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5 winter wine cocktails for easy drinking!

We only have 22 days left in 2020–now is the perfect time to relax with your loved ones. Relaxing doesn’t have to be fancy. If this year has taught us anything, it’s how to be creative with what you have. With that in mind, here are 5 recipes for cocktails that feature a special ingredient that’s almost always on hand–wine!

Because we’re far past the days of apple cider and eggnog, let’s end the year right. Keep reading to learn how to make the best winter (wine) cocktails around. 

1. Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Can you name a better pairing than wine and chocolate? We couldn’t think of one either. This recipe from Wholefully.com is just the right amount of sweet, fruity, and decadent. Try it with a 2018, Royal Prince Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from Wine Library.

2. Mulled Wine

This one’s a classic. If you haven’t heard of it before, Mulled Wine is a spiced holiday beverage typically served hot. But the full, complex flavor also works well chilled or slightly below room temperature. You can make it with this 2017, Elodia El Manzano Estate Malbec from Wine Library. Try this recipe from Delish when you want to elevate your celebrate-the-holidays-from-home game.

3. The fireside cocktail

If you’re ready to kick things up a notch, check out this comforting treat from WineMag. Instead of a classic Merlot, switch to a more interesting blend like the 2015, Yokayo Buteo Rockpile Cab that’s slightly sweet with more intense fruit flavors. This cocktail is easy to improvise and customize to your taste, so it’s perfect after a long day of working from home or if you’re lucky enough to entertain friends for the holidays. Just don’t forget to add a piece of basil or mint before you sip, if you’re trying to be fancy. 

4. Hawaiian Spritzer 

Maybe you can’t go to the tropics this year, but you can make this cocktail (and that’s kind of close). This recipe comes from WineMag.com and it’s the perfect blend of bright, tropical flavors and intense holiday spices. Try it with a 2019, Chateau Lacombe Cadiot Bordeaux Supérieur–a blend that’s bound to take the guesswork out of picking the right spices to give this cocktail that special holiday feel. 

5. Dripping Springs Seltzer 

This is another fire recipe from WineMag.com. Switching from the reds, this recipe calls for a light, sunny, wine spritzer. Try this Cruset Blanc De Blancs from Wine Library that’s bright, fruity, and light. Similar to the Hawaiian Spritzer it’s best when sipped in the sun and thinking of the tropics. 

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The Top 3 Wines For The Holiday Season

I hope whoever is reading this enjoys an amazing holiday with their loved ones. Speaking of the holidays, do you know what’s underrated? Spending just the right amount of time, and money, looking for the perfect wine to share. There’s so much information out there, it can be confusing to know what to pick. With this in mind, I decided to do another episode of Wine Library TV— the 1,003rd episode– 2020 Holiday Edition. 

Phifer Pavitt, Date Night, Sauvignon, 2018 

The Phifer Pavitt Date Night, Sauvignon, 2018. It’s from Napa Valley, $20-$30, depending on where you buy it, and has earned 91 points from Wine Spectator. It was a fun way to start my five-year run on Wine Library TV. Back then I, along with the American consumer from 2006 to 2011, was not feeling Napa Valley or California Sauvignon Blanc.

As a matter of fact, I think I said that all the Sauvignon Blanc in California should be ripped up and replanted with a different grape. That’s how little I valued it. Then, I really valued Sancerre and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. However, over the last 18 months I’ve been stunned by my overall appreciation for California, Sauvignon Blanc. I think the style has evolved. 

It’s more balanced, less sugary, and less goopy. The wine world itself has begun to follow a lot of food and health trends. You know, clean eating and just  being thoughtful about what you’re putting in your body.

Smell test: I get a little bit of oyster shell. It’s very fresh,very sea ocean life. There’s a hint of melon, call it cantaloupe, with a little hint of lemon and lime coming through. So, you know, the classic oysters and cantaloupe with a little Sprite poured on top of it.

Nice nose. Let’s give it a whirl.

Taste test: Gorgeous acidity throughout this wine, a banana peel meets a Granny Smith apple.  Midpalate, huge acid on the finish. I still am tasting it. Gorgeous acidity. 

FInal Verdict: 90/100. I think this wine would pair extremely well at $20 to $30 bucks, a really strong value, doesn’t have the minerality of a great Sancerre that I’m a fan of in that $30, $40 range, but this stands up and this continues the momentum that I told you, Spectator gave a 91 points, to me, this is a 90 pointer as well.

Pairs well with: seafoods, scallops, oysters, clams, and salad.

Marnet Campbell Ranch, Pinot Noir, 2018

I’ve been hearing huge hype about this Marnet Campbell Ranch, Pinot Noir. It got 92 points from Wine Spectator, it’s a $50, Sonoma Coast Pinot. 

In the heyday of my 2006-2011 Wine Library TV episodes, Pinot was exploding. Burgundy was exploding as well. And I was talking about Barolo being the next thing to explode. Well, sure enough, you know like a good Monday morning quarterback, here we are nine or ten years later. 

You could buy it for $40 or $60 bucks back then. Now, they’re $300 to $400 a bottle. Therefore, I thought it’d be fun to have some super culty, California wine for the holidays.  Buy it for your boss, buy it for yourself, buy it for Christmas and all the other holiday dinners.

Smell Test: Okay, what a beautiful nose. It has a little bacon fat, huge strawberries… just gorgeous feet, strawberry fields forever.

Taste Test: Wow.

Wow.

Since my last wine review, I’ve had the luxury of traveling the world quite a bit and staying in some really, really, fancy hotels. This wine’s silkiness is like the nicest silkiness sheets from the most expensive Ritz-Carlton you can imagine. Just silk all the way through. Beautiful red fruit, raspberry, and strawberries throughout.

