Stop Chasing Hacks and Start Building Real Content | Tea with GaryVee Ep #83

0:00Hey everybody, actually, if you're a really hardcore listener, you know I never do this, but the truth is, I'm like shitting the bed on this, everybody else is getting people to review on Spotify and Apple. and like the Vayner Nation does none of that because I've never asked. So if this podcast has ever meant anything to you, please go to Spotify or Apple right now and leave a review. By the way, even if you give me a one-star review because you think it's shit, I respect it. But just leave a review, an actual review. Four or five stars and the actual details of why. Yeah, that would mean something for me.

0:28So thanks. This is the Gary Vee Audio Experience. All right, we are in the game. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Tea with Gary Vee, episode 83. here live on whatnot, but simulcast on all my socials. Erin, let's get to the first question. This question is, when you're building your side hustle outside of your nine to five, when do you know the right time to jump and go all in on your side business? The second you can eat shit for a year. Now, whether that is you saved enough money and you're willing to go there, or you don't give a fuck and you're willing to give up a lot of luxuries, you can pay your basic needs like roof over your head and transportation, right?

1:08But if it's really burning a hole in your heart, in your stomach, not your heart, you know, you may even decide to take public transportation instead of having a car and you give up your lease. This is about how much you're willing to like be resilient, right? How much do you love your passion? But I will say this, Aaron, this is super common. This is incredibly common. A lot of people do not jump when, let me just paint you this picture. You make 93 ,000 in your job and your side hustle is making$2 ,000 a month. So you're thinking 93K and 24K. But your side hustle is getting so little of your time because you have a job.

1:45If you're at 93K in income and 24 ,000 in side hustle, you're likely when you jump, gonna do 100K in side hustle because you have so many more hours. This is the math. This is the calculus that most people don't get. Sid, you've never heard this from me. I see how you react. This is one of my best pieces of content. You make 93K in salary, you make 24 ,000 in side hustle, but when you jump and do side hustle, you make 100K in side hustle, and now you're thrilled, you have more flexibility. People think you have to have like even, even. You make 100K, you need to get to 100K because you gotta pay your bills.

2:18You don't realize that those 40, 50, 60 hours per week, if you've been able to make 24K with a couple of hours a week, when you go all in, plus you're happy, plus your 40 hours are not equal. Your 40 hours at work are shitty hours, your C minus, your 40 hours on your newfound primary hustle is A plus hour, so it's compounded. That's the answer. Erin asks the next question. Okay, the question is from Paul. The nepotism is alive and well in my workplace. I am one of the most qualified people there, even over my younger managers. It is impossible to get ahead simply because I'm not from here. I'm so tired of fighting it.

2:56I know you're going to say leave, but I need to hear it. Leave. Leave. Like fucking leave, leave, leave. Leave, leave, leave. Like you can't fight it. Leave. And by the way, leave everything. You can't fight your mom for 60 years who's bipolar or a narcissist. You don't leave her, you just limit her. It's either limit or leave. Loved ones, limit. Non-loved ones, leave. Leave the job. Like marriages, a lot of people need to hear it's tough. I'm not advocating for that. at least go through the therapy, like work for it, like do something, don't eat it. Either leave, either go for the work, which would be therapy, exercise, life is leave or work or shut your fucking mouth.

3:44Cause complaining, limit or leave or put in the work or shut your fucking mouth. Complaining and pointing fingers is fucked. Accountability to the max. Here's the nuance that almost no one sees. Accountability even when you're right. Being the bigger person even when you're right. I have someone in my life who cannot go there because they can't forgive. Lack of forgiveness is the poison that is ruining your life. There's nothing, Aaron, you can say to me that would not allow me to forgive, including the ultimate darkest shit that can come out of your mouth, let alone stealing money, let alone cheating, let alone backstabbing, let alone talking shit.

