Gary Vaynerchuk's Blog, page 18

New To Sports Card Investing? Start here.

Many of you have questions about investing and collecting sports cards, but don’t know where to begin. 

Don’t worry–I’ve got the links on everything you need to get started on your journey with collecting and investing. Trust me when I say, sports cards are going through an enormous transformation right now.

My take.

After studying the card market for three years, I have this amazing feeling of conviction. All “cards”, especially the top 5% of vintage and rare cards, will go through a transformation similar to contemporary art’s transformation over the last half century. I wanted to make this list because while I know many of you have already educated yourselves on this topic, it’s not too late for those who haven’t. 

Of course, there’s a lot to learn and there’s risk, as with any investment. However, the joy I’ve felt investing in cards is so remarkable. I feel as confident in cards as I did while betting my professional life on social media back in 2005. From 2006 to 2009 I spent time learning, I went all in, and this feels exactly the same. As always, there will be dips but I am excited about what’s ahead. The macro opportunity is clear. 

This list will be updated with all the latest sports card content we produce, so bookmark this page and let’s jump into it.

Articles



One37pm:

Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s PSA 8 Rookie Card Is Crushing It

Why Kareem’s rookie stands out.

The 10 Best Sneaky Good Deals for Pokémon Cards You Can Find on eBay | ONE37pm Editors

Who doesn’t like a good deal? Pokémon and Ebay, count us in!

‘Data Debates’: Kevin Durant 2007 Topps Base vs. Luka Doncic 2018 Prizm Base | ONE37pm Editors

Comparing the base rookies of a modern legend and rising superstar.

Your Ultimate Guide to Selling and Investing in Sports Cards | ONE37pm

The definitive guide for anyone interested in selling and investing in sports cards.

27 Vintage Cards Every Collector and Investor Should Consider | ONE37pm

If you’re diving into vintage, this list is the place to start.

How to Understand the Value of Your Old Sports Cards

Pricing older cards can be tricky, but this will help.

PSA Qualifiers: 6 Things You Need To Know | ONE37pm

What is a qualifier and why should you be aware of them?

The 16 Most Expensive Trading Cards

If you’re really ready to take the plunge, this list is for you.

The Most Expensive Yugioh Cards of All Time | Matt Ford

Same as above, but Yugioh edition. 

Our Official Pokemon Card Price Guide | Matt Ford

Exploring Pokemon cards made easy with this simple guide

17 Best Basketball Cards To Buy Right Now

The most common question out there … “What should I buy?”



From The Blog:

The $1.8M Lebron James Card: What Does It Mean?

I talk about how the sports card game is changing

9 factors to consider before buying sports cards

Considering getting your feet wet? Check out this list before get into it.

Why I’m Investing So Much Money In Sports Cards (Examples Included)

Here, I explain why I think the future’s so bright for sports cards.

Jordan-LeBron Card Sells For $900,000: Here’s What It Means

Record-setting sales cause ripples and this one is bigger than most.

Why I Believe Sports Cards Are About to Explode in Culture and Value

This was the first post I put out about the sports card explosion and what’s in it for you.



Videos







I answer questions in a much more detailed, slower format on Tea with GaryVee.







If you are deep in the sports card world or just starting to get interested and want to learn more, this is the perfect video for you.







I sat down with the Breakfast Club to discuss the value of sports clubs with “the most dangerous” morning show.







Looking for a push? This video is it.







Want to see how excited I was when I first realized sports cards were going mainstream? This video is for you.







Doing what you love is the key to long term happiness. I spent 4 days in Chicago connecting with other sports cards fans and sharing knowledge.







More of my thoughts on sports cards and breaking down the ROI on certain cards.







A conversation about sports cards, sneakers, and reselling.







I sat down with Rich Wisen to discuss my passions and, guess what came up? Click the video.

The post New To Sports Card Investing? Start here. appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

How One Caller Flipped $50 Into A New Mindset and Income

Starting from nothing is a common theme on Tea With GaryVee, but this first-hand account might be the one to inspire you to start flipping. That’s because Shawn started his journey with just $50 and a thought that garage sales and thrift stores might be the answer.

Shawn: Gary, you’ve changed my life man; both financially and mentally.  Last June, I started watching your garage sale videos and I have a story that I think will impact everyone listening. 

[I saw your garage sale flip video and] I was like, fuck, I can do that shit. Although, at that time, I only had 50 dollars in my bank account. I had 50 dollars, student debt, and a part time job.  [Still], I was working and trying to make extra money by flipping things on the side. 

