Skip to content

5 things I learned listening to Gary Vaynerchuk

2009 October 27

This past weekend, Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV spoke at the El Dorado Hotel in Sonoma, sponsored by Reader’s Books with wine poured by St. Francis Vineyards & Winery. He’s on a nationwide book tour promoting and signing his new bestselling book, Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion. Gary is a very dynamic and enthusiastic speaker and has given keynote addresses at numerous events. I recorded his entire half-hour talk and the edited version is down to 6 minutes. It was really hard to cut out his great stories and real life examples, but I guess you’ll just have to see him yourself to appreciate his down-to-earth style. This video is rather long, but I think he brings up a lot of great points and here’s what I came away with from listening to him. Keep in mind, I haven’t read his book yet so this is just what I got from his talk.

Right time, Right opportunities

The Internet is highly underrated. It is only 14 years old, but has made more of an impact in the last 3 years than the printing press, the telephone and television. We’re advancing so quickly that just 3 years ago, we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing now. That means there is enormous opportunity to make money and be an entrepreneur. Don’t believe me? Check out this video: Social Media Revolution

Business has been turned upside-down

We need to respect culture shifts. The internet has enabled all of us to interact directly with consumers. We are no longer restricted by big media, television, magazines and film. The ability to create and distribute content for free is within the reach of every individual and business. Money that was once needed to market to customers has been replaced with passion, hard work and good content. Businesses that don’t recognize this and change, won’t be around.

Everyone is going to be in the content game

More people watch Gary’s videos than read the Wine Spectator website or Robert Parker’s website. Why shouldn’t the companies who sell the products be the ones that create the content? Now they can, and those that do it prolifically, like Jenna of Eat Live Run, will be the trendsetters. Content on demand will be the norm and you and I can be the providers of that content. And the great thing is, advertisers will be willing to pay us.

Customer Service is key

Gary still answers every email he receives and he does so to make a point that every businessperson’s primary business will be customer service, and not just online. For wineries, selling wine should be secondary to caring about the customer and establishing connections and relationships. It’s how to build brand equity. It’s how our grandparent’s generation did it and it will need to be how we do it now if we are to differentiate our business from all the others.

Opportunity awaits, you just have to get off your ass and follow your passion

If you’re not happy with your job, you have great opportunities right now. You just have to “do it” and realize that it will be a LOT of work. Too many people make the mistake that they are entitled to riches and the good life and forget that people like Gary, who have made it, put in a great deal of work and made lots of sacrifices to get there. And with this work, you’ll need a lot of patience to see the return on your sweat equity because the results take time.

Copyright © 2009, Eric Hwang and Bricks of Wine. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eric Hwang and Bricks of Wine with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

3 Responses leave one →
  1. October 27, 2009

    Thanks for posting the clip and key points from Gary’s talk. I went to one of his Seattle signings to find out it was actually a private event and didn’t get to hear him speak.

  2. October 28, 2009

    Great job, Eric! Many nuggets of wisdom in there from Gary.

    Kori, I am sorry to hear you didn’t get to attend the signing… seems weird that Gary would have a “private” signing event… unless it was a room capacity thing… what date did you go?

Trackbacks and Pingbacks

  1. Beneath the glamour…is the reality, and the people | Bricks of Wine

Leave a Reply

Note: You can use basic XHTML in your comments. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS