IamA Gary Vaynerchuk. Serial Entrepreneur, NYT Bestselling Author, former host of Wine Library TV and Die-Hard Jets Fan. AMA!

When do you think you may buy the Jets? I want to see a Superbowl once in my lifetime. Hurry Up.

2039

I'll be 62! ugh.

Ill be 64

Please bring back WLTV! Just one episode a week? A month? A year?

As I said in another comment, the early seeds of a comeback are in motion ;)

Hey Gary, I was wondering what your thoughts are on how to deal with perpetually negative people / haters as a small business on social media.

Should you engage them, and how? Should you correct those who spread factual inaccuracies? Or should you just ignore them altogether? What happens when they keep at it?

I tend to be in the minority in this POV on haters. 1. I'm very self aware of myself and here social media is at this point, and so I respect my personal haters as well as people who hate on SM in general.

When I launched Wine Library in 96, there were tons who didn't think there was a future for ecommerce in 99 (even worse after the crash). For every amazon at that point there were thousands of Shmamazons, but for me it was obvious where things were going, so at the end of the day I engage because I respect. But I carry on because I have belief in where things are going.

would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

One horse sized duck and here is why. I actually believe that I could lose to a horse-sized duck and that excites me. I tend to enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the climb. It's why I'm a bigger Jets fan than a Yankees fan. The easy victory is boring and there is no doubt in my mind that I could dominate 100 horses the sizes of ducks. That said I sit here completely in fear in not knowing the true outcome of the horse-sized duck. That's how I live.

Hi Gary! Thanks for doing an AMA. Quick question - what is your advice when it comes to lack of motivation? I am a webdev freelancer for 13th year, I can do great things, my clients are happy, but I have gotten to the point where sometimes I don't really care anymore - it's all the same shit. I do my work, my clients are happy, I get paid, next. I want feel the fire again. By the way, I am addicted to your keynotes. Truth.

first off, thanks for watching my keynotes, it means a lot to me!

I'm starting to get the fire again for wine, and that's because I've taken a break for a couple of years. So maybe a break is in order if you can afford it. Even if you can't financially do it, maybe take a random job and see if that reignites things.

it sounds like you need a change of scenery

Hey Gary, what tips do you have for a young analytics enthusiast who's looking to get a job in the technology industry? Follow up, are you hiring? Thanks!

Email me: gary@vaynermedia.com

and yes. :)

I've always been inspired by your work ethic (and I try to match your level of passion with what I do). On the flip side, how do you balance work/family/life and avoid things like burnout?

The irony of this answer is palpable since I'm sitting here with employees doing this right now :)

The balance is found in extremism. Working monday-friday 8am-11pm, coming home and NOT working on the computer, and then being ALL IN on the weekend. Also upping my vacation time from 2 weeks to 6 weeks this year.

What was your FIRST investment you've ever made?

What was your WORST investment you've ever made?

FIRST: Twitter

WORST: I don't feel comfortable really saying that because there are real people behind those companies (but there is more than one!)

How did you get your first client for VaynerMedia?

The NY JETS came to sell me a SkyBox to Wine Library a few weeks before AJ and I started VM and by the time the meeting was over in an Hour, they were VM's 1st client :)

BOOM!

Gary, I'm a junior at Ohio University, and I really dig what you've got going on at Vaynermedia. What should I be doing to prepare to apply with you guys after graduation, and how do you get so much young talent on your team? Also, I turned 21 a couple months ago and am looking to grow my wine palette. Suggestions?

I think the #1 thing you can be doing is consuming a good balance of the kind of content that comes out of AdAge, Tech Meme, and All Things D (or whatever the latest thing Kara Swisher is doing is called).

I would also pay close attention to the people working for VM, and get a handle on the culture. Culture is big with us :)

Good Luck!!

Hey Gary! You obviously know and talk about wine all the time. Care to name a few beers you particularly enjoy? Thanks!

I am not super knowledgable about Beer but I love Lambics and I adore Russian River brewery

Hi Gary, thanks for doing AMA. Out of all the Social Media Platforms, who would you say is the weakest and why?

I would say Google+ but only because people try to use it as a social network when I think it really is a social API. People haven't figured out how to create native content for Google+ just yet.

Who are your role models?

My parents - Period!

Yo Gary!

What are 3 companies we should be looking out for going into 2014 (let's spoil some Gary V's 2014 predictions!)

Upworthy, Coin and Medium

Hi Gary,

How would you sell 'social media management' (managing their social media platforms) to small businesses?

by articulating what the value of it is and than more importantly if I noticed they didnt get it, I would move on instead of forcing the issue

Love your stuff. Situation: You've got 15 seconds to tell a person something that will change their life forever. What do you say?

make every decision based on your last years of life instead of your next 10

• 1.) Is Mott nearby to link things up for the AMA today?

• 2.) I love doing "show and tell" but don't really know how to monetize that. Don't care about making a killing but it'd be great to make a living. Tips?

1. No mott :)

2. Expand on what you mean by show and tell, because I really want to give you an answer!

My kind of "show and tell" is basically finding things I think are cool and interesting and then sharing with friends (online and meatspace).

