30 Minutes with Gary Vaynerchuk: My Thoughts
I’ve never classified myself as a fan boy.
Growing up as a first-generation Italian-American, we were taught that no one is better than anyone else, and that if you want to achieve something, you work hard until you can do just that.
Well, the message from my parents and grandparents has now come full circle when I spoke to Gary Vaynerchuk for the Brand Boost Podcast.
There was a time I really didn’t like what Gary had to say. Not because I thought Gary was a bad guy, or because the things he said were wrong, but because it was information I had heard every day, for my entire life. I would listen and think to myself, are people really listening to a man tell them what to do and who is saying what my dad had been talking about for 30 years?
As with most boys, we finally get it at some time around the age of 30. I began to realize that Gary’s message wasn't what you should be doing, rather, what he is doing and how it works for him.
It all seems so obvious, however, at the time, I couldn’t distinguish my ass from my elbow.
Making Unlikely Connections
Social media has allowed us to connect to people from all walks of life, all over the globe, at any time we want. Twitter has really allowed me to make global connections that would have been nearly impossible to cultivate any other way.
Of course, this doesn't come through osmosis. (Not sure if that even make sense, but my dad used to tell me all the time, so its become a habit. Thanks pops.)
I was fortunate enough to connect with Gary on numerous occasions here and there on social media channels. Quick tip: if you're looking to get on someone’s radar, add value to their conversations. If they see no value in what you have to say, you wonâ't land on their radar anytime soon.
Gary is no different. Gary takes note of people that interact with his posts, people that comment, people that share and people that add real value to the conversations.
This couldn’t have been more evident after my interview with him.
The VaynerMedia Experience
I can’t say enough great things about how awesome the team is at VaynerMedia. From the moment Amy Schmittauer and I walked in the door, we were treated great. We were a bit early, so we were asked to hang tight in the lounge while the smiling young lady offered us water and other beverages.
As show time got closer,D-Rock and India came out to greet us and welcome us to the office. (We got to record in the same room Gary records all his episodes of #AskGaryVee. Pretty freaking cool.)
As hard at work the employees are, they make time to say hi, flash a smile or offer you something to make you comfortable. Mad props to Gary and team for building an awesome environment for people to actually want to beat work and be happy to be there.
The Interview
I said at the outset, I’m not a fanboy of anyone. This helps me remain calm in situations that others are too excited to act normal in.
Here is the behind the scenes footage:
Throw that out the window. I was nervous.
Not about being in front of Gary, or the live audience on Facebook of over 1,000, or with D-Rock recording DailyVee, but nervous because of the massive amount of respect I had truly gained for a man who out-hustles everyone else. A man, so focused on his goals, that he doesn’t care what others think of his drive.
You see, I finally understood what it meant to truly appreciate one’s hustle. The short time we spent chatting would have meant just as much to me if we hadn’t recorded it. The fact that I felt like the only person in the room (even while he ate three yogurts, see above) meant more to me than anything.
Gary is a man who keeps his word, delivers on his promises, and delivered some amazing content that everyone can learn from. How else could I describe the day other than mission: accomplished?
Head over to Twitter and say hi @vincenzolandino or let's snap on Snapchat: vincenzolandino
Who is Gary Vaynerchuk?
Gary Vaynerchuk builds businesses. Fresh out of college he took his family wine business and grew it from a $3M to a $60M business in just five years. Now he runs VaynerMedia, one of the world’s hottest digital agencies. Along the way he became a prolific angel investor and venture capitalist, investing in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Uber, and Birchbox before eventually co-founding VaynerRSE, a $25M investment fund.
About Vincenzo Landino:
Vincenzo is an entrepreneur, speaker and host of the Brand Boost Podcast. He is the the founder and Creative Director of Aftermarq, a digital ad agency specializing in brand amplification and digital storytelling. With experience as a brand correspondent, Vincenzo’s portfolio includes a 1 billion impression campaign launch for Applebee’s as well as work for Mazda, Kia Motors, Paul Mitchell Schools, Barilla Pasta, DC United, Tinder, and Zoomph.
Outside of his professional life, Vincenzo is a die-hard Steelers fan, avid golfer and wine maker.
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