Final Verdict: 94/100. This is an incredible $50 Pinot Noir, that in my opinion, rivals $100 red burgundies that I have 15 times a year. To me, this is a 94 point Pinot Noir and anywhere you can get it under $50 is a humongous buy.

Pairs Well With: beef, game, poultry 

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2014

The big dog, Joseph Phelps Insignia 2014. An iconic wine. 97 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Wine Advocate. It’s 87% Cabernet, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2%. Malbeck, and costs $200 a bottle. 

Over the last 25 years, that has built itself up to being one of the most significant wines in California. And I’m always so honored and excited to taste it. Let’s give it a sniffy sniff.

Smell Test: This comes across almost like a perfume, or a jam. It’s like if you walked into your grandmother’s kitchen when she made hand-made jam (now I had a Soviet grandmother and she did this all the time).

She was my dad’s mom, may she rest in peace; she was also an OG. My grandma would go outside and pick raspberries, get all cut up and crap, then come back to the kitchen and make that jam. I remember a very authentic, clean flavor. This is like that.

But when I sniff again…it smells like artificial candy. So this is a really interesting juxtaposition. On one side of the bouquet, I smelled that authentic berry, but on the other side I sniff and get a lot of candy. It’s like dessert. 

Taste Test: Blackberry, black currant, dark chocolate, high cocoa count. These are real chocolate flavors. Not Kit-Kat chocolate, health food chocolate.

This is the cacao that is probably good for you, and you should probably like it, but it’s bitter and mixed in with a lot of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. 

Final Verdict: 90/100. This wine should really still be $50 to $70, not $200 a bottle. To me, this is far from the 96 and 97 and it’s playing off its pedigree. However, it is good, and if you’re a fan of the brand it’s a solid choice. 

Pairs Well With: beef, lamb, game, poultry 

Conclusion

And those are my top 3 wines for the holiday season. Before I leave you, remember to try new things. Trust your own palate. You may disagree with all three of my reviews here. So try new things, try new things, try new things. That is how you become great at wine because you’ll get happiness through it. If you want a more in depth overview of each wine, check out the video I posted on Instagram (linked below).

I wish you all so much health during this holiday season.

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Life After High School: The College Intern

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Frederick, a 19 year old Texas native and college student who’s juggling internships, freelance writing, as well as a full course load. You may recognize him from Tea With GaryVee! 

The College Intern



How would you describe your relationship with formal education?

To be completely honest, I’m not a big fan of school. I understand it, and I’ve really benefited a lot from it, but just the whole education process in general doesn’t make any sense. 

The fact that they expect everybody to go in a certain way…and maybe you go that way. You go to college but there’s no accommodations for you, specifically if you’re Black. I enjoy learning, but I don’t like school, if that makes sense.

What are some of your lifetime goals?

I like making music. I want to be a well-versed artist. And an educator, as funny as that sounds. I also want to maintain contacts so I can freelance as a journalist. I plan on getting my master’s degree after I graduate. That’s it for right now–I don’t even know what city I want to live in yet, because that all depends.

Do you think a degree will help you achieve your goals?

Well, to be honest, I didn’t know anything about journalism before I got into college. I was actually supposed to be a music major. I love music, and I still do. But, I took a music class and I was, like, “This isn’t, it.” So I literally dropped it. I already came to college with credits, so that wasn’t a problem. I just said, “You know, mom, dad, I’m gonna do this. Please trust me. Like, I know this’ll work out.” I know my degree will help me because it’s teaching me everything that I should’ve learned had I had an inclination to journalism in high school.

Since I’m already a people person, I’m able to build on these things with what I already knew. Once I started journalism, I picked up internships and I was only one class in. They were like a crash course. 

So, what would you say you’re paying for with your degree? Connections outside of the classroom or the knowledge inside it?

Um, not necessarily–Covid happened. Marching Storm (the school band) already made it hard to network, because the schedule is crazy. However, I had actually just joined my first organization on campus, NABJ, National Association of Black Journalists. So that made socializing easier, but still not the typical experience. 

So, has Covid changed your opinion about a college education?

Before COVID, I was all for the, you know, college experience. I wanted to do all those things. Coming into an HBCU, who doesn’t want to get into the experience? 

Once COVID hit, you know, a lot of us, thought it was gonna be short, maybe a little blip in the road. But as COVID started to prove its longevity, I, kind of, bought out of the whole college experience and bought into the more, okay, it’s time to work. Virtual events only get you so far. 

The thing I enjoy (marching band), might not be back next season. But, the thing I came here for, college, is still very relevant. So, I kind of cracked down on classes and I’ve been working my butt off ever since.

How are you paying for school?

Mostly through scholarships and grants. I had to take out a couple loans but, so God be the glory, my loans are not that high. Prairie View actually just got 10 million dollars to help out with juniors and seniors. 

Did people from your community, household, support system, expect you to get a college degree?

Well, I’m not first generation at all. I think my grandmothers, and my dad, they have their masters in education. My mom has her masters of education; she’s a counselor, my dad’s a principal. My sister is a teacher too, she graduated from Baylor University. I have a whole family of educators. So my background was solid.

They taught us from a young age, “You want to make it, you need to go to school. We’re not gonna allow you to not get your education. That or the military.” And, you know, education was always emphasised more than the military.

If the traditional college system did not exist, and there were no formal means of networking and talking to professors, how would you achieve your goals?

I really don’t know but I think I’d figure it out on my own. Networking in college hasn’t really helped me as much as networking in the real world. You put your resume together, talk to people, and it’s like “there you go”. 

I feel like I’d work a way around it, but, I would probably be a lot more lost than I am now. You know, I’m appreciative of the system because, I mean, it helps.

What would you like to tell people that are considering being a journalist, or that are considering teaching?

