Twelve and a Half

Emotional intelligence is your weapon in the battlefield of business success — master it, and you'll unlock transformational growth for yourself and your business.

1: The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is about appreciating what you have, even when you face challenges. It reshapes your mindset and allows you to recognize opportunities rather than dwelling on difficulties. In business, this perspective can help foster resilience and gratitude for the resources, knowledge, and support systems around you.

Practicing gratitude reminds you how much privilege you have compared to others. For Gary Vaynerchuk, gratitude teaches entrepreneurs to take a step back and appreciate the privilege of simply being in business when billions in the world lack basic necessities like clean water or internet access. This humble mindset inspires perseverance and drives creativity.

Even when things don’t go your way, seeing them through a lens of gratitude can turn frustration into motivation. Gratitude doesn't erase obstacles or failures, but it keeps self-doubt from overwhelming you.

Examples

• Considering yourself lucky to even start a business, despite initial low returns.
• Practicing daily gratitude exercises to train your brain to focus on positives.
• Drawing strength from gratitude during moments when progress feels slow.

2: Embracing Self-Awareness

Knowing yourself deeply is essential. Self-awareness enables you to identify your real motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. It stops you from pursuing paths that don't align with who you truly are.

In the book, entrepreneurs are encouraged to pause and ask hard questions. Are you trying to be something you’re not because it sounds appealing? For instance, if writing blogs resonates more but you’re forcing yourself to make videos, you’re not playing to your strengths. Self-awareness lets you redirect energy toward what you excel at.

Improving self-awareness means regularly evaluating your behavior and adjusting your strategy when needed. By understanding yourself better, you make choices that align with your natural abilities and long-term goals.

Examples

• Shifting from daily vlogs to written blogs because it aligns with your personality.
• Avoiding leadership roles that don’t reflect your authentic aspirations.
• Asking yourself if your business goals are driven by passion or external validation.

3: Taking Responsibility with Accountability

Accountability isn’t about assigning blame; it’s about owning your role in every situation. This mindset empowers entrepreneurs to remain proactive, even in the face of challenges.

Gary stresses the importance of personal responsibility. When projects fail, shift the narrative from finger-pointing to self-improvement. For instance, if a team member drops the ball, consider how you communicated expectations. Accountability transforms the way you problem-solve.

To cultivate accountability, remind yourself that your actions directly influence outcomes. This mentality fuels better decision-making and leads to more sustainable growth.

Examples

• Reviewing your team’s disappointing performance and tweaking your management style.
• Apologizing for mistakes and showing willingness to address them.
• Recognizing your role in the success (or failure) of key business outcomes.

4: Staying Positive Through Optimism

Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring problems; it’s about facing them with hope and confidence. It’s this mindset that helps entrepreneurs see solutions, not just setbacks.

When your efforts don’t yield results initially, optimism keeps you inspired. Instead of thinking, "Nothing works," reframe it as, "The next effort could change everything." Optimism isn't about blind faith but reflecting hope in your daily actions and thoughts.

Optimism also acts as a foundation for persistence. By focusing on opportunities instead of limitations, you create mental space for breakthroughs.

Examples

• Framing a failed advertisement campaign as a learning experience for future strategies.
• Believing that consistent social media content will eventually engage the right audience.
• Practicing daily affirmations to replace negative thinking.

5: Cultivating Empathy in Business

Empathy allows you to understand others’ feelings and needs. In a crowded market, standing out means truly knowing what your audience values.

For Gary Vaynerchuk, empathy starts with listening. Entrepreneurs can use empathy to grasp why their target audience doesn’t engage with their content or products. It reminds you that consumers are spoiled for choice — so their decision not to invest in you isn’t personal.

Not only does empathy foster stronger client relationships, but it helps you build better teams. Understanding an employee’s struggles can make you a more compassionate leader.

Examples

• Asking yourself why your audience isn’t connecting with your content instead of becoming defensive.
• Building workplace policies that consider employees’ personal challenges.
• Using empathy-driven marketing strategies that focus on consumer pain points.

6: Balancing Confidence with Humility

Humility keeps your confidence grounded in reality, making you approachable and open to learning. While it’s important to believe in your expertise, remember that you don’t have to know everything.

Gary highlights this trait when exploring new topics like NFTs. Instead of dismissing unfamiliar trends, humility prompts curiosity and the willingness to learn. By balancing confidence with humility, you recognize opportunities for growth without arrogance.

This mindset also ensures transparency — being candid about what you don’t know strengthens trust and collaboration.

Examples

• Admitting gaps in your knowledge about a new industry shift and committing to educate yourself.
• Encouraging team members to challenge your decisions to foster innovation.
• Seeking advice from mentors and peers without defensiveness.

7: Fueling Progress with Tenacity

Success rarely happens overnight. Tenacity is sticking through adversity, finding solutions to problems, and staying committed despite repeated failures.

Gary shares his own experience with his slow-growing YouTube channel to illustrate tenacity. When progress is slow, determination allows you to course-correct or wait just a bit longer for results. Serving as your engine, tenacity drives long-term achievement.

Without tenacity, attempts at success fizzle out before they even mature. Entrepreneurs need this quality to transform ambition into measurable goals.

Examples

• Continuing to invest in marketing after months of low visibility.
• Testing out ten variations of a product before hitting on the winning iteration.
• Adjusting a failed strategy instead of abandoning it altogether.

8: Directing Your Drive with Ambition

Ambition is the fuel for growth. It inspires the continuous pursuit of goals, whether big or small.

For Gary, ambition is a precursor to action. Knowing why you want to succeed drives informed decisions. When ambition is paired with accountability, it keeps you aligned with core values while striving for improvement.

It’s important to remember that ambition doesn’t need external validation. If you're pursuing goals that matter to you, you’re already winning.

Examples

• Setting ambitious revenue targets that drive team focus and growth.
• Staying motivated to develop products that address specific, unmet consumer needs.
• Maintaining long-term vision despite short-term hurdles.

9: Never Stop Being Curious

Curiosity is your motivation to learn and adapt. It’s what helps you explore trends and dig deeper into ideas with endless possibilities.

Gary encourages using curiosity to approach change with excitement, not fear. Whether it’s analyzing consumer shifts or embracing new technologies, curiosity opens doors that others fail to see.

Staying curious keeps your skillset sharp and adaptable over time. It also fosters an entrepreneurial mindset that thrives on learning.

Examples

• Diving into emerging markets like NFTs for artists.
• Analyzing competitor strategies to discover overlooked opportunities.
• Exploring innovative ways to reach your audience, like new social platforms.

Takeaways

1. Assess the "half" aspect of your emotional intelligence where you’re lacking. Make a plan to strengthen this trait through practice and conscious awareness.
2. Leverage gratitude every day to remain focused on positives. Jot down three things you’re thankful for as a constant reminder.
3. Use curiosity to expand your expertise. Choose a topic you’re unfamiliar with, dedicate ten hours to learning it, and evaluate the value it could bring to your life or business.