Gary: So, wait, you have 50 bucks, you see the video…and it’s like, fuck. You see the video and you think: that’s not investing in Facebook, that’s not starting VaynerMedia, that’s something I can do.

Shawn: Yeah, exactly.

Gary: I don’t want to get emotional…but the single reason I did that show was because of what you just said. Right now, the only thing I want, the only thing that drives me, is to help other people get happy because I’m so happy. I think the world is so abundant…and I came from dirt too bro. 

Shawn: Same bro.

Gary: I wasn’t given shit. I figured it out with humility and work ethic and education–trash talk is education, by the way. [I’m interrupting you]–keep going!

Shawn: So, I started going to garage sales and thrift stores. I would buy things for a dollar, then I would sell for two or three dollars. 

Gary: Where? Craigslist? Facebook Marketplace? [I’m asking because] two or three dollars on Ebay, with fees and shipping, isn’t much.

Shawn: Well, it was mainly Ebay.

Gary: So, you were learning. Even if you made fifty cents, you were learning.

Shawn: Facts. Plus, it built up my [seller] feedback, which helped promote the other stuff I would sell on Ebay. 

I really think anyone could do what I did since I only had 50 dollars to my name when I started. I was still working a part time job. I’m also a college student; if I can do it, anyone can.

This past school year, I was working three part-time jobs, as a full-time student. So, I’m living proof that the “Oh, I don’t have time” excuse is just wrong.

Gary: Everyone has time. People … tell me they don’t have time as they watch me. It’s like, why are you watching me if you don’t have time? If I was a kid, I wouldn’t be watching Gary Vee, I would be out doing. You have to do!

So, what was your first breakthrough?

Shawn: I found a little Einstein’s play-thing. And it was complete; it had all the pieces and everything. I found it for $5 at a thrift store. Then I sold it for $100 on eBay. From there, I kept learning and learning … then, this last month, I made $10,000 in sales. I grew $50 to $10,000.

The thing is, anyone can do this.

Gary: I know.

We’d love to hear your flip stories, wins and losses. Also leave a comment letting us know what stories you’d like to hear next and don’t forget to tune in to next week’s Tea With Gary Vee!

The post How One Caller Flipped $50 Into A New Mindset and Income appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

3 Unusual Ways to Start a Career in Marketing

One of the unique things about a career in marketing is there’s no right path to success. Even the definition of success is up to you. So we compiled guests from the Marketing For The Now series who are living proof that if marketing’s your passion, there are countless ways to get there. From national champions to chance encounters, here are just a few of these leaders’ unconventional paths to success.

How did you find success in marketing?

Musa Tariq (CMO, Masterclass): “That’s a great question. [At first], I was adamant I wanted to be a banker. I was growing up in London, I wanted to drive a fast car…unfortunately, halfway through university I lost both my parents. I had to pivot. [Later], I met someone who told me to do something I love with my life, and I would do well. I loved marketing, but there was no one for me to talk to about it. LinkedIn wasn’t around and Facebook had only just started and there was no way to connect with people. 

It was really, really hard. It only happened because one individual who worked in marketing happened to sit next to me while I was in a restaurant. We randomly started talking, and he sort of guided me [into that world]. His name was Michael Inpong and he’s a marketing director in the UK. [Our connection] was as random as him sitting next to me in a restaurant.

I once heard a story: luck is chance versus opportunity. If you don’t put yourself in [ideal] situations, the opportunity will never present itself.

Can you talk about your non-traditional path to marketing? 

Jen Sey (CMO of Global Brands, Levi Strauss&Co.) : Haha, well I’ve certainly had an unusual childhood; I was an elite gymnast. At five years old, with an unnatural combination of discipline, commitment, and a degree of talent I got [on the national team]. I was there for eight years and I was the national champion in 1986. I wrote a book about my experiences and was featured in the Netflix documentary, Athlete A. 

A national championship? You must have been on top of the world.

Jen: Unfortunately, despite my success, I left the sport pretty emotionally broken. There’s a culture of coaching cruelty that, I would say, is pretty dominant in the sport. Not every coach practices it, but it’s way way too common.

So, what drew you to make the switch to marketing?

Jen: It was challenging. I went to college to figure my shit out, [which is hard] when you’ve spent the part of your childhood being told you’re garbage. You [eventually] begin to think you’re garbage. I kind of didn’t know who I was without [gymnastics]. 

What I love about marketing, specifically branding, is that it intersects art with science. Data analytics and gut perspective [intertwine]. You’re able to understand how the content can connect to the broader culture. I am competitive, I want to “win” in the market. But, I [truly] enjoy being a part of a team.