You need to work for it and you need to earn your stripes. I was actually in a Clubhouse room yesterday, we were talking about this. Right now, I’m doing six month internships. When I started, I wasn’t expecting to be paid, because I know how broad the field is, I know how many people there are. So, it’s one of those things where if you want to do this, you need to understand that you’re not gonna get the respect you deserve, you’re not gonna get the recognition that you like, and, you know, x, y, z might not happen to you. 

But you need to push through. If you want to make your name great, that’s what you’re gonna have to do, you’re gonna have to work through all those things. 

Some people debate whether college is worth it. What do you think of the overall system?

As far as education, I just want to say:  get to know people. Learn people, learn how people are, because you’re gonna meet so many different types of people in the education field. 

You need to be well versed to be a teacher, support people, and help them succeed. You don’t necessarily need to be so legalistic about it, to the point where you don’t know how to approach a person, but I feel like that’s what our education system has cultivated. That’s why I see a lot of educators are trying to dismantle that and I appreciate it.

Growing up, my dad made a difference in people’s lives. He would buy kids lunch if they needed it, he would show up at funerals…that’s the kind of difference I want to make in my students’ lives. 

Resources:

Is an HBCU or HSI for you?

Resources for potential HBCU students

Scholarships and Grants

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Life After High School: The Workforce

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Sydney, a North Dakota native and proud member of Gen Z navigating Covid, the education system, and joining the workforce. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on her journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position. 

The Workforce

Syndey Puppo is a little bit of everything. She’s a part time makeup artist, part time skincare specialist, full time charmer. The 21 year old, Fargo native broke down how certain policies have impacted her education and what makes her generation different from the rest. 

What was your relationship to formal education?

“It was shitty. It was bullshit. They say no child left behind and all that really means is, ‘you didn’t learn anything but we’re still gonna let you pass’. That’s the vibe.” 

“I didn’t learn anything. That may be a personal issue, because I was never there but, I always had a really good relationship with my teachers anyway. Still, I feel our relationship or my presence in class,  was more for entertainment purposes. I don’t know if they expected me to go to college. I made friends with other kids just to get my homework done.” 

When I graduated, everyone told me I had to go to school, get a degree–but I didn’t like school. I went to shut everyone up.  They kicked me out of my cosmetology course two weeks before I graduated. 

What are your plans, post-Covid?

“In September I’ll get my health and nutrition certification from [Cornell].”  I plan to help people with their health and lifestyle. I don’t really care about the name of the school or the certification–but I know other people do. 

“It always looks good to have a certificate or something that says, I know this thing.” 

However, I don’t think it’s necessary. I worked in the makeup industry without having a cosmetology certificate. I learned makeup artistry because both of my parents are makeup artists. 

I’m going into wellness because makeup and health goes hand in hand. If you want to be pretty on the outside, you have to be pretty on the inside, you know? I like it and I know a lot about it. A lot of people study something they know nothing about and they hate it. 

Why do you think people pay for school, post high school?

If something is expensive you want it more–[school administrations]  want you to believe you need it, but you’re paying for bragging rights. School is bragging rights and validation from your loved ones. I know we need education, but there are a lot of people with degrees they don’t use. Unless you know for sure you want to study what you’re paying for, it’s a waste of time. You can learn for free by using the internet.

How did you pay for your first time around in cosmetology school? 

My counselor filled out my loan. I had no idea what was happening. I had my mom co-sign, a terrible idea. Thank god they froze the student loan repayments. 

Has Covid changed the way you think about school?

The one good thing about Covid is that it gives everyone the chance to learn a new skill. People can study something for a little bit before committing a lot of time and money. 

How is Gen Z different from previous generations?

“Me, personally, and a lot of people in my generation, know we have to have multiple sources of income. Our parents or our grandparents, they would have one career and stick with it, it’s different for us. 

Our generation is hyper vigilant because we’re the generation of flexing. We make a lot of money but we show it on instagram, it’s a constant pull. We’re always aware of who’s making money and comparing ourselves. A lot of people are becoming more open to sex work because we refuse to struggle. We just keep going because we’re hustlers. 

People say we’re lazy and entitled. We are, but we also fight for what we want. We’re greedy, kinda. It’ll keep us alive during the pandemic.

Gary’s Take:

I know it’s hard during the pandemic, especially if you’re in an industry that doesn’t allow you to work from home. If you find yourself in that situation and you don’t want to give up on the industry of your dreams, don’t give up. Use LinkedIn or Instagram or whatever platform you’re most comfortable with–and network. Comment thoughtfully, add value to someone’s comment section and someone will notice. That’s just how it is. 

“I think social commentating is an incredible way to build momentum toward opportunity. What I mean by that is, if you want to be a makeup artist and you have skills, and you leave 45 meaningful comments on 45 Youtube videos, Instagram or TikTok accounts ( and I mean meaningful, not like “pretty” or “rad”) I think that is a great miss. 

If you are not a great content creator, but you want to be known for your craft, the number one thing I don’t talk about is (nor does anybody else) is the commentating content creator. Which is, instead of spending 3 hours to create that piece of content, spend 3 hours going into 50 pieces of creative art around that subject matter and being an incredible contributor to that community. 

We’re having a moment here and everybody is starting to realize it. If you love basketball and you go to all 70 top basketball Youtube, Facebook, and Tiktok accounts and you spend 3 hours a day leaving fire (3 or 4 sentences of real thoughtful content) well, aren’t you a great writer. Aren’t you doing the same thing that people at the Washington Post, CNN, and the New York Times do? I think it’s a monster idea that people should seriously consider, and I don’t see a lot of people doing it. 

Don’t spam an account to show up first. Leave meaningful thoughts, times 50. Be active digitually, then show up–virtually or physically. 

