening? Why is this happening? Why is this person popping off? Why is this person declining? So that all leads to when I started saying, like, followers don't matter as much. That started happening three years ago. That happens. That happened when I was yelling about TikTok in 2017. That's why I was yelling about TikTok in some reason of 2017 and 18, which was a. I knew that a lot of tension was gonna go there, and that was good for all of you. Like, oh, you missed Instagram. You missed fucking Facebook and Twitter. Well, here's your chance. Ironically and not ironically, so many people that had 80,000 on Instagram, that were crying that they didn't have a million, couldn't go over to TikTok and get to their million because they had the insecurity of having no followers. There's. And they don't want to start over.

[Interviewer 1]

Yep.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Right. Whatever the fuck that means. All that life is is starting over. Every day is starting over. Like real talk, especially for winners. So I think that, you know, I think we're there. I mean, like. And I actually think we will continue to decline. I think, meaning now. Actually, actually, if I was sitting with, you know, Facebook meta Zucks, the product team, TikTok, I would say, yo, you need to go to the extremes on the left. Like, I think when I open my feed, there should be a to two options, left side, full interest graph. Just give me nothing. Which is where some of the platforms are heading. Just give me nothing. But at this moment, I give a fuck about trading cards and comic books because of Vee friends, the Knicks, the Jets, training camp, starting wine. Like, give me my. The 80s nostalgia. Give me my shit. And then on the right, let me have 150 followers that I can have, but I want to see every fucking post from them.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You like that? Yeah, like, that's what I would do if I, like, ran TikTok or Instagram or Twitter right now. That would kill. And I actually think there's no outcome that that doesn't become possible because I think it's pendulum swings. We only got content in 2008, 9, 10, 11, 12 from who we followed. Now we're starting to get to a place that I think it's going to keep going where you're just getting shit from whatever's popping to you.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And I think for all of us, even when I said it, I could feel you two and the other three dudes in room. Everyone's like, yeah, that'd be fresh. Because I'm pissed that I'm. I mean, every day I get 50 comments in my feed that say, yo, Gary B. Gary Vee, where you been? Like, man, this is awesome. You know, like, so, like. And I feel that way about people I follow. So anyway, that's why I say it, bro, because it's already real.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

You've been calling it interest media.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, I think it. I think that's where we're at.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know, social media was like your social graph, the people in your social circle. That's where this came from. I think we're fully in interest media now. I. When I open my app, I get stuff I'm into of the moment, and the second I start to deviate and get into something else, that shit starts to show up.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

The AI is getting that strong.

[Interviewer 1]

Yep. Very strong. Very strong.

[Interviewer 3]

Okay, let me ask you this. How do you balance building something you genuinely love with making sure you're not leaving money on the table, signing out?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Well, I don't know if it's selling out. I actually think it's Selling in, what you're saying, right? Selling out's the reverse. At least the slang culture term that we've all used. Right?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I think selling out is like, if I decided to just become a fucking Wall street executive, because that would be me maxing out money.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I think to. To your question, how do you do it? By knowing, going in, and this is my life. I knew going in from the get. I'm talking 18. I'm talking my. My watershed moments are 18, 22, 34. You know, going into college and just like really not wanting to be there and being like, I'm really going to build my dad's business while I'm launched a website, all that. Then 22, actually doing it and built then 22 to 30. 30 was like, man, I have no money. And I built a huge business for my dad. And my dad's not a bad person. He's an immigrant. He's like, I'm not going to pay you. Because I'm like, I'm not really paying myself either. It wasn't like my dad was making a million and I was making 50,000, but the business was getting all the money. But he owned the business. Like, you know, he was able to do shit with that asset. I was like, hello. And then 34 when I started kind of going on my own and doing my own shit. Every one of those chapters, I knew going in that I was going to leave a lot of money on the table. When I wake up in the morning today, I know I'm leaving money on the table. So. But that's because that's the combo of having with myself. How do you do it? By being honest with yourself. I think one of the big issues for humans is they struggle with their relationship with themselves. Like they're deeply, you know, so many people are insecure, at least minimumly insecure. All of us are insecure in some things. And I think we're delusional. And I think we sell ourselves bullshit because we're selling other people bullshit. And we start to believe it. And like. So I think for anybody who wants to go into passion, you know, there's a. There's millions of people who've done this. There's millions of people who've decided to be public servants, who know they have some money making talent, who decided they're gonna serve God or serve children as a teacher or serve the local community as a cop, who are leaving money on the table. But it makes them tick. Listen, I understand those people heavy. I'm a little weird Because I make a lot of money anyway. But fuck, man, I leave a lot of money on the table in a real, real way. And I'm not even talking about not compromising like a $5 million deal for like a cannabis Mars on Mars company. I'm talking about like, oh, I could do a private equity firm or I could be a hedge fund manager, or I could, you know, be a VC full time, or I could just raise capital all the time or, you know what I mean? Not like selling out more just like making a decision that I'm gonna spend my day to day to maximize dollars. I spend my day to day to maximize my happiness. That I believe is my happiness. I define as what I know will make me happiest ish today, 70, 80%. And that what I believe will make me happiest, that I did it five and ten and fifty years from now. So it's like a mix of like enough like a lot of happiness today. 60, 80. And the reason I say 70% last year, I would argue that when I woke up I was happy in the macro. But my day to day grind last year, into the first half of this, into the first quarter, last 15 months leading up to the launch of this, I know vfriends is coming, but I also know that Vayner X is a fucking 320, 50 million dollar business that I've got to get proper and put the pieces in place. And like, so last year you talked to Zach and Mike, you ask them like, what did Gary do last year? They're like, he was in that office in the corner from nine to fucking nine every day. That was it. And by the way, that's why I wasn't on a lot of podcasts. Like if you look last year, almost all my content, like for the hardest core Gary Vee fans, most of my content last year was refurbished from prior times. That's why I've been popping off a little bit more in the last month. Because I'm back, you know, back feels like, and, and I'm really coming back post Labor Day, like really coming back. So I think 2026 is going to be a year of Gary Vee. 2024 was the year of Gary Vaynerchuk, the operator, the businessman. And so it ebbs and flows. And like when I'm more creative, when I'm more chopping up with you guys, look at even the goosebumps. When I'm being more creative, I'm happier, but I have the resilience and the understanding and the lack of entitlement and the fucking grit and the fucking patience and all the shit I talk about to have had to have these last 18 months, because that's what I fucking signed up for. I'm comfortable sleeping in the bed that I fucking built. Yeah, right? People go out and fucking have a child with two different people and then, you know, don't marry either of them. And they're 25. And, like, I have some fucking character, homie. Friends, like, not all my friends are bougie. I grew up fucking kind of a certain way. And then like, my boys are like, yo, this is fucked up. I can't chase my dreams. I'm like, bro, you fucked a bunch of girls and created a bunch of babies. You have responsibilities. You didn't have to do that shit.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Sleep in the fucking bed you made.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