I avoided sports after gymnastics. [Now], I learned to manage my competitiveness and work for an awesome brand. 

What was your path to a career in marketing, Thomas?

Thomas: [Actually], I had a pretty unconventional past. I often wonder how I got into marketing…what am I doing here? When I was a kid I wanted to be an actor. 

How did you make the switch?

Thomas: I spent a lot of time working in policy and government. Soon, I became the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) for the state of New York. Then, I went to the dark side — I started working for [big marketing agencies and financial firms]. You learn from those hardcore institutions that you can do anything if you break a problem down to its pieces. Those were some of the most painful years of my life but also some of the most incredible learning experiences. 

What do you enjoy the most about marketing?

Thomas: I admire the process so much. [Balancing] humanity with clear and measurable business results. It’s like how you can break down [and study] the process of basketball [even though] not everybody is going to be Lebron James, you can still be pretty good. You get to redefine the roles of businesses and brands in the community, society, and policy. It’s true, businesses and brands can play a strong role in positive change. 

That’s all for now, Vaynernation. If you liked this post, be sure to share it on Twitter with the #MarketingForTheNow.

The post 3 Unusual Ways to Start a Career in Marketing appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

Arianna Huffington and Gary Vaynerchuk on Sleep and Work

In today’s modern society, your wellness should be on the forefront of your mind. However, in the lives of many, the importance of wellness often takes a backseat to success and financial gain. With everything that’s been going on in the United States and abroad, it can be easy to neglect your mental health and physical well being. For that reason, we revisit a conversation between Gary Vaynerchuk and Arianna Huffington — two mavericks in their respective media niches — about how they think about wellness.

On Sleep

Gary: Arianna, for the four people who don’t know, can you describe who you are?

Arianna: I’m Arianna Huffington and I was not born in this country, I was born in Greece. I’m an immigrant, a naturalized immigrant (whatever that may mean). In 2005, I launched the Huffington Post with Kenny Lerer. I have two daughters and I have written 15 books. 

Gary:  Excuse me, did you say 15? Geez, I was proud of my four. That’s a real number. I got a lot of work to do. 

Arianna: You have plenty of time to catch up.

Inspiration for Arianna’s book The Sleep Revolution

Arianna: I had collapsed from sleep deprivation and burnout; I hit my head on the way down from my desk. It [was] a terrible wake-up call. I broke my cheekbone and [I woke up] in a pool of blood, asking myself: is this really what success looks like? Not just I, but millions of people have bought into this collective delusion. 

Gary: People know I work a lot. [However], I say this often: I’m a huge believer in sleep. I always [talk] about hustling 18 hours a day, and [working] those kinds of crazy numbers, but boy, I am all in on sleep. It’s just math; you need to sleep. In the same way, I started taking care of my health a couple of years ago. 

Sleep Habits 

Arianna:  Eight hours each night, 95 percent of the time.

Gary: I think, people think, four or five hours. [But], I’m rarely five. I sleep mainly six, sometimes seven, hours. It’s [harder] when I travel,  [but] I’m a much bigger fan of sleep [than] I think than people realize. 

Fighting Sleep Deprivation

Arianna: Try to take a nap [whenever possible]. It will make you more productive [because naps] reset your system.

Sleep Transitions 

Arianna: [Yes], we need a transition to sleep. If anybody has children you know that you don’t just drop your baby and your young child to bed. You give her a bath, you put her in PJs, you sing her a lullaby….modern men and women have dropped the transition.

The transition is: you are texting, emailing. You put your phone by your bed and you turn off the light. Then, what happens is that you may be exhausted enough to go to sleep but your brain has not been given the opportunity to wind down. So, it’s going to wake you up in the middle of the night with all this innate chatter that is completely and utterly unproductive.

Sleep and Productivity 

Gary:  If you wake up fully recharged, it means you wake up ready to take on the world. You know that feeling? You wake up and say, “Come on, bring it on.” It won’t matter how many obstacles, challenges, or setbacks [you encounter].  

So, get your sleep in, but don’t watch four hours of “House of Cards”, or play Candy Crush for an hour, or play video games for six hours if you want to build a business. I’m not [talking] about how much you sleep, I’m [talking] about what you do when you’re awake. 

Arianna: Hard work is not the problem. We’re talking about being your most efficient, best self when you show up to work. 