Resources: 

24 Free Online Ivy League Courses You Can Sign Up for Today

How Much Can Influencers Actually Make? 

9 Tips for Young Women Entering the Workforce

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Life After High School: The Traditional Student

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Megan, a long island native who’s currently attending Columbia after getting in on her first try, soon after she graduated from high school. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on her journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position. 

Traditional College

Megan is another proud member of Gen Z. She’s a junior at Columbia University, also experiencing the effects Covid has on her education. 

Relationship to formal education.

Education has always been a strong part of my life. I’ve always been a good student. It was one of my defining traits. Also, it was very common where I grew up. 

Do you think your degree, and the education you’re getting, will help you more effectively serve people? Or will it just help you get better opportunities?

I think the type of people I’m meeting here are informing my political thinking. There are lots of wealthy people but Columbia also has a generous aid package, so there’s a good mix of ideas. 

I’ve  never learned anywhere else so I don’t know if the education from Columbia is better equipping me to be an advocate for certain people, but I do know it’s changing my thinking and challenging me. I have a deep understanding of the first amendment and state politics–I’ve had great professors and I’m learning so much. 

But I know prestige begets prestige which will help me in the future.

What are some of your goals?

I became interested in law after taking some electives in high school. Later, I got into local politics after doing a few political campaigns, both in DC and here in New York City. I want to go to law school, that’s my formal education, end goal. I’d like to be an attorney, judge, or run for local office. 

Will college help with your goals?

I was really conscious of this when I was applying. I want to go to a law school that’s prestigious and rigorous, so I need to attend a similar undergraduate university. The top law schools definitely consider your undergraduate degree. I want to get a foot in the door with more competitive graduate schools. For some people, price is more important than prestige. My twin brother, for example, he wants to be a nurse so he’s more interested in what’s the most cost effective. 

What is your tuition paying for?

Networking, education, and the professors. I’ve studied under amazing professors; Columbia opens doors. When I have Columbia on my resume it gets me the interview. There are Columbia graduates who only hire Columbia graduates. 

How are you paying for tuition?

Lots of financial aid, and I’m an RA. I might not be an RA if that didn’t make it virtually free for me to come here. My first semester I did take out some student loans and my mom had saved money as well. 

People assume schools like Columbia or Havard are unaffordable, but they have massive , billion dollar endowments. They just throw money at students that need it. Everyone should apply and take advantage of the financial aid packages.

Of course, it’s not as accessible if you’re an international student. It’s definitely difficult to get in but once you do, the administration works with your financial needs.

Has Covid Changed Your Opinion Of School?

Covid has taken away the social aspect of school.  But I’m able to do the same readings, discussions, and work virtually. It’s easier in person but Covid hasn’t changed my opinions. 

Do you think you can learn the same things you’re learning at Columbia just by joining the workforce? 

“There’s theory behind something, then there’s practice and putting them together creates praxis.” School helps me ask, “why do we do things this way? Can we do things differently?” School gives you the basic knowledge of how systems work and also the tools to think critically about it. School doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the workforce, it gives you the scaffolding to or foundation to change the workforce or see if the processes are working the way they’re intended. It expands you, not prepares you. 

Study what makes you passionate, not what’s practical. You’ll be much happier. 

Did your community  push  you to go to school?

Yes. We had guidance counselors, mandatory meetings, even if you weren’t applying to college you had to meet with a guidance counselor to explain why that was the case. Vocational school was fine but you had to be doing something. Everyone was expected to complete another level of school. No one mentioned gap years.

Why?

I think it’s a hand me down fear. I’ve never met someone who is young that didn’t want to go back to school after taking a gap year. Even my parents don’t want me to take a gap between undergrad and law school. I feel like people go back if they want to go back. 

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Gary’s Take 

Hiring empathic professionals is easy. A university’s leadership just has to look for them. It has to be part of the process. We spend a lot of time at Vaynermedia looking for “nice people” because that’s important. I think we also need to be empathic to universities–they are businesses, period, end of story.

They’re going to lose their professors to other colleges if they can’t pay them. These colleges, universities, private schools, have shown their cards during this pandemic. They are 100% financially dictated; they’re full of shit of trying to pretend they’re not. I don’t like that part…by the way, on the record, I understand.

A lot of times we look at businesses as “evil”. I don’t look at it that way, I look at it as they’re doing what they need to be doing. Then you, as the individual, need to do what you need to do. 

So much of college is ROI: the campus, the people you meet, the experiences–and when they want the same amount of money for you to sit a home on Zoom, you can say go fuck yourself and I’m out. 

I’m not surprised that kids are concerned with the administration now because young millennials and Gen Z are some of the most aware, conscious subset of people. However, that bleeds into delusions and ideology . Like, you might not pick a university because you don’t like how they handle things, but remember, they’re doing this to stay alive financially. 

People complain about other people making business decisions, and I’m like Why are many people getting a diploma? To leverage it for yourself. Don’t be a hypocrite. It comes down to an honest conversation.

The colleges are doing what’s right for themselves, let’s not act like they’re not. 

Resources

How To Get Into An Ivy League School

Part Time Jobs For College Students

Learn About Campus Life At Columbia

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Life After High School: The Apprentice

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking about Frank, a millennial who discovered his passion at age 15. Now, he’s giving his take on “the hustle” and what it takes to succeed. Keep reading to learn Gary’s take on Frank’s story and his advice for future hustlers with a dream. 

Apprenticeship

Frank is a millennial who just turned 31 this year. Rather than attend a formal university or trade school, Frank networked his way into an apprenticeship at just fifteen years old. He’s spent the last fifteen years cutting hair, perfecting his craft, and growing his client base. Then covid happened. 

How has covid affected the cosmetology industry? 