People fucking complain about shit that they created. It's facts. People complain about shit they created and then start looking for who to blame. The government, their dad, you know, if my dad didn't fuck girls, like, you know, like, as if every son follows the exact path of every dad. Not true. So what you know, of course you share DNA, you see what you see. But, like, this is the shit I.

[Interviewer 3]

Think about the self awareness aspect of.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It and the accountability. Yeah, right to your point. It starts with self awareness. You're not aware if, like, you can't see that, you're up, you're in trouble. Once you understand that and you'll see it over time, everybody eventually sees it. Are you ready to, like, own it, or do you believe you can trick everyone into not seeing that you are that?

[Interviewer 3]

Okay, that is interesting. Then I want to ask you this question. I've been going back and forth with Ernesto about this. So I drive a Range Rover back home, right?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yep.

[Interviewer 3]

And I've been recently considering downgrading because I just personally am looking at it.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, you're listening to too much Gary Vee content.

[Interviewer 1]

Why?

[Interviewer 3]

I'm like, why is there, like, why is this massive car payment and insurance maybe coming out of my account every month? Like, can I afford it? Yes. But also, I don't really know if I care for it. But then on the flip side, I have this, like, thought process of, like, well, I'm an entrepreneur. Money buys happiness. Maybe. Is that a part of the brand?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So, well, that there's a. Let's break that down. Money buys happiness. If it's not your happiness, I've never had a nice car. I have zero happiness on that. But I'll buy a fucking six figure Trading card. Like I buy, I bought like I bought millions of dollars of things, but yet have never had the jewel. You guys know me enough. Ish, you know, like money buying happiness needs to be defined on what's your happiness. Now the next part is also a problem. The brand. Look, you're sitting with a very popular entrepreneur. I'm comfortable and I say this with all humility, but I'm in the M as like top 25 known entrepreneurs. I'll go there. And I feel like I've got a little bit higher than that. I don't do that.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So. And I'm not saying, by the way, I don't think I'm right. I don't judge people. Sometimes people come in me like, yo, you, Gary, you say, look, Rolex and Lambos. You this is what makes me happy. I'm like, could if that actually makes you happy, do you. But if you're doing it to get girls, or if you're doing it to fucking posture and disguise, or if you're doing it because you think that people will then join your mastermind, well, then we gotta talk. That's different. Yeah, that's different than you really know what a Porsche feels like. I would not know what it feels like. Like, I don't get off on like driving stick and understanding the smooth ride. I don't give a fuck.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But on the flip side, I know owning one of the only Spider man rookie cards from 1966 Donnerus gets me off and I have a very funny feeling. 99.99999% of the people that just listen to into that sentence, they're like, what the is he talking about? That's stupid and that's awesome. That's what life's about. Some people want to spend their money on sitting courtside because they both think it's good for the brand and it's bougie, but they actually with basketball. And then I see people sitting courtside that are there for the selfie who couldn't tell you any of the 10 players on the court that shit is what I'm interested in. Everyone's allowed to. First of all, by the way, on the record, my subjective opinions mean nothing. I'm one human being. I have the like. I don't think I get to say how to do it. What I do and what I talk about and what I'm passionate about is I've lived a little bit of life and I see who's happy and who's not. I just see a lot of People that look happy on Instagram, taking drugs every night to just go to sleep, to get the voices out of their head. That with me. And I do not want others to go down that path. And I want the ones that are in there to break the out and get the simplicity. I do think materialism is a problem.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Do you think as a business owner, at the beginning, there is an image you want to kind of have when you're dealing with people that might be signing big contracts for you or big clients? Do you see what depends on.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, of course it depends on what you're selling. But let me give you a story.

