شروع

CHAPTER 2

STARTING OUT

IN THIS CHAPTER I TALK ABOUT CHOOSING A NAME FOR YOUR COMPANY, MAKING YOUR MARKET CARE ABOUT YOU, AND STANDING UP TO YOUR MOM.

Sometimes kids ask me questions on The AskGaryVee Show, and I’m always struck at how much they take all the opportunities at their fingertips for granted. Of course they can get two thousand views for their makeup shows shot from their bedroom. Of course they can just reach out to a seasoned entrepreneur and ask him a direct question. Every time I see their happy, hopeful faces I want to scream, “Do you know how lucky you are? Do you know how much closer I’d be to owning the Jets right now if I’d had access to the Internet back when I was your age?” My God, the things I could have done.

And now more people than ever are doing those things, because that’s the kind of change the Internet has brought on our society. It’s why so many of us can start building something incredible even when we’re just sitting at a makeshift desk in a broom closet. It’s why we’re able to talk to each other, network, reach influencers, find inspiration, and engage at a level unseen in human history. We are all so, so lucky. It’s such an exciting time to be an entrepreneur—heck, to be a human being!—and I’m pumped at how many people are going out into the world with their ideas and their hustle.

I get a lot of questions from entrepreneurial newbies and restarters looking for everything from nuts-and-bolts platform explanations to reassurance that they’ve actually got what it takes to succeed. I try to answer as many as I can because if there’s anyone I know I can help, it’s this group. I often say there are two core things that bring people value: 1) entertainment, and 2) utility. I know this chapter falls in the latter category, and not only for the entrepreneurs just starting out. Old-timers, pros, and establishment icons, don’t pass up this opportunity to see what’s on the mind of the new generation. Even if you think you already know all the answers, you might be surprised. And their questions—not to mention their eagerness, their fears, and their sheer excitement—can be good reminders as to why you decided to hop on this awesome, crazy train in the first place.

Finding a marketing job out of college is tough, especially one that’s not sketchy. How do you find a job that is the right fit?

How or should the length limitations inherent on Twitter/Vine/Instagram affect a start-up when choosing its name?

What was the hardest thing about starting up VaynerMedia from scratch?

How much of success is confidence, how much is skill, and how much is luck? You seem to have a lot of the first.

How long is too long for a fiscally responsible entrepreneur to stay in a safe full-time job? At what point do you have to accept that it’s not going to happen. Is it ever too late to start?

Do you think giving up a secure job for a new and exciting opportunity is irresponsible when you are the sole provider for your family?

I love my job but I want to do my own blog and my own hustle. But I’m crippled when it comes to executing.

What’s the best way to deal with someone who is negative about entrepreneurship? What if it’s your mom?

How do you make your market embrace your product or ideas when it just doesn’t care about them yet?

When trying to create a new media property (say, something at the intersection of food and tech, with no real precedents), how do you find and forge the right partnerships, that is, people with resources and access?

Who would you recommend pitching an app idea to? What steps would you recommend?

How do I get the first ten customers for a creative service start-up?

PR firms offer media training for executives but the quality varies a lot. A lot of companies have grown complacent and just hire the same firms over and over. How do I get on the radar of decision makers (who aren’t actively looking, either because of complacency or because they think all media trainers are essentially the same)?

Why do you focus on top-line revenue?

I have an app idea, with my target market willing to test it, but I need to create the app and I’m not a programmer. Any advice?

I’m building an app that is probably six months away from a working prototype. What would you suggest I start doing now to build it up so that when it is time for release we’ll have plenty of users?

What is the biggest obstacle to success: lack of time or lack of capital?

What should I look for in a cofounder?

What came first at VaynerMedia: clients or employees? And did you ever do the work by yourself?

What are your tips for teenage bloggers to show brands they mean business?

How can I filter years of exciting adventures and experiences into value that someone would actually be interested in?

When you have a new business idea, how long does it take to implement? Do you run with it? Strategize for a while? Consult with others?

How do you avoid letting a new business run its new social media plan by itself?

What is the best way to scale a business with an inherently low profit margin?

What’s your best piece of advice for a first-generation American entrepreneur, venturing out on her own, away from her family business?

If you could go back to any time in your life and know then what you know now, when would that be and what one thing would you change in your business life?

What are the biggest mistakes you see young entrepreneurs make?

How do I overcome the perception of being “too young” when I’m pitching VCs?

As a successful solo entrepreneur, do I have to grow my business bigger than I can handle alone?

What fundamental skill do many entry-level marketers lack?

How can I converge my vision of being a YouTuber with my parents’ vision of me getting a university degree?

If you have a Plan B, does that mean you are setting yourself up for failure? Should you never have a Plan B because you should be confident in your Plan A?