Gary Vee to Real Leaders: “We’re All Playing the Same Game Now”

What if you had the same shot at going viral as Gary Vaynerchuk—today? According to Gary, you do.

In a candid conversation with Real Leaders, Gary Vee pulls back the curtain on what actually works in leadership, branding, and business growth today. It’s not hype. It’s not smoke and mirrors. It’s creative merit. And for the first time in history, that matters more than followers, legacy, or budget.

_{Listen or watch the exclusive interview with Gary Vaynerchuk.}

Here’s what he had to say:

1. The New Branding Era: Merit Wins

Forget waiting for permission. Gary made it clear: today’s content economy is built on “interest media,” not follower counts. You could be on your fourth LinkedIn post, and if it hits, it’ll outperform his.

“We are now in the era of interest media… You have six followers. It’s your fourth day. But if your stuff is better than mine? It gets more views. That’s never existed before.”

Translation? Stop overthinking. Start creating.

2. Impact Without the Ego

Gary didn’t shy away from talking about doing business with meaning. He emphasized that how you make money matters more than how much—and not for PR reasons, but for personal peace.

“Between 40 and 90, the dollars don’t bring happiness. If you want to be joyful, align your business with your values.”

The impact space, he said, has matured. Snake-oil altruism is fading. And thoughtful entrepreneurship is finally mainstream.

3. Live Shopping is the Next Big Wave

Gary lit up when asked about live shopping. If you sell anything—product, service, even SaaS—his message was clear: get in now.

“Stop reading this article and spend 25 hours researching live social shopping. I’m not kidding. This is big.”

From TikTok Shop to Whatnot, the platforms are in place. The attention is there. And if Amazon misplays this? It could dethrone them.

4. Day Trading Attention

Gary coined the phrase “day trading attention” to describe the speed and skill required in today’s marketing. The old model—set it and forget it—is dead.

“Don’t get romantic about how you got here. Be obsessed with where it’s going.”

His advice? Watch where attention shifts. Move fast. And experiment often.

5. Choosing Between Your Personal Brand or Company Brand?

One of the most common questions CEOs ask: Should I post from my own account or my company’s?

Gary’s answer? Both.

“Humans over-index humans. But if you’re doing both, you can push traffic between them. And collab posts make that easier than ever.”

If you’re overwhelmed, he adds, just start somewhere. The algorithm doesn’t care how famous you are—it cares how relevant you are.

Closing Words: Real Leadership Starts With You

If you’re waiting for permission to lead online—you’ve already lost. But if you’re willing to hit “publish,” you’ve never had a better shot.

“It’s not about how you got here. It’s about what you do now.”

Whether you’re building your brand, growing your business, or leading with purpose, Gary Vee’s insights are a must-hear for today’s impact-driven CEOs. To dive deeper, listen to the full conversation on the Real Leaders Podcast.