[Interviewer 2]

Marketing, let's say.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, but let me give you a. I wish AJ walked by right now. Do you know what the ultimate story of Vayner is?

[Interviewer 1]

Tell us.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

In 2011 11, we signed a huge deal from not one of our biggest clients. We had much bigger clients. Pepsi, Campbell's, but it was like a mid size. Was it magazine? I don't remember what dude calls AJ because aj, I took the meeting, but AJ was in the meeting. I was traveling. Dude calls aj, AJ text me. He's calling me. I could tell it was good because we always are. Like, if something's bad, like, call me heart. So I'm good, you know, Like. Like, it's. Guys, please text with context. Everyone's fucking everybody up. Like, like, like, if you don't call me, like, give that person. Like, they think your mom died. Like, you know, like fucking, like, give people context out there. We got to fix this. It's a pandemic. Anyway, he's like, call me. I'm excited because I knew it was good because of the way whatever emoji put in or what he said, I call him. He goes, bro, we got the fudgeing thing. I'm like, we got the fucking deal. It was a good deal at the time. Hundreds of thousands, which was big for us. We were small. And then he goes, guess why? I have no idea. He goes, the dude said, the reason I went with you is because your offices were a piece of shit. And I know that you spend your money on the right stuff. And that's who I wanted to work with.

[Interviewer 1]

Wow.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So in that story, it was the reverse. Literally, the actual reverse. Now, there are many people that look at it the other way. Look, if you're doing marketing services, the reality is, is you're actually only. And this is something, you know, I'm very comfortable saying because I've lived it and watched everybody else for the last 15 years in this space, your work is gonna be the punchline, like, real talk. Like real talk. Like, if you're gonna build something big.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And that's why I've always focused on, like, we need to be the best. Yeah, that's. By the way, that was a lot of what last year was about for me. Getting VaynerMedia and the Sasha Group, which is the other big agency and my holding company, to get. Fucking great. Cause social was changing, marketing was changing. I had to teach them about live social shopping. I had to get everybody on board with fucking using influencers and creators in addition to the content we make. I had to get everybody on AI tools. I. I had a lot of things to get 2000, 3000 people from here to London to LA, to Mexico City to Toronto to Amsterdam to London to India to, you know, Malaysia and Australia all aligned. That's work.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, it's true.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay, so let's talk about AI a little bit. Do you think it's dangerous for humanity?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Of course they can be like, like, if, if, if Russia and China and America and Saudi and India create AI enabled robots that act like humans, that can police and fight war. Like, that's some, you know, gnarly shit.

[Interviewer 3]

Yeah, it could get real scary that way.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. I mean, I think I, I don't really even see an outcome of where they wouldn't do that.

[Interviewer 1]

Fair.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, like, that's what governments do. They, they try to protect their sovereign soil and they try to control their citizens. Okay.

[Interviewer 3]

But from the flip side, as a, As a, let's say, somebod marketing space or the creator space.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Oh, you want me to go way down? Yeah, you got like 10 levers down. Go ahead.

[Interviewer 3]

How are you leveraging it? I. I know you've spoken about, like, podcast hosts are going to be AI, creators are going to be AI. A. What do you think is the timeline on that? I don't know. Creator, do you, like, do you be scared, like, or how do you. How do you set yourself up?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I'm scared every day. If you're an entrepreneur, you should be scared. If you're a creator and it sounds. You're an entrepreneur, right. You're trying to make money by being a person. So now I wouldn't use the word scared. I would say, am I awake? Am I woke to it? Am I focused on it? Did I spend three hours on a flight yesterday looking at three different tools that could do tasks that my employees do, which eventually means my clients will expect. Do I think about those things? Yes. Do I think about people Do I think about, you know, understanding how to police and maintain my intellectual property and my copyright? Yes. I mean, you think about these things. But, yeah, like, I mean, look, in any big technology, you either take that sword or that sword will kill you. So what I would say to you guys is, you could be like, fuck, just as we were fucking getting going, this shit came along, motherfucker. Or you could be like, we're going to keep building our brand, which is always going to matter. And doing this while over here, we're gonna create a podcast with two girls that talk about fashion. You're allowed to do that.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You're allowed.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So, right, you could take the sword and be the one that wins.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What if I told you in four years you're making three times the money that you make on this podcast with that girl's podcast, that you just write the script in the morning for 15 minutes and that's life.