I've put a few things on a blog I started to highlight the best things I've found but my friends have always remarked that when I find something I'm really interested in, I can sell it to anyone because I truly believe in it.

It's a bit hard to explain but hopefully that helps. ;)

gocha

So I was heavily impacted by waxy.org, and the work of Jason Kottke Links back in the day, and today by Jason Hirschhorn's email list. Like I say often: Become a media company. Start a site where you can build a following and monetize on ad sales!

Hi, Gary! Thanks for doing this AMA! Also thank you for the recent interviews with Marie Forleo and Pat Flynn, I guess I will be getting a copy of Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook soon :)

I've got a question for you. Let's say I am starting a new company and just starting to get social on all of those platforms (FB Twitter, Pinterest, G+). No followers, no one knows me.

What would be your Number 1 suggestion to make it work and to get loads of followers and fans on Social networks?

Thank You, Alex.

Twitter.com/search

searching the topics and keywords that your potential customers would be talking about and listening. Then start providing value to those people by throwing "jabs" - that in turn will let you use that right hook.

Listen first and provide value.

Gary,

Huge fan of JJJRH. I just got it last week off Amazon.

Is VaynerMedia just doing social media consulting or are you actually handling the posting and management for your clients? The reason I ask is I own my own social media management company and I'm currently doing everything for my clients including research, management, posting, and increasing their likes/followers.

We are doing exactly what you are doing across all platforms. We are producing the content at scale for our clients.

Gary,

We all make mistakes and it's important we learn from them - what's one you made and the lesson learned?

Early on in 2001 at Wine Library I brought in my best friend brandon and made him my right hand man. For the entire first year I barely let him do anything. To brandon's credit we had an awesome conversation and I've never looked back on my delegation skills.

What do you see are the keys to the Jets beating the Panthers?

We need the Defensive Libe ( Mo, Snacks, Coples and Sheldon) to have a huge game and we need one Special Teams play and alucky bounce or even 2!

Hi Gary, Reading JJJRH and loving it, definitely worth buying for anyone who's thinking about it. I struggle with procrastination, any advice that would help me stay motivated or focused? David

My advice is to not worry about it, because I'm a serious procrastinator. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Currently reading JJJRH after seeing you in London on Thursday. What advice do you have for connecting B2B over social instead of B2C ?

Linkedin facebook targeting using twitter to find the decision maker at a B2B ( because behind every B is a C )

What's your QOTD?

Which Wine are you drinking this XMAS?

QOTD: 2007 Ridge Monte Bello

BAM!

1991

Which of your books was the hardest to write?

JJJRH because of the case studies and the homework that came a long with it

I hate homework

Hey Gary, As a current college student looking to get into the entrepeneur business, I was wondering what your perspective on college areas of study is. I obviously have some special interests and hobbies but Im having trouble deciding what kind of business I want to run. Im majoring in business/marketing as of right now but Im still taking prerequisite courses that cover various subjects. However, I don't see the point in delaying my business ideas. Do you have any advice for me?

You're speaking to an F student that thinks the american education system for entrepreneurs is so broken it makes me vomit in my mouth.

That is my answer.

Gary, how do you keep your energy level up? How do you avoid feeling burn out?

Gratitude

What advice would you give to a 24 year old with $180k of private student loan debt, and a full time job that only pays a little more than $30k/year?

The real answer to this is to take a step back and audit yourself with the best self-awareness you can bring to the table.

The natural thing is to pay it off. I think the thing to do is to take a year or two off of "life" and invest it in paying down that debt.

What I mean by that is go find the mentor you most want to be like, and find a way to work for free if necessary. My intuition is that by doing so, you'll put yourself in the best possible position to look at a 6-figure within the next half decade.

Hi Gary - who was your first business/entrepreneur mentor and why?

nope - didn't really have one

Hey Gary!

You came to speak at my school last year and I wanted to say that I thought your message was fantastic.

Also go Jets.

Means so much to me, REALLY!

Gary, What are in your opinion the best 5 cities that are dominating the internet business in the USA? And in the world?

1. SF 2. NYC 3. Very excited about whats happening in LA 4. Huge fan of Austin, TX 5. Focusing on small marketing like Washington D.C, boston, Columbus, OH

From a world perspective I think the Nordics are interesting, obviously Asia and New Zealand is sneaky.

// no big question just saying hey old pal!

Appreciate it!

Hi Gary, what social media do you think is still much under the radar and will have the highest/fastest growth in 2014? Thanks!

SnapChat

I truly think people are underestimating it

Hi Gary, i've been following your job for years.

I am a web and mobile app developer from Costa Rica.

Do you think people in small countries like me have the same opportunities to start a successful startup or build great apps/websites than people in U.S. or big countries?

If so, what's your advice?

Thanks a lot Gary

No. I do not. I think there are inherent disadvantages to working in smaller markets.

On the flipside, I do believe that you can turn that market size into an advantage, but only a very, very, very select few can do that. Be the big fish in the small pond!

