DISQUS

Gary Vaynerchuk: Gary Vaynerchuk - Distractions are ok if they are part of your DNA ...

  • John · 1 year ago
    Well said, Gary. If the internet is frenetic energy, there's nothing wrong with translating that to a business model that makes sense.

    There's something about the drug of "the new thing" that can make you realize just how much you love the old things.
  • Jamie · 1 year ago
    Ive been dealing with this a lot lately. My head has been all over the place. Good places though.

    BTW I loled at that last pop in.
  • Steve v4.7 · 1 year ago
    You're right. Sometimes you have to "release your inner squirrel" just to get things done. Love your views- they're energizing.
  • Jared Goralnick · 1 year ago
    Is it distractions that we need, or balance? We should never be monomaniacally (next time, Gary, it's Scrabble, and we're kicking ass) focused...but we should divide our time between different things that give us value.

    http://pleasedress.me/ is a good escape from all the wine stuff, just like this site shows another side of you. It's just that when the distractions have no value (and people can usually judge whether something is a pure waste of time or at least marginally valuable) that we have to stay away from them.

    But throwing in a few distractions is what helps us stay living, balanced, and true to our DNA as you put it.

    Needless to say, you've got a unique set of DNA : ).
  • Trav · 1 year ago
    Dude, you're on it 100% here bro. The generation growing up now has a tiny attention span because of the internet, and because of such have a need for distractions to keep them stimulated.
  • Stu Scrace · 1 year ago
    For people like you Gary, distractions are ok because your distractions are new business ventures, which is making you more money, and is productive. But I think the problem is that most people's distractions involve, DVDs, Music, entertainment in other words, none of which are productive. So if our distractions become productive can we really still call them distractions?
  • Ohdoctah · 1 year ago
    One thing can bore you at times. Other things give you a peace of mind when you work on them. I like to write. It does nothing for my Biz. I even suck at writing my gramar is horrible. But I need to do more then one thing! So i can be happy doing my main thing! Guy above me is right its called balance!

    Ohdizzle No doubt!
  • Serge Lescouarnec · 1 year ago
    Gary

    I might be wrong but I think Jim Coudal calls that 'wandering with a purpose' or something like that.

    Mentioned 'Please Dress Me' and 'Moose Hunting' on 'Serge the Concierge'

    Take care

    Serge
    'The French Guy from New Jersey'
  • Gavin Rosenbush · 1 year ago
    People like to define distractions as anything not 100% related to the task they are doing right now. but the problem is there's no way to predict what's going to trigger that next big idea.

    I think randomness is a powerful thing and being exposed to new information can bring about some radical ideas and opportunities. I've had so many examples where a "distraction" gives me a great idea that I can apply to my work or a new side project.

    But like you said you have to manage distractions so they don't get in the way of what you need to focus on at the current moment. And that means looking at your dna for the best way to manage them.
  • Erik Kastner · 1 year ago
    This video proves that gary is in touch with forces that are bigger and stronger than most normal people. Watch the screen go from nice and cool to FIREY HOT...

    (weird white-balance issues!)
  • Chris Hadley · 1 year ago
    As many have pointed out, distractions can come in many different varieties. For some, they are a great thing and can lead to lucrative ideas. For others, they hinder productivity. It really does depend on your DNA.

    I'm finding as I grow older that my distractions have shifted from video games to personal projects. I get far more satisfaction out of having new ideas and thinking about ways in which they might be implemented. Another great post Gary. Keep em coming!
  • Rob Zimmerman · 1 year ago
    I think a few other posters already put the whipped cream on this delicious ice cream sunday of a message - Distractions *with a purpose* are a good thing. Distractions that are borderline entertainment *cough* watching wltv every day at lunch *cough* are the kind that budding entrepreneurs need to be wary of.
  • Nathan Gilder · 1 year ago
    Gary, great concept, loving it. Thanks for sharing thoughts and experiences like this. Strangely, it helped me really just become comfortable with I am at the core. You don't have to be big business guru-guy. You can focus on your passion and strengths, have fun and do whatever the heck you want when it comes to projects. Sure, don't lose focus and keep your nose to the stone during start-up mode, but don't diss your own ideas. Write them down. No capital yet? One day. Do what you want, and enjoy it.

    There is specific shoes we're "required" to fill. No mold is required.

    Great stuff

    Nathan
  • zach even - esh · 1 year ago
    dude, u da man, i agree, i have seen many super successful people juggle a few businesses at once, it's more fun, and just like anything, it cna become same old hat....

    anything you say bruddah, i will run with it...this vid made me feel good about my random insanity, u da man!

    kill it!

    --Z--
  • Jimmy T · 1 year ago
    did you say "get your nut off"? okay. well bro, I luv it! you're doing good things, keep learning and sharing!
  • David Dadekian · 1 year ago
    Gary, I definitely need to embrace my desire for distractions. I've been "troubled" by them most of my life and when I do go off on them they tend to work out well. Thanks as always.
  • Sarah Morgan · 1 year ago
    AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME.

    I'm just finally starting to realize that they're NOT distractions - they're desires. My brain and heart will tell me where I need to go if I'm smart enough to listen!

    (Also, I love the idea of a T-shirt search engine.)
  • david gonzalez · 1 year ago
    i have been wanting to watch this since you tweeted it yesterday... then i finally sit down and watch it and got distracted to go do a search for "t-shirt search engine" in google. distractions rule.

    the REAL take-away here is more about AIKIDO... work WITH the flow instead of fighting it. I have been fighting my dna which is almost ALL about distraction...

    your video made me realize perhaps if i get too distracted, it's my dna's way of saying that it's not REALLY what i should be doing at that moment.

    all the best gary,
    David Gonzalez

    PS- i wonder what tim ferris would say about this? no, really.
  • MediaMisfit · 1 year ago
    I liked what you said about being spread thin and not being able to do it all. When your a "multi-dimensional" person it is hard sometimes to let go of something. It seems in one way you have to be real with yourself that the person helping isn't going to do as good of a job as you would and at the same time plan on how you intend to constructively grow that person so that they will become someone your more confident handing stuff off to.

    This is my first comment I think but I love all of your posts.
  • Virginia · 1 year ago
    Well said, Gary. I couldn't agree more. Who cares what the "classic" business types say...they're not the ones ruling the Web. I think the creative brain that drives most successful entrepreneurs also makes them highly prone to distraction. How can you think up new ideas if your brain doesn't jump around?
  • Jason Sanzone · 1 year ago
    I can't believe you said "Get your nut off..:
  • Ana Cardenas · 1 year ago
    I am pretty much the same way. I love being refreshed by distractions..haha. Allowing those distractions to come my way and deciding not to push it away (instead of it being..I'm not really "focused") lets me view and approach things in a different manner... or it may even spring up a great opportunity. You never know what will come, as long as you know how to keep a good balance all if it will be completely manageable. Definitely in my DNA.. it's funny too because that's the name of my business -- DNA Imagery.
  • Ana Cardenas · 1 year ago
    and am I the only woman on here or what??.. haha
  • Stephanie Quilao · 1 year ago
    I soooo needed to hear this today because I was feeling like my distractions were "bad" things. Like you, I need that constant thing to be excited about and it's very easy for me as I'm a firehouse of creative ideas. Many entrepreneurs are like that. If I don't let the water flow, it's not pretty..lol :)