[Interviewer 2]

It'd be amazing.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Depends. For me, that'd be devastating. I'd be like, what the else do I do with my other 23 hours? I'd be like, now I gotta start 10 more of these and I'm gonna go garage sailing in the middle of the day. Like, you know, like. So it just all depends on what one wants. But what do I think? I think it's very big. Yeah, like, big bank.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, bag.

[Interviewer 2]

And you're just saying, just take the sword yourself.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. I mean, I think for you two young dudes, everybody in here, like, everybody. Mike, your man, like, Like, Zach, like, you got to kind of spend an hour a day. Chachi. Like, what I do every day, I go to ChatGPT. I'm like, what's the 10 best image apps created by, you know, AI apps that were created in the last 30 days? Then I click them, then I download them, then I play with them. Like, either you go to the gym or you think about going to the gym. Yeah, right.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, right.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You got it. That's the analogy. Right? Makes sense, right? Either you go to the gym or you think about going to the gym. Either you go to the gym or you read about how to do the proper exercise, but until you're doing, you're not doing. And so, like, every. All you5 youngsters must be interacting with AI apps every day must.

[Interviewer 3]

It's interesting.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

At bare minimum, chatgpt and thinking and talking. Last night, me and AJ at one in the morning after a game were doing shit like, who's Curtis Martin's WWF comp.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Who's LeBron James NFL comp, who's Lamar Jackson's NBA comp, who's Gary Vee's cartoon guy? That comp like my NBA comp stream on green, by the way. I was like, I like it too. I'm so that person. I. I think that, I think that you guys need to use it every day.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. Okay.

[Interviewer 3]

I want to ask you this. This is a little more personal to us or say so. We were just telling Zach off camera. He's been seeing it. We recently launched this thing on our social media where we're giving away $1,000 every single week. And what we do is we pick a random location all around the greater Toronto area. It's where we're from. We really niched into there and we pretty much pop up with a reel being like, we got a thousand dollars cash, we're gonna hide it in a secret location here in Branson, whatever. First person to show up, thousand bucks is yours. Or we do. We've recently integrated something where we said first 32 people to show up are going to participate in a rock paper scissors challenge.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

That's fun for.

[Interviewer 3]

For the thousand bucks.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Okay.

[Interviewer 3]

And in six weeks that we've done it once a week, we've already grown a text community of just under 5, 000 people who are waiting for the hints. And obviously these.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What app are you using?

[Interviewer 3]

Community or just mailchimp right now? And so I want to actually show you one if you want to pull it up. And I just want your opinion on like, we, we've obviously we run the podcast, we do some other content series. And then we've really dialed in on this and it's just been super viral. We've been getting like more corporate sponsorships, like sports teams wanting us to like, do their halftime show, things like that.

[Interviewer 1]

Right.

[Interviewer 3]

So this thing has like 2 million views, 15,000 shares, like ridiculous engagement. So we do it every week. It's been growing rapid, rapidly. So there's.

[Interviewer 1]

It's.

[Interviewer 3]

It's kind of a double ended question one. Are we like, do we say fuck it to everything else right now and just go all in on this?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Because it's like, well, I think, you know, I think there's a couple of things for my first reaction. And we can talk. Let's break it down because it'd be fun for everybody. My first reaction is the audience is not high value.

[Interviewer 3]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Right. Like as a shopper, like size of wallet, right. LVMH has become a huge company because their average shopper spends $40 trillion. And like, you Know companies are struggling because their average ticket size of what they sell is like a buck 30. Right. Because they sell pizza.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, true.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So I think one thing to think about is you're very young right now and is volume always the most interesting thing? Would you rather have 50 people who are million dollar customers or 500,000 that are $100 customers?

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So, but by the way, I'm going to say something also that's very important. Ish. To what I just said. Like I won't find 1000 bucks. I'm a human being. Like, like. But my intuition is that you've got people who've got time on their hand because fuck you running around Toronto to find some shit and play. Right?

[Interviewer 1]

Who.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know who that thousand is. That thousand dollars is worth their time. It's entertaining. Look, you guys are smart. You don't need me. What I would tell you like, let me teach you how to use AI. Fuck. Garyvee, go. Hey, we're doing this. Upload the video. Be like, we're aware that this has been done a hundred times over the last decade. What has transpired to those people? What businesses were built, what worked for them, what didn't work for them? I'm teaching you guys how to prompt engineer right now. I can give you my opinions, I can give you my angle that I see it from. That has been valuable. That is what's been me. But this is where AI is going to become really valuable. I just gave you a prompt that you can do that will really help you and think it through. I think that's what you need to think about. Look personally on just gut. I would not go all in just on that. I think that's campaign energy.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I think that my intuition tells me that you guys have the talent to build something more sustainable and bigger.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay. So with that being said, we kind of use it as a marketing tool right now as well.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like a campaign makes sense.

