by Amani Channel
#crushit

Do you hear it? It’s that little voice in the back of your head that’s telling you that something else is out there. I know you hear it. It’s the whisper you hear everyday as you’re getting dressed for work, driving on the road, or wondering about your next career move. I know, because I hear it too. It’s the voice of freedom, success, and abundance.

How do you get there? Napoleon Hill would tell you to “Think It,” Nike would tell you to “Just do it,” and Gary Vaynerchuck says “Crush It.”

I just finished reading Vaynerchuk’s book, “Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion“. If you haven’t heard of @GaryVee as he’s known on Twitter, I suspect you don’t watch many video blogs. He is the host of the “Thunder Show,” and his vlog “Wine Library TV” appeals to wine enthusiasts and those who can’t resist Vaynerchuk’s passionate, over the top wine reviews. Vaynerchuk is much more than a Web personality, he is a successful entrepreneur who lays out his personal road map for social media success in the book.

I enjoyed reading “Crush It” for several reasons: Vaynerchuk is inspiring, and his passion breathes through each word; He breaks down the science of social media for even novices and explains how communities like Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr can help you build your brand; He has ideas about how journalists can use social media to build sustainable online news ventures; Finally, Vaynerchuk doesn’t sugar coat the fact that it takes a lot of passion, time, and the right strategy to build a successful personal brand.

I will take partial exception to Vaynerchuk’s perspective on video production. Though I agree that personality, being yourself and transparency work best on camera, I also think that you should always try to use professional techniques which include a mic, tripod, and always watch your lighting. Vaynerchuk basically says production quality doesn’t matter. If you have a personality as big as his, it probably doesn’t.

Speaking of Vaynerchuk, he’s participating in an entrepreneur seminar here in Atlanta in May. I’m involved with the event, and think that anyone who is serious about social media success should attend.

Stay Tuned