Hey everyone,

Welcome back to another session of Tea with Gary Vee! This episode is straight fire, with Gary tackling listener questions on everything from scaling a complex business and dealing with imposter syndrome to the future of search, the power of brand, and why getting fired might be exactly what you need.

As always, Gary brings his signature blend of tough love, practical advice, and high energy. He challenges founders to get off their “ego train,” pushes creatives to overcome their fear of posting, and reminds everyone that most bosses suck because they talk the talk but don’t live the walk. Plus, stick around for a hilarious (and surprisingly deep) debate about opening a pizza shop versus buying a house.

Here are the detailed key insights and takeaways:

1. Scaling Your Business: Get Off the Ego Train

• The Challenge: A listener (Valentin) fears hiring for a complex business because “nobody can do it on our level” and worries about micromanaging.
• Gary’s Advice: This mindset is grounded in ego and fear. You don’t need employees to be as good as you; you need them to execute. Scaling requires trusting others, teaching them (osmosis), and accepting that some will quit, some will stink, and some will move – that’s part of building. The alternative is staying small and doing nothing. Get out of “defense” and into a growth mindset.

2. Branding: Subtle is Key (Especially Early On)

• The Question: A listener (Jasmine) starting a wellness initiative for 911 dispatchers asks if she should put her company name on all products.
• Gary’s Take: Yes, branding matters, but be subtle. Over-branding early, especially front-and-center, can feel cheesy. Think small logos, inside covers, back patches – like the subtle branding on Gary’s own hat or mug. Let the quality speak first. Don’t be a “private label company trying to build what you’re building.” Find the balance.

3. Getting Fired vs. Running Out of Money

• The Question: A listener (Miguel) delivered good results for clients but still got fired. Why?
• Gary’s Answer: They decide if you delivered good results, not you. “Whoever pays for the music gets to pick the song.” Don’t assume you know why – ask the clients who fired you. It could be budget cuts, internal politics, or maybe the results weren’t perceived as good by them. Most people are scared to ask for direct feedback.

4. Finding Jobs That Value Soft Skills

• The Problem: A listener (Alex) working in a corporate job feels his soft skills (kindness, empathy) aren’t valued. Where can he find jobs that do?
• Gary’s Strategy: These jobs exist, but they’re maybe 1-3% of corporations (still a high number overall). Find them through:
  • Word-of-Mouth: Network heavily in your local area (meetups, events). Get real feedback from real people.
  • Deep Research: Don’t just trust interviews. DM employees on LinkedIn, ask challenging questions, look for consistency between what they say and what you observe.
  • Trust Your Gut: You can often sense toxic environments.

5. Search is Dented: Build Brand!

• The Question: Where is search traffic going with the rise of AI chat?
• Gary’s Reality Check: Search is in “deep shit.” Relying solely on Google AdWords or SEO is dangerous. AI chat (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.) is changing how people find information.
• The Solution: Build BRAND. If people know you (your personal brand or business brand), they’ll search for you directly or come to your platforms, bypassing generic search. Brand makes you indispensable to new challenges and competitors. Content is key.

6. Overcoming Fear & Posting Your Content

• The Scenario: A listener (Daniel from Iceland) loves cooking, has tons of content ideas, but is scared to post, fearing judgment or that it “locks him in.”
• Gary’s Fiery Response: “Post your f***ing food content!” He compares Daniel’s fear to his own past, where he made 1,000 wine videos over six years and became “the wine guy,” but successfully pivoted. Don’t let fear of being pigeonholed stop you from starting. You define yourself, not one piece of content. The fear is ego and self-consciousness. Just start.

7. Life Chapters & Tough Times

• The Situation: A listener (John, 27) is helping care for both parents with cancer and is worried about getting ahead in his sales career.
• Gary’s Advice: This is a tough chapter. Right now, focus on persevering, maximizing time with family, and embracing the difficulty (“become a f***ing warrior”). Getting “ahead” might not be the priority right now. Respect the chapter you’re in. He shares Trisha’s resilience story (double mastectomy, husband’s heart failure, losing Etsy shop) as an example of finding gratitude even in immense hardship.

8. Play Offense: Open the Damn Pizza Shop!

• The Dilemma: A listener (J.O. from Brazil, 28) owns an apartment, has 100k saved, loves pizza, was a top Papa John’s GM, but is debating between buying a house (playing defense, encouraged by mom) or opening his own pizza shop (playing offense).
• Gary’s Passionate Plea: “Open the f***ing pizza shop!” He argues J.O. has the skills, the passion, the work ethic, and is letting fear (and maybe mom’s defense) hold him back. Renting is fine; owning a depreciating asset (potentially) versus building a multi-million dollar business is the real choice. Play offense. Don’t live with the regret of not trying.

Final Thought:

Gary Vee brings the heat in this session, reminding us that ego, fear, and seeking external validation are often the biggest obstacles to growth. Whether it’s scaling a business, building a brand, or pursuing a passion, the key is to get out of your own way, embrace the work, ask for feedback, connect with people authentically, and play offense in your own life.

Want to join the conversation live? Check out Tea with Gary Vee on Whatnot: GaryVee.com/Whatnot

Until next time,
The Podcast Notes Team