I Met Gary V: Here’s What I Learned
Late Sunday evening an invitation popped into my inbox: Lunch with Gary V on Wednesday, December 4th. I’m not necessarily an avid Gary V fan, but I follow him on Twitter, and I’ve been interested in his content and antics for a couple years. I was excited to meet him, why not?
There’s a cult of personality around Gary and his presence fills up all the empty space in any room. When I arrived, there was a small room full of people ready to engage with Gary — experts, staff, and potential partners for his newest venture, The Minnesota ROKKR esports team. As the manager of the T-Wolves Gaming esports team, I was there to represent the Timberwolves.
Before the lunch started (and with any moment Gary had to himself), he was on his phone in what appeared from the outside like an all-out frenzy — just what you’d expect from a man who recently published a deck on how to make 64 pieces of content a day. Jumping from platform to platform — coffee in hand — there is not a wasted breath in Gary’s moment to moment experience.
It was interesting to talk to Gary and experience his brand of intensity. He doesn’t mince words and he has a lot to say. He claims that he does not predict things like new technologies or emerging industries, he simply observes what’s happening. He’s not investing in esports because it’s growing and there’s potential down the road, he’s investing because esports is already big and the younger demographic is going to continue to carry the torch forward.
He has confidence in the industry, but what about this specific investment? I asked him about his short-term revenue goals, to which he responded he has none. “I don’t buy businesses to sell them,” Gary said. He believes in long-term bets. Either way, the expertise he will acquire as both a team owner and esports expert will be invaluable (and monetizable) to him and his companies. For Gary, this investment decision goes beyond the P&L.
Gary mentioned his desire to eventually own the New York Jets on several occasions. Sometimes it seemed like a joke. Other times not so much.
For Gary and his brands, authenticity is the name of the game. He cautioned against entrepreneurs selling out, saying, “Sometimes entrepreneurs can be less authentic than corporations.”
Don’t just slap a name on something for the ‘media value’. Don’t just push out content you think an audience will share. Authenticity is caring about the things you’re invested in. It’s about creating depth in your partnerships. It’s belief in yourself and your brand. Don’t lose your way; don’t lose your voice.
There is intentionality behind Gary’s actions, but he doesn’t spend time dwelling on the abstract components of a decision. He’s a doer. Gary said that he thought too many people didn’t work productively with their time, so I followed up by asking him how to balance strategy and execution of tasks to maximize productivity. He said it depends on your personality, but he issued a warning. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said something like, “If you’re not careful, strategy and planning can become an excuse for inaction.”
It’s better to make mistakes and fix them than to never start in the first place.
Gary is always on camera. He said he might be ‘The most private public person’ and it rings true. Everything is filmed and captured, but it’s all business. He has an unusual persona that features highly concentrated doses of intensity, focus, and most of all, confidence. Gary V struck me as someone who sets big goals, makes big bets, and leaves it all on the field. He has one life and he’s going to live it to the fullest.
In the middle of an intense conversation at the end of the luncheon, Gary was whisked away by a group of associates in a flurry, rushing to a conference room for his next call.
Gary V is unique, and his persona is not easily replicable, but there’s something to be learned from it: Be who you are and live life your way, don’t be intimidated into submission.
Gary is a lot of things, but most of all, he’s a non-conformist who trusts himself. He plays by his rules, not yours. That mindset can take you a long way. Maybe someday that attitude will take him all the way to the owner’s suite of The New York Jets. He’s a lot closer than most people, anyway.
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