4:41These are things that people literally eliminate loved ones and friends for. Literally, do you know how many people right now have eliminated loved ones and friends for talking shit? for talking shit, as if they never talk shit. You know what I love right now is like watching people shit on people as if they've never done anything wrong. Even when they die, Hulk Hogan died. He fucking died. And people were giving tributes, and of course like every other human, and he's done some bad stuff, I get it. But I love those comments, I'm like, I'd love to know what bad stuff you did. Fucking tired of this bullshit, can we get the fuck out of this matrix?

5:21This is why I'm doing Tea with Gary Vee. I'm gonna create a fucking cocoon of positivity and accountability that is gonna fucking dominate. Sid, I'm gonna fucking dominate 2026. I'm gonna be IRLing, you know this court. I'm gonna be video blogging, I'm gonna make way more content, I'm gonna be sub stacking, I'm gonna be fucking AIing. I'm about to go fucking ham on motherfuckers' faces. Gonna suffocate all the excuses and it gonna instill all the opportunities. It's gonna be good. Erin, ask the next question. Okay, next question. How can teens today start learning how to build a business online while still creating emotional boundaries between who they are and what the algorithm rewards?

6:05That's a fun, great question. There's a lot of ways to think about this. Big shout out to Addison Rae who's been saying this. I heard Mona listening to this. I overheard it while she was listening. Addison basically said, you know, she did what she had to do on TikTok to get the fame and now she's quote unquote different. She said she did what she had to do and now she can be more of herself. And I think a lot of kids can learn from that. Like you can make content that the, now you gotta make content that's somewhat in you. You can't like say shit you don't believe or do shit you don't believe.

6:36But if it's not all the way you, the answer is both. You can do both, right? Like you can do both. I do that all the time. You guys know this. The post I did the other day with me and my dad doing a wine video, you think I thought that was gonna over index the algorithm? I sure didn't. And as you know, Sid, we had a little moment on Instagram where we were testing ads and doing things and it threw off our algo. We're just getting ourselves back. We wanna get into that organic reach system better for the algo and yet I still posted that video with me and dad because I wanna post that video for me and dad because I promise you when my dad's gone, I'm gonna be happy that I posted that over getting an extra 100 ,000 fucking views on fucking Instagram.

7:14So the answer is both. Okay, let's go to the next question. Okay, this question is from Mohamed. How do you communicate with an employee who's in trouble at work? They really need our help, but they don't know how to ask, and we don't know how to assist. Kind candor. You know how to assist by telling the honest truth with kindness, and if you say that we don't know how to assist because you've been doing it already, and they're not getting it, then you may have to cut bait. There's nothing worse than, for me, there's nothing worse than firing an employee, but the reality is it took me into my early 40s, maybe even mid 40s if I'm being honest, to realize you're doing them a favor, not the reverse.

7:50Because once they're dead on arrival and dead man, dead woman walking in your organization, you're not doing anything right by them. Okay, next question is from Doug. Do you feel organic reach is less now with Facebook advertising boosting reels for money? No, I think it's more now. Organic reach is higher now for good content and lower for bad. I think it's more merit than ever. I think, is it Doug? Doug needs to look at himself and realize his content is not good enough right now and he needs to mix it up. I do think it's harder to be consistently great. I think competition has grown, but it's not the ads.

8:27It's many more humans with organic content. But the good gets more and the bad gets less. It's more merit based. Erin, keep it going. Okay, this question is from Eli. They say, hey, I asked ChatGPT the same question for it to answer in your voice, and I'm interested if the answers are the same or accurate. The question is, if the best form of advertising is now organic social media, how will companies that thrive off of paid for ads make money, i.e. a news company? Why would companies pay for ads or brand deals if organic social media is cheaper and better? Because it's harder. Ads are guaranteed.

9:02Organic reach is only based on your merit. And in fact, if you get virality in an organic post, the next best practice is to amplify that creative or reuse it as an ad. So paid advertising is phenomenal, especially when you're buying underpriced attention. Underpriced attention sits in many places. The Super Bowl, if you can afford it, is underpriced. Like I'm contemplating VFriends commercials in the Super Bowl in the future, because I think it's underpriced. If we can afford it one day, I will do it. So the ads are underpriced on Meta, Instagram and Facebook. It's just that if you start with organic, you know the creative's good and that's what you should be amplifying.

