I always look for inspiration in random places. This process pushes me beyond my limits, helping me adopt new beliefs and habits that reveal my true self. One source of inspiration that I frequently turn to is Gary Vaynerchuk quotes for success.

I’ve always found a lot of what @Garyvee discusses in terms of his belief systems growing up to be on par with my own and I often listen to him to speak while driving to my office or at the gym. I’d think, “This guy’s in my head!” or “How’d he know I was thinking that?”t was spooky but also really cool.

I thought about the movie Being John Malkovich and this got me thinking…

• What if Gary was in my head?
• What might my life look like?
• Would I be deaf from him yelling at me 🙂 or fueled ready to take on the world?

To absorb his wisdom, I decided to apply one of his quotes to my life daily.

I decided I needed some ground rules to follow. I created the following because I knew I could keep them in place and hold myself accountable:

• “Be Inspired” by the quotes that really light me up (and in some cases I took on more than one).
• “All In” or nothing, adopt the mindset of the quote 110%.
• “Act As If” Gary was screaming this in my head on a loop.
• “Be Coachable” and allow myself to be with what shows up in the sense that it’s only a quote and I have to do the work, there are no magic pills.

Here are the quotes of his I chose to take on and what I learned each day about myself, life & others:

“No matter what you do, your job is to tell your story.”

• I used to think no one cared about my story. Then I started listening to others, and realized mine resonated with them. Now I share it to inspire. Takeaway: Be your best self, not a copy of someone else. Authenticity is priceless.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Stop doing shit you hate.”

• I thought working in advertising was my life and a great paying one at that until I discovered my true calling as a coach. As soon as what was fun and creative became boring and tedious, it was time to move on. Takeaway: If you hate what you do it will ultimately show up in your results and performance. Find what lights you up and follow that until your hearts content. The money will follow you where you go.

“We are in control of the one asset that we all give the most f**ks about, and that is time.”

• Growing up in New York, “f*ck” was more than just a word; it was a noun, an adjective, and a verb – essentially, it was a mindset and a way of life. In other words, it represented a raw, unfiltered approach to navigating the world. And ultimately, where you put your focus and energy determines where your actions will take you. Therefore, the takeaway here is to stop giving others control over your beliefs. After all, they are yours alone. It’s perfectly fine to be influenced by others, but it’s crucial to maintain your own sense of self and not allow yourself to be overtaken by external forces.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Family first. Nothing else really matters.”

• As a husband and father of two, I am constantly reminded of my commitment to myself and my family. I realize that I need to stay true to myself in order to be a good role model for my children. I also know that I can’t succeed without the love and support of my family.

  Takeaway: Never forget who you are and the people who love you.

  
  Having all the success in the world is meaningless if you have no one to share it with.

“Cash is oxygen. You can make the greatest cup of coffee, the greatest sneaker, the greatest TV show, or the greatest work of art ever, but if you can’t sell your product you are out of business.”

• Many people with great ideas struggle to sell them. Years ago, the challenge was selling intangible services. The key? Focus on the experience. Find the right medium to connect with your customer. Whether it’s a tweet, a short video, or a YouTube channel, tailor your approach.Sell a solution not the product.

“Success in general is a well-balanced blend of luck, DNA, confidence, and hustle.”

• It’s taken me a good amount of time to get to where I am today and none of it came it easy. There was (and continues to be) late nights, weekends, early mornings and yes, luck, hustle and confidence building from the wins I created and the loses I endured. Takeaway: Never be quick to confuse luck with being fortunate. Luck is random and mostly out of our control, whereas being fortunate can come from hard work which creates opportunities to you (by you).

“Care immensely or die!” 

• Passion is supremely underrated. I look at what I have achieved and it wasn’t schooling or friends or outside circumstances that was the common thread, it was my passion and drive. Without that, it would have been placing a peg into a round hole. Takeaway: Find your passion no matter what. Once you do, it will fuel you for a lifetime – more than coffee anyway.

