Passion and Gary Vaynerchuk

I haven’t really paid much attention to Gary Vaynerchuk before today. This morning I sat down to watch his keynote speech at Big Omaha 2009 and I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention sooner!

Gary Vaynerchuk @ Big Omaha 2009 from Big Omaha on Vimeo.

Vaynerchuk made a name for himself talking passionately about wine and built up a tremendous following. I guess that is why I didn’t pay attention sooner, I am not a big wine drinker. What I realised this morning, watching this video, is that while he is a wine expert, he is a powerful inspiration to me now because of his passion. It could have been directed at paperclips and still have the same effect. He is completely engaged in what he does and is completely happy doing it. When he speaks, he is a force of nature and you can’t help but be drawn in by his passion for wine, the Web and just being passionate about what you do. He has published a book recently about just that. It is called Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion (there is an affiliate link in there and you support me just a little more if you get the book through this link) and I am going to lay my hands on a copy as soon as I have a chance. I would love to have an audiobook version just because it would probably be an incredible experience having Vaynerchuk read the book.

In a way Vaynerchuk speaks to what I was rambling on about a little while ago when I spoke about evangelism and passion for the stuff you talk about. Comparing myself to Vaynerchuk would be a big stretch but he sets an example worth learning from and aspiring to. You rarely come across people who are so passionate about what they do and who they are that they infect you with that passion just being in the room with them. One person in SA who comes to mind is Rich Mulholland who is unconventional and brilliant. Any time he speaks I pay attention, regardless of whether I agree with him. I have a constant sense I am learning something valuable when I listen to Rich. We need more people like Vaynerchuk and Mulholland, they teach us more about passion and living a fuller life.