Gary Vaynerchuk on Overcoming Content Plateaus: ‘Outwork Your Insecurity’

In a recent LinkedIn post, Gary Vaynerchuk addresses the common frustration entrepreneurs face when new content formats don’t yield immediate results. Vaynerchuk uses the example of an individual whose Instagram Reels were capped at 200 views after posting only 12 times to illustrate a broader point about patience, persistence, and work ethic in content creation.

The Plateau of Early Content Performance

The core of Vaynerchuk’s message revolves around the question of whether a lack of early traction signals a flawed content format or simply insufficient effort. He highlights the impatience of many creators who, like the individual who contacted him, question their strategy after a limited number of attempts.

As Gary Vaynerchuk notes:

His question for me was this: When you’re testing something new with your content, how do you isolate whether the format itself is the friction or whether the content simply hasn’t had enough time to hit?

Vaynerchuk asserts that the answer isn’t to abandon a format prematurely but to embrace a dual approach: continue with the current format while simultaneously experimenting with others. This strategy, he implies, is crucial for comprehensive learning and eventual success.

The Power of Work Ethic and Volume

Central to Vaynerchuk’s philosophy is the concept of outworking limitations. He attributes his own content creation prowess not to innate talent alone, but to a significant work ethic. The solution to early content struggles, according to Vaynerchuk, is not to overthink but to simply produce more.

He argues:

The reason I’m good at content is because of my work ethic. Yes, it’s harder to do both.. to do more .. but the answer is to always make more stuff.

This emphasis on volume is a recurring theme in Vaynerchuk’s advice. He dismisses the idea that 12 posts are sufficient data to judge a format’s viability, suggesting that the creator in his example needs to post significantly more content.

Outworking Insecurity

Vaynerchuk directly links the frustration over low view counts to insecurity. He posits that this insecurity can be overcome by sheer effort and persistence. The key, he states, is to confront the feeling of inadequacy head-on through consistent action.

In his post, Vaynerchuk challenges creators:

He’s only done 12 reels … he needs to do another 200.

This perspective underscores the importance of a long-term commitment to content creation. Vaynerchuk’s advice is a call to action for those feeling discouraged by initial metrics, urging them to prioritize effort and volume over immediate validation.

The Path to Success

Ultimately, Vaynerchuk’s message is a pragmatic one rooted in the belief that consistent, high-volume output, combined with a willingness to experiment and learn, is the most reliable path to mastering new content formats and achieving desired results. He concludes with a direct call to action:

You wanna win? Put your head down and do the work. Outwork your insecurity.

This straightforward approach emphasizes discipline and resilience as the primary drivers of success in the dynamic world of digital content creation.