#AskGaryVee Episode 118: Gary's Dad Joins The Show

“and VaynerMedia through
insane growth, what’s your “best advice to those
leading growing teams?” – You know, I think one of
the things that I think about when growing, and you know,
Wine Library probably, from 1998 dad, until
2004 or five, in kind of, that five or six, seven year period, we probably went from what, how many employees do you
think, with Dick and Bob, maybe 10 or twelve to like
eighty or ninety, right? Would you say in that
five or six year period? – Yeah. – So– – But we were overstaffed. – Yes, dad. – No, no, no but we were
overstaffed for a reason. – Yeah, we were growing! – We were growing – And the same thing’s happening now. I’m sure AJ would now
say we’re overstaffed because we’ve gone from
thirty to 525 people in the last three years at VaynerMedia. I think the big thing for
me, and it’s interesting it’s fun to have my dad here. The big thing with me that I think is a little bit different
than my dad and AJ, I’m just, I’m kind of, when you’re going through insane growth, I definitely don’t worry
about the little things. You gotta move fast. There’s going to be a ton of headaches. There’s going to always be issues, but I try to focus on the top line, right. When you’re trying to grow quickly, you’re really growing top line revenue. A lot of times that may be at the mercy of gross profit and net profit. For sure there’s always
issues with personnel, there’s always disagreements
and things of that nature, but for me, it’s not
sweating the small things. To me, I keep my heads
very much in the cloud. I really focus on the agenda at hand, and I think where most people struggle, is they focus on the small things. They get caught up in the things
that may not matter as much in a net net game, and
I think that has been a very major factor in my business success that I’m able to not get caught up in the things that I think
the far majority of people get caught up in. I think people get emotional about things, I think people don’t
project financial outcomes, you know, both when I got
involved in my dad’s business and with VaynerMedia,
the growth of the revenue on the high end, on the top
line, was very extreme and I think that’s something that
people struggle to calibrate. To me it’s not sweating the small things. Dad? – Yeah. – Great, let’s get into the next question. – I think that’s well, well, yeah. – Right? – You know, look, a lot of
people now watch the show. The show’s gotten very big,
I don’t know if you know. – No, I didn’t know. – Ask #GaryVeeShow, it’s very big. – So how come I’m the
first time on the show? – Well, I mean, it’s all
just worked out, timing. You’re very busy, you’re busy. You don’t come to New York
when I’m taping the show. – Right, that’s true. – Tolls, it got too expensive. – You have a very different point of view, you have a very unique point of view on me that the audience does not have. – Listen, no question about
it, not because he’s my son he’s a very, very special kid, no doubt. – I’m almost 40, Dad. – You’re always going to be a kid to me. – I know, I know. – Please. – I get it, I get it. – You’re children will be– – Why don’t you tell the
audience when you first realized how special I was. (laughter) – Oh I knew what– – No, tell them, this will be fun for me. – Shit – I can’t get you to tell me to my face. – No, no! – I always give you the
credit where the credit– – Always. – Okay, what, I’m going
to tell you to your face? No, no, no, you sold drapery right? – Ha, you’re going way back. – Wait a minute. – I was 10. – What year was that? – 1985. – No, before, was (mumbles). – Yeah 1985, I was 10, when
I did the mini flea market. – Mini, Andy, Mini flea market. – ’85. – They had some– – (mumbles) clock. – No, no. – A drapery. A blue drapery. – And my day at that time, I used to take Sunday off once and a while to spend quality time
with my children, right? – Which meant we would sleep. – Listen, I used to work
16 hour days, 14 hour days. – For sure. – That’s not so easy. – Nope. – But, Mom gave you the draperies, right? – Yeah. – And you sold it. – And they were stunned. – Yeah. – And Grandma. – And yeah, listen, I knew it. You’re my son, right? When I lent you, supposedly,
no I did lend you– – You lended me, yep. – Money, a thousand dollars. – You lended me a thousand dollars to start my baseball card
business when I was 14. – I was in the business, right? And a couple people said to
me, you know, you’re an idiot. You’re never going to see this money back. – I paid you back fast. – Fast. – Within the month. – And that was hard, that was like 1989 when I could only go to a
show once every other weekend. – And then you start working in a store. – Kenwood Chardonnay. – No, Sebastiani. – Well, that I asked you to move. – Yeah, well. – Kenwood, I sold. – And that’s uh, yeah. – Alright, let’s go Andy. – Okay, let’s go. – [Voiceover] Buzz.hr asks, I
started a daily vlog series.

