Yes, I watch TV.
And don’t lie. You know you do, too.
It’s likely that it’s one of your secret guilty pleasures.
And why not?
Television makes for great writing material! When there is nothing better to do or the need to get “inspired” arises, many people do turn on the TV sets to see what’s “new.”
TV also makes for a conversation piece. Did you know that television shows drive social media content? Did you notice that when the Super Bowl and the Oscars were on TV, they were also on Twitter’s trending topics?
It does and it did!
People talk about what they’re watching on TV while watching it. It all seems a bit counterintuitive I’m sure—but hey… that’s technology for you.
Despite the gimmicks of the cheese-fests known as reality TV, you’ll be surprised to know that there is actually a lot you can learn from these shows. After all, they are extremely popular and they make huge profits—they must be doing and showing something right.
Right? Just say yes. 
But you need to learn to get past the racy scripts (they’re not entirely “reality,” you know!), gratuitous half-nudity and attention-seeking characters to see what lessons they can teach you.
Luckily, if you just can’t get past all that craziness, today you’ve got me to spell it out for you.
I know, I’m amazing.
I’m saving you from watching all that dirty lovin’ reality TV sex and sin.
I think God just smiled at me.
Lesson #1: It’s about forming—and maintaining—the right alliances.
If there’s one thing that doesn’t change in Survivor, it’s that each “castaway” understands that to outwit, outlast and outplay everyone, you need to align yourself with the right crowd.
If you’re not with the right company, being written off or even blind-sided by the competition becomes a very distinct possibility.
It’s the same with business.
It’s been said over and over again—your network is everything. Your network can teach you what you need to know about your trade or your industry. Your network helps get the word out about you and your brand. Your network helps you grow your business. It’s just that simple.
Think of it a bit like parenting. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I totally agree. By the same token, it takes a network to raise a business into something great.
Dang, how’s that for a monster analogy!?
Lesson #2: Keep it fresh—because one day you’re in, and the next day, you’re out.
Project Runway’s catchphrase applies not just in fashion. It applies to almost everything.
There are two lessons here.
One, you need to keep up with the times. You need to keep yourself updated on the trends in your field. That means constantly training yourself so you don’t fall behind. You also need to keep up with the technology—because it affects (now more than ever!) the way we, and our competitors, do things.
Two, learn how to change the rules (or break ‘em)—but play nice!
Why do you need to always follow the leader? Why not be a leader yourself?
If you want to be on top, you need to learn how to set the tone of the game so that everyone follows you.
Be an innovator.
Be a thought-provoker.
Have a voice and a stance. Have a frickin’ opinion already!
In any business, you need to learn not only how to adapt but also how to drive the trends, because that’s how you get ahead of the competition.
Lesson #3: Choosing the right song (niche) makes all the difference.
In American Idol, the right song choice can clinch you the title. By choosing the right song and killing it each week, you can become “The Next American Idol”.
In business, being in the right niche spells the difference between earning pennies and earning big bucks. It doesn’t pay to focus on the masses. It pays to focus on a niche and grow from there.
You also need to be unique.
What is it that you can offer to your clients that no one else can? What is it that will set you apart from your competition? What is it that the market wants or needs that nobody else is offering?
You need to be original and you need to offer that unique value proposition. You need to rise above the noise to get you noticed. Do something crazy.
OK, maybe not crazy crazy. But you know… a little crazy.
SOMETHING that makes you stand-out from the mediocrity of the rest of the world.
Lesson #4: Sometimes, “The Situation” calls for a unique name or catchphrase.
While I’m not a big fan of Jersey Shore, I must admit, it’s hard to miss the character named “The Situation.” It’s hard to miss the name.
Seriously, who goes around calling themselves something like “The Situation”?
Hmnn… maybe I should go around calling myself “The BlogStar” or “The Situmucation”.
No? Daminit!
OK, done with the silly words now.
Seriously though, what’s in a name? It’s everything! Your business name—and tagline, too—must capture the essence of what you do and can do.
It’s what gets you noticed and remembered.
But I do have just one piece of advice.
Please, please don’t choose a cheap and tacky name.
Or boring, that blows too.
I don’t actually have any ideas for GOOD names at this moment in time, I just know that cheap, tacky, and boring are lame.
So none ‘o that, please and thank you!
