Stop Paying the Cynicism Tax: Why Practical Optimism is Your Greatest Asset

My father, if he put $200,000 in, he would have $42 million.

I got an allocation into Facebook.

He said, no, he had more money than me.

It's 2011.

I just built a massive business for him.

If he put $200,000 in, he would have $42 million.

All of his notes of his life can't offset that, no.

That is the cynicism tax.

This is the GaryVee audio experience.

The cynicism tax, why being realistic isn't a real,

as real as you think.

So stop and stay negative to be for reality

and start using office and to get things done.

And I just wanted to get your definition

of what the cynicism tax is.

A cynicism tax is defined in my mind

of you're deploying a perspective of no

without putting in the efforts to see if it's a maybe,

thus rendering you having no capacity

to ever find upside that others don't see

or even few see or the masses don't see.

When you're in a practical optimism framework,

you're saying maybe to everything.

And when you say maybe to everything,

and you have the humility to quote unquote waste your time,

aka, use your time to potentially say yes to something

that most will say no to,

how do you think I found myself being right

about email marketing,

about having a website around Google AdWords,

influencer marketing, mobile.

Like, everything that I've watched anyone

who's innovated is met with nose.

I am in practical optimism,

which oh by the way, let me address this

because I saw a piece of content this weekend

where it said that I'm the king of toxic positivity.

And I was laughing with how many people out,

and you know this, a lot of people

are trying to weaponize this term, right?

It, nothing could be more interesting to me

than people have decided to create a term

called toxic positivity and try to weaponize it against humans.

It's truly one of the saddest things I've seen in the world.

Here's why, toxic positivity is really just

slang term for delusion, right?

Or a dream, right?

If that word didn't exist,

they'd be like Gary's just selling them a fake dream, right?

For me, all I talk about is practical truths.

All I believe in is accountability.

The market is always right.

People are confusing practical optimism

with toxic positivity or delusion

because they don't know the difference

between trying for a little while

or wasting all your time and money on it forever.

I am the king of what some people would say

wasting minutes and hours and days

on hypotheses that end up not being true,

but that level of curiosity and practical optimism

has also led me to 40 things that are so true

that the upside of those 40 truths

has created remarkable economic and emotional happiness.

The tax on cynicism is none of the people that deploy it,

Sammy, who could have ever discovered the goal

that the other side of the rainbow

because they never slid down the rainbow.

I hope you're enjoying the podcast right now.

Make sure you follow the podcast.

That's why I'm interrupting.

Let's keep going on this show,

but follow the podcast.

They'll make my mom super happy.

I never did anyone try

because there's a lot of them dying in the game.

And like real talk,

if you were trying to accomplish something,

but you've already talked yourself out of it

and you're not doing it,

doesn't that actually render it 100% impossible?

The end.

The end is 100% of the shots you don't take

or will survive, clearly.

And people are so scared

and are so believing the negativity in the world

that they choose to weaponize cynicism

as a protection mechanism.

And then if that's not enough,

they go and try to deploy toxic positivity

on people that are practically optimistic.

I cannot laugh more about that.

I also think it's really,

I also think.

People are fearful based.

Yes, it's exactly what's happening.

They're so feared that they're in misery loves company

and they try to deploy cynicism and labels

to make sure everyone else doesn't do anything either.

What about when it's like,

sometimes like you're feeling like

my family are immigrants, right?

And it's also a protection

because like I love you so much

that I don't want you like,

we need to be like protective from these risks.

We need all these risks now that protect yourself.

Makes sense.

How old are you?

I'm 31.

Great, tell your parents you're 31.

Like when people ask me like,

what do I do, Gary?

I'm like, you know, like I get it.

Like I didn't ride a bike.

I'm scared of dogs as a kid

and I was scared of swimming

because my mom was scared I was gonna get drowned

and bit by a dog.

I know what fear is.

I have no judgment.

Unlike, you know, it's funny.

Unlike people that are affected by my optimism

and want to sling toxic positivity,

I don't call it toxic cynicism.

I don't call it toxic fear.

Notice what I called it, the cynicism tax.

