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Crush It!: Why Now Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. In Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.
142 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Gary Vaynerchuk
46 books2,685 followersGary Vaynerchuk is the ultimate businessman. Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, Gary is a proven investor and advisor in the world of startups, and now an expert on the Fortune 500 world, through is work as CEO of Vaynermedia, a social media marketing agency. Having two bestsellers under his belt doesn't hurt either.
Thirty-three years ago, Gary got his start in business by ripping flowers out of people's yards and selling them back. Years later, he would use that savvy to grow his family's wine store from $3 to $45 million in just a few short years by launching WineLibrary.com, one of America's first wine websites. Fast forward to now, and he's continued to use that same business savvy, along with his brother, to build VaynerMedia, a new breed of agency that helps Fortune 500 companies like GE, PepsiCo, Hasbro and the New York Jets find their social media voices and build their digital brands. Along the way Gary launched a stratospherically successful internet wine show, written two bestselling books, and beaten Dr. Oz in basketball.
Thirty-three years ago, Gary got his start in business by ripping flowers out of people's yards and selling them back. Years later, he would use that savvy to grow his family's wine store from $3 to $45 million in just a few short years by launching WineLibrary.com, one of America's first wine websites. Fast forward to now, and he's continued to use that same business savvy, along with his brother, to build VaynerMedia, a new breed of agency that helps Fortune 500 companies like GE, PepsiCo, Hasbro and the New York Jets find their social media voices and build their digital brands. Along the way Gary launched a stratospherically successful internet wine show, written two bestselling books, and beaten Dr. Oz in basketball.
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May 13, 2010
I will now save you $10.99:
1) Figure out what your passion is. Examples from the book: wine, baseball cards, worms, gardening, accounting, candy, soccer, marketing, business development, tech. (My current passions are Diet Coke, Fringe, and napping, none of which I think I can monetize.)
2) Come up with a catchy name and register it on every social media site.
3) Write a bunch of tweets/blog posts or make video blogs. Work your ass off (he suggests not spending any time with your family-- although he says "Family First" is his primary principle, he also advocates blowing off your kids and SO to work) creating content and promoting it.
4) ?????
5) Profit!
Vaguely inspirational pablum from a dude who has remarkable charisma, drive, and passion, something which differentiates him from 99% of the people who will read this book. If you read his blog, or pretty much any "inspirational" business blog, you do not need to read this book. Since his tactics won't work for 99% of people anyway.
I read this as a case study for my dissertation, but since it's not a school book I'm counting it in my total (unlike Aihwa Ong's Neoliberalism as Exception, which I read yesterday and which is really terrific).
1) Figure out what your passion is. Examples from the book: wine, baseball cards, worms, gardening, accounting, candy, soccer, marketing, business development, tech. (My current passions are Diet Coke, Fringe, and napping, none of which I think I can monetize.)
2) Come up with a catchy name and register it on every social media site.
3) Write a bunch of tweets/blog posts or make video blogs. Work your ass off (he suggests not spending any time with your family-- although he says "Family First" is his primary principle, he also advocates blowing off your kids and SO to work) creating content and promoting it.
4) ?????
5) Profit!
Vaguely inspirational pablum from a dude who has remarkable charisma, drive, and passion, something which differentiates him from 99% of the people who will read this book. If you read his blog, or pretty much any "inspirational" business blog, you do not need to read this book. Since his tactics won't work for 99% of people anyway.
I read this as a case study for my dissertation, but since it's not a school book I'm counting it in my total (unlike Aihwa Ong's Neoliberalism as Exception, which I read yesterday and which is really terrific).
February 10, 2023
Gary Vaynerchuk is trying to tell how we can make a living out of our passion through this book. He gives tips on using the internet and social media as leverage to make your business successful. Gary is one of the best candidates to write on this topic as he used the internet to convert his local wine shop business to become one of the industry leaders. He used vlogging on youtube and other social media platforms to create his own brand. He touches almost all spheres of life in this book. If you are a Doctor, online book reviewer, independent bookstore owner, or from any other spheres of life, Gary will specifically tell you what you should do on the internet to build up your own brand. This is one of the biggest strengths of this book compared to most of the other business books.
What I learned from this book
1) How can you convert your whole life into a vacation?
This is a tricky idea to implement but still not impossible. Some extremely successful people will tell you that vacations will kill you. But what Gary is trying to say through this book is that if we are trying to follow our passion, we will enjoy every day in our life like a vacation, and we won't have to go for any extra vacations.
“Live your passion. What does that mean, anyway? It means that when you get up for work every morning, every single morning, you are pumped because you get to talk about or work with or do the thing that interests you the most in the world. You don't live for vacations because you don't need a break from what you're doing—working, playing, and relaxing are one and the same. You don't even pay attention to how many hours you're working because to you, it's not really work. You're making money, but you'd do whatever it is you're doing for free."
2) How to convert social media into your resume ?
He tells you to consider making your social media profiles as your resume instead of a pdf of tiny lists that look exactly like other people's pdfs who are also currently job hunting in your city. If your social media profile is strong, companies will think twice before firing you. Even if you lose your job, it will be easier for you to get a new one compared to others.
“Developing your personal brand is the same thing as living and breathing your resume. Your latest tweets and comment on Facebook and recent blogpost is your resume now.”
3) What is the biggest filter on social media?
Social media is filled with a vast amount of content. How can we make our content stand out? People will easily go after the content of the people with charisma and entertainment factor. But Gary says the most important factor that determines your social media success is quality. If your content has the quality, you will ultimately succeed after overcoming all the obstacles.
“Quality is a tremendous filter. Cream always rises, my friends, no matter how many cups of coffee you pour."
My favourite three lines from this book
“We’re all in the public eye now, swimming around in a clear glass fish bowl of our own making.”
“Even if your ambitions are huge, start slow, start small, build gradually, build smart.”
“Skills are cheap, passion is priceless.”
What could have been better?
Gary wrote in this book,
"My biggest fear when I wrote this book was that information would change."
Sadly that exactly happened in the case of this book. Gary might have been an inveterate iconoclast, attacking our preformed notions about social media a decade ago. But the same ideas will have mollified impact now as we have become familiar with social media. Reading this book in 2022 will make you impugn the originality of the author for writing a book on blunt outdated ideas (It was not outdated when he first published this book in 2009). This book has the propensity to make you indignant, and it develops an impetuous urge to DNF it. You will find it funny when the author spends a huge amount of time just to convince us to use Twitter. I wish the author had released the revised edition of this book instead of releasing a new book called Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too as this book's update.
Rating
3/5 This book might be a little outdated version of how to create your personal brand on social media, but still, you will get some important takeaways from it. This will be a good pick to read before reading crushing it book by the same author.
July 28, 2020
I have to say, I'd rather read Gary's books than watch him on video. His energy is very high, which prevents me from applying his knowledge to my life. However, I love his books - short and to the point.
This book made a huge impact on me. I understood what I had to do to overcome my fear of making videos and posting them on social media. Well, there are 2 simple things:
* Give tons of value. Give more than anyone else. Prepare a very good material and share it with others.
* Be 100% authentic. So authentic you'll never re-record your movies.
Recently, I re-read this book and created a detailed summary with clear action points (that will help to create the mindset and follow principles). It is available in my BooksInAction app as well as here:
https://www.mentorist.app/books/crush...