[Interviewer 2]

You have an agency and we do have the network that we started like we spoke about last time. So it is a big marketing play.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And that's why I like it.

[Interviewer 2]

And we.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But I don't go all in on a campaign for sure.

[Interviewer 3]

And I think it's fair.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Right? It's by the way. It could be by the way, do I think that could lead to an $8 million a year business?

[Interviewer 1]

Could, yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But all that energy, all that time and again it's what brand positioning is that doing for you for sure today again, I think too many people. Let me say where I'm Actually going. And then you guys can think about it. I think too many people are binarily addicted to the views and the followers without really breaking down the next part.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Right. Not all views are equal.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Not all followers are equal. Right. And so you want to just break it down and like, would you wake up in five years from now and being all in on this? And like, if everybody in the Toronto area, around the world, like, hey, you guys are to hide the cash guys, it's a lot of work to rebrand for another day. Like, there's a lot to think about.

[Interviewer 2]

I think we see it as it fitting into the money buys happiness brand already.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Because the name.

[Interviewer 2]

Obvious.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I get it. Of course.

[Interviewer 2]

So I guess that's the way we're. And the text message community is a big thing that we believe in because of course nothing to like 30, 000 and we can pull up somewhere and.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And of course.

[Interviewer 2]

And 20, 000 people are there.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Of course.

[Interviewer 2]

I think that as marketers we see that as power.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I, I agree with that as well.

[Interviewer 2]

Right.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I. I just don't think you need to go all in. Go all in as like, this is our business. I think you'll be able to achieve all those things as you're doing now in parallel while you do other things.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Does that make sense?

[Interviewer 3]

No, no, it makes sense. It just.

[Interviewer 1]

We're.

[Interviewer 3]

We just got excited. The big you should get biggest excitement is the fact that like we would literally, with one Instagram post and one text message, we can have 500 people show up anyway.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Of course.

[Interviewer 3]

So it's like we're looking like we see these massive streamers. I show speed. And all these guys, if they go anywhere outside an IRL stream, they have.

[Interviewer 2]

A mob of people.

[Interviewer 3]

And look at the power that, that of course.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But they actually. But they actually have that power.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

This is a. This is a.

[Interviewer 3]

A power. You're saying it's a gimmicky thing.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Gimmicky. It's those people are there for the money.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And. And then. And you've seen already, it starts to become a little micro community, like.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But it's. You know, when Ishowspeed shows up in the middle of Brazil, like they're all there for speed.

[Interviewer 1]

Correct.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So keep that in mind.

[Interviewer 3]

Just find a way maybe to bridge that gap.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. And like find a way to bring more value as you have that text community instead of just keeping throwing them around the greater Toronto or Canadian area. What about putting out a meaty piece of content that can really help them. That could help someone who needs a thousand bucks. Like the shit I do with like garage sale or like flipping from a dollar to 100. Like start thinking about how to provide value.

[Interviewer 1]

Fair.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Got it.

[Interviewer 1]

Fair.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So that's what I mean.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like it's good but like don't get, you know, like there's a lot of. It's like everything. Everything is so nuanced. There's right like that's why like this clip, you know, 5 second world we live in. The advantage is going to be for the people that are thoughtful.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know, the advantage is for the people that can get under the hood of the headline.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

The advantages for the person that doesn't overreact quick on just like, you know, you know, a little. A little thoughtfulness. A little before I decide who I hate or who I like or what I'm gonna do, like you know, go into your. Go do like the OGs, go in your den, put on some classical music, pour some scotch, pull out a cigar and just think for five hours.

[Interviewer 3]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

That's what I think has ultimately been my advantage. I don't do. Oh, I don't do that scene. My thinking is happening kind of weirdly always. It's kind of like even while I'm here, there's a part of my brain that's somewhere else. And definitely flights and showers and long drives. You know, I think I'm in my feels a lot more than people. I think I'm more thought. It's funny. V friends. There's 250 characters. Every character, you know, it's an ape, it's a shark, it's a duck, it's a hedgehog, it's an alien, it's an alligator. There's one character called the a thoughtful three horned harpic. In fact, we have our comic book coming out that tells the origin story of him. He's the only character I made in Be Friends that is not a character that exists. There's no such thing in the world as a three horned harpic. And I did that on purpose because I knew I would develop this character. And I want to impose on a generation of kids and young men and women that thoughtfulness. Like, when the fuck do any of us see the word thoughtfulness in a clip? 0 I've never seen it. Like this clip is gonna be the first time. Like we're popping cherries in this podcast, you know, like we're not thoughtful.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know, like everyone's so fucking triggered. Hot takes and everything's like, even Elon Trump. Like this. Literally, people in a hundredth second decided whose side they're on.