9:38So it's both, not or. But for a lot of us right now that are watching, should realize that it's an opportunity because they don't have ad revenue, but they can win organically. Understand? So that's the key.

9:54Let's keep it going. I'm growing a brand and community called Nomi's that revolves around the tabletop role playing game community. My friends asked me to delegate tasks to them, but I notice they start strong and then don't deliver. They say they want to grow this community with me, but how do I keep them accountable so we can grow? By firing them and paying them. Like, yeah, like it doesn't sound like he's paying them. So it's hard, you know, some people are motivated at first with passion, but then they worry about other things. Like, you have to know how to, and by the way, some people don't need to get paid and they're motivated by the joy and they would do it for free and that's awesome.

10:29But that's a small percentage. And then if you're paying someone, or not paying someone, and they're not doing the task, you release them of that task, that's what leadership and ownership looks like. That's the responsibility.

10:45Let's keep it going. Okay, a question from Laura. I'm 41 years old, trying to build a brand, but it's hard because I'm shy, but I feel I have so much to give. I'm also very self-conscious about my accent. Can you give me some advice, please? Look, this is the classic question, right? Like, you know, first when she was saying she was shy, I was gonna tell her she doesn't have to be on camera. Then she threw me a double curve ball by saying she's worried about her accent. Here's the punchline. You either get over it or you don't. Like, if someone makes fun of you for your accent, if someone makes fun of you, whether you're seven or 77, I'm gonna say this slow.

11:22If someone makes fun of you, they, the person making fun of you is a piece of shit or and in actuality, they're the one that's hurting. Literally no one that makes fun of me upsets me. What they get from me is compassion, empathy, and sympathy. They are hurting. Nobody who's not hurting makes fun of people. I do not make fun of people, nor have I ever made fun of people. Little razz, little like, you know, Jersey boy shit. but I've never really actually tried to hurt someone's feeling because I got very fortunate, luck of the draw DNA wise, circumstances, environment, and most of all, mother, who made me not hurt.

12:07Thus, why would I be hurting? Hurting only comes from a hurt place. So if she's worried about, her accent is her strength, not her vulnerability. Her accent makes her, first of all, incredibly relevant to a lot of people. And then to everyone else, it's just a nuance. It's, I wish I, do you know how, do you know how much bigger I would be if I had an Ivan Drago like accent? If I was like, you are an asshole. Like that would be way better. How old are you? Like that would crush. Stop fucking watching Lost. I would fucking dominate. Sid, I'd have 80 million followers instead of 10.8 on Instagram if I had a real fucking Ivan Drago, I must break you.

12:54I would fucking dominate. In fact, with AI, I might go accent. I might go Russian accent for a decade. All content, Russian accent only. All of it.

13:07Only hurt people make you hurt, understand? Like I would fucking dominate. Accent is strength. How are you, my friend? Gary, what's up bro? What's up my man? Where are you calling from? Syracuse, New York. You actually know who I am. Oh, I know who you are, I just don't know where you live. It's good to see you bro. Syracuse, New York. Syracuse, I love it. We're orange all the way. I know it, my brother. How's life? So I'm chilling. I own the financial practice. I work with blue collar people, just helping them out with their financial affairs, their investments, their retirement stuff. Not that I've lost my way, but like I've lost a little ambition, I lost a little, you know, just go getting attitude, you know what I mean?

13:55Why? I mean, I don't know, do I like it? Do I want to try something else? Do I want to add different streams of income? Have you contemplated a side hustle? I have. And where do you go in your mind when you think about side hustle? So my goal is to start like, I want to start a business in a practice, do something down in the Boca area. So you want to move. You're tired of the snow. I mean, yeah. I don't want to live here the whole year. It's beautiful right now. Are you a Bills fan? So I lived in Chicago. Oh, you're a Bears fan. I love it. That's much better. Good. 85. Yeah, right. You just missed it.