This book made a huge impact on me. I understood what I had to do to overcome my fear of making videos and posting them on social media. Well, there are 2 simple things:
* Give tons of value. Give more than anyone else. Prepare a very good material and share it with others.
* Be 100% authentic. So authentic you'll never re-record your movies.
Recently, I re-read this book and created a detailed summary with clear action points (that will help to create the mindset and follow principles). It is available in my BooksInAction app as well as here:
https://www.mentorist.app/books/crush...
May 28, 2020
Don't let the title mislead you. I know how it sounds, but it's not that kind of book.
I'm no stranger to Gary Vee. My partner is Gary Vee's die-hard fan, so he made me watch some of the countless youtube videos. I decided to pick up the book to understand the appeal.
THE POINT.
The author does have one. It can be pretty much summed up as follows:
1) Work hard. Work a lot. Work 16 hours a day every day, until your veins pop and your heart stops.
2) Enjoy it.
3) Be patient and adaptable - and the result will come. Not in 6 weeks or a few months, but rather in a few years or a decade. But if you're good at what you're doing, and you do it a lot, you are guaranteed to succeed.
This is the kind of message I can get 100% behind. It's not the typical self-helpey bullshit you might expect after reading the title. It's not the usual "you're a special snowflake, so just repeat mantras about your awesomeness for 12 hours a day, and the Universe will give everything to you". Gary Vee is telling you to work your ass off. Forget the 4-hour workday. Forget weekends.
This is why he's emphatic about making your passion your job. For the sole reason that if you don't love it, you won't be able to work on it 112 hours a week, holding nothing back.
THE STYLE
Gary Vee is notoriously loud and unafraid to use colorful language and make bold statements. It's not for the sake of being obnoxious, it's just his style. He absolutely believes in what he says and is being honest. He's ranting and getting pumped while at it.
I think some people will find his style annoying; some will love it, as for me - it left me mostly unimpressed.
THE CONTENT
"Crush It!" contains some of Vaynerchuk's backstory (which I found very touching), his general views on organizing your life and your business, approaching work, etc. And then a large portion, at least a half I think, was dedicated to specific tools on the internet and social media that you can use to grow your business. Needless to say, it was very outdated, since the book was written in 2009. It's laughable to me now that he had to spend so much time convincing us that Twitter is essential :D
THE EXECUTION
This, I have to say, was poor. Books are obviously not Vaynerchuk native media. I'm sure he only did it to be represented in this way as well.
He confessed taping it, then having a ghostwriter give it some shape and make it into a book. Then he read that back to us in the form of an audiobook. And it read accordingly. It had no thought-out structure, no balance between the timeless "backstory" and "approaching business and life" parts and fleeting "specific tools on the internet and social media" parts. That's why the book seemed so outdated. If he put more thought into this, this could be avoided almost entirely.
Most of all, it read like a rant. Or rather, it was a rant. If you haven't told me it's an audiobook, I could have easily taken it for Vaynerchuk's podcast or video blog. It has the same flavor as everything else Vaynerchuk does. He's a rant guy. And he's getting soooo pumped! I couldn't count the times he said, "I'm going off the script here" :D Which was part endearing, part funny, and part telling to the fact that books are not for him. He can't write something and leave it. He's fluid, and books aren't.
THE FLAW
Vaynerchuk is such a passionate guy; he forgets that not all people do have a passion. I'd say a lot of people aren't particularly passionate or knowledgeable about anything. And his advice to drop the job you hate and do what you love falls flat here. It's not about "figuring out" your calling. It's about getting one. Because most people don't have a calling. Your impressive skills are not sitting somewhere, waiting to be uncovered. They don't exist. You need to create them first. And to acquire skills you need to be interested. And how do you become involved if you don't particularly care about anything?
THE CONCLUSION
Gary Vee is a great guy. I like him. He's a charismatic persona, entertaining to listen to, I love his passion and his messages.
However, I would not recommend this book. It's not good and it's outdated. I do recommend you to check him out - but in a different way. Better visit his Youtube channel.
I'm no stranger to Gary Vee. My partner is Gary Vee's die-hard fan, so he made me watch some of the countless youtube videos. I decided to pick up the book to understand the appeal.
THE POINT.
The author does have one. It can be pretty much summed up as follows:
1) Work hard. Work a lot. Work 16 hours a day every day, until your veins pop and your heart stops.
2) Enjoy it.
3) Be patient and adaptable - and the result will come. Not in 6 weeks or a few months, but rather in a few years or a decade. But if you're good at what you're doing, and you do it a lot, you are guaranteed to succeed.
This is the kind of message I can get 100% behind. It's not the typical self-helpey bullshit you might expect after reading the title. It's not the usual "you're a special snowflake, so just repeat mantras about your awesomeness for 12 hours a day, and the Universe will give everything to you". Gary Vee is telling you to work your ass off. Forget the 4-hour workday. Forget weekends.
This is why he's emphatic about making your passion your job. For the sole reason that if you don't love it, you won't be able to work on it 112 hours a week, holding nothing back.
THE STYLE
Gary Vee is notoriously loud and unafraid to use colorful language and make bold statements. It's not for the sake of being obnoxious, it's just his style. He absolutely believes in what he says and is being honest. He's ranting and getting pumped while at it.
I think some people will find his style annoying; some will love it, as for me - it left me mostly unimpressed.
THE CONTENT
"Crush It!" contains some of Vaynerchuk's backstory (which I found very touching), his general views on organizing your life and your business, approaching work, etc. And then a large portion, at least a half I think, was dedicated to specific tools on the internet and social media that you can use to grow your business. Needless to say, it was very outdated, since the book was written in 2009. It's laughable to me now that he had to spend so much time convincing us that Twitter is essential :D
THE EXECUTION
This, I have to say, was poor. Books are obviously not Vaynerchuk native media. I'm sure he only did it to be represented in this way as well.
He confessed taping it, then having a ghostwriter give it some shape and make it into a book. Then he read that back to us in the form of an audiobook. And it read accordingly. It had no thought-out structure, no balance between the timeless "backstory" and "approaching business and life" parts and fleeting "specific tools on the internet and social media" parts. That's why the book seemed so outdated. If he put more thought into this, this could be avoided almost entirely.
Most of all, it read like a rant. Or rather, it was a rant. If you haven't told me it's an audiobook, I could have easily taken it for Vaynerchuk's podcast or video blog. It has the same flavor as everything else Vaynerchuk does. He's a rant guy. And he's getting soooo pumped! I couldn't count the times he said, "I'm going off the script here" :D Which was part endearing, part funny, and part telling to the fact that books are not for him. He can't write something and leave it. He's fluid, and books aren't.
THE FLAW
Vaynerchuk is such a passionate guy; he forgets that not all people do have a passion. I'd say a lot of people aren't particularly passionate or knowledgeable about anything. And his advice to drop the job you hate and do what you love falls flat here. It's not about "figuring out" your calling. It's about getting one. Because most people don't have a calling. Your impressive skills are not sitting somewhere, waiting to be uncovered. They don't exist. You need to create them first. And to acquire skills you need to be interested. And how do you become involved if you don't particularly care about anything?
THE CONCLUSION
Gary Vee is a great guy. I like him. He's a charismatic persona, entertaining to listen to, I love his passion and his messages.