“Everyone’s trying to make do. It’s just you [don’t] have new clientele walking in anymore. You don’t have random people just walking in and waiting for a haircut. So it’s difficult to build a business. People aren’t able to look at every barber to see what kind of styles they have and what they would like in a haircut. 

It’s a mess right now.”

How did your relationship to school impact your decision to become a barber?

“I would focus but dealing with your peers…dealing with ‘oh, let’s do this after school’, it interferes  with your studying. I think once you get older, and progress through your high school career, you’re less focused on studying and more on having fun. I knew what I wanted to do though; I started cutting hair when I was 15 years old.

 It started off as a little hobby, then I thought wow, maybe I could do this as a career.  I had been getting my haircut at lots of different barber shops, so, you know, you talk to your barber. You ask, how much [a barber] can make and things of that nature. I found out I can make a lot of money cutting hair. That was my thought process, if I build my clientele I can make more money than someone who attends college. 

Although you mostly learn on the job,  I made the choice after high school to go to cosmetology school. It teaches you how to pass the licensing exam.” 

Did your high school have cosmetology courses?

“They did but you had to be a “model student”.  A teacher had to recommend you and your parents had to agree to it. I couldn’t find a teacher to recommend me, so I didn’t get that opportunity. However, there was another program close by so I went there, during electives, instead.”

How did you build your client base? Social media?

Word of mouth is better than a social media following. You have to network and be social.  Social media is good to showcase your skills, not build a clientele–unless you’re in an area that’s underserved (i.e. “little to no word of mouth”), then you can build on social media. Still, you have to make sure your craft is excellent. 

Although, social media may be a good place to start. In the beginning, you could be very aggressive with it. Instagram helps you get clients, then they should give you the word of mouth [clients]. It’s like building an Ebay account. You can’t have a social media following without any reason to follow you. I know someone, I won’t say who, who only had a few clients. Then she recycled each photo until her client list began to grow. 

It  takes years to build a good, tangible client base. Your  location matters too. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to a profitable business. It’s definitely not just social media. 

Do you think you’ll continue your career post-Covid?

I love cutting hair, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve been in the business for 15 years, it takes a toll on your body. Maybe I’ll switch industries. I could be a business owner, and have my own shop. It’s an easy business to run in my opinion–but it’s just a headache. I think if I did want to open a business I wouldn’t need a college degree. I would just need to know the right people. 

What do people pay for when they pay for school?

Just like any product or service, you’re paying for the name. It’s the same thing as anything else. Just because it says Louis Vuittion, it’s more prestigious. In the end, all that matters is if you work hard. If you work hard you’re gonna get it, that’s how you succeed. 

“I’m not going to take education completely out of the equation, because education is important. But, getting a master’s or a doctorate degree…” [there isn’t always a strong financial return on your investment]. Especially when you factor in student loans. Sometimes “uneducated people” , those who only know a trade, can make more money than those with multiple degrees. 

Plus, Covid. Everyone learns differently and no one wants to sit at home on a computer. 

Gary, how can people do what Frank did if they live far away from their dream industry? 

Get a boring job for a year, save every dollar, then travel to where you need to and live rough until you don’t have to anymore.  

People throw around the word “dream” too easily.  Like, they’re talking about getting an ice cream cone down the street.  My dream is this, but you’re not willing to sleep on the couch and eat Mcdonalds for a year? You’re telling me it’s your dream and you’re not willing to get a job you don’t like, maybe bartending in the worst bar in town, to save up money to buy a ticket to LA? 

I’m not assuming anybody has any money but if you have a dream, work for it.  Save up to afford a plane ticket and the first week in a hotel.  DM every person who lives in LA to find one person who will let you sleep on their couch for six months. Or a friend of a friend–dreams require doing everything. 

Don’t tell me you want to be a movie star while being unwilling to pay the sacrifices to get there. What do I recommend? Lock into your mind that the next five years of your life are gonna be garbage. You’re not gonna have luxurites. You’re gonna live real raw, but good new, you’re gonna be chasing your dreams. That’s the best. 

Resources:

How To Land Your Dream Job With No Experience 

What Are Apprenticeship Programs And How Do They Work?

How To Become A Successful Barber (A Guide)

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Life After High School: The Self-Starter

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Scott, a New Jersey native and entrepreneur who worked his way into a lucrative career. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on Scott’s  journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position. 

The Self-Starter



Relationship to formal education 

I was actually never really a good student…all my teachers sorta gave me the same remarks when I was growing up. “Shows aptitude” and “is able to do the work, chooses not to.” Still, I always liked learning. It probably wasn’t until around fifth or sixth grade that I really started to fall out of love with school. Probably has something to do with puberty, but who knows?

I personally don’t have anything against formal education. Even when I was growing up, the plan was always to go to college. I knew exactly what I was gonna study but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. It probably wasn’t until I actually started working that I got a good idea of what I wanted. 

I don’t want to say school failed me because I really don’t think it was the school’s fault. It was me choosing not to pursue opportunities that were given to me in formal education. I think I learned more by doing and that’s not fair to put that on a school. They can’t say, “Hey, here’s middle-level management [classes] or here’s how to be a creative director,” you know?

What were some of the classes you took that helped you become adept at social media management and video production?

I took a CAS class, which was video production, for four years. I learned more about what not to do than what to do in video production by taking that class. Again, that was just because I brought my own computer to school. I would bring my own camera and find my own ways to solve problems that I was running into. If their equipment wasn’t working or they weren’t offering me  the experience I wanted, I would amend my own learning experience. 

I had a digital arts class that was probably the most influential class I took during high school. 

What else, formally or informally, has helped you build your career?

My parents actually. My dad was in operations management and I would often overhear my mom conduct business meetings with high level companies. I’ve always had a really strong attention to detail and I think most of what I’m good at stems from that. 

