Gary Vaynerchuk behind the scenes: what he's actually like in person

Executive overview

Public figures rarely match their online persona. Gary Vee is the exception. Anthony Sartor, an NFT holder who won a week shadowing the VaynerX team, documents his experience through a series of podcast appearances and candid reflections.

Gary is exactly as he presents online — and then some.

Shadowing the VaynerX team

• Anthony won the access through a VeeFriends NFT holder benefit
• Goal: shadow team members, sit in on meetings, see behind-the-scenes operations
• Expectation coming in was high; he reports those expectations were met

On self-promotion and putting yourself out there

• Most people don't post their face — the silent majority is larger than it appears
• Loud negativity distorts perception; positive people need to get equally loud
• Doing something you want to do despite fear of others' opinions is the only frame that matters at age 80 or 90

On word of mouth vs. paid social for small businesses

• Word of mouth alone can build a multi-million dollar local business
• The question isn't whether it works — it's why you wouldn't want to double it with social
• Social media amplifies word of mouth; the limiting factor is ambition, not capability

On NFT adoption and what drives mass uptake

• Mass normalization requires large-scale institutional integration (e.g. NFL tickets, cruise boarding passes as NFTs)
• QR codes offer the model: pandemic-driven restaurant use plus iPhone default support drove normalization
• The actual catalyst will be something unexpected and at scale — not a predicted use case

On VeeFriends and the NFT timing

• Gary had already planned a toy business before NFTs; the technology aligned with existing intent
• VeeFriends mission: amplify positive attributes at scale, not just Gary's personal brand
• His voice doesn't resonate with everyone; the platform extends reach beyond his existing audience

On the sports card hobby

• The hobby went through underrated and overrated cycles but emerges stronger each time
• Broader awareness post-2019 and pandemic brought new collectors in at scale
• The industry has demonstrated sustained cultural value for over a century