Change Your Mind About Failure Gary Vaynerchuk makes the argument that just putting in the time and energy might not be enough to make a successful business.

By Lewis Howes

This story originally appeared on Lewis Howes

Michael Tullberg | Getty Images

Everyone thinks they can be a great entrepreneur. But is that what you're best at? If a rabbit is trying hard to be a frog, it may make a decent frog. But it would be a much better rabbit.

To be successful, you have to combine your natural talent with hard work. Even the most dedicated football player can't make it to the NFL without innate skill.

That's why I'm revisiting a conversation I had with a person who was born to be an entrepreneur and who has spent his life pursuing it: the legendary Gary Vaynerchuk. Vaynerchuk is CEO of the full-service advertising agency VaynerMedia and is a venture capitalist who has invested in companies like Snapchat, Birchbox, Venmo and Uber. He's a five-time New York Times bestselling author and a sought-after public speaker.

Vaynerchuk makes the argument just putting in the time and energy might not be enough to make a successful business.

Learn how to deal with failure in entrepreneurship on Episode 702.

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn.

Lewis Howes

New York Times Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Coach

Lewis Howes is a New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness and The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American, he is a current USA Men’s National Handball Team athlete. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness. Howes was recognized by the White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. Details magazine called him one of “5 Internet Guru’s that can Make You Rich.”  Howes has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, People, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and other major media outlets.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

'I Was Called Crazy': This 27-Year-Old's Side Hustle Hit $30,000 a Month in Under a Year — Now It's Worth Millions

Changing regulations forced Angel Rodriguez's jet ski rental company to shut down, and the young entrepreneur had to figure out his next move — fast.

Science & Technology

Want to Make Money With AI? Here Are Easy Steps to Unlock Explosive Profits in 2025

Learn to turn Google AI Studio into a profit-boosting machine with this three-step framework. Train AI to analyze data, uncover sales opportunities and maximize profits.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'How Vulnerable Senior Investors Are': Morgan Stanley Was Ordered to Pay $843,000 to an Elderly Widow Who Was Scammed Out of Millions (and Not By Them)

The scheme involved multiple criminals who pretended to be technical support staffers, employees at the bank, and even government workers.

Growing a Business

4 Advanced Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses That Actually Work

Small businesses can adopt advanced marketing strategies to stand out and achieve sustainable growth. Techniques like personalization, content clusters and virtual events help build stronger customer connections and deliver real results.

Business News

These Are the Most In-Demand Jobs for 2025, According to a New Report

From software developer to registered nurse, these jobs have the highest number of predicted openings.