Also, I’m always approaching things from a problem solving perspective. It’s not just about, “Hey I would love to see a new video this week. Let’s put one on Twitter” or “Let’s, post something on Instagram this week.” Well, no, that’s not really how I approach it. 

I say, “Well, what do we need to say this week? What do we need to put out there? What do we need people to know?” And then we work backwards.

How did you begin your career as a creative/social media manager?

I want to preface everything by saying that all the opportunities in my life–I’m also extremely lucky that I’ve had two parents that stayed together.  They were in a happy, healthy relationship. I never had issues at home, and I was also born straight and White. So, I recognize that that offered me a lot of opportunities that I otherwise definitely would not have had. I always had this feeling…like, “Well I can explore opportunity and I can explore these other options.”

With that said, out of high school I promised my parents that I would go to college. I signed up for community college but before that I turned 18. Every year, up until that point, I would call Apple and say, “When can I work here?”.

Long story short, I got hired by Apple. I was learning so much–not just about software  and technology, but about customer experience and company values. I worked at Apple for three years. When I was 21, I decided to go into business for myself. 

Over the last ten or so years I was creating pre-roll content, commercial content, social media content, as well as website management and development for a variety of clients–Kean University primarily. That was pretty much it until 2019.

See, in 2018 I met my partner Cat.  She had been doing real estate and she knew I was in social media, video production, and digital marketing. We kind of figured in addition to being partners in life, maybe it made sense for us to be partners in business as well. So I started helping her curate, manage, and create her brand. I officially quit Kean, my main client, because Cat and I are just too busy. We did over 20 million in volume this year and we’re gonna have at least 35 different units this year that we’ve sold or helped people buy.

Is your work experience what made you decide to forgo school?

Yeah, it made going to school really difficult. I hated it. I absolutely hated it. It was worse in college because I was like, “Wow! I’m voluntarily doing this? I’m paying for this, why?” Especially because when I first started in County College, it was all general education stuff.

After literally two weeks at County College I stopped going. 

How did your work experience help you start your own business?

While I was at Apple I met a lot of people who were also into video. I learned a lot more about professional video and like what it takes to be a videographer and an editor. Additionally, I had also gotten my certification in editing in Final Cut, and all these things that Apple paid for, which was part of my training. 

I also had good luck. During my time at Apple I worked with my cousin’s company who does small business marketing, community management, social media management. This was early 2010s so all that stuff was still kind of fresh. There were all these businesses at the time that knew having a social presence and an online presence was important but had no idea how to do it. And my cousin’s company Eighty6, their whole focus was on getting people’s websites to be good looking, responsive on mobile devices, modernizing, and all these things.

So when I left Apple I was also working with him. I wasn’t getting paid much, if at all. But I took on some major accounts.

Then my father got me a contact at Kean. And so for the next eight years, I guess from 2012 up until this year, I was the lead video producer as a contractor at Kean University. They started me off at $32k and eventually after a few years they got me up to 50k and by the time I was done I was making 70k.

How did you support yourself as you grew your own business?

So during the time after I left Apple I had a little bit of money saved up. I had a lot of stock in the company as well (which I still do) and I was still living at home. So I didn’t really have any expenses like rent or anything like that. My parents promised us early ,both my brother and I, that as long as they’re alive we’re always going to have a place to shower, eat, and sleep. 

Luckily I had that security. If I was going out with friends, I would do a wedding video and get $3,500 and that would be enough for me for the month. The only bills I was paying for were subscription services that I had to do my video work. So, it was pretty  low overhead to run my life at the time.

Tips for anyone who wants in on social media?

Again, this was reinforced at Apple. My whole goal is, if at the end of a conversation the person who I was working with was asked, “Hey, would you recommend Scott?” That answer needs to be a yes.

Working at that store, they only care about that one metric and this was probably the biggest guiding light in my entire life. So I just took that and ran with it.

That metric is in everything I do in life now. Whether it’s real estate, video production, social media management, client success, or B2B deals. 

What do you want people to know?

I mean, I think the best advice is to follow your dreams. Again, I say this knowing full well that I am a straight white man with two parents and all the opportunity in the world. 

That, in combination with surrounding yourself with people who are supportive and encouraging, is important. Even if you don’t have that, seeking it out, finding it online, and watching videos helps. I learned a lot of what I did just on YouTube. I’m not an expert or anything, but I think that people in general always need to be receptive to learning and to learning from others.

We’re in a giant melting pot, we all have something to contribute. It’s about how we can use our abilities, our privilege, our knowledge to best help everybody else. And I think that as long as people are coming from a place of caring about other people, you can’t really go wrong.

I never thought about making money, I never thought this is gonna be what I have to do to make the most money. I always just thought about how I can be the biggest service to somebody else? What am I good at that I can help everyone?

And then from what, what I’ve seen of Gary Vee, he’s, he’s the same way. I know he’s very passionate and I think as long as you have that, that’s it.  It’s important, and you can’t force it. You gotta really want it. 

Resources: 

Skillshare Video Editing Classes

Start a Business On A Budget

Marketing AI

High Paying Jobs To That Don’t Require A Degree

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Life After High School: The Gap Year

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today, we’re talking to Glorian, a Venzualan immigrant who’s planning on attending college after an impromptu “gap year”. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on her journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position.

The Gap Year

A proud member of Gen Z, Glorian came to the United States in 2019, shortly after she finished high school in Venezuela. Although she had always been a good student, she didn’t immediately begin searching for colleges to attend stateside. She wanted to start school soon after graduation, but she thought it was better to take a time out and figure out what she really wanted. 

“In Venezuela it was really weird. I do like learning and having more knowledge but, like…the education I had was not the best.