Gary--fan of your for years now. I have bought JJJRH and Crush It as pre-releases. Quick behind-the-scenes sort of question: are there any hidden messages, or jokes in either of these books you could share?

GREAT question

there was one for JJJRH about the Patriots but I had to take it out at the last second because it involved Aaron Hernandez and it just would have been so tasteless after what happened

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I think with the way you're asking this the answer is NO.

But I DO recommend that you buy ads on the righthand rail that are pointing people at you in a non-incentiveized way based on nothing but brand equity.By non-incentiveized, I mean like no contests, no giveaways. The followers game is all about QUALITY not quantity

Army or **Navy**?

Air Force

How has being from an immigrant family shaped your views on business?

100000000% the biggest impact

It taught be to hustle and even more importantly it created a lack of entitlement

I've watched WLTV since the snow episode. Now that your a social media advert guy, have you ever felt that you lost touch with your original fan base and show niche? And thank you for educating the world with wine.

Of course I lost touch and it stinks and I am starting to really miss it but in life people evolve and It's just the course my life took

Hey Gary, long time fan, really enjoyed TYE and JJJRH, two quick, connecting questions:

Have any of the companies that you used in your book as bad examples of how to use Social Media contacted you at VaynerMedia to try and get better? Any of those small companies you referenced as good send any thank yous?

1. No
2. But Shakespeare Pizza has said thank you and Sphero.

GV, is this your first time on Reddit? If not, what other subreddits do you enjoy?

First time doing an AMA! I enjoy reddit, but I don't really consume content.

Hey Gary. I'm midway through JJJRH and I'm getting a ton out of it. Great case studies. I'm in the kids marketing area and curious about your thoughts on how kids (under 12) will be using social in the next 2 to 3 years.

If I had to predict I would say - 1. They will be using it all the time 2. The platforms they are using are tough to predict - but I do feel confident that Vine and Instagram will matter.

Gary, I'm a marketing undergrad, and I own [removed]. I have many extra-curriculars/professors/friends looking to get me to make a free site for them. Making connections are important, but where do I draw the line?

Oh! And I purchased the domain www.garyvines.com for you, after you were talking about it in that livestream a while back. Hope you like it! Merry Christmas!

Think about the balance of what value proposition they can bring you in the future. Draw the line when that balance doesn't make sense anymore.

My biggest piece of advice is to do it A. for people you think can give you value in return. and B. for people where you wouldn't be hurt if you got nothing in return.

Gary, thanks for doing an IAMA. Big fan of your work growing WLTV. Saw that VaynerMedia has invested in a few startups. Are you looking to do anymore angel/venture investing in the coming year? And what is the most exciting tech company you've come across in the last 6-12 months?

VaynerMedia no longer does invest because AJ and I do it individually. I personally am still very active.

Since I have invested in 10+ I'd rather not pick amongst my children, but anything I put my money behind, I'm excited about.

Fan from wine library tv days... You really helped me get into wine and now I'm a certified somm!

You are always busting your ass. Work work work. How much do you usually sleep? And do you ever just sit and get lost in netflix for an afternoon?

Thanks!

I usually sleep between 6-7 hours (which is a lot more than people usually think) - but when you work as hard as I do during the day you are very tired when you get home.

And actually no - the lack of movies I have watched over the years would hurt your feelings

It seems like the hardest part for artists, filmmakers and other types in buying into what you say in Crush It and then reiterate a little bit in JJJRH is selling what you have. But what I run into in talking about your principles with them is that by selling what they have, it somehow cheapens it. What do you say to those who are afraid to sell?

That if you don't sell, you don't sell :)

and thats fine but realize that the truth!

Gary, Loved your book, Crush It! I'm looking forward to Jab,Jab,Jab, Right Hook. Will it be available on audio? Or, is it not that kind of book?

April for audiobook!

Hi Gary, thanks for doing this AmA! Love your Jab Jab Jab Right hook strategy.

What, in your opinion, is the greatest challenge facing marketers today?

The enormous amount of noise and trying to break through that to reach who you want.

Thanks for doing an AMA Gary.

• 1) How was your experience in London?
• 2) Next industry you'll jump into?(Wine Retail, Advertising, now?)
• 3) 2-3 people who you think have excellent potential/future but aren't known yet?(In any space, just brilliant people)

1. amazing - maybe my favorite book signing of the trip so far.

2. Formal venture capital

3. Truth is those people lie in the halls of VaynerMedia and there is probably 11-12 of them and wouldn't be appropriate for me to name them.

Hey Gary! What are some your favorite wines?

Lately I'm over-indexing on Italian white wines, Pinots from New Zealand and Cava.

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"You never know what you have until you sleep with it"

meaning you can guess whats going to happen but you never know!

Hi Gary!
You always seem to be so fired up and passionate about everything, what advice would you give on running a company and leading people for someone that is more of an introvert and is just as passionate but has trouble expressing it.

To one, communicate that maps towards your strengths. Maybe the written word is better for you.

If you have problems communicating overall I would recommend anointing someone in your company to be that person.