I don't even wanna,

like I always laugh when people wanna hurt.

I don't wanna, I don't even wanna use that word toxic

because I don't wanna hurt people's feelings.

But do I believe that most of the people

that read this article or watch this clip

have a cynicism tax, yes I do.

I think most people do not achieve.

Now, to the, let me counter myself.

Let me join the ranks.

Do I think that there are people

that are downright delusional?

Like delusional?

Sure, I meet them all the time.

You know, those people do gravitate to me.

You know, it's funny, I get both sides.

You know, gravitate to me.

The extreme cynics that are like so tired

and are 10 years into their cynicism

that they're actually ready for my practical optimism.

They're not in year one,

where they're gonna leave a comment toxic,

king of toxic positivity.

They're in year seven,

where like clearly my way didn't work.

I wanna actually know what this guy's been talking about

for the last 20 years.

And then there's people that a lot of those people

are making fun of and think exist,

which is like delusional people,

which is why Sammy, Matt,

I always talk about work ethic, accountability.

The market is the market.

Yes, you should quit after four and a half years

of sucking at the same thing over and over.

Like, you know, like.

It's almost like for the delusional,

but it's almost like the reps are the proofs, right?

I was like that thing at your strategy.

It's sports.

Like you're saying you put in that word,

that word ethic is the proof.

It's sports.

Oh, that, yeah.

I laugh when people wanna take shots.

I'm like, have you looked at my baseball card?

Turn it to the back.

Do you understand what I've done?

It's your world.

I'm here with Steve from VaynerSpeakers.

Like I told Steve and Zach,

like as early as I met them,

when I met Steve, I was already somewhere.

Zach got me a little bit earlier,

but you actually, actually, that's right.

Steve, like, right, Steve knew of me.

Like, like, I told everybody

I was gonna be a very successful speaker,

whether I was brash in delusional

of positive, if I was deploying toxic positivity on myself,

or not, or, you know, Steve was like,

or Zach thought, little too brash,

or too much cursing, or not professional enough,

or, yeah, just don't get it, which is like super valid.

Like, I've been wrong about people all the time.

It didn't really matter in 2011

what I thought or what they thought.

It just plays out.

It just plays out.

And so, I would just tell everybody who's reading this

that if you're willing to be quiet

and really understand,

are you on the side of paying cynicism tax?

If you're on the side of the other side of the pillow,

delusion at scale, try to find this middle,

which is grounded maybe.

I'm a maybe trying to find yes, guy.

I'm not yes at everything.

But fuck, man, boy, do I see the world loaded

with people that are no one?

I mean, my father literally says no at everything.

I'm get.

So, I like that because that was a bar.

I was like, little cook.

I was like, yeah, I could go ahead and eat.

You know, that's it.

I just, I just, how could you possibly achieve something

if you've killed it before you started?

And then that's what got me down.

Now I'll give you the insight of my career.

That's what then got me to wire people doing this.

Oh, wait.

People are saying no to protect themselves

from losing publicly.

Think about how safe it is.

I'm gonna shit on people like Gary and others

who are positive and say they're toxic positivity.

That makes me feel like I'm doing something

because in real life, I'm doing nothing.

And also the comments that should do

is so you need to be able to do that.

Because you feel like you're doing something.

And you feel like you did something like yay.

I got a hundred, like on this post

that I'm like talking about this weekend.

Ooh, 900 people agreed with me.

See Gary you're wrong.

I'm like, okay, see on the other side.

Can't wait, like, let's see how this plays out.

There's really no logic, like no actual practical logic

to be a queen of cynicism.

Optimism is not the same word as delusion.

And cynicism is not the same word as thoughtful.

It's good to be thoughtful.

So you don't buy a million dollar lottery ticket.

Like you don't wanna be it, right?

But again, I think people think cynicism is the same

as like, well Gary, if I wasn't cynical,

I would have invested in that beach from property

and Peru and with my neighbors

and we all lost our money.

I'm like, that's not cynicism.

That's being thoughtful.

Synthesis is deep, what's the definite?

What's the webster's definition of cynicism, T?

