It baffles me to see how many people think they are bigger than they actually are.
People will ask me questions like:
“How do I get into the New York Times?” or “How do I get a meeting with that CEO?”
My reply? One is better than zero.
You need to be thinking about the steps it takes to actually get to the biggest places in the world. Before you get that meeting with Zuckerberg or Mark Cuban, or whoever you want to meet with, you need to have a lot of little meetings. You have to build up your cadence.
I’ve been on Conan. Ellen. The Today Show.
But I also did a thousand interviews that got one or nineteen or 137 views on YouTube. Max.
Why did I do blog posts for so long that only had six readers? Why do I guest on shows with a smaller audience base than my own? Because I’m all about depth over width. I want to go deeper with my community. I want to give back to people who support me.
Even today, when I have more leverage than I did three years ago, I still live under the motto of one is greater than zero.
To me, doing these interviews or guest posts is about the process of the work. Too many people are impatient and not willing to do that work. When you’re still making the climb, when you haven’t made your name known yet, you need to put in that work. I did those 119 and 137 view videos day in and day out.
And I continue to.
You might make a video with 89 views. But one of those viewers could be a producer at CNN. Undervaluing just that one view is a huge mistake.
It’s about having the humility. It’s about not saying no. Even when you’ve made it. You’re never too big. One is bigger than zero.
Awesome advice! I still struggle with chasing the big fish and neglecting the little ones. This article was extremely helpful as I am facing a tough season in my life. This helps me with perspective. Thank you for your insight!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this video. It is so true! At all times in our lives we are in different stages. While we may be the best cook in our community or the best wine tester [ :)) ], we may not have other skills (promoting, social media skills, or know how to best dress or speak in public etc). Strangely enough many people see themselves on the top levels in every field, even though they may have mastered only one. It’s about life long learning!
This is truly amazing.
Hey Gary,
This is a wonderful message that I have to share with my readers. One is better than zero is a great mindset. You never know who is out there reading your stuff, seeing your videos. It is not about numbers! As an entrepreneur offline and online for decades, my mindset has been focused on sharing with others first and foremost.
It’s the name of the game in any business! I remember reading in one of your books that when you were a kid in your dad’s store, someone asked for a certain bottle of wine which you did not have in stock. But you purchased it and hand delivered it to that person. That little story has always stuck in my mind. It is all about that go-giving economy isn’t it?
Being humble and pin focused on what we do consistently and not giving a crap about who’s who out there, will always help to excel business.
I’m always inspired by you and all your talks and books!
-Donna
Such great advice Gary and thanks for sharing. I have always been a big believer that if you do the little things first, the big things will come.
I’m living in japan and just started my blog, would love some tips from you, really want to rock 2015, thanks.