Because of all that’s going on in the country, there were times that I didn’t have teachers in certain classes. Sometimes there were issues with light and electricity. So [I felt] I didn’t get all the information I was supposed to have. Here [in the United States] it was complicated. It was really hard to understand English grammar and stuff. It’s hard to stay engaged.

Still, my issue was less of a language barrier and more due to the general quality of Venzuelan education. There were not a lot of resources because [my school] was really poor. If you had a lot of money you could go to a very good school, with a higher quality of education, but if you don’t,  you have to stay in a school that’s not as good. It’s stressful to be in a situation where you want to learn, you have the passion, but the education system doesn’t help you. It’s similar to what’s happening in the United States. If you have money you can get into great schools, if you don’t you have to go where you can afford. At least here, no one pretends everyone is equal.” 

Now, Glorian is looking to take the CAT exam to enter Cuny. “I’m interested in learning psychology…but I’m also not 100% sure. It’s nice to have options.” 

Why do you want to learn psychology?

Mainly it’s because I really like listening and trying to help people. I listened to all these TedTalks about being who you needed when you were younger. That hit me because when I was younger I didn’t know what I wanted to do at all. What I would have liked was a therapist, or anyone, to tell me what I was going through was okay. I would like to be that for someone else.

Do you think a college education will help you do that?

A college education would make me better equipped to do that. “There’s a lot of things that I still don’t know and there’s so many ways to fuck up a person if you don’t have the correct information. I think college can give me the correct information.” 

What do you pay for when you pay for college?

It’s mainly the knowledge that I can get. If I meet people along the way and network, that’s fine, but I’m paying for the information so I can get a good job and help people. 

How do you plan to pay for college?

Right now, I have a job, but I need to start saving money for college. I don’t have the ability to ask my parents to pay for college–I have to do it myself. 

I’m not gonna lie, it’s scary. It’s scary to say it’s an investment, for years. Maybe after so much time you’re going to realize you don’t like what you study. However, my mom has always told me that you need a secure plan. You need to go to college. 

Gary’s Take

I believe one of the biggest misnomers of my position with education (and many other things) is that I believe it is a self awareness game. What I mean by that is, what I’m pushing against is that everybody in the 80s and 90s decided that college was the only route. That’s finally changing. 

Glorian’s parents might not want her to take a gap year  because her parents want her to live her life based on what they believe is right. I think that is the greatest mistake that parents make. Parents think that they know better than their child when their child is a grown up. Maybe not an experienced grown up, but treating 23 years olds as if they’re 9 has created enormous amounts of insecurity, anxiety, and a lack of belief amongst the millennial set. 

The fact that there’s even an arguement or conversation speaks to the fact that children are over relying on their parents. Most children will listen to their parents because the parents are the ones who pay for school. The parents, at their worst, hang the financial thing over their kids’ heads. They may have a conversation at first, but if the child digs in, it’s “Hey Kid, that’s cool. But, if you take this gap year, you’re paying for college by yourself.” Of course the kid folds.

If that’s not your situation and you’re not financially depending on your parents, then you better take a gap year. Your parents have no leverage. I understand loving your parents and wanting to appease them, I understand it cold. But, you always end up resenting your parents. From the kids perspective, you think you’re making your relationship with your parents stronger, but what you’re doing is making it faker in the short term and more vulnerable in the long term. 

Resources 

Should You Take A Gap Year

Side Hustles In NYC

Gap Year Abroad? Consider becoming an Au Pair

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Life After High School: All Of The Above

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Eunice, a New Jersey native who’s done a little bit of everything education wise. Now, she’s  finishing up her Human Resources degree while she works full time as an executive assistant. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on her journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position. 

All Of The Above

Eunice has done a little bit of everything on this list. She attended Rutgers at age 18, dropped out to go to community college, left to focus on herself, then entered the workforce. However, after years of hustling and learning various skill sets, she made the decision to return to college at age 25. 

Why did you choose to go to college at 18?

“I went to college purely because I had to. My parents are immigrants and education is a really big deal. My mom didn’t care what I went to school for as long as I was in school. 

I went to college and realized I was not prepared for it. I went to Rutgers to do accounting and I realized that was not for me. I dropped out of Rutgers to go to community college, for three semesters until I was like, you know what? This is still not what I want to do with my life. 

My grades were good at community college; I just wasn’t into it. So, I dropped out to go to cosmetology school.”

Were you passionate about cosmetology school?

I was at that time, and for the next several years. Then I got burnt out. Part of the reason I stopped doing hair was because it’s hard as a freelancer. Salons don’t provide insurance and most salons don’t give you a 401k. So, I left to go back to college. Now I study finance at Baruch. I wanted to end up in an industry that gave me more money and more security.

Do you feel college prepares you for the workforce?

I believe college does not help you with networking whatsoever. I’m one of the older people in my class because I went back to school at the age of 25, and it’s amazing how little social skills these young adults have. They’ve never had a job. I’ve been in so many industries: waitress, hostess, hairstylist–the place that taught me how to talk to people was the salon.

I learned more about accounting practices at my job than I did during my first time around, studying accounting at Rutgers. College is not necessary for life. It’s not necessary to have a successful career. There are a lot of people who work in finance who don’t have degrees, especially in the United States.

What are people paying for when they pay for school?

It opens doors, because some people don’t look at your resume if you don’t have a college degree. The only thing more expensive tuition implies is that the name is better. I don’t think a college degree is necessary for many things. It depends on the industry that you’re in. If you want to open a salon, no. If you want to build an app, yes. One of my professors was prominent in journalism, if I wanted to be a writer that would have been useful.   

Do you think people should go to college only to improve their job prospects?

No. I was a finance major when I entered Baruch, then I switched to computer science purely because I thought my chances to get a job would be better. I hated the major, sucked at my classes, and realized I was doing it for the wrong reasons. Now, I’m back in finance. 