An inclination to believe that people are motivated

purely by self-interest, skepticism.

That would be like the people selling us

the beach from property in Peru

aren't just selling a beach from property

and letting us make a decision.

They're trying to trick us to take our money

and it's gonna be bad for us.

That's different than this is a neutral business deal

and should we, the four of us,

you know, should we all pile in our dollars,

we got a new friend here, can he add 20 bucks to it

and can we buy this property?

The cynics will point to the nine times it doesn't work out.

I'll speak to the time where I bought beach front

malibu property for 100,000, it's worth 40 million.

I didn't do that, I'm just saying good examples.

But like for example, everyone, I mean,

I've got a real one when I put all my money in,

my father, he's gonna hate this.

I'm not sure we should use this,

but I just want you to hear it.

My father, I got an allocation into Facebook

the same time I did.

He said no, he had more money than me.

He said, it's 2011, I just built a massive business for him

because it's not 1994.

If he put 200,000 and he would have 42 million dollars.

All of his nose in his life can't offset that,

I know, of his life.

That is the cynicism tax.

It's also a strategy of like,

are you using a strategy of cynicism

or the strategy of optimism?

Right, and understanding that we are not talking

about thoughtfulness and delusion.

It's very important you weave that in.

Like I wanna make a very strong point.

There's a reason cynicism exists as a word

and there's a reason why thoughtful

or whatever, what's the opposite of cynicism?

I use thoughtful at first to mind,

but there's other good words I'm sure.

Let's ask.

I think optimism is kind of.

It?

At the moment, yeah.

Yeah, so these are the cousins, right?

So, right, to me, I use optimism,

but that's not delusion.

In fact, actually in Chatchy, B.T.

what's the difference between optimism and delusions good?

What's the difference between cynicism and thoughtfulness?

I think we're like really good prompts.

Like that's my point.

The general public, when they hear cynicism and optimism

or positivity, I mean, the concept

that there is even an ability to be toxically positive

is so stupid.

It's a misunderstanding of positive.

What they're trying to say is delusion.

It's sad that we should kill that word.

It's gonna ruin the world.

Stop saying toxic positivity, start saying delusional.

Because positivity and delusion are not the same,

but you're tricking the kids.

I'm fucking pissed about this.

I've decided I'm pissed about this.

You're fucking ruining entire generations opportunity

because of your own hurt and losersness.

Fuck that shit.

We're not letting that happen.

I think that's good.

That's perfect for the start of goal.

And we'll have it all finished up.

Back to you.

Do you have them?

At this point, we're running to somebody using a no mindset.

A scarcity mindset.

What do you like the first tactical steps you take today

and then dispute or to at least maybe?

By actually saying yes to something they want to say no to,

to see how not bad it is.

And to tell them that this will likely not work out,

but this is just practice.

Most people need to know what it feels like to lose $15,000

when they can't afford it.

Like they're not dead, but it's a fucking thing.

Because once, if you really believed it,

you're gonna feel better than you think.

That's the part that most people don't understand

that if you actually believed it,

let me break down the scenario if you want to use example.

You believe it's a good investment to put $15,000

into a group fund with 10 other buddies

to buy a single family home for $150,000

and make money off the derivative, you believe it.

You say no.

They go on and do it.

And by fucking year three,

they're already paid back and making money

for the rest of their life.

You're fucking dead inside.

Because you believe yes,

but you allowed cynicism and fear to make you go no.

You go and put that $15,000

and it does not work out.

You don't feel as bad as the first example.

That is what I have to teach people to go through.

Got it?

How do you do it?

It's different.

It's just like working out.

How do you get someone to work out?

You physically drag the fucking ass out of their bed

and bring them downstairs and go to the gym.

Until they do it, you can't do it.

And they'll fight you tooth and nail.

It's like an alcoholic.

I wanted to talk about that because the things I'm getting is like

it's either the worst feeling

and the regret of not doing it

or the worst feeling is the fear of before you even start.

The worst feeling is you fully believe something

and you go against your feelings

because you let fear stop you.

But in your true heart, in a real talk,

have you not done something in your life

that you knew you wish you did?

