Between the Lines of Leadership · A Headhunter's Picks (5)
In this new edition, I want to bring in something that'll make our newsletter richer: audiovisual content. Personally, I'm someone who really values the visual, and I'm convinced that an executive's growth doesn't come from reading alone 😉. This is clearly one of the references that keeps reaffirming my belief in working with good people.
I follow several voices through platforms like TED Talks and YouTube, among others. Today I want to put the spotlight on Gary Vaynerchuk, who I've mentioned before when I shared one of his books. But his ability to communicate is so striking that his videos are genuinely worth diving into, and in a lot of cases, the "movie" beats the book 😊.
Out of Gary's huge library of videos, there's one that stands out for how it digs into the "Optimistic Winning DNA" theory and the idea that being a good person can also pay off.
Gary makes no secret of his very legitimate ambition to build a great business, or even an "empire", but he's clear that this doesn't clash with holding a high bar of ethics, kindness and generosity toward the people who work with him and compete in the market. He distances himself from the old-school Silicon Valley model (not every company, obviously), where being a tyrant was seen as a viable strategy for business success, pointing to Steve Jobs as an example of genius mixed with the very real fear his team felt around him.
This take pushes us to think about how much ethics matters in business and how, in the end, real greatness comes not just from success, but from the ability to lift up the people around you. Bottom line: it's worth choosing to work with good people.
So much so that more than a decade ago he created the CHO (Chief Heart Officer), reinventing the HR role with Claude Silver
Another interesting video: Being a good person is a good strategy
This last one is longer and denser but really interesting for anyone in the middle of building something, and also a great way to get to know the man himself.
The key points:
- Passion and Love for the Process: Gary stresses how important it is to love what you do. He argues that success and fulfillment in entrepreneurship come from a passion for the process, not just the end result or the chase for wealth.
- Patience and the Long Game: He underlines the need for patience and a long-term view. A lot of entrepreneurs fail because they're chasing a quick win and aren't ready for the long, demanding journey that building a sustainable business takes.
- Work Hard and Stay Consistent: Work ethic is everything. Gary talks about the importance of working harder than everyone else and staying consistent in your efforts. Persistence is the key to getting past obstacles and reaching your goals.
- Self-Awareness: One of the most important points Gary makes is self-awareness. Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses lets you focus on what you do best and delegate or improve in the areas where you're weaker.
- Don't Fear Failure: Gary encourages entrepreneurs not to be afraid of failure. Failure is an essential part of learning and growing. It's important to take risks, learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
- Ignore the Negative Noise: He advises entrepreneurs to tune out the criticism and the negative opinions of others. A lot of the time, that criticism comes from people who don't have the guts to chase their own dreams.
- Adaptability: In a world that's changing fast, the ability to adapt to new trends and technologies is vital. Entrepreneurs have to keep learning and stay ready to pivot whenever they need to.
- Build a Personal Brand: Gary talks about how important it is to build a strong personal brand in the digital age. A powerful personal brand can open a lot of doors and create real business opportunities.
In short, Gary Vaynerchuk's 2019 talk at USC offers a deep look at what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. His message centers on the importance of passion, patience, hard work, self-awareness, accepting failure, ignoring the negative noise, adaptability and building a personal brand.
