Ever heard of Gary Vee? If not, you’re in for a treat.
Gary Vaynerchuk—better known as Gary Vee—is an entrepreneur, content creator, and all-round digital hustle king. His book Crushing It! is basically a hype-up session and a step-by-step playbook rolled into one. Whether you’re running a local bakery, managing a self-catering spot in KZN, or trying to grow your online store from your lounge in Joburg—this book is for you.
Let’s break it down and chat about what Crushing It! offers, plus a few practical tips you can start using today.
What the book is all about
Crushing It! is the follow-up to Gary’s earlier book, Crush It!, and it’s packed with real-life success stories from everyday people who took his advice, built their personal brands, and grew serious businesses using social media.
It’s not just theory. Gary shares actual frameworks for how to use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn—and even podcasts—to build something meaningful.
Big lessons from Crushing It!
Here are some of the biggest takeaways (and how they apply to small businesses here in SA):
1. Your personal brand is your superpower
Gary says building a personal brand is the foundation for long-term success. People trust people—not faceless businesses. And the best part? You already have everything you need: your personality, your story, and your phone.
👉 Try this: Start sharing behind-the-scenes clips of your day. Whether you’re packaging orders, painting a new canvas, or prepping for a client meeting—share it on Instagram Stories. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be you.
2. Document, don’t create
Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you post. Gary is big on documenting your journey instead of creating polished content. People want real.
👉 Local example: If you run a small coffee shop in Durban, snap pics of your morning setup, the first coffee poured, or your weekly supplier run to the market. That’s content.
3. Patience is a strategy
This one hits home. Success doesn’t come overnight—and Gary is very real about that. He talks about playing the long game and staying consistent even when you feel like no one’s watching.
👉 Remember this: If you only get 12 views on your video, imagine those 12 people in a room listening to you. That’s powerful.
4. Choose the platform that suits YOU
Gary gives the lowdown on how each platform works, but the key is to find the one that suits your vibe. Love being on camera? Go for YouTube or TikTok. Prefer writing? Start a blog or use LinkedIn.
👉 Pro Tip: You don’t have to be everywhere. Pick one or two platforms where your ideal customer hangs out and go all in.
5. Kindness and empathy win
This one might surprise you, but Gary bangs on about being nice and leading with value. Help people. Answer questions. Be human.
In the South African context, where relationships and trust are everything in business—this advice couldn’t be more relevant.
Final thoughts: Is Crushing It! worth reading?
100% yes.
If you’re looking for a motivational boost and a practical roadmap to start building your brand online, this book will light a fire under you. It’s especially great for solo entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners ready to step into the spotlight.
And the best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or a big budget. Just a bit of courage, consistency, and your own voice.
📌 Quick recap of action steps
- Start sharing your journey (even if it’s messy).
- Build your personal brand—people connect with you.
- Stick to one or two platforms you enjoy using.
- Post consistently, even if engagement is low at first.
- Focus on helping others before selling to them.
Need help getting your business noticed online?
Let’s chat—we love helping local entrepreneurs crush it without the overwhelm.