You wanted to, but fear stopped you

and then it played out in a way that was good

and you wish you were associated with that good.

Do you know what that feels like?

It feels the worst.

Like, you wish you dated that boy and said,

yes, you wish you bought that thing.

You wish you invested in that stock.

You wish you took that job.

It's the worst feeling.

The worst feeling is your soul is telling you yes

and your brain fear

when you let that overpower your gut, yes.

You let your brain fear

and then it, like, the, the,

so it works out your upset.

Let me give you the reverse.

Your brain fear says, don't do it.

Your heart and soul says do it.

You take your brain and then thing does not work out.

It doesn't feel as good as you think it does.

The highs are much bigger on success

than the lows feel in not success

and the highs are much higher

than the, than the good feeling of your no worked out.

You're like, okay.

Some people get off on it.

See, told you, you nine friends are suckers.

Like, you get your high on that,

but there's no, you didn't win.

This is when I keep telling people, you didn't win.

Like, think about, is that what you want your life to be?

That you make fun of your nine friends who took a chance?

Like, is that fulfilling?

So, like, again, like, what?

Like, this is real talk.

This makes sense.

Like, is that what you want your life to be?

Like, your nine buddies failed.

Their restaurant investment failed.

And what you just be like,

ha ha, it was the only smart, like, what do you do it?

Like, what is that life?

I'd rather lose with my buddies.

Like, the drinking nights of, like, making fun of us.

Like, remember when we tried to buy a Chinese restaurant

in Alabama?

Like, like, that 15 times you have that story over beers

is worth the $15,000 that I would, like, you know,

and again, everything's relative and money's important.

Like, I'm not saying that.

I'm saying salt.

You're salt.

I'm saying, like, I mean-

You can get at the end of the road and then you're going to look back

and then you're going to see everything regrets.

You're not there with, like, your buddies anymore.

People have become intoxicated with, like, labeling everyone else

without realizing there's nothing to do with their life.

When the fuck did we all decide that we were God?

People are literally walking around birth

like they think their fucking opinions are the fucking end all be all

and they need to fucking spread it near and wide on everyone's comment.

Now, I put out a lot of content, but I'm passionate about perspectives,

but I'm not trying to impose my will on people.

Like, I'm not going around the internet and be like,

you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong,

you're wrong, you're wrong.

I'm just putting out what I believe in, like, let the chips fall.

That's very, very, very different.

I'm out here doing things and letting the chips fall and living life

other people are going around and just shitting on things,

cynical armies, and they think they're doing something.

They're not doing anything, they're reacting to other people's doing.

And they think the shitting on it is their contribution.

They're doing nothing.

And they're going to wake up soon and be like 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,

and be like, oh, wow, I did nothing.

I've watched this happen pre-social media.

I had a family of two very opposites.

People are about to get to 70, 80 years olds

and realize they did nothing in their life

besides shit on other people's dreams.

That's great.

Congrats.

Hope you enjoyed that run on your only time on Earth.

What a fucking pathetic point of view.

You said that this is before social media,

because I'm wondering to, like, even on TV shows now,

like, I feel like TV shows, there's team,

this one, our team, this one,

and the comment section is so opinionated

that it informs, like, even the show.

And do you think you said it's the pre-social media?

Because I was going to ask, do you think it is social media

that we all have an ability to leave a comment?

We all had our opinions that you should just sit

in the kitchen table.

All of our great-grandmas had all sorts of opinions.

They were just confined to the park

and their other two lady friends,

the dinner table, right, the PTA.

Now we're contributing to the ether.

But I don't think people understand.

Like, here's one thing that I'm fascinated by, the cynics.

They're accomplishing absolutely nothing.

What do you think makes them think?

Because clearly, it's still feeding it.

So they're still doing it at the cycle.

Well, it's feeding that validation that they're getting, right?

Yeah, they think they're doing stuff.

They're confused.

You know how this is confused?

An alcoholic.

A drug addict.

A narcissist.

I have really bad news for people.

If you spend your wife going around

and shitting on people around the internet,

you have a disease.

It's called insecurity.