Work/Life Boundaries 

Arianna:  You’re not going to be much use to your children, your patients, or anybody if you let yourself burn out. Nobody should be able to reach you at all hours, unless you have what I have. [I have] a dumb phone that has no data. [It’s] for my daughters and for an overnight news editor [to contact me] if there is a crisis. My regular phone is outside my bedroom [when I sleep].

Gary: The same thing for me. I have [my emergency phone] by my bed but it is completely silent. It never wakes me up.

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Are Influencers The New Editors In Chief?

Influencer marketing is one of the most misunderstood concepts in business.

There is no doubt in my mind that influencers are the next editors-in-chief. Which is to say, if an editor-in-chief dictates what comes out of an outlet that is trusted, say a Washington Post, an ABC Worldwide News, or what was Life Magazine–that’s exactly what’s happening with influencers.

Now, that audience respects that human and that human is endorsing that brand.

Why Influencer Marketing Isn’t “Selling Out”

I would argue against the belief that influencer marketing is “selling out”. That, somehow, the audience doesn’t believe the influencer. I would argue, there’s an interesting depth and psychology behind influencer marketing. People that love somebody as an audience actively appreciate brands that subsidize that person’s life. Now, that influencer can continue to entertain or inform them the other 330 days a year. There’s a subconscious trade going on, between the audience and the brand that’s subsiding the livelihood of that influencer.

That brings almost a weird appreciation… like thank you _____ brand. If that brand wasn’t paying this influencer, they’d have to go back to working a regular paying job and their fans really enjoy their comedy, their looks, their information, and/or their content on a daily basis. 

How To Work With Influencers

With this in mind, there are a few things to remember when working with influencers. In general, collaboration involves three things. Number one, influencers are underpriced and overpriced so really do your homework on who the influencer is. Do they have a manager that’s asking for a big number or are they just a regular person? Can you compensate them with your product or service for free?  That is always a good trade. 

Next, I think the way to work with influencers is to let them have 100% control of the context of the content. I am consistently blown away by the naiveté of brands that try to dictate to influencers how they should make the creative. It always feels awkward, it doesn’t land, and it doesn’t convert–even if the influencer says “Yes.” A lot of influencers have gotten smart enough to say no. 

Number three. Volume of an influencer marketing campaign matters. I talk a lot about volume content because I’m blown away by many brands. They do a campaign with six influencers and then decide if that’s good or not. We live in a world where there are tens of millions of micro and macro influencers in play for almost any brand on the earth. So, that’s something. That’s part of the strategy people should think about.

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Why You Should Use Instagram’s Pinned Comments Feature

Instagram has changed a lot since its first introduction to the public in 2010. The platform is now available across all devices and it’s evolved to compete with up and coming challengers. Today, the User Interface now includes Stories and Reels, which is aimed to rival TikTok and other short-form video platforms. Additionally, there are now more features than ever before to help content creators connect with their audience.

We spoke with Gary Vaynerchuk about Instagram’s new feature, the “Pin” button. Often underutilized but always important, we’ve outlined why pinning Instagram comments is important and how doing so can help content creators grow their brands.

Team Gary: Why is pinning Instagram comments so important?

Gary: Pinning Instagram comments incentivizes thoughtful conversation. As we all know, the comments section can be a gutter of spam and very non additive remarks. But, if the creator is doing a good job of curating the right comments through the pinning, that person is  going to incentivize more people to be thoughtful and add value to the conversation.

[A content creator’s followers] are going to be selfish about wanting to get pinned. [It’s] because [they assume] they’re going to get more followers, metrics, and opportunities for themselves. This makes them better community members and makes [the content creator]’s overall profile a better world. 

Why is pinning comments better than going live with a fan,  or commenting on their followers’ content? Is pinning comments the best option?

I think both are necessary; [Content creators] should do that as well. Pinning comments is an extremely quick, very easy tactic for busy creators. It also allows that [pinned] comment to have the best positioning in the [comments section] because sometimes, even when you reply, it shows up at the top, it’s all over the place…this just guarantees exposure for the comment .

[Exposure] then leads to things–quote, unquote things–for the commenter.  Things like more likes, more followers, more “clout”. There’s a lot of us that just want to be picked by our favorite celebrity or influencer. A lot of us want 50 extra followers in one day, all because we got pinned. I like that,  for the creator, it took two seconds. 

Is that why you think Instagram created the feature? 

Yes, I think Instagram is smart enough to realize healthier more fruitful commenting makes the product better. 

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2020 Fundraising Strategies For Nonprofits

Those who undertake the noble effort to work within a charitable organization often feel trapped between the group’s greater mission and the need to raise cold hard cash so they can actually do the good work.  How are the rules the same and how are they different from the for-profit world?