However, I would not recommend this book. It's not good and it's outdated. I do recommend you to check him out - but in a different way. Better visit his Youtube channel.
September 14, 2012
I heard many good things about Gary Vaynerchuk and when I did finally get my hands on Crush It I was looking forward to learning more about how Gary built his empire.
Gary has put together a book with advice that sounds great from a stage but is hardly something you would want to put into action.
Including, “What kind of business did you plan on starting, a mediocre one or one that’s kick-ass? You know the answer.”
Or, “It’s never a bad time to start a business unless you are starting a mediocre business”
Or this recommendation, “Do what makes you happy, keep it simple, do the research, work hard, look ahead.”
Gary tells us how he got his start in business selling baseball cards and realized that he had chosen the wrong cards to get his business started. So he “adjusted, repricing every card…for less than anyone else was selling them.” Gary says that he learned one of his first lessons in business---scarcity breeds desire. Unfortunately the law of scarcity is when something wanted is in limited availability, not a cheap price. Maybe Gary meant the Least Cost Rule of Economics, all things being equal and actors rational, the actor will chose the lowest cost.
The best advice Gary gave was, “My secret to success is just one guy’s way of doing things…but don’t do things my way” I agree.
Clearly I am not the target audience for this book
I am not questioning Gary’s success or his ability to give exciting and motivational speeches, he is very engaging. However, I am not sure this book is anything more than a motivational speech and personally I would rather hear Gary speak than have read the book.
Gary has put together a book with advice that sounds great from a stage but is hardly something you would want to put into action.
Including, “What kind of business did you plan on starting, a mediocre one or one that’s kick-ass? You know the answer.”
Or, “It’s never a bad time to start a business unless you are starting a mediocre business”
Or this recommendation, “Do what makes you happy, keep it simple, do the research, work hard, look ahead.”
Gary tells us how he got his start in business selling baseball cards and realized that he had chosen the wrong cards to get his business started. So he “adjusted, repricing every card…for less than anyone else was selling them.” Gary says that he learned one of his first lessons in business---scarcity breeds desire. Unfortunately the law of scarcity is when something wanted is in limited availability, not a cheap price. Maybe Gary meant the Least Cost Rule of Economics, all things being equal and actors rational, the actor will chose the lowest cost.
The best advice Gary gave was, “My secret to success is just one guy’s way of doing things…but don’t do things my way” I agree.
Clearly I am not the target audience for this book
I am not questioning Gary’s success or his ability to give exciting and motivational speeches, he is very engaging. However, I am not sure this book is anything more than a motivational speech and personally I would rather hear Gary speak than have read the book.
November 20, 2012
I avoided this book for a long time because I expected it to be about money money money. To my surprise though, it wasn't about that as much as I expected.
I'm working toward making a brand for myself, but my motivation is not money. And, Gary makes a HUGE deal on following your passion and living your passion and sharing your passion (and of course, cashing in on your passion) but never wasting your life on something that isn't your passion in order to make money.
This book gave clear and practical tips in order improve your social media interaction. There are several tips I could start immediately with relative ease. I was also surprised that I had already taken the first step in the majority of his tips, and I just need follow through and improvement.
I would recommend this book for some practical tips on social media. This wasn't a pep talk with no substance, there really were some great tips from an established business person about what works and how to work it.
It's also a reminder that every one of us can really take charge of our careers if we choose, we just have to work hard and always keep learning.
I'm working toward making a brand for myself, but my motivation is not money. And, Gary makes a HUGE deal on following your passion and living your passion and sharing your passion (and of course, cashing in on your passion) but never wasting your life on something that isn't your passion in order to make money.
This book gave clear and practical tips in order improve your social media interaction. There are several tips I could start immediately with relative ease. I was also surprised that I had already taken the first step in the majority of his tips, and I just need follow through and improvement.
I would recommend this book for some practical tips on social media. This wasn't a pep talk with no substance, there really were some great tips from an established business person about what works and how to work it.
It's also a reminder that every one of us can really take charge of our careers if we choose, we just have to work hard and always keep learning.
April 5, 2018
This book is out of date. I don't need convincing that internet and social media is the future, because I live in the future. And that is pretty much all the book is about. It just rattles on about the internet being awesome, you needing to register everywhere, working hard and seeing the results. And then someone notices you and before you know it, you are rich. (See, you don't need to read the book anymore!)
Some ideas might have been good (and to be honest, I don’t really know how fresh they were at the point of writing this book, the author might be a visionary but might be just an ordinary person with a book deal), but they have become the “normal” at this point in time. Just as some things that the author writes about are simply not true anymore - he is not lying, things have simply changed.
I heavily disliked the author’s disregard for analytics and statistics. I understand what he said - statistics don’t tell you who is watching, meaning, how powerful that viewer is. It might be a toddler, it might be a CEO. But that does not change the fact that analytics and statistics are important and you cannot just decide that Elon, Mark and Richard are in between those 7 viewers you have. And even if they are, that does not mean anything yet. Until they act upon it (in this books sense - offer you a deal of some sort), they are still just viewers.
I also had a problem with the following quotes:
“Who needs focus groups or even Nielsen ratings when you can simply tweet out the question [..]”
“Google and YouTube are reliable ways to get information[..]”
Even implying that opinions are just as good as facts are terrible. Surely at the time, this book was written, it had not grown into a massive problem, but now it is. If we suggest that something is a good way to gain information, we also need to point out the accuracy of the information and how trustworthy the source is (because Google and Youtube are not sources, they are tools, so some sort of disclaimer should be in place to prevent the ‘if it is on internet, it must be true’ attitude).
And last, but not least - this book was stretched beyond measure. The pages were too big as was font, making the book longer than it actually is. I didn't know if I should give it one or two stars because something definitely stuck.
Some ideas might have been good (and to be honest, I don’t really know how fresh they were at the point of writing this book, the author might be a visionary but might be just an ordinary person with a book deal), but they have become the “normal” at this point in time. Just as some things that the author writes about are simply not true anymore - he is not lying, things have simply changed.
I heavily disliked the author’s disregard for analytics and statistics. I understand what he said - statistics don’t tell you who is watching, meaning, how powerful that viewer is. It might be a toddler, it might be a CEO. But that does not change the fact that analytics and statistics are important and you cannot just decide that Elon, Mark and Richard are in between those 7 viewers you have. And even if they are, that does not mean anything yet. Until they act upon it (in this books sense - offer you a deal of some sort), they are still just viewers.
I also had a problem with the following quotes:
“Who needs focus groups or even Nielsen ratings when you can simply tweet out the question [..]”
“Google and YouTube are reliable ways to get information[..]”
Even implying that opinions are just as good as facts are terrible. Surely at the time, this book was written, it had not grown into a massive problem, but now it is. If we suggest that something is a good way to gain information, we also need to point out the accuracy of the information and how trustworthy the source is (because Google and Youtube are not sources, they are tools, so some sort of disclaimer should be in place to prevent the ‘if it is on internet, it must be true’ attitude).
And last, but not least - this book was stretched beyond measure. The pages were too big as was font, making the book longer than it actually is. I didn't know if I should give it one or two stars because something definitely stuck.
September 9, 2021
Gary Vaynerchuck is widely considered a web celebrity and social media expert. He used social media and online video (WineLibrary TV) to gain incredible exposure and propel his wine business to unprecedented success. Gary's secret isn't social media, however; it's his passion. Social media is just the tool he uses to share his passion and connect with others. As he states in chapter 9, the best marketing strategy ever is simple: care.
The main premise is that life is too short to do work that you don't enjoy; you need to follow your passion. Thanks to modern social media, you can connect with others who share your passion, no matter how obscure it is. Participate in the community around the topic you're passionate about, and with time, your personal brand will be valuable enough to monetize and do what you love full time.
Of course, it's everyone's dream to follow their passion; to do the work that doesn't even seem like work because they love it so much. Sadly, only a small percentage of people are able to make a living that way. By following the advice and examples from the life of Gary and others in this book, I really believe it's possible to "cash in on your passion."
I feel like I've gained a better understanding of the overall role of social media in branding and community-building. Gary also motivated me to keep up my efforts, warning that it takes a lot of time and hard work to see results.
Speaking of hard work, Gary states several times that he spends hours a day online, reading blogs, tweets, and forum posts, and responding to email. He believes it's necessary to put this much time into community participation, and says there's plenty of time for it if you stay up until 2 or 3 AM. This is one place Gary's being unrealistic; most people are not able to function on so little sleep, let alone have enough energy to "crush it".
I highly recommend this book to anyone ready to stop working for The Man and start creating their personal brand. Gary doesn't just wax poetic about social media or his life story; he provides practical tips to follow. Chapter 10 and the appendix contain checklists for building a personal brand, and they walk you through identifying your passion, creating your personal brand, creating online accounts, becoming part of the community, and monetizing.
A great summary of the book comes from the end:
Notes
Branding
• You need to develop your personal brand, regardless of your job or industry.
• Use the Internet to build brand equity, not just to sell.
• Personal and professional brands are merging; don't try to maintain separate personalities. Be honest, trustworthy, and transparent. Think of personal branding as a friendly lunch interview where you share both the personal and professional parts of your life.
• Brand building is a marathon, not a sprint. It can takes months or years to see results; don't give up too quickly.
Content and community
• Embrace your DNA (your passion; what you were born to do) and create awesome content. People will find and follow you.
• Storytelling is the most underrated skill in business. People want to be told what's good and valuable, and that you can give them something not everyone can appreciate.
• Great content results from using the right medium (text, audio, video) and the right topic (what you're passionate about and expert in, told as a story).
• The best business question of all time: What can I do for you?
• Become a part of your topic's community by finding and participating in online conversations.
Websites and social media
• Your website should include call-to-action buttons to encourage people to connect with you, and share buttons to share your content with their friends.
• Treat your blog as your home, and use social media to lead people to it.
• Automatically post to multiple platforms using Ping.fm and TubeMogul.
Monetizing
• Don't monetize until your brand has attention and stickiness, and you have a community.
• Monetize with advertising, speaking, affiliate programs, retail, selling articles, and consulting.
The main premise is that life is too short to do work that you don't enjoy; you need to follow your passion. Thanks to modern social media, you can connect with others who share your passion, no matter how obscure it is. Participate in the community around the topic you're passionate about, and with time, your personal brand will be valuable enough to monetize and do what you love full time.
Of course, it's everyone's dream to follow their passion; to do the work that doesn't even seem like work because they love it so much. Sadly, only a small percentage of people are able to make a living that way. By following the advice and examples from the life of Gary and others in this book, I really believe it's possible to "cash in on your passion."
I feel like I've gained a better understanding of the overall role of social media in branding and community-building. Gary also motivated me to keep up my efforts, warning that it takes a lot of time and hard work to see results.
Speaking of hard work, Gary states several times that he spends hours a day online, reading blogs, tweets, and forum posts, and responding to email. He believes it's necessary to put this much time into community participation, and says there's plenty of time for it if you stay up until 2 or 3 AM. This is one place Gary's being unrealistic; most people are not able to function on so little sleep, let alone have enough energy to "crush it".
I highly recommend this book to anyone ready to stop working for The Man and start creating their personal brand. Gary doesn't just wax poetic about social media or his life story; he provides practical tips to follow. Chapter 10 and the appendix contain checklists for building a personal brand, and they walk you through identifying your passion, creating your personal brand, creating online accounts, becoming part of the community, and monetizing.
A great summary of the book comes from the end:
"True success - financial , personal, and professional, lies above all in loving your family, working hard, and living your passion. In telling your story. In authenticity, hustle, and patience. In caring fiercely about the big and the small stuff. In valuing legacy over currency."
Notes
Branding
• You need to develop your personal brand, regardless of your job or industry.
• Use the Internet to build brand equity, not just to sell.
• Personal and professional brands are merging; don't try to maintain separate personalities. Be honest, trustworthy, and transparent. Think of personal branding as a friendly lunch interview where you share both the personal and professional parts of your life.
• Brand building is a marathon, not a sprint. It can takes months or years to see results; don't give up too quickly.
Content and community
• Embrace your DNA (your passion; what you were born to do) and create awesome content. People will find and follow you.
• Storytelling is the most underrated skill in business. People want to be told what's good and valuable, and that you can give them something not everyone can appreciate.
• Great content results from using the right medium (text, audio, video) and the right topic (what you're passionate about and expert in, told as a story).
• The best business question of all time: What can I do for you?
• Become a part of your topic's community by finding and participating in online conversations.
Websites and social media
• Your website should include call-to-action buttons to encourage people to connect with you, and share buttons to share your content with their friends.
• Treat your blog as your home, and use social media to lead people to it.
• Automatically post to multiple platforms using Ping.fm and TubeMogul.
Monetizing
• Don't monetize until your brand has attention and stickiness, and you have a community.
• Monetize with advertising, speaking, affiliate programs, retail, selling articles, and consulting.
August 20, 2011
I know this book has been wildly popular, and Gary V has many fans. I happen not to be a huge fan of his style, either in his videos or this book. I think his excited, sometimes over-the-top style that focuses on HIM, has to appeal to you. It's not my style.
This book is very much about Gary and HIS successes -- not necessarily the kind of information that others can easily apply to their situations. The reality is, most of Gary's successes won't be replicable by the typical entrepreneur or small business.
Here's why: Gary started with a lot of advantages other entrepreneurs don't have. He started with an existing family business behind him. Quite simply he got on the social media (particularly video) bandwagon at just the right time, and was able to make a name for himself. He paints the picture of himself as an entrepreneur role model. However, had he not had his family business behind him, and had to struggle just to survive each day like most entrepreneurs, I doubt very much that he would have had the time and money to explore social media as he did. He would not have had such a fast rise.
He's very good at promoting himself. I actually admire people who are good at that, so the self-promotion doesn't bother me as much as the lack of real substance in the book that you can put to use in your own situation.
That said, there is some value, especially for someone who knows little about social media and wants a rundown of various social sites and to learn a few techniques. But there are better books out there for that. I don't think the value warrants the hype around this book. It's a pretty average business book about social media. What sets it apart is the personality and visibility of the person who wrote it. If you want a dose of Gary V. and his style appeals to you, this book will be perfect for you. Just keep the rest of your expectations in check.
This book is very much about Gary and HIS successes -- not necessarily the kind of information that others can easily apply to their situations. The reality is, most of Gary's successes won't be replicable by the typical entrepreneur or small business.
