In all fairness, we were forewarned, but Virginia Tech never could have predicted the thunder show that was about to roll through Burruss Auditorium last week (including giveaways totaling close to $25,000). Gary Vaynerchuk, wine connoisseur, New York Times bestselling author, and American businessman, opened his keynote Wednesday night with a nearly packed auditorium with a warning: “I tend to get into Chris Rock mode when I’m in front of audiences,” he said.
Well, he certainly rocked the audience.
Vaynerchuk immigrated to the United States from Belarus at a young age. Since he arrived in America, he’s been hustling and putting in the work to be where he is today. Using humor and anecdotes, Vaynerchuk offered advice to college students at Virginia Tech, often times reiterating how he wishes he could be in our seats.
Vaynerchuk offered his wisdom for those of us students who will be entering the workforce soon. He spoke of the immense cultural shift we all will be experiencing now and in the future. Business is no longer about pushing products into the consumers face, it is about conversation. Businesses should now put service above being a merchant, go the extra mile for your customer.
His new book, “The Thank You Economy,” speaks about how consumers are tuning out the ‘push’ of marketing, and business is now about small town rules. It’s important to have more context—engage with your audience. “Content is king,” said Vaynerchuk. Luckily at Come Recommended, we’ve learned to rule the throne.
As a job seeker, there were several pieces of useful advice I took away from Vaynerchuk’s entertaining and informative keynote:
Work with Passion
One aspect of our generation that is special, said Vaynerchuk, is the fact that we can work on something we are passionate about. We will need to work hard, but it will be worth it.
Ideas Mean Little
A great idea goes nowhere without execution of that idea. “The next time you hear someone say ‘they stole my idea,’ punch that person in the mouth,” sarcastically advised Vaynerchuk. “Execution is the game.”
Be Prepared to Work Hard
From a young age, Vaynerchuk was an entrepreneur. He owned his own lemonade stand franchise by six, which he managed by peddling his big wheels nonetheless, to and from each stand. Be prepared to work hard, even if that means riding a big wheel.
Vaynerchuk ended his keynote by filming the Daily Grape live, and giving away prizes to the audience, including jobs with VaynerMedia and Super Bowl tickets! It was a like a scene from Oprah’s ‘Favorite Things’ episodes.
While Vaynerchuk may not give you a job, you can still hop on those big wheels job seekers, and pedal your way to success, Gary Vaynerchuk style.
How have you worked towards a career you’re passionate about?
