Five Lessons I’ve Learned Working with Gary Vaynerchuk for 14 Years
As I considered topics to write about for this week, my team suggested writing about things I’ve learned from Gary given how long we’ve worked together. It was a wonderful idea, and I was quite excited to reflect on the experience since it will be 15 years next week! Except, I then realized, it was only 14 years, which is a great lesson in and of itself… Lesson #1 – It’s Never Too Late I started working with Gary in 2009, when he published his first book, Crush It, and in that book, he outlined what would later become the Influencer Economy. His theory was anyone could make a living being an online expert, in any subject matter. Nine years later, in his follow-up, Crushing It, he told the stories of people who did just that. The people who were able to take advantage of this new digital economy all had one thing in common. They got started! They didn’t wait for the perfect opportunity. They didn’t wait for the market to develop. They didn’t wait for someone else to prove it was possible. They had belief in themselves and got to work. Often motivating people to work harder, shift careers if they are unhappy, or realize an opportunity, Gary always implores people to realize how much life they have left ahead of them. It’s important to have a proper perspective and be ambitious. Regardless of the project, if you start tomorrow, you’ll lose a day. If you started last year, think about how much further along you’d be. It’s truly never too late to start! Lesson #2 – Authenticity is the Key to Connection Profane, foul-mouthed, vulgar. I’ve heard Gary described all of these ways, and couldn’t disagree more. Does he curse? Sure, but it is never done in a derogatory way, or for the sake of profanity. Rather, it is authentic to who Gary is and the way he talks. Gary has built a reputation and brand by being able to connect directly with people through his social media and from the stage. He has amassed a sizable following because he speaks from the heart, and is truly authentic. In the speaking business, the best speakers are just that, authentic. Audiences are smart. They can tell when someone isn’t being true to themselves. Being authentic isn’t easy either, it takes self-awareness and a willingness to fail, but so many of the most successful people in business have built their careers by remaining authentically them. Lesson #3 – Don’t Fear Failure To take a line from Gary’s own official bio, “He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber.” However, he relishes the opportunity to remind people he could have invested $25,000 in Uber in the earliest of rounds, which would have been worth about $300 million at one point. Suffice it to say, we see all the successes but often forget the failures. While he is quite prescient, he has had plenty of failures along the way, and it never holds him back from trying new things if he believes in them. It could be timing, operational issues, technological problems, or any number of things, but you cannot be afraid of trying something you believe in for fear of failure. At VaynerSpeakers, we are regularly making changes behind the scenes when we see a better way of doing things. We aren’t afraid of something not working out, but rather experiment and recalibrate based on what we learn along the way. If it doesn’t work, we know we tried something and have new learnings to use for our next endeavor. Lesson #4 – The Power of Empathy in Leadership Many view leadership as being about strength, authority, and decisiveness. While these traits are important, Gary’s leadership style is grounded in empathy. He values his team’s emotional well-being, understands their unique challenges, and appreciates their perspectives. I’ve learned that leading with empathy promotes loyalty, motivation, and productivity. It fosters an environment where employees feel valued, understood, and are more willing to contribute their best efforts. I find that empathetic leadership means empowering people to perform, which builds trust in both directions and allows your team to grow having learned many valuable lessons along the way. Lesson #5 – Patience and Long-term Thinking Win Gary’s mantra, “Macro patience, micro speed,” encapsulates his philosophy of working hard daily while maintaining a long-term vision, and believing in your macro philosophy. He acknowledges that real success takes time and isn’t achieved overnight. From Gary, I’ve learned that short-term wins are important, but investing time and effort into long-term goals pays off in more substantial ways. Patience, perseverance, and a strong vision are the cornerstones of lasting success. It’s okay to recalibrate, but don’t lose sight of the big picture. Gary has not only been my client for 14 years, but my friend. He is a great partner who is there when you need him and doesn’t micromanage. There are hundreds of lessons I’ve learned, both big and small, that are not just applicable in business, but valuable life lessons. It’s been an honor to learn and grow alongside Gary. If these lessons can impact you in any way similar to how they’ve influenced me, I’ll consider this a success. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Be yourself, without being afraid to fail. Understand and connect with those around you, be patient, and always keep an eye on the future. Embrace these principles, and you’ll set yourself up for enduring success.