14:41Okay. So move to Boca. I'd love to I've got a family that you know there's what are the dynamics? so we're breaking into it I'm split right now with my wife which is very hard regardless of what happens there I still have a son who has two more years of high school you're golden bro do you know how many people are in the exact same situation with you with three kids under seven, you're moonwalking. Your boy's fucking going to college or not college in like three minutes, you're good. 36 months is nothing. Right. In fact, that's actually perfect. You can start putting the pieces together for 36 months from now.

15:31But nothing, I don't want to abandon anybody, right? That's what I meant. Notice what I said, you're not abandoning anyone. when you're staying in fucking queues for three more years.

15:46Which, it's lovely all in itself, but at the end of the day, you know. It's 36 months. This is where people, do I take time, am I a jerk for going down there once a month for a week and trying to set stuff up, you know what I mean? Definitely not. Definitely not a jerk. I mean, obviously it depends on how you got custody going down and what's going on and, you know, obviously so much depends on how your wife or future ex-wife or not ex-wife, whatever happens here, I don't wanna get into your personal business, but there's - She's great, you know what I mean? So I think she's regardless. Honestly, think about what you just said.

16:17Like in the tough situation of a marital split, right? A, you have a child, only one, and they're already 14, 15, six, like right, they're in striking distance to like their chapter, 18 on, and you're in the heat of this very tough situation and you just said she's great. So you're very fortunate. Like you are way ahead of most people. So I think if you're over communicating to her and your son, you would be able to find many weekends or many five days or maybe four days and maybe seven days and maybe even 10 days because she and the son go on like a vacation and you got to, like you're going to be able to find two, three, five, seven day windows over these next 36 months to set it up.

17:01I'd love to set it up with all of them. You know what I mean? But how do I try? I'm not gonna try to relocate. You know what I mean? It doesn't, yeah, you're not gonna, brother, it sounds like you're not ready to do that right now and that's okay. Like you're gonna have to eat a little bit of patience and that's, I respect that, you're a man. You have responsibilities and you just, you know, this is what's so awesome about being a kid. When you're a kid, you could be 100 % selfish. When you become a fucking man, you become 100 % selfless. I respect the fuck out of you for that. So yeah, so you just, maybe just not even making any moves until we figure out the dynamics.

17:35No, no, no, you're missing, again, you're going black and white. Let's go back, you're making a lot of moves. You're going down to Boca a fuckload every second you can. Every second you don't have a responsibility to your son, and every second that you can afford to be down there, you're down there. Setting up shop, networking, going to events there, looking at locations, trying to get your name out there, making content out there, networking, getting a feel for it, maybe you don't even like it like you thought you did. You might start fucking going down there once, you know, for the first year and be like, fuck Boca.

18:06You know what I mean? I like Boca Del Rey. That like area doesn't have to be with the 85 year olds, but like, you know, there's certain things that I think we can make money on and I think we could take advantage of the area. You're thinking all or nothing. I got a lot of shit going through my head and a lot of things, you know what I mean? I'm here to simplify it. Matt, I'm here to fucking help you. That's why we love you. That's why I love you back. I loved you first, that's why I'm doing it. Listen to me. It sounds like you could be down in fucking Boca if you can afford the flights and the stay.

18:38It sounds like you could be down there fucking 60, 70 days a year.

18:44Yeah. That's a fuckload. I like that. Yeah, and you're down there, this is perfect actually. In fact, I think people should do this even when they have complete flexibility. Instead of just jumping into the cold water, you put your little fucking toe in there, right, Court? You know, I don't know how you jump into pools, but I like to put my little fucking toesie in there. You go all in, you're a fucking gangster. Yeah, honestly, I actually go more in now because sometimes I find out I puss out when I put my toe in there, like shit's cold. But if I don't know, it's like fuck it for a second, I'm good, right?

