#AskGaryVee Episode 97: Idea People, Intellectual Property, & Something Else with "I" and "P"

“Do you distinguish between
‘idea people’ and ‘doers’? “Is there value in someone
with great ideas “who needs others to execute?” – Ya know, I think that,
one of the things that I’ve pounded home in a hundred episodes here is how much pride I have
in being a practitioner. How much I am, how much
I respect practicality. Like, how much ideas are shit, and execution’s the game, that’s
one of my favorite quotes. Right? So, but it’s interesting. This question, as it rolled
off of India’s tongue, made me realize, ya know,
truth is there is value in it. Ya know what? Here’s a good way to put it. One of the reasons I think
I pound ideas are shit and execution’s the
game, is because I think the majority of people that
spend a lot of time watching me, aren’t at a place where they can afford the luxury of ideas. Silent pause for profoundness. Let me explain. Ideas are great. Ideas are, ya know, you can really overt, I like being a contradiction
of ideas are the game, right? Ideas are a seed. But so many people don’t have the luxury of being able to afford the
ability to have those ideas. For a long time, I
didn’t have the luxury of building a company that
had great video people who could come with me and
tape my garage sale show, and now I do and I can’t
wait, I’m so pumped. We have to find a town sale, that’s where all the action is. Anyway, so, I think there is a
place for idea people, India and VaynerNation, I think it is a, it’s a (chuckles), Ranger
people are excited. I think that you have to have
the luxury of those people. I think, the reason I’m
hedging here is I’m scared so many of you are like, “See? “He said idea people,
and I’m an idea person.” Ya know, ya can’t be, you’ve
gotta be in the right setting to get the right value of
ideas, which is a huge company that could afford R&D,
research and development, ya know, that kinda thing. You just got really
lucky that your partner is so Goddamn practical that he or she respects your
idea skills and wants them. But it is a really rare situation
for ideas to be valuable in its execution form,
especially for the far majority of the VaynerNation. (light bass-heavy music)
– [Nicole] Albi asks,

“You say you don’t consume much media “but isn’t it kind of necessary in order “to put out relevant, current content?” – Albi, that is a tremend, man! I’m feelin’ really good about
this show, some new kind of topic stuff, like India’s
hacking, India needs new articles, so she’s forcing me in
a different direction, so I’m impressed India, I
see what you’re doing here. – [India] They’re all planned. – Albi, that’s a great question. The reason I think I produce
such relevant, good content, is because I’m listening
to my community and that is my consumption of media. So, I don’t listen to
other thought leaders, I don’t watch other shows, I don’t, this is my relaxation, right? Like I don’t need things to unwind, I’m always unwinding, even
though it doesn’t seem so. And so, to me, I think
the reason I’m able to produce good content, is I’m listening. Look at the content of this show. Ya know, don’t have to do
much, just gotta answer your Goddamn question, right? Giving people value by listening. It’s funny, I said
something the other day, that really makes sense. If you ever get a chance
to jam with me, or this is something interesting
for you guys to hear. When you know what somebody’s ask, so I cut people off constantly, right? As you guys all can
attest to, because if I, and I have good intuition
very often, like very often, I already know what you’re about to say, and I’d much rather us move on
to the next part of execution that giving you the extra
13 seconds to finish your fucking sentence. So, people don’t think I
listen, but all I do is listen, and so I think the reason
I produce good content is I’m watching, do you know
how many of you I’m watching of what you’re tweeting
about, when it doesn’t have to do with me? When you’re putting out at other places? Why do you think I get
so pissed at all of you? Right, because you all say, “Yeah Gary, “he’s right about this,” and
none of you are doing it! Do you know few of you
were actually listening? Do you know how many of
you that have watched all 97 of these episodes still still aren’t putting in that work, aren’t executing properly
on that platform, aren’t playing the long game, are cutting shortcuts,
aren’t putting in the time, having tested dark posts,
not playing enough. Like, do you know how many? Too many. (bass-heavy music)
– [Nicole] Benjamin asks,

“I mustache you a question. “What’s your opinion on brands “building social campaigns around “consumers taking selfies?
#mugmustache” – Ya know, this is kind of
a, I loved your picture, so I don’t wanna dis you. This is an interesting question. Meaning, it’s very easy answer. What do I think, I think, of course. Selfie culture is real, it’s important. I think it’s a noisy space. I often, when I go do brainstorms,
think selfies right away because it’s so in culture. I think it’s not a white space. I think that, too many
brands are doing things with selfies, too many
people are doing things with selfies, too startups. I already think it’s kind of
like, I don’t wanna call it jump the shark, but
like, ya know, it’s fine. By the way, the ironic thing
about making this statement, if you ask me what’s one of
the most likely categories of the breakout marketing
hit in the next year, I would say selfies, even with
the answer I just told you. Meaning for me, the reason I was tough
on the question is like, that was literally asking me
like, what do you think about oxygen, like do you think
it’s important? Yes. What do I think? Of course, yes. It’s a mundane answer, it’s like yeah. I think it’s cool, I think it’s not cool. Meaning, they’re doing it,
somebody could even have a breakout hit if they come up with some clever version of theirs. I don’t think it’s that interesting. I think it’s been going
on for 24 to 36 months. (bass-heavy music)
– [Nicole] Amanda asks, “I just watched episode 96 &
you went off on IP.

“I just watched episode 96 &
you went off on IP. “I’m an IP lawyer starting out. “What is the future
and where does IP fit?” – Uh, (laughs).
– [India] Sorry! – That’s a great question. (sighs) Listen, IP is real, by the way, I believe in pendulums, pendulums, right? So, I’m very down in IP. I think entrepreneurs
should not be spending that much time on it. But, I actually think
12, 15, 20, 30 years, 40 years from now, as I
think more entrepreneurs of this generation don’t think about it, that it will become a white space. And there’ll be an opportunity
to make a lot of money in it because it’s still law, right? Ya know what, I think IP and patents fall into the category of building the biggest building in town by tearing everybody else’s building. I met this guy, he was
so proud of himself. He’s like, “I fucking
got all these patents, “and one day somebody’s gonna do something “and I’m gonna get him.” I’m like, “Fuck you!” And he was like, so taken
aback because we were introduced by good friends. I was so pissed. I hate that. Now, IP, like ya know, I think it’s important. If you draw Mickey Mouse,
you don’t want other people, like I get it. I think there’s a place for it. But also, the supply and
demand of amazing creative or ideas or whatever else
can be categorized in IP, is in a very different place
too, because everything can see the day of light now, right? You don’t have to work
at a Disney or a Fox, or a media company, or like
be an amazing scientist and working at GE. Kickstarter has created
every, it’s just that we’re living in this incredible,
it’s not the place that even intuitively
feels like the right place to play in right now,
because the supply and demand alternatives of the
marketplace dictate a behavior to me that’s all the different. Now, with that being said,
back to being an IP lawyer, I think what you should figure out, where all your upside professionally is can you become a taste
maker, a forward thinker? Can you figure out, and I
know I’m asking you now, can you figure out a
version of becoming the IP lawyer 2.0, like
what’s the future of IP? Question of the day! Uh,