Like, it's going to be widely understood as a massive disease.

People spend five, six hours a night

going around the internet and shitting on people.

That's a very hurt person.

We didn't know alcoholism was a problem.

You know that, right?

Like, we knew, but like, we didn't know.

Do you know what I mean?

Like, we're like, oh, he's not drunk.

You know, like, we do not understand this

and I am going to yell at the top of my lungs about this.

This will be diagnosed in due time.

It's a really bad thing.

And cancel culture, like tearing down the establishment

because of your own pain became...

It just does not work.

It has never worked.

It just leads to a very dark and angry place.

Because you're just in a cocoon of dark.

Toxic positive.

Do you know insane toxic positivity is?

As if positivity is like a fraud.

It's one thing that you don't try

and you shut your fucking mouth

and you talk to no one

and you're not trying by yourself within yourself, right?

Like, you're just sitting at home.

You're not trying and you're not bothering anyone.

I kind of am like...

My heart pours for that person.

I'm like, yo, I hope I can find them and be like,

you should try.

It's a whole nother thing to not try

and spend all your time

what you should be doing in trying

to tear down everyone else who's trying.

That's called cancel culture.

That's called comment keyboard warriors.

That's called a bunch of punk-ass bitches.

That's a disease, right?

That's a disease.

When you're interviewing and say an executive,

is this something that can sort of spot in some way?

Yeah, sometimes.

Only if, by the way, only in the extremes.

In interviewing, only the extremes.

I knew in five seconds that Claude was awesome.

Only if you're like in the top 10% to the extremes.

Like, all of you, I could it.

Really, I'm just talking like,

like, you have to be like top 10, like, delusionally, like,

like, almost like a Buddha, like me.

I think, like, a lot of people can read me early,

even before I was me.

Like, you just kind of know when you meet people.

Like, oh, wow, that's like a lot of positive energy.

And then you watch quickly and think back it up, right?

Brandon.

I knew that about Brandon in five seconds,

so I still know him 40 years later.

First day of high school.

I knew.

New.

And then I went to a baseball cart show

with him six weeks in, and he worked hard.

I literally told my father I'm going to hire this captain of store

in October of my freshman year of high school.

Didn't work for us for eight years from that.

Like, knew that all the way to the other side.

There have definitely been people I've known.

Like, I sometimes get like visceral, human, like goosebumps,

like, turning my stomach when someone's very negative.

Like, like an animal.

You know, like, animals, like, run away.

Like, I run away from people.

It's going to break into my life, run away.

Where I've gotten caught is sometimes I know someone's hurt.

And I see him as a charity project.

I've hired a lot of those.

That's where I've hired poorly.

They're not complete visceral poison.

They're a charity project for me.

And I blended my charitable work in my professional job.

And I want to stop doing that.

And I've stopped doing that.

Like, good news.

All four of you are fairly new.

None of you were hired as a charity case.

Whereas, like, no bullshit.

Somebody could have gotten your jobs.

That was half as good as you in my subjective opinion

in interviewing.

Because I wasn't able to detach my charitable energy

from my operational energy.

Especially when it tends to always map similar to my dad.

Like, deeply insecure.

Which is always the tell.

Usually older.

You know, like, some of the characters they're still around

like fit that.

I just haven't fully reconciled yet.

But I'm not adding anymore.

How much of your success very generally speaking

doesn't have to be anything specific.

Just generally, do you think has to do with?

This conversation.

skew toward, toward maybe towards some of that optimism

allowing serendipity to sort of just play out.

Way more than you could ever imagine.

Like, if I had to put a percentage on it,

a number that would make your head spin.

There is a potential.

My practical optimism framework.

The fact that I approach almost everything with a maybe

with an effort to get to yes.

Has a substantial double figure.

20%.

30%.

Maybe more.

Maybe I can't even see it.

That's how much I know how big it is.

Maybe all of it.

It's really a big deal.

That's why I'm passionate about it.

Everybody, if you enjoyed this podcast,

please go back and look at the prior episodes.

They're loaded.

I appreciate your attention.

And thanks for being part of this journey.

See you later.