Should I focus on Youtube,
Facebook video, or both? – Buzzer, this is interesting. We’re in a very interesting
time with now with Youtube– – That’s his name? – That’s a name, Dad. But it’s probably a screen name. Buzzer, it’s a very
interesting time right now. I think Youtube and
Facebook Video are both the two dominant platforms. But I think six or seven months ago, DRock, we okay with the sound? I know it’s windy. – [DRock] Yeah. – We’ll just go with it. I think that. By the way, I am so pumped. The #AskGaryVee Show
audience is not ready for all this craziness. – No? – I think, show AJ, show AJ real quick. Let’s say hi to AJ. Aj’s got his drone. – [AJ] I’ve got problems with the drone. – [Gary] The drone’s broken?
– [AJ] I want DRock. I need DRock’s help. – [Gary] Alright, we’re almost done. We’re doing a quick
#AskGaryVee episode with Dad. – [AJ] Real quick. – Go ahead. – [AJ] It says the controller’s
disconnected to the camera? Do you think it’s because
we turned on the app before we synced the two, like. – [DRock] And you turned it
off and turned it back on? – [AJ] Yeah, we tried a lot of that. – Alright DRock let’s bang this out. This is black and white right now, AJ. – [AJ] I know. – [D-Rock] That’s fine. – There’s gonna be a lot of
black and white in this episode. – [DRock] First thing. – [AJ] First thing. – Buzz, I think that Facebook Video is grossly underestimated, I think that YouTube’s obviously
the established leader, but I think Facebook’s incredible Andy and I have been
doing enormous amounts of testing on audiences. Right now we’re running a ton. So many of you have watched the USC video if you haven’t, watch it here. Link it up, over my dad’s face. – [DRock] Yep. – And so, I think it’s
incredibly effective. There’s nothing like Facebook targeting. And I think, both, the answer’s both. I think both really matter. I can say that, you know,
eating our own dog food, Andy, we’re really focusing
on Facebook right now. We have an understanding
of what YouTube’s all about but the targeting is just
incredible on Facebook. So the answer’s both, brother. Focus on both. Let’s move on. – [Voiceover] John asks,
“What’s one question “you get asked all the time
that you can’t stand answering?”

“you get asked all the time
that you can’t stand answering?” – What’s one question I
get asked all the time that I don’t, that I
can’t stand answering? Which one is that Dad? The Valdez? Great Pinot, right? – And I’m not, you know? – I know you’re not a big Pinot guy. Alright DRock, over here. This is not a wine show. – I think I’m going to finish it. – You can finish it. – I don’t know if there’s
any question that bothers me that people– – He’s so chill. (laughter) Nothing, nothing, you know. Really, doesn’t take it personally, uh. – [Andy] What’s a question
you always get asked– – You know, Dad, I’m gonna take
advantage of having you here you know, obviously we’re the
same but we’re very different. – But you’ve got a lot of me. – Yes, I know. – The better– – The competitive thing. – Yeah. – But, were you interested in the fact that I’m so unphased? You, listen, there’s a
lot of people watching. Tell the truth, you get upset. – Eh, about? – A lot of things. (laughter) – Uh, yes of course. I’m human, I have yeah. – But, you agree, in
business I’m kind of weird. I go into this weird state where I’m not– – He’s different and he’s very different. No no no, I have to hand it to him not because he’s sitting here, and I really want to give
him compliments, you know, while he’s here. – Guys, just so you know, I’m fishing here because I don’t get this so I’m
using advantage of the show. – But he’s very different here. He made a statement, and I
can’t even repeat the statement, because, to me it’s against my religion– – (laughs) I don’t even know. – He will do business with– – Anybody. Hitler? – You know it rubs me the wrong way, but it’s true, its been proven fact. And I’m a principled guy. – I’m a principled guy! – You are, but, you put
what’s good for the business before your own– – My own feelings. – Yeah, and I can’t, and
I’m exactly reversed. You know, I’m, I don’t know. And probably that’s
what was holding me back listen, I’m not complaining,
I did pretty okay– – Yes you did, mister. – With no language, no, you know. – 100 bucks, poor. – Yeah, I can write a book and my book would be better than his,
but that’s beside the point. (laughter) He’s making a face. – Because it wouldn’t be better. That’s why I’m making a face. Let’s play one on one. Show the basket. We’re gonna play one
on one to settle this. – Listen, we just had my
younger son get married. – AJ, they know AJ. – Everybody knows him. And you would not believe what
took place at the wedding. Gary gave a speech, I gave a speech. My daughter jumped in, and it became– – We’re a very competitive family. – Yeah, it’s healthy. – Slightly unhealthy, but
I’m pumped we’re unhealthy. – What do you mean unhealthy? – Well, we’re very– – End of the day– – We love each other. – Even in the business, never left upset. – What, within a year? (laughter) We never left upset in a day? – We kiss each other– – Well we love each other, yeah. So, I don’t remember the question. But I think ultimately,
Andy, there’s no question that really bothers me. I think most people know the
answer to most of the questions that they ask me, I just don’t think they
want to put in the work. And one thing that, I will say this. I think one of the best
days of my life, my life,