“You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don’t do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it.”

• My coach’s question, “Would Starbucks or Nike do this?”, stuck with me. Thinking like a brand forces bigger thinking and reveals new possibilities. Don’t blindly follow the crowd; trust your gut, not just social media. Spend more time making a name for yourself and less time making other people famous.

“Skills are cheap. Passion is priceless.” 

Growing up in NYC was the best education I could ever had hoped for. Despite my fortunate education, it’d be meaningless without passion for my work. I’ve met countless unhappy high-achievers who stay in unfulfilling jobs for the wrong reasons. Takeaway: Gain skills, but align them with your passions.

“Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, what do I want to do every day for the rest of my life…do that.”

• Spending mindful and quality time with myself has been something I practice for many years. Coach training forced me to confront myself and strive for self-improvement. It’s been one of the best lessons and a journey I continue on till this day. Takeaway: Get real and I mean in a way you probably haven’t felt or experienced before. Spending quiet time with yourself is critical to reset and listen to what’s inside. Unplug each day and start focusing on what’s important inside.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “The truth is that finding happiness in what you do every day is so imperative.” 

• Every day I wake up feeling grateful and being grateful for what I have created in my life and for my amazing family. Do I have everything I want? No but I do have everything I need and that makes me happy. Takeaway: Sometimes finding happiness doesn’t require searching externally but rather internally. Being in a state of gratitude can improve the way you and your life show up.

“You didn’t grow up driving…you figured it out.” 

Life is all about figuring things out. So much of what I learned about myself, others and life in general came from taking the time, being patient as well as persistent until I got it. Takeaway: The expression, “All good things come to those who wait” has always been missing something for me. I believe it should be, “All good things come to those who wait but it comes quicker to those who are persistent and committed to figuring it out.”

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Time – the one asset none of us are ever gonna get more of.” 

• Probably the one topic I speak the most on. I learned the value of time when my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That day, my perspective changed. I realized that we all have 24 hours, and it’s not just what we do with them that matters, but also our relationship to them. Takeaway: Life is short, we all know that so why spend one second doing anything that doesn’t serve you, your life and your overall happiness? Tell the ones you love – you love them.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “All your ideas may be solid or even good, but you have to Actually EXECUTE on them for them to matter.” 

• A great idea is only as good as the person behind it and the people behind the person. To succeed as an entrepreneur, surround yourself with the best people, not just the most available. Find a support structure that shares your belief in your idea to make it a reality.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Love your family, work super hard, live your passion.”

• This one truly speaks for itself. I personally love the order in which it’s stated. Family first and from there, work hard (and smart) and you will undoubtedly live a passionate life. Take away: It’s easy to be grinding, hustling, working etc. and forget about those who love and support you for whom without them, you may not be doing what you do or working where you work. Take the time to show them the love.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “I’m just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards” 

• This completely resonates with me – as a coach I get this completely. Coaching is spent only looking at the past in terms of how to move forward. I do spend certain periods of time when I need to if I find the answers I am seeking aren’t in front of me. Take away: Looking at your past mistakes can prevent future ones as well as learning what to avoid moving forward. The key is to not set up shop there.

“Effort is grossly underrated.”  

• History is paved with success stories not from the smartest or richest or even best looking people but the ones who gave it their all. The grit, grind and hustle from these people instilled a belief system so strong success was the only option available. Take away: Typically the point at which you are about to give up is the point in which to double down your efforts. On the other side of a breakdown is always breakthrough.

“You can market your ass off, but if your product sucks, you’re dead.” 

• Sell solutions not products – This saying has always stuck with me since my days working in advertising. Never overhype something that isn’t worth it, especially if it’s your first product launch. It’s sometimes impossible to recover from a fall of great heights. The more money and effort you put into the marketing should be equal to or more than your products capabilities and potential. Takeaway: Take the time you need to perfect your product/service. The marketing is the easier part of the equation. Focus on the “what” first and the “how” will follow.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Legacy is greater than currency.” 