Maximizing Speaker Impact: How to Choose the Right Keynote for Your Event
Regardless of what type of event you are hosting, if you plan to book a speaker, choosing the right speaker for your event can be overwhelming. However, no decision can be more critical to the impact your event can have. An effective speaker can inspire, motivate, entertain, and educate, which can not only create a memorable event, but establish a deeper relationship to your brand. Here is some guidance as you begin your search: Understand your audience: Knowing your audience is key, so ask yourself these questions: Who will be attending the event? Are they required to attend or will the speaker help draw new attendees? What do you want your audience to take away from the event? What has worked best with your last event(s)? The answers will guide you in the right direction to start your search. Define the purpose of bringing in a speaker: Most events fall in one of three categories, either an internal employee event, external customer/client event, or a ticketed conference. The type of event you are hosting will help dictate whether you need to use your speaker to draw attendees or whether attendance is mandatory and name recognition becomes less important.If you are creating an internal or external company event, you will need to decide whether you are bringing someone in to speak on a subject-specific to your industry, or someone outside your industry to provide motivation, inspiration, levity, or that “wow” factor. Specify the purpose of your event: Is it to inspire, educate, entertain, or motivate? The goal of your event will determine the type of speaker you need. For example, a motivational speaker might be right for a sales conference, while a celebrity might be more appealing for a high-net-worth client summit. Set a budget: No one likes to spend money, even if it’s your company’s! Speaker fees can range from $5,000 – $1,000,000. It’s important to understand how much you’re willing to spend before starting your search. Remember, a higher price doesn’t always mean a better fit, and there is no rule you have to spend your entire budget. However, determining a budget will help focus the search on practical options. Look at both content and style: Online research can be a great tool to understand who a speaker is and what they can do. We recommend reviewing bios, speech topics and testimonials to narrow your search, but video is the best indicator of performance. Watching a speaker on stage will give you a good sense of not only what someone speaks about, but the way they speak and whether their content and style match your event goals and event personality. Evaluate their relevance: The speaker’s message should be timely and relevant to your audience. It’s also beneficial if they can tailor their speech to tie in directly with the theme or purpose of your event. Establish your event parameters: When you contact any speakers, the more information you can share, the better information you’ll get back. At the very least, it’s helpful to provide location, company, audience size, date and schedule, including any flexible timing, past speakers, and clearly define what you are looking for from the speaker. Check availability: As you get closer to making a decision, make sure the speakers you are exploring are available on your event date by providing them the date, location and any other pertinent details available. However, note that most speakers will only provide professional availability, and require an offer to confirm availability. Like anyone else, speakers all have a variety of other commitments, personal and professional. They may be willing to move existing commitments if you make an offer, but without all of the details, nothing is guaranteed. Have a Plan B: Things can go wrong, and speakers can decline an invitation for any number of reasons. It’s best to have a backup plan and second option should your first choice not work out. Booking a speaker can be a complicated process, but like buying a house, a car, or any other expensive product, it’s important to have a plan, do your research, set a budget, and if you need support, work with someone who can aid you throughout the process.
The Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle: Booking 200+ Speakers for One Monumental Event
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a significant transformation in the events we’re booking at VaynerSpeakers. With the digital era upon us, trends have shifted and we are witnessing a unique phenomenon – a decrease in advanced notice for speaker bookings. If you are working in events, I’m curious if you noticed this trend too.
Virtual Events Aren’t Going Anywhere, and Take Us Everywhere
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a significant transformation in the events we’re booking at VaynerSpeakers. With the digital era upon us, trends have shifted and we are witnessing a unique phenomenon – a decrease in advanced notice for speaker bookings. If you are working in events, I’m curious if you noticed this trend too.