Here's why: Gary started with a lot of advantages other entrepreneurs don't have. He started with an existing family business behind him. Quite simply he got on the social media (particularly video) bandwagon at just the right time, and was able to make a name for himself. He paints the picture of himself as an entrepreneur role model. However, had he not had his family business behind him, and had to struggle just to survive each day like most entrepreneurs, I doubt very much that he would have had the time and money to explore social media as he did. He would not have had such a fast rise.
He's very good at promoting himself. I actually admire people who are good at that, so the self-promotion doesn't bother me as much as the lack of real substance in the book that you can put to use in your own situation.
That said, there is some value, especially for someone who knows little about social media and wants a rundown of various social sites and to learn a few techniques. But there are better books out there for that. I don't think the value warrants the hype around this book. It's a pretty average business book about social media. What sets it apart is the personality and visibility of the person who wrote it. If you want a dose of Gary V. and his style appeals to you, this book will be perfect for you. Just keep the rest of your expectations in check.
November 13, 2017
Do you want to make money out of you passion? Even passions like playing games, loving chocolate or cultivating veggies? Well, here's the recipe.
June 5, 2018
(2.5)
Read
April 4, 2019“Developing your personal brand is the same thing as living and breathing your resume.”
“We’re all in the public eye now, swimming around in a clear glass fishbowl of our own making.”
“We’re all in the public eye now, swimming around in a clear glass fishbowl of our own making.”
May 25, 2017
This was one of the business books I would say falls under the umbrella of the books I've read a few years too late, in this case, I think I could have skipped this book. The most interesting parts were about how Gary Vee got started and what made him who he is, which is why I wanted to read this in the first place. The more tactical parts of this book, by nature of being published 8 years ago, has changed and were no longer really useful.
Still, I would recommend this for anyone looking to start their own ventures or looking to take their personal projects to the next level.
Still, I would recommend this for anyone looking to start their own ventures or looking to take their personal projects to the next level.
August 3, 2018
Outstanding book. Some won’t like Gary’s direct approach to things but they will still get value for money. It’s a changed world out there and if you are not changing and moving forward, you will be left behind.
The world won’t come to you, you are not that big a deal. You have to chase the world you want. Crush it will help you.
The world won’t come to you, you are not that big a deal. You have to chase the world you want. Crush it will help you.
January 5, 2010
I was on page 26 of 100 non-appendix before the author started actually started giving the advice the book was about. The prior 25 pages (a full quarter of the book!) was a sales pitch for how the book would change your life. What the heck do I need a sales pitch for when I am already holding the book in my hands?
Vaynerchuck is going for some weird work-as-leisure premise, where if you are "living your passion" you don't need to look forward to vacations, or hobbies or anything, because you will genuinely want to work all the damn time. This does work for some people - I certainly know people who are wired to want to work that way. Then there are people like me who like work time, like leisure time, but want to keep the two distinct. To me, turning a hobby into a business is a sure fire way to lose a good hobby. The whole joy I get in my leisure activities comes from the fact that I *don't* rely on them for my livelihood. If I make a mistake while I'm knitting, if I have an off night dancing, it doesn't matter - and I love that freedom. Turning it into a job would destroy that for me.
I am one of those rare people who love my current job. I look forward to coming in every morning, I enjoy what I do, and feel like I'm really accomplishing things every day. And yet, I still like to go home at night and leave my work behind. The author has not managed to convince me otherwise, sorry.
He makes a claim that his advice is just as useful to people who are working and happy as by people who want to start their own business, but I really didn't find that to be the case. The book has a sprinkling of decent, even pretty good advice, but it's just so unfocused and padded with tangential anecdotes and baiting people with big hopes... I just couldn't take it seriously.
Vaynerchuck is going for some weird work-as-leisure premise, where if you are "living your passion" you don't need to look forward to vacations, or hobbies or anything, because you will genuinely want to work all the damn time. This does work for some people - I certainly know people who are wired to want to work that way. Then there are people like me who like work time, like leisure time, but want to keep the two distinct. To me, turning a hobby into a business is a sure fire way to lose a good hobby. The whole joy I get in my leisure activities comes from the fact that I *don't* rely on them for my livelihood. If I make a mistake while I'm knitting, if I have an off night dancing, it doesn't matter - and I love that freedom. Turning it into a job would destroy that for me.
I am one of those rare people who love my current job. I look forward to coming in every morning, I enjoy what I do, and feel like I'm really accomplishing things every day. And yet, I still like to go home at night and leave my work behind. The author has not managed to convince me otherwise, sorry.
He makes a claim that his advice is just as useful to people who are working and happy as by people who want to start their own business, but I really didn't find that to be the case. The book has a sprinkling of decent, even pretty good advice, but it's just so unfocused and padded with tangential anecdotes and baiting people with big hopes... I just couldn't take it seriously.
February 12, 2018
I'm trying to turn my hobby/passion into a full time job so this work really hit home for me. At times it felt like it was more motivational/self help focusing more on putting yourself in the right mindset but there was some actionable advice like staying on top of/ahead of changes in your industry, focusing on building your brand after you decide to pursue your passion and finding the right community.
July 26, 2017
Starting a blog is terrible business advice. While this might be the case for 2001 it is certainly not the case for 2017. The book doesn't dive deep into any topic whatsoever and simply relies on the statement to "crush it." I like Gary and I think he's very smart but this book is intended for 13 year olds.
May 29, 2019
There is no doubt that Gary V is one of the most influential internet personality today.
I have read his "Jab Jab.." and I loved it back then and then randomly I found this book and decided to give it a read as well.
The Book is about the internet, passion, entrepreneurship, startups, finding purpose in life, doing whatever it takes to get successful and personal branding along with bits of Gary's life, upbringing and how he grew up and got interested in the internet.
If you are a Vlog maker or a Blog writer or both like me then you will definitely love this book.
This book will motivate you to start making your own vlogs right now.
In a sense, this is a motivational book as well. Gary's writing is easy to read, clear, crisp, easy to understand and for some reason, every heading is intentionally kept in small fonts or maybe that was in my Kindle format, I don't know.
People are reading less and books business is going down the drain. In this era books like these are a huge welcome for people who can't read much.
I finished the entire book in one sitting, however, I recommend and advice you not to finish the book in one sitting because that won't help you.
I did it because I intend to read it again.
This book should be read and applied and should not be a for a casual read.
If you are not serious about the internet, still and does not understand how big the internet has become then this book is not for you and not to boast I am a pretty fast reader.
Gary also talks about his secrets like how he doesn't like to write and hired people to write blogs for him and how he started very early to make vlogs which brought his wine sales to ever high.
He also tells you a few great resources on how to get more subscribers and how to post your content on multiple platforms on just one click.
Few websites she mentioned are either closed or acquired over now but most of them are working so it was helpful in that sense.
Like I tried using TubeMugal so many time but now it is acquired by Adobe and every other media management website is charging way too much money for someone who is just starting up to pay every month.
There is also few pearls of wisdom in the book like for those who are looking for shortcuts, he tells you how it won't work. He tells you that there is no escaping the fact that everything takes time to bloom and same goes with internet and social media influence. One should not be employed in wishful thinking and run after faster success and most importantly, don't fucking leave your job to become internet influencer. It may sometimes take years to become social Media influencer. So don't rush up.
You have to work hard and miss lots of enjoyment in life and until and unless it is a true passion for you, don't go for it.
