There seems to be quite a buzz around the internet about the entrepreneur
Gary Vaynerchuk. So like any good upwardly bound business man, I felt the need to do my own investigation. What I found was shocking. So much so that I felt compelled to write about it. This is the first time I’ve written about any one individual on my blog.
Here’s an extremely brief summary of his beginnings. In 1999 he took over managing his family’s New Jersey wine shop business, and took it from a three million dollar a year company to a ten million dollar company. Over the next five years up to a sixty million dollar a year business. He accomplished that right out of college. He is the online host of the wildly popular Wine Library TV, Author of ‘Crush It’ and ‘The Thank You Economy.’ Gary has been featured in a variety of platforms: The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Time, Conan OBrien and Ellen.
There have been many good business teachers I’ve had to pleasure to learn from over the years. Usually with a message that’s pretty much the same as the one before. Hearing Gary Vaynerchuk lecture is really a treat. Like listening to a fun and exciting man of the cloth, or politician; who just happens to swear freely without embarrassment or remorse. This guy tells it like it is better than any speaker I’ve ever listened to. @Garyvee (twitter) is a brilliant entrepreneur in ever sense of the word. He decided to build something that could never be taken away. His “Personal Brand.” I apologize that my writing skills will in no way come close to the excitement and energy he commands. Do yourself a favor and check out this superstar whenever you’re blessed with the chance. You will learn more in forty five minutes than you would in a full weekend seminar of “marketing gurus.”
He’s now one of the hottest media giants on the planet with his own media empire. His monstrous schedule also includes lecturing worldwide. Just google his name. There’s a ton of stuff out there if you want to know more about his divers accomplishments. His goal is to one day own the New York Jets. An accomplishment he will someday, without a doubt achieve.
A couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles, before rushing off to catch a flight to Belgium; the Screen Actors Guild somehow managed to wrangle up the globetrotting superstar for an unforgettable forty five minute lecture/sermon that was also streamed live on the web. This article is composed of quotes from that lecture, plus information stolen, or should I say borrowed from his various internet sites.
How do you get a business to explode?
“The same in any country. You go directly at the people who are the buyers. It’s effort right? How do you do it? You send emails or try to find people that you know that have relationships with the people you’re trying to get to; and you stay up till three in the morning and you email them all. I mean it’s hard work, but the answer; once you understand who you’re getting to, who your end consumer is. No matter if you have a start up iphone app, or you’re an agency or CEO’s.” [ or actor, singer, writer, composer, etc.]
“Whoever your client is, you should be obsessed. Obsessed 24/7, 365, with trying to get to them and telling them your story. All the other bullsh*# is horse sh*#. You just need to get to the person you’re trying to tell your story to, and whatever way you can get that: whether that’s hitting them up on their facebook page, or twitter.
“It’s never been more easy to get to people than it is today. So there should be no excuse not being able to communicate. Now your product HAS to be good. I think that’s the thing most people need to pay attention to. Content is King. I’m blown away with how many people are blown away with marketing or social media when their product is sh*#. If you make a wine and it taste like garbage, you could have a billion twitter followers. You’re not going to win.”
Should every company by engaging in social network?
“I think it’s the biggest opportunity brands have ever had. For the first time brands don’t have to rely on gatekeepers to tell their story. It’s an enormous opportunity. In the past the most successful people were the ones with the best slick presentations. The best keynote speakers. Now the new trend is going to favor those with the social skills to work a cocktail party.
“Social media is not a necessity, but it’s one of the greatest opportunities of all times. Why would you not want to engage with the people who actually buy your sh*#? Mainly because you don’t believe in the sh*# you’re selling, is usually the answer.
“I don’t think any business has been built on the foundation of really giving, and then learning how to monetize. I think the golden study in the US is Zappos. It was much bigger than social media. Their culture was built on customer service. I believe that’s what social really is at the end of the day. A real opportunity to create context and relationship.”
Vayerchuk feels that people using
social media are usually trying to “close” too fast. You want to build relationships with the people you meet online. It’s acceptable to jump into a online twitter or facebook conversation as long as you’re not cramming your product or opportunity down anyone’s throat. Leave comments that add value to the conversation. Whether that’s providing an answer to what they were looking for, or sharing a laugh. You are building personal relationships online, that may or may not in time become a business relationship.
“You don’t need to sell to somebody on the first date…I just want to build community.”
You have to interact with your fan base. He spends more of his time responding to other people’s tweets, than promoting his product or opportunity. Of course every now and then a business promotion it’s perfectly excepted and expected. Gary thinks that you should spend less time promoting your greatness, and more time just simply interacting with your community.
“People don’t care enough about the people they’re trying to sell to. Consumers are bombarded day and night with ads for everything under the sun. The only thing that will break through, is genuinely caring. Listening to what they’re saying, and helping them. Humanization of a brand is massively important”
What shortcuts can you take to achieve success?
“I think effort is grossly underestimated in general. It’s not talked about enough.
“If you’re a true entrepreneur…I firmly believe that everyone in this room, and everyone watching on Ustream, and 99% of our society spends way too much time trying to be better at the things they’re not. I probably do 99% of the world’s deeds poorly. There’s about four to six things I do well, and all I really ever do is really focus on that.
“If you’re a real entrepreneur, never apologize. Not to your parents. Not to society. Execute on who you are.
“If you know what you’re naturally good at, execute harder against that. There’s no question in my mind, that’s your biggest advantage in being successful; because it’s naturally already in you. Execute against that sh*#.”
“It’s important to pay attention to the trends, and keep in mind it’s not about you, it’s about the audience. It’s important to create great content, but you also have to create community.
Go to platforms where people are talking and answer them. Start having real conversations.
“It’s a crap load of hard work.” 99% of the people don’t want to work that hard.
So twitter and facebook really are important to get ahead in today’s market?
“Recognize that these are the ultimate weapons, and ultimate good thing in this room’s world. Because if it were just the way it use to be, the gatekeeper would be the only one deciding who gets an “at bat.” What these vehicles have done is given everyone the possibility to get their “at bat.” They may not hit it [or Crush it], but at least they have the opportunity. It’s a massive level playing field.”
The internet is HUGE. Its overturning governments, and it’s certainly capable of changing the way businesses do business. Thanks to Gary’s great leadership and guidance; Fortune 500 companies to home based MLM entrepreneurs just starting their journey, now have a clearer shot to hit the ball out o the park.
That’s my two cents.
To your phenomenal success.
Mark Edward Smith
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/markedwardsmith-mlmtrainingtools