19:12But Matt, listen to me. 60, 70, 80, 90 days, 30 days, 40 days, that's gonna actually prep you proper. By the way, by doing that, you may end up in Austin, Texas. You may end up in fucking Miami. You may up, you know? I'll fuck with Miami, but I'll stay away from Texas. Fine, you're allowed to go wherever the fuck, yeah, I hate the fucking Cowboys too. Like, you know, whatever it might be, like, you know, whatever it might be. Actually, by the way, on the record, I just did that for fun, like I was improv, I actually love the Cowboys, because I hate the fucking Giants. So I love the Eagles, the Commanders, and the Cowboys.

19:46I like the Redskins and the Commanders, and the Washington football team, all three versions of them in the last decade. That's how much I fucking hate the Giants. Fuck you, Giant fans! you fucking entitled, fucking crying about the last decade not being good, you motherfuckers won four Super Bowls in my fucking face. You're second to the Patriots, you motherfuckers. Often Yankee fans too, I'm a Yankee fan, but like, you know, super entitled motherfuckers. Let's go Eagles, fly fucking. I like the Eagles, I like the Cowboys, and I like all 17 versions of the fucking Washington football team. Anyway, Matt, you're golden.

20:23the fact that you have this situa - Watch this, Matt. Read the comments. How many of you are separated from your former spouse? And being separated, I mean, I don't know if we might get back together, because I still love her. And we just gotta work out our own personal shit. Exactly. Watch this, though. I want you to read the fucking comments. How many of you are separated from your spouse, and it is a very negative situation. It is not good. Say, that's me, in the chat. Say, that's me. That's me. Don't say me. Say, that's me. Look at this. So the fact that you have so many people, you know, that are going, you know, and then again, those people that have negative spouse social situations also oftentimes have, want to go on and move to Boca and do their thing, but they have a four and two year old.

21:09You came in with a fucking kid that's going into his sophomore year, right? Oh yeah, I did. I got a sophomore in college and a sophomore in high school, so I've done all that, you know what I mean? Yeah man, and you're young as fuck. Look at, yeah, no shit, you look fucking great. What are you, 45? 43, but thank you. You're welcome, I actually went too high, sorry. But listen, you're fucking, you're winning out here, bro. I know it, I know it. You're good, you're good. You made it by, bro, you're not depressed. I see it. Bro, I'm sorry to interrupt you. You're a tweak away, and the tweak was don't make it black and white, it's gray.

21:40Be happy that you can be there for 60 days versus crying that you can't be there for 365 days. Bam, there it fucking is. There's the fucking clip. Be happy that you're there for 65 days, which is unusual for people in your situation because the age of kids and relationship with spouse or former spouse or working through it with spouse or whatever, versus crying that you can't be there for 365 days. And I talked to you when I first started my business and you're the one that said, just don't do your own shit. Why are you working for somebody else? I remember, I remember. It's great and it makes me good money and I'm comfortable, but is there a next step?

22:16Yes, this is the 2.0 conversation. Yeah, there's so much shit going on, so I appreciate you. Bro, you're fucking golden. You're golden. In fact, enjoy the fuck out of these three years with your son. Make sure you're, you know, like enjoy it. Like you're in a very beautiful spot once you decide you're in a beautiful spot. Once I realize it and wake up a little bit. Yeah, bro, people are like, I don't like comparing, but I, cookie, cookie one. That's the main thing that I didn't like with the job that I had before I became a business owner, is they compared me to everybody else and even though I was killing it and making six figures, I still felt like shit because there was a couple people ahead of me and realistically, people can't have that.

22:55Maybe they do for motivation, but some people just work better on their own and just leave them alone and let them work. You know what I mean? Yes, I do. Of course I do. I'm proud of you, bro. Bro, you're good. Honestly, there's a trillion people that would switch with you right now on earth. I bet. For real. And everyone's healthy, thank God. And like fucking go, man. You won. Go enjoy your 68 days in fucking Boca and go enjoy the fucking cold ass Syracuse and fucking let's go. Love you, man. Thank you so much. Hi. First of all, I want to say thank you for everything you do. You're a huge inspiration to me.