Gary and his guests have debated and discussed this question for years. What makes a non-profit effective? How can NGOs  become self-sustaining and leverage the realm of social media? 

These questions are not new. They’ve resurfaced time and time again, most recently at VaynerX’s Marketing for the Now series, with no legitimate “quick” answers. Below are approaches from Gary and his guests to the most common question … “How do nonprofits make money?”

Question: What should an up-and-coming charity focus on to be successful?

Scott Harrison (Charity Water): Two things come to mind. One, get your business model around money. You don’t need to adopt the 100 percent model because that’s incredibly difficult. What you need is to tell people where their money goes. [Charity Water] is completely transparent with where our money is going. If [your nonprofit] needs money for a lawyer, there are people that will help you pay those legal fees, but you’ve got to tell them.

Number two is storytelling. You have to be telling stories about why your solution is the best one out of the gate.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Storytelling is it. What’s amazing about the internet is that you could be like Scott and I. You could put out a lot of great content that makes a collective dent. Or, you could be like Dollar Shave Club. The stories matter so much. 

The reason why Scott is so successful is because he leaned into self-awareness at a personal scale. When you have a certain level of charisma and authenticity and a way to communicate it in a way that touches someone, you have a way to recreate [Charity Water]’s kind of model. Lean into your self-awareness and strengths. 

How can nonprofits make heavy topics dynamic? 

Gary: The first thing you need to do is make sure you realize the content doesn’t have to be dynamic. 

Everybody thinks, “Oh how do we make it social? How do we make it fun?” Certain content has to be done a certain way. It’s contextual. [If] this is really hardcore stuff that you’re dealing with, I actually think the content needs to be educational without being too complicated. I mean, [if] it’s a depressing matter you’re not going to be able to lighten it up, right? 

You need to focus on what it is.  So, I would educate and create narratives through: white papers, infographics, slideshares, videos, pictures, quote cards, [anything] that actually educates the market. I don’t think it has to be dynamic, I think it needs to be truthfully and contextual to the platform. Is that a 45-second video on Youtube with the right tone music behind it?  Is that an infographic with the right color tones? 

I think subject matter and making it contextual for the platform are way more important than pigeonholing yourself.  In a world where you see other people having the option to be dynamic in the social media world, I think the best way to respect the content is to respect the content. I think that matters.

Question: How can a nonprofit with very (very) limited resources, quickly gain momentum and build revenue? 

Bob Wright (The Suzanne Wright Foundation): My sense is if you have a venture, and it’s got some complexity, you have to have someone that’s full time. Whether that person is paid or not paid is really irrelevant, if everybody’s a part-timer I don’t see how you get it done. 

Somebody’s always going to be looking at their watch, in terms of “I gotta go” … and it’s going to be hard to raise money that way. The other side of it is just as bad, where you take the money you raise and you pay two people that are average to be there all the time, now your energy level for the others [who work there] goes down.

You need somebody that’s going to be full-time on that issue, not part-time. We were able to pull together three different organizations with very little full-time people, but every time we got to scale.  I had to have somebody that was full time.

Gary: Listen, we’re not confused or tone deaf.  [Where you are financially] is always quite important. 

I think the thing to really think about is to get the word “quickly” out of the equation. Unless you have a miracle situation, where [your organization] becomes so culturally relevant that it goes viral, and everybody becomes aware and wants to donate (aka the ice bucket challenge, which people want to be cynical about, but the data’s very real)–that’s a virality that comes around once in a generation. 

 So we need to be more practical. Those people who work at your nonprofit, I’m sure they’re incredible. I would like to think  anybody who devotes their careers or all their time to a nonprofit is so passionate about that [cause] they can be patient during a five- to seven- to 12-year window. 

What about platform growth and building a relationship with your donors? What platform is best for new nonprofits to utilize? 

Gary: It depends on your audience. If your donors skew older, try Facebook groups. I would search Facebook and look for groups [that relate to your cause], and email the admin. See if those groups can bring some awareness to your nonprofit.

In the beginning, you have to ask. When you have nothing else, when you don’t have dollars, you have your creativity and your grit.

So, you have to ask, whether it’s influencers or Facebook group admins. 

Is there a difference between fundraising and sales? Do all or any for-profit rules apply in a non-profit setting?