[Interviewer 1]

Yep. True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

No, thoughtful. Like, everyone, like, what, like, my name gets. I love them. I hate, like. Like, nobody's, like, in it. So I would just say to get deeper. And that's how I was breaking that down. Notice how. What I was doing. And that was four minutes.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 3]

You're saying go deep.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, just think about all the things I said in four minutes.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And I just want you to do that for four weeks.

[Interviewer 1]

Sure.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And then you'll make better decisions.

[Interviewer 3]

Makes sense.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay. One more question before we. I want to crack open some cards with you.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Because we come across this all the time. We'll start a project or a content series or a business. And we love it at first.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And then you don't.

[Interviewer 2]

But it's still making money.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yep.

[Interviewer 2]

So how do we decide whether to.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

By realizing there's something called opportunity costs.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Right.

[Interviewer 1]

I know. Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know where I'm going. You're making 4,000 here a day, a week, a month, a year. And it's costing you this much time. But you hate it. And you don't realize. And this is, like, why people should quit jobs and go for their dreams. You don't realize that if you cut that $50,000 a year thing, all that time that even the hours you spend being upset about it giving back to you will make you 100k.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Even the time. Forget about. Even the time you need to do the thing, whatever that thing is, the time you get back that you're spending on, like, this. I don't want next Tuesday. Got to do the consulting thing that, you know. Yeah, that.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

And so you would suggest cut it off as soon as you feel that way.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes. Well, again, thoughtfulness, of course. You know, as soon as you know. No. Right. You know, my team knows. I call it smoke and then fire. I'm always like. I'm always talking to them. I like teaching them this thing. I'm like, for me, it's always like, nothing's happening. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there's smoke. Starting to get these feelings. Smoke. Like, wait, do I. Do I want to be doing that? Wait, is that the right price to charge for how much I charge for speaking? Wait, do. Like, I need to be involved in every meeting of this. Like, it used to be way more important. Might be less important. Smoke. Right. Week later, I'm like, yeah, like, I fucking. I need to raise my speaking fit. You know, Like, I'm talking to myself a couple days later, I'm like, damn, three people said no to the current speaking fee. And I'm trying to say I gotta go up. Am I right? Next day I'm like, no, I'm fucking right. You know, like. And you're smoke, smoke, smoke. And then it goes into fire. When it goes into fire for me, I start to act, okay? In the stories that I'm telling right now, I'd be like, yo, Zach Nadler, who runs Vayner Speakers. I'm like, I'm up, I'm up. Put another 50k on it. I don't want to really be speaking. I'm in my fucking veefriend's bag, right? And so I'm up, yeah, And I start to act. The fire starts to cook. So, you know, sometimes that takes three days, that whole process. Sometimes that takes four months. Sometimes that takes four years. Yeah, Smoke fire. So like, you just want to keep checking yourself.

[Interviewer 2]

Of course.

[Interviewer 3]

You know, self awareness, a lot of self awareness.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, always. And then what? You'll. How old are you?

[Interviewer 1]

I'm 29.

[Interviewer 2]

31.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, you'll see, like, at 39 and 41, here are the secrets. One, you're gonna feel exactly the same. I'm straight up.

[Interviewer 1]

Thank God. Nice.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, for real.

[Interviewer 2]

Good news.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Maybe not physically, you start to lose a step on the court. But, like, mentally you're gonna feel the same. You're gonna be just as hungry. Promise I'm real. Shit. You might have new dynamics in your life. Love, children, whatever. You know, those things that happen between 30 and 40. But like, in your soul, it is who you are. But you're going to have more pattern recognition. You're going to know yourself better. Like these gray hairs that come with real value. Like, we really, you know, we've been so obsessed with youth culture. Everything's about looking younger, you know, acting younger, dressing younger, being younger. And we've really lost our way on putting the OGs on a pedestal. You know, 100 years ago, 15 year olds weren't the culture. 51 year olds were. You know, like, you know, when you come from immigrant DNA, like, we put those fucking OGs on the pedestal, but we've lost that. We now make fun of 80 year olds because they don't know how to use TikTok. Meanwhile, those motherfuckers know how to live. They know what life is and we fucking make fun of them. It's crazy. I actually want to see the rise. In fact, I'm thinking about starting a company both human and AI influencer versions of only 70 to 90 year olds.

[Interviewer 1]

I like that.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I think podcasts with like 80 year olds that are still like, look, there's plenty of 80 year olds that are like pretty non vibrant and like, it wouldn't be good content, but I know so many 80 year olds that are still doing it, let alone vibrant. Yeah, those would crush. And all the kids that listen to this should listen to that person.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Not do what they say, but just hear wisdom, perspective too. Yeah. That's what ended up happening with me because I had like a 10 year head start on this whole game. I became that person. I became worth listening to because people are like, damn, Gary was there in the MySpace and Facebook, Twitter. Like, you know, it became. And you know, as I continued to stack things, that made sense. Trust built, right? And so like, you know, so of course.