“you’re the sum of the five people “you spend the most time with. “How do you level up your five?” – This is an interesting question. This is something I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out. Do I, am I willing to surround myself with people who are better than me, I know it’s windy, DRock,
relax, we’re outside. I know, a lot of times
I’ve wondered if I’m surrounding myself with
people that are not. You know, I’m very nurturing. I like having a lot of people around me, I like building up people. – True. – Yeah, I like it. – Very true. Listen, not because he’s my son. I don’t want to sit and
brag on in front of him. He’s extremely, extremely special kid. If I knew what I’m going
to get, it’s a true story by the way, his mother
before we got married, said she has this thing,
she wants to have five kids. And of course, being a young
guy I say, hey, no problem. – (laughs) My parents were married at 20. – Right, we were young. And the time went on, I
got scared about education, to be able to pay, the
kids should not have loans, such nonsense, they should all have loans. – I would have paid it off easy. – Right, and so, he’s,
again I’m not going to sit and brag about you– – I think I might have you
on the show more often. This is, I’m feeling nice. – I’m being very honest with you, maybe somebody out there who’s going to stumble
on this video, whatever. His DNA should be bottled. I’m very serious, not
because we had four wines. Well, that helps, but,
I mean, he’s extremely, extremely special in many ways. And Barack Obama doesn’t
invite him to the White House. – Please, this is nice enough,
you don’t have to get crazy. – Just because, as a father I’m very proud. In the business, we had
a lot of disagreements. (laughter) – We could disagree about the
color of the goddamn thing. But end of the day, we
bounce off each other things. And I don’t think Gary
ever mentions that because he’s a very competitive guy. But a lot of good ideas,
and I don’t want to put myself somewhere, but a
lot of them beginning, was Wine Library, it came
driving an hour each way – I wrote a Medium– – I miss it so much. I miss it so much. And I understand, listen,
he’s got things going on, but that part I always miss because it was very special. You know even today when
the family get together, it’s, even my daughter’s
birthday was a couple days ago, you know she turned what, 30? – Six. – Right. – Sorry Liz. – Yeah, no but even her
friends saw the dynamic of our family, and I
have to give it to mom. Mom built a very strong foundation. Who grew up without a mother, you know. She was at age five, she lost her mother, and but she’s very special person who built this family, and you know, I work and she was building the family. It’s a great combination,
and it’s you know I’m very proud what this
family were able to accomplish, and especially what Gary and AJ. I mean you know, special kids definitely. All of them, and I see grandchildren, Oliver and you know. – Alexander. – Alexander. – Alexander is eating a lot of olives, so we decided to name him Olive. – He wants to call himself Olive. And that’s a really real
special, real special. – Thanks dad, I have no idea
Andy what the question was. But, what was it again? – [Voiceover] Sum of the five people you spend the most time with? – Yeah I mean, I think
that, yeah I think I have. I definitely over the
last five to seven years surround myself with
higher caliber characters. I think it’s a commitment, I think, but on the flip-side, I’m
very comfortable in bringing value to the people
that maybe aren’t better than me, I think giving
back is massively important. I think it’s, there’s a level of karma, and I think as long as you’re focused on surrounding yourself with five people that can bring your level up,
I think the real answer is it’s about 10, right, I think it’s about creating a scenario where
you have five people that are leveling you up,
and I think it’s about surrounding yourself with five people that you level up, and I think I think I get tremendous enjoyment on leveling up the five people around me. – [Voiceover] Chris asks,
“I got a question for ya. “How bad do you wish Tom
Brady was your quarterback?”

“How bad do you wish Tom
Brady was your quarterback?” – What is this again? – The question is how bad do I want Tom Brady to be my quarterback? – You don’t. – I’ll take him, I mean look. Brett Favre was probably
one of the five players I disliked the most in the NFL, but I’ve said it before on the show, the second that a player takes on my logo, they’re alright, right? – That’s true. – Wayne Gretzky we didn’t like, I liked, well my dad’s a Devils
fan, I’m a Rangers fan, but I think, you know
he’s getting a little old. I think he’s, listen, I would cut my, I’m going to say this,
I would cut my entire right arm off, I would, sit calm, I would cut my entire right, left arm off for Aaron Rodgers because I think we would
win the Super Bowl. I think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarter well Andrew Luck, I would
cut my entire left arm off for Andrew Luck, I’m going Indianapolis for week two. – What about Dan Marino? – Dan Marino’s finished. – Right. – Thank God, those were tough years. The Jets have really
struggled, I mean we had Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, and Tom Brady, We’ve had basically all
the three other teams in our division, show Little AJ. AJ’s very upset, he’s
never won a championship. AJ’s never won a championship, AJ’s 28 alright (mumbles), he’s done, he’s 28 he’s never won a championship, because my baseball
team and hockey team won before he was old enough to enjoy it. So he’s a Knicks and Jets fan. AJ, would you cut your left
arm off for Andrew Luck? – Smart, smart. – AJ says no, I would. – [AJ] You wouldn’t either. – I would, I’d cut my
left pinky off for sure. Would you cut your left pinky off? – No. – I would, I would 100%. – What is he cut? – JPP. – Giants right? – Yeah because he’s– – What’s going on with his dog. – He lost his index finger,
alright let’s move on. Move on, last question,
AJ’s calling for time,