Warm regards,
AKA k0zm0zs0ul
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh brother. You mean now that I have to watch idiots on reality tv to learn bidness? Oh brother.
LOL…naaa…that's why I did it for you.
C
RT @k0zm0zs0ul: RT New Blog Post – 4 Things Reality TV Can Teach You About Succeeding In Business http://su.pr/1K3Qfm #BGB
Nice analogy,
I can especially relate to:”…Have a voice and a stance. Have a frickin’ opinion already!…”
too many people are timid and want to play it safe, and they miss out on all the fun and success.
Ha.. yeah that line sounds like it'd fit you based on your blog! ;D And I
agree, timid is for the birds… it definitely won't find you happiness.
Thanks for commenting babe, always appreciated!
C
Ha.. yeah that line sounds like it'd fit you based on your blog! ;D And I
agree, timid is for the birds… it definitely won't find you happiness.
Thanks for commenting babe, always appreciated!
C
Yeah, that name game is a tricky one. I'm convinced I have creative skills, and when I came up with the name for my blog I thought, “Oh yeah, that's clever!” But I've noticed some people stumble upon it (that is, stumble while reading the name) and I think, 'don't you get it?' But it seems they don't–ugh!
LOL..yeah it happens. There is a danger in being 'Too' clever. However
will the mortals keep up? ;D I think once you can combine clever with
functional and clear… you've got a winner!
Great article! I really liked the way you relate reality tv shows with the success in business. Full of sense and intelligence! Good points are well defined in an interesting way. The point that I liked the most is the “keep it fresh” part. Your business should always be updated to always spark your customers’ interests.
Hey Lisa! Agreed!
Nobody enjoys boredom. lol And thanks for the kind words!
4 Things Reality TV Can Teach You About Succeeding In Business – http://su.pr/1K3Qfm by @k0zm0zs0ul
Great post. I love reality tv and get inspired for a lot of my writing through these shows. I get “life” motivators as well. One of my favorite life lessons/blogging lessons from these shows is this: On Survivor, The Amazing Race, Project Runway, and especially America's Next Top Model – a lot of the contestants get SO preoccupied with what their competitors are doing or not doing that they forget to tcOb – as in take care of their OWN business.
As a writer/blogger, that's a lesson I often have to remind myself of. It doesn't matter how many followers HE has or how many comments HER posts have… if you want to be the last one standing, you have to worry about the person in the mirror.
Love your domain name and brand by the way – brilliant!
4 Things Reality TV Can Teach You About Business Success http://bit.ly/d9GxFq via @k0zm0zs0ul @2morrowknight @artfanatic411
Thanks so much for the kudos! And totally agree. I think people get way too
caught up sometimes in what everyone else around them is doing, when they
need to focus on what THEY are doing… their OWN stuff. Love it, thanks so
much for commenting babe!
C
What I love about blogs is that they spark an idea in my brain. When that happens, I feel as I need to comment with the hope it may be interesting to some people. Because there are lots of blogs and forums with many points of view, they question your comprehension. It is at these moments when you have valuable insignt other people might not have had, together with the blogger him/herself. I find myself coming back to to your writings only because you have several very good insights and also you have been at this a very long time, that is very inspiring and tells me you know your stuff. Keep triggering imagination in others!
This site seems to get a good ammount of visitors. How do you advertise it? It gives a nice individual twist on things. I guess having something useful or substantial to talk about is the most important factor.
Hey Rey..yes, providing useful, relevant content is a big factor.
Great analogies! I’ve never perceived reality TV shows that way. That you can actually get lessons from them. I think lessons can be found everywhere. I guess one just needs to be super observant. There are universal rules that do not change, with life and in business. It’s just a matter of figuring them out.
Exactly Veronica.. keep your eyes and ears peeled and you’ll learn something new every day.
It’s true that selecting the right niche is one of the most important factors to be successful in business. Your niche should be your passion so that whenever you work, you don’t feel like working at all. With this, you would surely come up with great ideas that would get you one step closer to your goals. By the way, very creative Cori. It’s true that we can learn a lot from watching T.V. You just have to be observant. More power!
Steve@Electric Cig´s last [type] ..Vapor King Electric Cigarette
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed!
Always fun when work doesn’t really feel like “work” huh?