Octomom (Nadya Suleman) is the mother of eight babies born through scientific intervention.  Just in case you’ve never heard of her.

I don’t intend to comment on Octomom.  There are plenty of other people voicing their opinions.  That’s not what you came to read about here.

Octomom is just another example of the reality TV invention.  Evidently at least a couple of television stations intend to air reality programs about Octomom.  The lesson for here is the reason for reality TV.  Television stations are producing and airing reality TV programs in droves.  Viewers can’t seem to get enough of them, and the more we watch the more reality TV we’ll get.

From the television stations viewpoint why not more and more reality TV?  Reality TV is very profitable.  The producers don’t have to pay big names to star in their programs.  I doubt there are any continuing syndication residuals for the participants when the show is rerun.  Plus if the viewers don’t like a participant they don’t hold it against the station or the advertisers.

Some big name actors and actresses have decided we care about what they think and have decided to share their opinions politically and otherwise.  Those views don’t necessarily sit well with everyone.  Sometimes their openly shared opinions polarize audiences who then hold those opinions against the station and it’s advertisers.  Ooops!

We get reality TV because, from a business standpoint, the business is giving us what we want and making a good profit doing it.

The interesting question is… why do we want that?

Here’s what reality TV gives viewers:

• The ability to vicariously experience what the participants experience
• The ability to observe how others behave and deal with circumstances we can relate to as fellow human beings
• The ability to feel like we are developing a relationship with complete strangers over time as we watch them in the most intimate settings
• The opportunity to engage with other viewers and sometimes… determining the outcome of the reality show
• The opportunity to act and feel part of the show and the community of fellow watchers

Even if you personally hate reality TV are you beginning to understand why it’s so attractive to the viewers, as well as the people who produce and air the shows?

These concepts are like business candy.  If you can create a similar environment in your business you have the opportunity to make giant leaps in growth rather than incremental growth.  There are lots of businesses who do a good job of this already, Disney and Zappos for example.

So…

• How can you help potential buyers have a no risk experience with your business?
• What about your business can your best potential buyers relate to?
• How can you develop a relationship with your potential buyers over time where they feel like they are getting real value from that relationship?
• How can you get your best potential buyers to engage in your business?
• What action could you ask your potential buyers to take?

This is tapping into the humanness of both your business and the people you want to work with.  It’s respecting who they are and what they want. It’s about developing a safe community where people with common interests and needs can come together and interact.

Feel free to share ways you’re doing this in your business.

photo credit: chalomadek

More and more of the formerly employed are facing the fact they probably aren’t going to get a job anytime soon.  This leaves the choice of watching your savings dwindle to nothing or figuring out how to earn a living.  Many are deciding they’re going to start their own business.

Bad News Good News

The bad news is most do not have the financial capital they need to start most businesses… and they don’t have a way to get that capital.  The good news is there are lots of businesses you can start with very little capital that don’t require a store front.

The bad news is you probably don’t have an idea for a product or service to sell in your business.  The great news is you don’t already have an idea for a product or service.  Most entrepreneurs are mentally married to a particular product or service from the start.  They then have to figure out who will buy it and how they’ll get them to buy it.

You, on the other hand, can figure out what people are looking to buy first.  Then you can figure out how to help those people get that.  That means you have a market first.  Plus you already know people can and will spend money to get what you have to sell.

That means you’ve removed one of the biggest obstacles most business owners and sales professionals have… getting people to sell their stuff to.

So if you’re thinking you’re going to have to start a business to pay the bills don’t panic.  You have the opportunity to start your business off right.

1. Find out what people are already looking to get or get rid of
2. Figure out what products or services help those people get or get rid of that
3. Develop a clear message telling people you can help them get or get rid of that
4. Get your message in front of those people
5. Give them a way to connect with you
6. Help them uncover their motivation to act
7. Help them uncover their motivation to buy

This is all you need to do in the simplest terms possible.  Making it all happen isn’t so simple.  But when you start off with a hungry market you have a huge competitive advantage.  You will find it much easier to accomplish all 7 steps than you would if you had your product or service idea first.

Congratulations!  You now control your own destiny.  Go out and make it a journey you enjoy.