• Build a reputation that precedes you. Your actions shape not only your legacy, but also the impact you have on others. Choose wisely.

“I hate how many people think “glass half-empty” when their glass is really four-fifths full. I’m grateful when I have one drop in the glass because I know exactly what to do with it.” 

• I firmly believe being grateful for what you have and focusing on that is way more important of a habit to adopt then most people realize. Whatever your morning ritual maybe – think about including some gratitude into and your perspective will shift dramatically. Take away: Whether the glass is half full or empty, the key to remember is that you can always refill it.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “If you live for the weekends and vacations, your shit is broken.”  

• I used to think living for the weekend was fine, but now I realize it’s just existing, not truly living. If you can’t be present, especially at work, rethink your job and workplace.

“You need to spend all of your time and energy on creating something that actually brings value to the people you’re asking for money!” 

• As I stated earlier, sell the solution not the product. It takes a lot to ask someone for any amount of money so make sure you have a compelling case to share as to why you need their financial support. Take away: Learning the art of selling is something so important and something that’s not readily taught in school. That means selling your ideas as well as yourself.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “Stop whining, start hustling.” 

• Throwing a pity party and being a victim in life is something we have all done. We even got dressed up and ate the cake. Take away: If you are going to be a victim and whine, do it and do it 100% but intentionally choose a time in which the party ends and you clean up. Setting boundaries around what we do (and act) helps instill accountability and maturity.

“Know the philosophy, know the details, and ignore everything in the middle.” 

I struggled with this one, I won’t lie. Do your homework and understand the context – the why and why not – for any product, service, or meeting. Take away: Nothing can shortchange the time needed to prepare for life. Focus on self-improvement to effectively promote your product and engage in diverse conversations.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “We only get to play this game one time…one life.” 

• This is by far on of the better quotes and sentiments I have read. There is only one true certainty in life which is the moment we are born, we begin to die. Now before you go off on me for that statement, think on it for a second. Life is what you make of it and the clock starts ticking the moment you arrive – it doesn’t stop. Take away: There is no dress rehearsal, this is it – this is the big show now get out on the stage.

“Whether you’re 9 or 90, stop trying to fix the things you’re bad at, and focus on the things you’re good at.” 

• To improve, focus on your weaknesses while leveraging your strengths. Take away: I highly recommend Strengthsfinder over many of the hundreds of assessments that exist. Understanding what you are innately gifted at gives you the precise area to focus on.

“A penguin cannot become a giraffe, so just be the best penguin you can be.” 

• I will never be Tony Robbins or GaryVee and I wouldn’t want to be. I also won’t be 6’3″ but that’s a different story. The point is, work with what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t. It’s okay to look up to others, but don’t lose yourself trying to be them. Focus on your own growth, and you’ll become your best self.

Gary Vaynerchuk Quotes for Success: “It’s easy to dream about it … Much harder to execute it ….Work!” 

• There’s simply no substitute for hard and smart work. That said, it does start with a dream and a vision and sometimes that part is the most challenging. A clear vision beats winging it every time. Take away: There is a big difference between being in action and being productive. Remember, a rocking chair can be in action but gets nowhere.

Executive Coaching for Authentic Leadership Development

In the spirit of Gary Vaynerchuk’s emphasis on self-awareness and authenticity, executive coaching can play a pivotal role in fostering these qualities in leaders. Executive coaching provides a safe and supportive space for leaders to explore their strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs. Through this process, leaders can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how their behaviors impact those around them. This heightened self-awareness enables leaders to make conscious choices that align with their values and contribute to a more authentic leadership style. By fostering self-reflection and providing personalized feedback, executive coaching empowers leaders to embrace their true selves and lead with genuineness, ultimately inspiring trust and loyalty in their teams.

The floor is yours: Where do you find your motivation?

Please leave your comment below as your insights are greatly appreciated and a learning opportunity for everyone reading this article.

With leadership,

Joshua / www.JoshHMiller.com

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