Fortune favors the fearless
The most powerful lesson I learned from Gary Vee
Two years ago, I went to dinner on a random weekday evening with my brother, our friend Matt Hiltzik, and someone that Matt figured we should get to know. His name was Gary Vaynerchuk.
The four of us sat down to a great dinner in midtown NYC, and the conversation quickly turned to the NY Jets. We soon realized that all of us had been lifelong fans. We went on and on about the Jets, each person sharing one memory after another. And then it happened…
The NY Jets starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, walked into the restaurant and sat at the table right beside us.
Normally, a table full of Jets fans would probably ask for a quick photo and share the picture with friends later that night. But within minutes, Gary struck up a conversation with Sanchez by introducing himself and then giving Sanchez tips about opposing cornerbacks. He started by adding value, not by asking for a favor. Jab, jab, jab. Soon we practically combined tables. Sanchez couldn’t get enough of Gary’s insights, and by the time the dinner ended they were following each other on Twitter where the conversation carried forward for all to see and led to Gary deepening his relationship with the team he loves most. Right hook.
That was the very first time I met Gary Vee. Since then he’s become a close friend, a Board member at Pencils of Promise, and someone I admire tremendously. He’s taught me that fortune favors the fearless -the person who sees an opportunity and seizes it immediately.
Today his third book, Jab Jab Jab Right Hook, will be released publicly. You should buy it immediately. I can assure you that you will learn enormously from his insights. And who knows, one day you may end up becoming friends with the starting quaterback of your favorite NFL team.