The best thing I learn from the book was about Personal Branding.
Yes, instead of opening a company if you are a startup working alone, or even if you have a company, or working for someone else, it is very necessary that you work on your personal brand as you.
Talk to as many people are you can and engage in conversations with as many people as you can and it will help you grow your community and along with it, it will help you sell your brand and your product.
The book finishes in a short time and sometimes you feel that if only there was more to it. So for that reason, I will go start reading his other books because thank god he writes so much.
I have read his "Jab Jab.." and I loved it back then and then randomly I found this book and decided to give it a read as well.
The Book is about the internet, passion, entrepreneurship, startups, finding purpose in life, doing whatever it takes to get successful and personal branding along with bits of Gary's life, upbringing and how he grew up and got interested in the internet.
If you are a Vlog maker or a Blog writer or both like me then you will definitely love this book.
This book will motivate you to start making your own vlogs right now.
In a sense, this is a motivational book as well. Gary's writing is easy to read, clear, crisp, easy to understand and for some reason, every heading is intentionally kept in small fonts or maybe that was in my Kindle format, I don't know.
People are reading less and books business is going down the drain. In this era books like these are a huge welcome for people who can't read much.
I finished the entire book in one sitting, however, I recommend and advice you not to finish the book in one sitting because that won't help you.
I did it because I intend to read it again.
This book should be read and applied and should not be a for a casual read.
If you are not serious about the internet, still and does not understand how big the internet has become then this book is not for you and not to boast I am a pretty fast reader.
Gary also talks about his secrets like how he doesn't like to write and hired people to write blogs for him and how he started very early to make vlogs which brought his wine sales to ever high.
He also tells you a few great resources on how to get more subscribers and how to post your content on multiple platforms on just one click.
Few websites she mentioned are either closed or acquired over now but most of them are working so it was helpful in that sense.
Like I tried using TubeMugal so many time but now it is acquired by Adobe and every other media management website is charging way too much money for someone who is just starting up to pay every month.
There is also few pearls of wisdom in the book like for those who are looking for shortcuts, he tells you how it won't work. He tells you that there is no escaping the fact that everything takes time to bloom and same goes with internet and social media influence. One should not be employed in wishful thinking and run after faster success and most importantly, don't fucking leave your job to become internet influencer. It may sometimes take years to become social Media influencer. So don't rush up.
You have to work hard and miss lots of enjoyment in life and until and unless it is a true passion for you, don't go for it.
The best thing I learn from the book was about Personal Branding.
Yes, instead of opening a company if you are a startup working alone, or even if you have a company, or working for someone else, it is very necessary that you work on your personal brand as you.
Talk to as many people are you can and engage in conversations with as many people as you can and it will help you grow your community and along with it, it will help you sell your brand and your product.
The book finishes in a short time and sometimes you feel that if only there was more to it. So for that reason, I will go start reading his other books because thank god he writes so much.
July 30, 2010
I'm generally not interested in the slightest in the business, make money now! genre of books. But my love for journalism, news, and information has definitely generated a strong interest in entrepreneurship. Given that this little book will only take you about an hour to read, I found it pretty worthwhile as a very simple, straightforward guide on how to leverage the Web and social media to build a sustainable business that allows you to do what you love. There's nothing "new" here, but yet it's possible to see so many examples of people who don't get it that it's clear how much something like this is needed.
Probably my favorite part was the chapter where he talks about "the best marketing plan ever" which amounts to a single word in large bold type: CARE. I'm convinced that 90 percent of success in ANYTHING - this is one of the main things I try so hard to impart to my students - comes from just GIVING A SHIT. The older I get, the more amazed I am at how many people out there just really don't. 10 percent is skill and luck, but just caring enough about something to do your best matters more than you can imagine.
Probably my favorite part was the chapter where he talks about "the best marketing plan ever" which amounts to a single word in large bold type: CARE. I'm convinced that 90 percent of success in ANYTHING - this is one of the main things I try so hard to impart to my students - comes from just GIVING A SHIT. The older I get, the more amazed I am at how many people out there just really don't. 10 percent is skill and luck, but just caring enough about something to do your best matters more than you can imagine.
August 7, 2013
Great read for anyone that has the burning desire within themselves of starting a business. This book can give you the little extra push you need to execute your idea into a blog and I personally love the approach.
Basically for most of us not born into great wealth there is no way you can avoid hard work in life so better not try to do it, instead pick something you love doing so the work doesn't feel like "work" anymore.
Anyway, I rate this book 5 stars because it really struck some good ideas in my head and I'm gonna start doing video blogs soon.
Thanks Gary!
Basically for most of us not born into great wealth there is no way you can avoid hard work in life so better not try to do it, instead pick something you love doing so the work doesn't feel like "work" anymore.
Anyway, I rate this book 5 stars because it really struck some good ideas in my head and I'm gonna start doing video blogs soon.
Thanks Gary!
June 6, 2013
This 3 stars are for the audiobook. If you are going to get this, get the audio book. It has updated info (even though now some of it is again outdated) and he often goes off-script, which I wish more audio books would do. It is read by the author. Some may not like his hyper-ness, but I think it helps convey his enthusiasm.
So the idea of the book is to show how the use of social marketing can greatly benefit your business, and how it and the Internet can act as "great equalizers" of sorts. It kinda does that. Or at least it can get you excited about the potential that these mediums hold for the expansion or marketing of your business. There is great advice about being yourself, you don't have to make videos that look like you own $100k worth of equipment, or spend $10k on a web designer, etc. I think it does an adequate job of getting the reader hyped up to start exploring and utilizing these tools.
Where the book falls apart for me is the "tweet it and they will come" mentality. For example, he talks about how important it can be to tweet to get your message out, or upload videos onto your own YouTube channel. But there is no information on how to get people to actually view them on YouTube or follow you on twitter. He basically states, follow your passion, be yourself, and create passionate, unique content and over time your following will come to you.
Unfortuantely, while that certainly happens to some, for 99% of the people out there it doesn't work that way. I've seen phenominal videos on youtube as far as content, etc. goes, and it has like 100 views. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you draw people to YOUR video out of tens of thousands of similar ones? What makes one video better than another? How do you publicize this other than on your blog? How do you get people to see your tweets? How do you get them to retweet or follow you? How do you use hashtags for better exposure?
NONE of these questions are answered, or even really addressed. The "use it and the followers will come" just doesn't hold water. He talks about working a lot and hard to get where you want to be, but it's not just working hard that gets you somewhere. It's working on the right things. Again, he never touches that.
If you don't understand how social media can even really be used to increase your business or your band or hobby or whatever, this book will fill your head with ideas of social media glory, and that's not a bad thing. As far as how to REALLY get it done, well, it's not here.
So the idea of the book is to show how the use of social marketing can greatly benefit your business, and how it and the Internet can act as "great equalizers" of sorts. It kinda does that. Or at least it can get you excited about the potential that these mediums hold for the expansion or marketing of your business. There is great advice about being yourself, you don't have to make videos that look like you own $100k worth of equipment, or spend $10k on a web designer, etc. I think it does an adequate job of getting the reader hyped up to start exploring and utilizing these tools.