Gary: The ironic thing is, they do map. If I ever get into a chapter of my life where that is the driving force I promise you my execution in that world will look exactly the same as everything I’m doing here. I do think the rules apply and I think there’s a nuance to address: the absolute respect to the customer. I believe that many people who operate in the NGO world have the audacity to think there’s an obligation from the wealthy or people they know, to support them. They come across as arrogant, I would say, as they go in for the ask. They’re less tactful, it’s all right hook city in NGO/nonprofit world. Then, when somebody doesn’t do something, they look down on that person even though the way they approached was completely unacceptable. 

The rules [of business] apply. You have to bring a value prop, way too many NGOs and nonprofits mail it in, they’re not thinking of that [potential donor]’s life, they’re just looking for dollars when life is about value exchange–even when you’re doing good things. 

Use bionic ears. Listen; and jab within the listening.

How do I “just start” to advocate for others and build the brand?

Jon Taffer (Bar Rescue): Advocacy and money don’t always travel hand in hand together. I know from one end, just my view, if you want to monetize you need money for charity. No money,  no charity. So, you start with monetization and then build to advocacy. I don’t think it’s the other way around, wouldn’t you agree Gary?

Gary: I think you should look under the hood. Do the thing before you talk about the thing … I’m a big fan of working for somebody who’s doing the thing you want to do. Pay your bills and learn the do’s and the don’ts of the industry, then use that platform to build yourself up. 

For more information about how nonprofits can grow in the area of Covid, check out these videos on fundraising and business growth .

The post 2020 Fundraising Strategies For Nonprofits appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

How To Balance Patience With Ambition: 3 Lessons From Tea With GaryVee

There was a theme for Wednesday’s Tea With GaryVee. Every hyper motivated guest this week was struggling to find balance between their high ambitions and the necessity of patience. Below, we’ve compiled some of the brightest, and most universal nuggets of truth from the latest “cup of tea.” Check them out below!

I want to grow my personal brand and share my experiences with other people. I have all this motivation and I love to work, but how do I find balance when I have so many passions and I want to make all of them big? – Anna

Gary: Patience. I also had all those things that I wanted to do, but first I created stability. The way I looked at it was to build a platform. Now, years later, companies like Empathy Wines and VaynerMedia continue to grow. 

When you have ambition it’s awfully hard to have patience. 

I feel like, for whatever reason, I was gifted with extreme patience and extreme ambition; I realize now that’s not as common as I used to think. What’s hindering [many people] is too much judgement on themselves and that comes from a lack of patience. Give it time. Things need time to manifest. Also, understand that some of the things you try may fail, and that’s okay. As long as you go about [pursuing your ambitions] in the right way, you’ll be in a really good spot. 

Patience is hard because it’s important. It’s the core ingredient to most people’s success. 

Who’s affirmation are you looking for? Take a breath and be grateful [for what you’ve already accomplished]. [Then], put your head down for a decade and put in work.  

Okay, I understand I need to put in work but I know I won’t be able to give 100 percent to everything I want to do…but I want to do it all . -Mahogani 

Gary: You can do everything you want to do, but understand that doing everything you want may not give you the financial impact you want. You might be wildly happier [without strong financial impact] but if you have financial goals, you need a stabilizer. Something you can do from 9am to 6pm that helps you accomplish your goals. It should be something you like, that may not be your favorite thing, but it helps you work toward your favorite thing.

You can have philosophical goals but you should have practical goals to help you achieve them. The philosophical goals only come if you execute them. There are many people who hit age 89 and they never reach their ideal goals because they never went operational. Instead of having excuses and regrets in your old age, execute your ideas now.

 Work for someone who already does what you want to do and learn from them. Something the shit you don’t like to get to where you need to get. 

Vaynermedia itself is me bearing it;  I didn’t need to build a business where I had clients yelling at me, there’s bullshit to deal with, and I didn’t  make a lot of money. Still, I knew I needed the foundation. I knew I needed to eat shit. I’m eating shit right now, even with all the leverage I currently have. The question is: how much shit are you willing to eat to get to where you want to be. 

Gary, what are some strategies you’ve used to disrupt traditional markets? – Alex Wang

Gary: The number one thing is patience. You’re going to have to play the long game. No one is going to disrupt all these big names in one day; it takes one decade or two decades or three decades. I’ve always had the long game in mind.

The number one thing is patience.
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Two, you need actual operational talent. No one sees me take calls at 8:30am or converse with executives in Dubai–but that’s what it takes.If you want to disrupt you need actual skill.

Three, you need to be a culturally lead CEO. You need continuity, you need the same people around you–you can’t spend all your time re-training. One of the things that’s worked for me is that I’ve built families at VaynerMedia and Wine Library. That matters. Being a true leader is having compassion and empathy. 