[Interviewer 3]

Okay, open these cars or what?

[Interviewer 2]

So, yeah, I wanted to bring you a gift, please. And we went to our friends at Minting.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes, they're welcome.

[Interviewer 1]

Right?

[Interviewer 2]

And he goes, see these? I go, yo, we need to get him a gift. He's like, he got everybody everything he wants already.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

All right.

[Interviewer 2]

I said, why don't you crack some cards with him? So I would love to crack a pack of these with you.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I would love to. I would love for you guys to open a pack and read the back. Yeah. Here's what I want to talk about to everybody who's listening. I'm going to assume, let me do a public service announcement for Veefriends. All of you have to go to ebay and type in veefriends and go to completed sold items. It will blow you away. I'm actually genuinely, really building the next Pokemon in Marvel. And I'm doing it in everyone's face. But because everyone's so distracted about Gary Vee of it all, they don't even see it. In the same way that a lot of people think I'm a motivational speaker.

[Interviewer 3]

Isn't that crazy?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Like, really? And I'm like, when they come here, they're like, what the fuck is this? I'm like, the company. They're like, what company? I'm like, vayner. They're like, what's Vayner? I'm like, you know, the $350 million a year revenue, not valuation, revenue business that I run that I'm the active CEO of. Like, I actually run it. And I actually run Veefriends and I'm actually massively impactful on the VCR group, my restaurant shit. And I'm massively impactful on VaynerSports, one of the hottest, biggest emerging sports agencies in the world that my brother runs. And I still am super involved in my dad's wine business like and Vayner Watt, my TV production company. Like, I'm a businessman who happens to do content charity for the kids out there. On a daily basis. I want you to focus on the back of the card. So anyway, these cards red hot. These boxes were $99 when they came out six weeks ago. They're selling for $550 a box on ebay. I should have sold this thing, man. Yeah, you guys talking about making money. You're fucking blowing it now. Check this out. This is why I'm so excited about it. If you look at the cards. Creative crab. But look on the back, you'll. This is where this is. So you guys have probably not gotten deep enough, but you know me, you're going to like this. You know what Veefriends is? It's 250 characters that I'm gonna use to expand on what I'm trying to get the world to think about. As Gary Vee, I can't get to everyone. I'm not everyone's cup of tea. I don't look the part for everyone. If you're like, you know, I'm still kind of hanging in, being cool to the kids. But fuck, man, I'm 49. Like it's not gonna like, I don't even know how this has gone this far. Like, you know, 68 year old me, I gotta be empathetic that if you're like a 16 year old, you know, Puerto Rican kid in the hood, like 69 year old me is like, dude, doing my thing. Like there's a place where that just. I'm not gonna be able to penetrate. Plus there's been many audiences I've never been able to penetrate. Maybe a mom that doesn't like cursing. Yeah, right. Maybe you know somebody who's like, wants to look up to somebody that looks like them. So they're an Asian woman and like this white dude's not gonna do it. They gotta find. But Vee, friends, these characters can get to everyone.

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

From the corners of Brazil to fucking Melbourne, Australia, to Tokyo, Japan to Belgium, I can get to everybody with these characters. And that's why I'm building it. And then that's why, like when a kid gets focused. Falcon. Read the back of Focus Falcon.

[Interviewer 3]

Focus Falcon. Competitive advantage. Laser focused on every goal. Soaring with precision and discipline. Focus on the goal and Everything else becomes secondary and then.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And then quote.

[Interviewer 3]

Yeah, that was a goal.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Oh, that was a quote. Sorry.

[Interviewer 3]

Everything else could come second.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But like now let's think about it. There's a bunch of us in here right now, nine year old us reading that. That gets interesting.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, sure.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

What about a parent who's trying to get their kid to focus a little more and now they have something that looks cool as to them.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

And they're like, all right, Mom, I'll focus.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

So like, I'm very. This is the most selfish and selfless business venture of my career. It is selfish because. Use ChatGPT.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Use it right now while you do something.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Type in how much is Pokemon worth?

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, this is scary.

[Interviewer 3]

Scary numbers. How much is Pokemon worth?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Enter.

[Interviewer 3]

This is a scary number.

[Interviewer 1]

You ready?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I want everybody here.

[Interviewer 3]

How much is Pokemon worth? As of 2025, Pokemon. Pokemon is the highest grossing media franchise in the world with an estimated lifetime revenue exceeding 100 billion.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It's a big number. So this is the most selfish thing. I'm trying to build the next Pokemon. Even if I get halfway home, I have a $75 billion entity. But it's also the most selfless. Like, I'm going to do it. And I'm trying to build this for me and my family and like, we're all wowed. But the fact that what I'm selling has the potential to have a substantial positive impact on modern parenting, on mental health, on the mindset of a generation, that fucking gets me going. Because as these comics and cartoons and movies develop and I start teaching people about decisive duck, like, do you know 90% of my questions are like, people just asking me for permission to validate them to make a decision.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Because they're scared. So no shit. Decisive duck has. Upside down.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know what I mean?