Where the book falls apart for me is the "tweet it and they will come" mentality. For example, he talks about how important it can be to tweet to get your message out, or upload videos onto your own YouTube channel. But there is no information on how to get people to actually view them on YouTube or follow you on twitter. He basically states, follow your passion, be yourself, and create passionate, unique content and over time your following will come to you.
Unfortuantely, while that certainly happens to some, for 99% of the people out there it doesn't work that way. I've seen phenominal videos on youtube as far as content, etc. goes, and it has like 100 views. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you draw people to YOUR video out of tens of thousands of similar ones? What makes one video better than another? How do you publicize this other than on your blog? How do you get people to see your tweets? How do you get them to retweet or follow you? How do you use hashtags for better exposure?
NONE of these questions are answered, or even really addressed. The "use it and the followers will come" just doesn't hold water. He talks about working a lot and hard to get where you want to be, but it's not just working hard that gets you somewhere. It's working on the right things. Again, he never touches that.
If you don't understand how social media can even really be used to increase your business or your band or hobby or whatever, this book will fill your head with ideas of social media glory, and that's not a bad thing. As far as how to REALLY get it done, well, it's not here.
August 8, 2017
This book would have earned a 5/5 if I’d read it a year ago, before I’d followed the advice that it preaches off my own back. That’s because it’s all about giving you both the inspiration and the advice that you need to make a career out of something you love, and I’m now doing exactly that. I’m making more money while I’m at it, too.
I think this is Vaynerchuk’s first book, but it’s still up there with his new releases. That’s because he doesn’t talk about specific platforms, focusing instead on the overall strategies that will help you to achieve your full potential. In the age of the internet, anyone can make a business out of something they’re passionate about – as long as they put the time in.
I think this is Vaynerchuk’s first book, but it’s still up there with his new releases. That’s because he doesn’t talk about specific platforms, focusing instead on the overall strategies that will help you to achieve your full potential. In the age of the internet, anyone can make a business out of something they’re passionate about – as long as they put the time in.
December 21, 2014
Good stuff, lots of practical advice.
I specifically liked being authentic, and mingling with your community online answering questions and building a reputation. And not neglecting social media of course!
I specifically liked being authentic, and mingling with your community online answering questions and building a reputation. And not neglecting social media of course!
August 22, 2018
One needs some kind of motivation to keep going. It is true that passionate people do have passion. But it is also true that this passion doesn't always makes you keep working towards your goal. At least that's the case with me. I need to keep myself constantly updated through a some external stimuli. And what better stimuli can be than a book?
This book does the job of making you work towards your passion tirelessly. Why do we get tired when we work for long? Because we don't love doing that. And, when we do something we love, any chance of getting tired goes away.
What is better than a book that motivates you to work towards your passion? That the book is informative. Yes! This book is easily a booklet on all the tools on the internet that can be used to cash in your passion.
I felt like I knew whatever is being told in this book about passion. I think we all know it deep down. That working on your passion through the night won't get you nowhere. Maybe we just don't believe in our passion strong enough to just go for it. This book even had an answer to this: if you enjoy doing it, it's worth it. Isn't all this simple yet fascinating?
This book talks about how we can use each of the social media platforms including Facebook, twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, WordPress and many more to built your personal brand. The tools have been explained in detail as well. Even though the book was published almost a decade ago, most of the information is still relevant today as well. Since social media platforms like Instagram weren't present when this book was written, there is no mention of them. But a passionate person will surely do things the updated way, keeping this book as base.
This book has so much information, written in a precise manner. It is certainly not possible for me to tell about each one of them here. But I'd surely like to talk about one last concept mentioned here which I think everyone should know. It is that legacy always outweighs currency. This book talks about how being true to your audience or customers is much more important than making money. Sure, it'll work for the long run in terms of money. But won't it give you peace of mind as well?
This book surely boosted up my willingness to pursue my passion. To all the passionate people out there: do read this book, for it'll help you to a path full of passion and happiness.
This book does the job of making you work towards your passion tirelessly. Why do we get tired when we work for long? Because we don't love doing that. And, when we do something we love, any chance of getting tired goes away.
What is better than a book that motivates you to work towards your passion? That the book is informative. Yes! This book is easily a booklet on all the tools on the internet that can be used to cash in your passion.
I felt like I knew whatever is being told in this book about passion. I think we all know it deep down. That working on your passion through the night won't get you nowhere. Maybe we just don't believe in our passion strong enough to just go for it. This book even had an answer to this: if you enjoy doing it, it's worth it. Isn't all this simple yet fascinating?
This book talks about how we can use each of the social media platforms including Facebook, twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, WordPress and many more to built your personal brand. The tools have been explained in detail as well. Even though the book was published almost a decade ago, most of the information is still relevant today as well. Since social media platforms like Instagram weren't present when this book was written, there is no mention of them. But a passionate person will surely do things the updated way, keeping this book as base.
This book has so much information, written in a precise manner. It is certainly not possible for me to tell about each one of them here. But I'd surely like to talk about one last concept mentioned here which I think everyone should know. It is that legacy always outweighs currency. This book talks about how being true to your audience or customers is much more important than making money. Sure, it'll work for the long run in terms of money. But won't it give you peace of mind as well?
This book surely boosted up my willingness to pursue my passion. To all the passionate people out there: do read this book, for it'll help you to a path full of passion and happiness.
January 14, 2022
The approach is kinda outdated.
September 10, 2019
70% боза
20% I am going of the script
10% смисъл
Като за книга на 10 години не е чак толкова зле, а и се оказва прав за доста неща. Поне е картичка, по-малко от 4 часа слушане.
20% I am going of the script
10% смисъл
Като за книга на 10 години не е чак толкова зле, а и се оказва прав за доста неща. Поне е картичка, по-малко от 4 часа слушане.
May 19, 2011
Occasionally I talk to photographers who have been in business since before the digital revolution and the growth of the internet. They all sound the same. They grieve the changes that have caused business to slow - or in some cases - come to a grinding halt. They grieve the fact that clients are hiring newer, less-experienced photographers than them. And they're largely oblivious to how powerful the internet is and how drastically it has changed the game. They want to keep doing the same things that worked for them in the past and are angry that they aren't yielding the same results. When listening to these photographers, I rarely have an opportunity to get a word in edge-wise. I just let them vent. But if I could say something and they were open to listening, I might be inclined to say something along the lines of what Gary Vaynerchuk says in his book Crush It!: "Crying about how things should be instead of embracing how things are doesn't do anyone any good." The game is changing and only the strong will survive.
Not only are we as photographers needing to adapt to new forms of communication and technology, we are also coping with a struggling economy. Gary says that in order to survive in an economic downturn you need to have a relevant and differentiated product or service, be adaptable and know how to tell your story. He says that thriving economies actually enable mediocre companies to exist: "Booming economies like the one that recently ended keep all kinds of businesses afloat that should have sunk a long time ago. Once the winds shift, there's only room left for the best."
If you are someone who is interested in turning your hobby into a business, someone who is tentative about blogging and social media, or someone who has been in business doing the same thing since before the internet took over the world - this would be a great book for you to read.
Crush It! is written by Gary Vaynerchuk - a man who spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. When he realized the potential of the internet, he started a video blog and harnessed the power of social media to grow his personal brand into a $50 million business.
I gave this book 3 stars. The thing I liked most about it was that it was a story of a real person who made it big and the steps he took to do so. I also liked how motivational Gary's writing style is. You can tell he's all about the two things he proclaims - passion and hard work.