Finally, you have to be 100 percent consumer centric. Whoever brings the most value will win. Vaynermedia is doing more for certain brands than what our competitors are for the same amount of money. Wine Library had a better price for customers and had better customer service. It’s not super complicated.

Tune Into Tea With GaryVee, every Wednesday and Thursday .

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6 Ways To Be More Authentic On Social Media

Over the past five years, Gary has spoken, numerous times, about the ways content creators can balance their privacy and with delivering authentic content to their audience. We’ve compiled these tips to help you get out of your head and start focusing on your content!

1. Don’t Overthink!

“I think- human beings overthink shit. I think that is a fundamental problem. I think when we start coming from what’s authentic and what feels natural…the law I believe in, is that my mom and dad had sex and they created me–and I’m taking this DNA to the finish line. That’s the law I believe in.”

2. Your Content Should Be For Your Audience.

 “[In terms of business content] you need to do more how-to [content]. I get the flex of having more followers…but if you want to keep your followers you have to give them value. Show and educate them … It can’t be about you. What you really, really need to do if you want people to follow you [is] show them. 

Hear me. If you want to grow, make it selfless. This is where everyone gets caught.  How can I bring them the most value? Make it about them. You wanna be like me? Make it about them.” 

3. Post Only What You’re Comfortable And Confident Discussing.

You’re in control of what you put out. I share nothing about my kids, that’s how private I am. You are in control of what you say and what kinds of conversations you get involved with…and that’s that.” 

But isn’t that fake? I want to be real and authentic, not put on a show.

“That’s great, don’t put on a show. Be authentic and real in categories you’re willing to be authentic and real in. What I think [many people] are missing here is, you don’t have to be in every conversation. There are people who don’t even do social media because [they say] ‘Gary, I don’t want my shit out there’ … Then don’t post it.   

There’s subject matter that you don’t want to get involved [but] I never fear not being authentic because I’m always authentic. I just don’t go into convos where I feel like I don’t know what I’m talking about, or I just don’t want to share. I stay very narrow … and that’s it. [Look], any conversation you go into, you’re going to have judgement. But, if you come with good intent it all works out in the end.”

What if I’m trying to be authentic and put out content that aligns with my beliefs … and people use it against me?

“Then don’t get involved in things that could lead to that. Say things you believe in and stay in conversations you’re comfortable in. I don’t have healthcare conversations, I don’t talk about cryptocurrency [and] I studied sports cards for years before I started talking about it and putting out content. So, stay in what you know and say what you mean.

We’re going to live in a world where deepfake technology is so strong people won’t even believe in video. We’re going to have to have so much self love and compassion because people are chipping away and trying to divide [when] what we need to do is come together. 

I’m just not very interested in judging people, especially when we don’t have all the context. I’m very interested in loving people until proven otherwise. I’m compassionate, empathetic and sympathetic and I don’t need validation from anybody.  I’m in my own cocoon, and that’s what you need to practice. Period, end of story. 

If you know who you are, and your kids know who you are, and your parents know who you are [then] who cares what sammypants1996 thinks? 95 percent [of people] do feel things when somebody says something bad about them, but it starts with not getting too high in reverse. What people don’t realize, about me, is that when people say nice things about me, I get shy. I’m aware that I have good stuff going on [but] I don’t need [the praise].  I don’t need the accolades. Which is why I’m not vulnerable to criticism.  

I understand what my intent is. I understand that my Jersey-ness might be too crass for somebody, but I’m not going to change who I am because of the way [somebody] sees the world. I have respect for the way you see the world, have some for me?” 

4. Don’t Worry About Oversharing.

“I don’t think we, the people who put out the content get to judge what TMI is. The consumer judges what’s too much information. I’m a big believer in the market deciding and, I think, you learn what the market decides by listening to the market. You put out stuff and you see what they come back too. For example, for me, there’s a Vine that I put out where I’m shitting on a toilet — that might have been TMI for some people but I did it because I’m curious as to what TMI is for some people. It breaks down to two things: You decide, and then, the market decides. 

[Are] people engaging with your stuff? There’s a lot of [people] putting out content many would deem as too TMI, but the market sure likes it and if the market likes it and it works for them then you have to live your life.

We’ve seen a time where people thought Elvis shaking his hips was too much information, but I would argue that’s tame compared to what Miley Cyrus did at the [2013] MTV Music Awards. I would say that’s tame compared to what XYZ is going to do six years from now on whatever Netflix live show is around. I think things evolve, the market evolves. I really think of this as nothing [is] in the middle. You decide and then the market decides. 

You do you. There is nobody deciding besides you and the market.  There’s always this nice balance and if you’re fortunate and lucky [with] what you’re willing to put out [and] they’re willing to consume and agree with it, that’s the Mendoza Line we’re all looking for.”

 5. Be Humble and Figure It Out As You Go.

“So many of the things I say are contradictions. I think of life and business as a bridge: if you pull very hard [at both] ego and humility, or I don’t care what anybody thinks and I care what everybody thinks, or big picture and [details].  I like pulling from both ends. That’s where, I think, the strength comes in. I love pulling in opposite directions. 

If I’m giving advice … and things are coming from different angles that are contradictions, this is where you have to go within yourself and not listen to a “guru” because I’m not. Nor is anyone else. 

It’s on you to figure it out. It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s the strategy, the will, the interest of the content producer to make this judgement call. Content is going to find it’s audience, it’s in your best interest not to overthink in either direction.

Authenticity has nothing to do with the actions, it has to do with the seed of where this comes from.”

6. One More Thing About Humility.

“I’m humbled every day. Being an entrepreneur is humbling 24/7/365. Don’t get it twisted for all my bravado and all my ego, I live on humility because I’m losing every second there are problems. By the time I get off the stage I have 800 humbling moments in my phone; when you run big companies you’re humbled all the time. I love being humbled. I enjoy being humbled, that’s part of the process.”   

Hear me. If you want to grow, make it selfless.
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What You Should Think About if TikTok Gets Banned

There’s been a lot of talk about the possible TikTok ban and what effect it could have on the content creators who have built a base using that platform. We did some digging and found some advice Gary gave on this subject in 2017. Seeing how relevant this topic still is, we sat down with him and asked him to elaborate on his past points.

Team Gary: Can you reiterate what you noticed about social media platforms three years ago? 

Gary: [Sure], you can’t be reliant on just one platform.

You know this is deja vu. [It’s] 2004, all my friends are hitting me up [and saying] “Yo, Google fucked me. They did an algorithm change…I used to be the first result for hats. Now I’m page 19 and my business collapsed”. I’m like, “Yeah.” 

[Content creators must] build [their] brand and build other funnels. You never want to be at the mercy of a platform’s singular impact on your business. Now, you can also run short businesses where you extract the most [revenue/attention] you can from them, but this is why you always want to build the biggest brand.  You want to build multiple things. 

I highly recommend you build out of different places. 

Team Gary: How do you think your advice resonates now, in 2020?

Gary: I mean, everybody’s been talking about the TikTok ban, I’ve been talking about this, I mean honestly forever…this is just…the same old thing. 

Whether it’s the market that changes a platform–Vine gets bought by Twitter–that’s a business market dynamic that changed Vine’s [and Viners] career and history, or whether it’s another platform making a change [like] Instagram creating  stories which changes the Snapchat game, or whether it’s market conditions or political conditions, you know China and India’s tension leads to it being banned there and America and China’s tension is leading to a lot of the scenarios that we’re looking at now, [platforms change].

Please understand this.  The people, like Charli D’Amelio and all the others that crushed on TikTok (I see a lot of Jokes on social media like Now What LOL–what do you mean now what) they’ve exploded on every other platform because they’ve taken that attention. Where do you think all that attention goes, if TikTok actually gets shut down?

It goes to all the other places. Those eyeballs, those minutes, those hours they go to TV, or they go to audio and podcasts, or they go to Instagram Reels or Dubsmash or Triller.  The attention always goes somewhere else.  

Team Gary: What is your opinion on the constant change of social media platforms and the relative instability of being a content creator?

Gary:  What’s my opinion on this? Like, this is the way it’s going to be my whole life. I can’t control what I can’t control,  nor can anybody else that builds, you build on the attention when it’s there and then you move on. 

I fucking crushed direct mail in 1997.  I was sending so many postcards about wine you wouldn’t even know what to do with all that fucking paper.  I crushed Google search, I crushed I blew up on Viddler and Ustream…that’s where I come from. I don’t give a fuck about the platforms. I give a fuck about where the attention is that second. 

That’s what I speak about: I have no emotion towards any platform–NEVER HAVE,  NEVER WILL– I care about where people’s attention is and how do I bring them the most value.

 So you build a relationship, a brand, a reputation, and that’s how you play.

You never want to be at the mercy of a platform’s singular impact on your business.
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