Why do you think immigrant parents push education?

“In the Philippines, where my mom is from, you’re not climbing out of poverty cutting hair. My mom became a pharmacist because getting a formal education was the only way out. Which is why she put the emphasis on me to get a formal education. 

You can be an entrepreneur in a foregin country (or build an app), but it’s a lot harder. That’s true for a lot of things in the US.” 

Has Covid changed your views on education?

For me, it’s the same. A college education isn’t necessary for everyone but it is helpful for some people.

Gary’s Take:

If you want a job, and you’re thinking about going to school just to get a job…

“Network digitally and then virtually. Virtual networking is probably the number 1 move on earth, if you want to be an executive in the airline industry. Going to LinkedIn and replying to every airline executive’s posts with thoughtful, meaningful ideas–consistently– for four to seven to 13 months where you brought value to 87 different people. It’s not like you have to be an expert to give perspective. It gives you the chance to be discovered. 

A member on my team is an example of that. He was unbelievably active in my LinkedIn community, I met him in person, and a moment happened.  Be active to people’s content then either physically or virtually, get in front of them. 

You can go to college and meet someone who could give you an interview, or you could do what I mentioned. They both work. “

Resources:

There Is No Right Way To Live Your 20s, But There Is A Wrong Way

Humanistic Psychology and Your 20s

How To Be Assertive With Parents

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Life After High School: Community College

Are you in high school wondering what your next move should be after graduation? Maybe you’re currently applying for university or trying to snag your dream internship? Perhaps you’ve been out of school for a little while but now you’re trying to decide whether to go back? If any of that sounds like you, keep reading.

Today we’re talking to Glorimar, a Venzulean immigrant who’s attending Columbia University after transferring from LaGuardia Community College. Keep reading to get Gary’s take on her journey and his advice for anyone in a similar position. 

Community College

Glorimar finished a nursing degree in her home country of Venezuela, community college in the United States, and is currently in her third year at Columbia University. She’s also Glorian’s older sister.

Describe your relationship with school.

“I’ve always been a school person. Ever since I was little. I always did my homework and my mom never had to check because I always did what I had to do.”

“In my family, everyone went to school. Out of my grandmother’s six children, only one of them doesn’t have a college degree. 

I went to nursing school because my mom was a nurse and she thought I would be good at it. After one semester, I knew it wasn’t for me but by that time I was determined to leave the country anyway, due to the social and political issues Venezuela is currently experiencing. 

Once I got to the US, I knew I was going to go back to school eventually. So I went to Laguardia Community College and then transferred to Columbia University. 

Is it possible to be successful in Venezuela without a college degree?

It’s possible to be successful in Venezuela without a college degree. My dad is an entrepreneur and my brothers work for him–but it was very important to my mother’s side of the family because education took her away from her really poor village.  There were no roads in her village. After school, she became chief nurse of all the hospitals in Caracas. 

That was just our mindset, we go to school because that’s how we advance in life. 

What are you studying now?

“I feel like my major isn’t super desirable for employers. I take classes like ‘the craft of dialog’ and ‘south african culture’  so I started to include classes like communications management and management for stable income. But, what I’m studying is really helping me to be what I want to be, which is a great writer.” 

Without college I would probably read and write a lot, in order to become a renowned writer. But I’m not really a self starter so college is really helpful. I don’t think it’s necessary for everyone but for me, I don’t know any other way to be successful. Plus, I love school. 

When I tell people I’m going to pay 100k for a creative writing degree, they might say “Oh, what’s wrong with you.” But nothing will change. I love it. It aligns with my goals. 

What are you paying for when you pay for college?

I’m paying to showcase my skills and my story. I have a cool story and I’ve completed a lot, this degree shows that. The experience, the learning…plus my English has improved so much. My first day at Laguardia [Community College] I was so impressed by how articulate the teachers were. I would think, wow I want to talk like that someday. Not without an accent, but by expressing myself so clearly. 

I’m exposing myself to so much knowledge, and connections. Up until now, I can’t say that the connections have helped me find a job, but I think they will. Even puting Columbia on my resume for babysitting jobs is really helpful. 

Has Covid changed your mind about school or education?

Columbia is helping students like me so much. It makes me feel they’ll also work hard to help me get a job. 

At first, I didn’t want to go because I didn’t feel safe with Covid, but the administration is helpful. I don’t mind online classes because my courses are mostly seminars and lectures. It might be different if I was still doing a nursing program. 

This is an opportunity because Columbia isn’t charging as much as they usually would. They’re waiving or reducing fees like student life or library and printing. The only thing between me and my degree is money. I plan to take as many classes as I can.

Compare LaGuardia Community College with Columbia University.

It’s absolutely different. The professors at Laguardia are good but Columbia is much more rigorous. What I read at Laguardia for one semester is one week at Columbia–but I would never have made it to Columbia without LaGuardia.
“I would recommend community college for anybody  that needs a solid foundation. Especially for a student like me that never had college level education in English. 

How did you pay for college?

I knew I was going to transfer so I began to save when I first entered Laguardia. I was a bartender so I was able to save a lot of money in just two years. Most of my savings went to Columbia in the first semester, afterward I had a scholarship which helped me pay for college. My scholarship increases as long as your GPA is good. My GPA is a 3.9 so my scholarship keeps going up, which is important because I am paying for college completely on my own. 

Final Thoughts?

“I’m studying because I like it. I already spent three years studying something I was not passionate about. I have a degree in something practical. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering what if? Have balls to follow your dreams, and don’t let people bring you down, especially people who can’t relate to your experience. 

Be careful who you listen to. People who I did not admire, the managers at my job that have been there for 20 years and HATED it, they’re the ones who told me not to pursue my passion. People who I considered successful, people who seemed happy, they told me to go for it.

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