Gone are the days of starting at the bottom and working your way to the top by putting your time in and building seniority at a corporation. The internet has presented the biggest shift in history in how we do business. And with the opportunities that social media offers ANYONE can jump in, build their brand and start a thriving business. That's the good news.
The other side of the coin is that in order to succeed you need to be passionate, work your butt off and be willing to adapt. Note: Being adaptable is a recurring theme.
I only gave the book 3 stars because I didn't find a lot of content that was new or helpful to me and some of the social media info is already out of date. But it is a quick, easy read and it did have some tidbits that I took from it. Like always, I wrote my own set of Cliff's Notes in the front of the book complete with page number references. Here is a sampling of what I wrote and took away for myself:
-Tell stories that make people care about your product as much as you do. Storytelling is the most underrated skill in business.
-Creating community is about starting conversations. Social media is a perfect tool for this!
-Join every online conversation about my passion. After blogging on a topic, comment on the mention of it wherever I can find it online.
Gary affirmed my belief that your business and your personal brand need to be one and the same. The authentic you is the one thing that differentiates you from everyone else so you need to smear yourself all over your business. And even though you will walk away from this book with a ton of motivation to CRUSH IT! - you need to remember that building your brand is more akin to a marathon than a sprint.
We live in an exciting time where the internet makes it possible for us to grow our brands and businesses on our own. It's time to embrace change, pursue our passion, work hard and put one foot in front of another as we run our race.
Not only are we as photographers needing to adapt to new forms of communication and technology, we are also coping with a struggling economy. Gary says that in order to survive in an economic downturn you need to have a relevant and differentiated product or service, be adaptable and know how to tell your story. He says that thriving economies actually enable mediocre companies to exist: "Booming economies like the one that recently ended keep all kinds of businesses afloat that should have sunk a long time ago. Once the winds shift, there's only room left for the best."
If you are someone who is interested in turning your hobby into a business, someone who is tentative about blogging and social media, or someone who has been in business doing the same thing since before the internet took over the world - this would be a great book for you to read.
Crush It! is written by Gary Vaynerchuk - a man who spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. When he realized the potential of the internet, he started a video blog and harnessed the power of social media to grow his personal brand into a $50 million business.
I gave this book 3 stars. The thing I liked most about it was that it was a story of a real person who made it big and the steps he took to do so. I also liked how motivational Gary's writing style is. You can tell he's all about the two things he proclaims - passion and hard work.
Gone are the days of starting at the bottom and working your way to the top by putting your time in and building seniority at a corporation. The internet has presented the biggest shift in history in how we do business. And with the opportunities that social media offers ANYONE can jump in, build their brand and start a thriving business. That's the good news.
The other side of the coin is that in order to succeed you need to be passionate, work your butt off and be willing to adapt. Note: Being adaptable is a recurring theme.
I only gave the book 3 stars because I didn't find a lot of content that was new or helpful to me and some of the social media info is already out of date. But it is a quick, easy read and it did have some tidbits that I took from it. Like always, I wrote my own set of Cliff's Notes in the front of the book complete with page number references. Here is a sampling of what I wrote and took away for myself:
-Tell stories that make people care about your product as much as you do. Storytelling is the most underrated skill in business.
-Creating community is about starting conversations. Social media is a perfect tool for this!
-Join every online conversation about my passion. After blogging on a topic, comment on the mention of it wherever I can find it online.
Gary affirmed my belief that your business and your personal brand need to be one and the same. The authentic you is the one thing that differentiates you from everyone else so you need to smear yourself all over your business. And even though you will walk away from this book with a ton of motivation to CRUSH IT! - you need to remember that building your brand is more akin to a marathon than a sprint.
We live in an exciting time where the internet makes it possible for us to grow our brands and businesses on our own. It's time to embrace change, pursue our passion, work hard and put one foot in front of another as we run our race.
January 31, 2019
It's interesting to listen to this with nearly a decade's remove and hear his predictions - "Tweet will be a verb!" for what will blow up. He's about 50/50 correct, but the major themes of the book (as he intended), are not dated and apply to promoting oneself on the internet in general.
His dynamism is contagious, and the audiobook is neat because he goes off-script again and again, to add stuff ex tempore, and it's interesting, as a narrator, to hear how much the voice shifts between reading what's already fixed on the page, and talking while the brain is thinking just a split second ahead.
His dynamism is contagious, and the audiobook is neat because he goes off-script again and again, to add stuff ex tempore, and it's interesting, as a narrator, to hear how much the voice shifts between reading what's already fixed on the page, and talking while the brain is thinking just a split second ahead.
April 16, 2020
A typical Gary Book, what an amazing must-read to everyone who is starting to follow their passion, and it also shines a light on the importance of social media how it's currently dominating the world.
Also, the book is old but its information is always relevant when starting fresh and as always I recommend the Audiobook by the man him, Gary Vaynerchuk.
Also, the book is old but its information is always relevant when starting fresh and as always I recommend the Audiobook by the man him, Gary Vaynerchuk.
December 11, 2009
This book made me VERY happy. Gary has a no-nonsense attitude that I love. His "stop whining and just do it" approach is a breath of fresh air. That attitudes is not for everyone though. However, he gives some great tips regarding social media and personal branding. I consider myself pretty well informed, but he gave suggestions I'd never thought of and some excellent short cuts.
This is not a "do what you love and everything will fall into place" kind of book. He doesn't b.s. and doesn't hide that making money doing what you love actually takes a ton of work. But his obvious passion for not only his job, but connecting with people, makes this book worth its weight. It's a short, easy read, but full of information and practical advice, meaning I a) stayed up all night to finish it and b) reread the entire thing the next day.
My one problem is that his email address is EVERYWHERE. Which at first I thought was awesome, thinking he obviously practices what he preaches and wants to connect with his readers. I emailed about a week ago, but no response. It's not the lack of response that bugged me - the man is a moderate celebrity and he has tons of followers, meaning no time to personally respond to every person who shoots him an email. The thing that bugged me is that he practically ASKED us to email. Either way, this is the book's only flaw. The man is pretty much a genius, has a ton of energy, which I love, and is so positive it's infectious. No matter what you love or what you do (hopefully they're the same thing), definitely buy (don't borrow, you'll want to highlight)this book for a fantastic and useful read.
This is not a "do what you love and everything will fall into place" kind of book. He doesn't b.s. and doesn't hide that making money doing what you love actually takes a ton of work. But his obvious passion for not only his job, but connecting with people, makes this book worth its weight. It's a short, easy read, but full of information and practical advice, meaning I a) stayed up all night to finish it and b) reread the entire thing the next day.
My one problem is that his email address is EVERYWHERE. Which at first I thought was awesome, thinking he obviously practices what he preaches and wants to connect with his readers. I emailed about a week ago, but no response. It's not the lack of response that bugged me - the man is a moderate celebrity and he has tons of followers, meaning no time to personally respond to every person who shoots him an email. The thing that bugged me is that he practically ASKED us to email. Either way, this is the book's only flaw. The man is pretty much a genius, has a ton of energy, which I love, and is so positive it's infectious. No matter what you love or what you do (hopefully they're the same thing), definitely buy (don't borrow, you'll want to highlight)this book for a fantastic and useful read.
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