Handshake #1: GaryVee

While GaryVee is one of the more recent content creators on my list of 9 but, that doesn’t make his impact on me and my inspiration any less important. I’ll start out by giving all of you readers a quick background on Gary and I’ll follow it up with why he’s on my list.

The following video gives just a brief background into how he got started with VaynerMedia and WineLibrary.

Gary’s family is from Belarus during the time of the Soviet Union. They came to America when Gary was young and he couldn’t speak any English. His father started a liquor store while Gary got D’s and F’s in school. Gary worked in the store starting at 14 but, his entrepreneurial spirit manifested itself earlier. He would rip people’s flowers out of their yards and sell them back to them, when he was about 6 years old. He had a lemonade stand franchise. He truly started when he grew a love for collecting baseball cards. He would make $1000 in a weekend in the 1980s by selling cards at shows. He did that until being forced by his father to work at the store. From the video linked above you know that he worked every weekend in his 20s. His big break came when became a YouTube hit after making videos for 18 months. This lead to him becoming more mainstream and lead to investment in Twitter, Facebook, Uber, and Tumblr. Then, he started a modern “Mad Men” marketing firm called VaynerMedia, and with that you’re caught up to today.

What is crazy about Gary is that he is doing so much. He has a daily vlog, you can see here. He is active on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. He does giveaways for the #60secclub, if you comment on one of posts within a minute of him posting it. He wants to give everyone else the chance to do what he did. He gives out so many tips and blueprints, frameworks, or whatever you want to call them for how to get what you want. The message that inspires and sticks with me the most is “The Importance of Self Awareness”. As I’m close to finishing college, I’m wanting to find my place in the world and I had a brief period where it seemed like the world was ending. I’m sure many other college students experience this too. This video and Instagram message is one that I watch whenever I feel this way.

When I shake Gary’s hand here’s what I’m going to say: thank you for bringing light to the fact that what’s best for you isn’t always what’s best for me. Thank you for instilling the importance of patience. Thank you for teaching me to find my self awareness. Most of all thank you for helping me to get rid of excuses and just start.

Be sure to check out Gary’s content you can find his link on his Twitter.