[Interviewer 3]

But you found a beautiful balance.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah. Because I believe that we're allowed. I believe that everyone's allowed to. I hate when people demonize people that are trying to make money and be entrepreneurs.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Especially for us men. Like, we were built, wired to provide for our families. We used to go out and fucking hunt and kill a wolf and bring back the meat. And today financial is one of those things. Like, I don't know, like, that's all I've ever known, is to help my family, like, with my capabilities. You're allowed. You're allowed to buy jewelry and join an expensive country club. And like, you're allowed. But for me, at least, I don't judge others who don't want to give back to society. I really don't. Honestly, I just don't have a lot of judgment in me. I don't give a fuck enough to be honest. And I'm too empathetic. It's actually the extremes.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, it's crazy.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

I don't give a fuck enough because what does somebody else's life have to do with me?

[Interviewer 1]

True.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But I also have empathy. Like, just because you made money, I don't know, you. You might be secretly paying for your sister's care because she was born completely non functional, and nobody on earth knows that you have a sister who's been in a facility your whole life. Right. And you pay for it. And so what? I'm going to judge you that you didn't donate at this charity event, even though I know you have some money? What if I don't know that you're paying 150,000 a year to give full care to your sister that you've never had the emotional strength to communicate about? I have that level of compassion and empathy that so few people have. And I don't see that braggadocious. I say that as thank you, mom, for giving me that DNA and then being the parent. That fest, she not only gave me the seed, she fucking watered it. So I don't talk from a place of I'm cool. I'm talking from a place of Tamara Vaynerchuk is cool. She made me like this. I know that story I just told. Most of the fuckers in this room and definitely on the podcast had never even thought a thought like that in their life ever, ever, ever. That to me is empathy elephant. That to me is compassionate catfish. That is what I'm going to teach. Because that makes your life better when you eliminate envy and jealousy. Because why would you sit at a charity event and waste your energy judging someone who didn't donate that you know, makes money? It's because you're jealous of them, right? Yeah, Right. Cause you're like, I just gave 5k and fucking rick makes much more money than me. They're triggered by Rick makes much more money than me.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

But I sit there and I'm like, literally. Literally. Actually, I'm like, man, I hope everything's okay with Rick. Now Rick might just be a straight dick and wants to buy a fucking another golf course and not help the kids. Everyone's allowed. Yeah, I have no judgment.

[Interviewer 1]

Wow. I like that a lot.

[Interviewer 3]

Everyone's allowed.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Everyone's allowed.

[Interviewer 3]

That's, that's. I mean, that's a hard pill to Swallow.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

It's a hard pill. Because everybody is too audacious and thinks that the world should be the way they see it.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Now, people are not allowed to murder. Like, no, but I mean, like, I need to say this, unfortunately, because people, like, clip it and they're like, what about rape? I'm like, no, people are not allowed to do that dick. No shit. People are. You know what I mean? People are allowed, but people are allowed to live their life with their money. That they accomplished the way they want it. Mean. But for me, I need to give back. I need to still make content. I need to be on nonprofit boards. I need to try to help all you fuckers that are coming up, because I was one of you fuckers. And I wish I had me. Gary Vee is who Gary Vaynerchuk wish existed at 15.

[Interviewer 1]

Damn.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yeah, man. Because I had nowhere to look. I didn't have the Internet. My pops was like an OG dude. Like, different. Like, if I had Gary Vee, if Gary fucking Vaynerchuk at 15 had Gary Vee, I'd be happier and more successful. I'm motivated by that. I want to give back to the game that gave me so much.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

You know what I mean? So that's where I'm at, boys. I gotta go.

[Interviewer 2]

Final question.

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Yes.

[Interviewer 2]

Does money buy happiness?

[Gary Vaynerchuk]

Does money buy happiness? Absolutely not. And of course, money is such a foundational part of our world. I believe that what buys happiness is living within the money you make. Got it. So if you make 49,000 a year, you can be remarkably happy. If you have humility and you live a $37,000 a year life. If you live a $90,000 a year life and get into debt because you're trying to keep up with the Joneses, even though you're not capable of making that kind of, you're gonna get hurt. It's like sports. If I went on an NBA court right now and tried to play basketball, it would be bad. That would be bad. It would be ugly. I'd get hurt. I would get uncomfortably embarrassed. And that is how I feel. Like when people are spending money on Rolexes and vacations and going into debt, you're not good enough to buy a Rolex. Live within your means and you get very happy.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Interviewer 2]

Thank you, Gary.

[Interviewer 3]

Master Class.