The Wealthy Bag Lady, Linda Hollander, is one of my favorite women in business because she comes at business from a unique perspective: how to attract corporate sponsors and because she has a positive vibe about her. Every time I run into her at an event, talk to her on the phone or take one of her classes, I leave feeling inspired. In one of her recent newsletters, she wrote about reality shows and what makes them irressistable:
Business Secret #1: Focus on Your Uniqueness. Marcus Samuelson, winner of Top Chef Masters, was born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden. For his final entrée, he cooked a traditional African sea urchin, a risky move, but it told his story, illustrated his unique point of view, and made him stand out from the other chefs.
Business Secret #2 Be Teachable. Put together a stellar Success Team of coaches, colleagues and mentors. The most successful contestants on American Idol are the singers who listen to their vocal coaches and the judges.
Business Secret #3: Make Decisions Quickly. Reality shows force contestants to act on their choices. The highly successful business owners I interviewed for my book, Bags to Riches, had vivid visions, made decisions quickly and took action.
Business Secret #4: Spotlight Your Sponsors. I love to watch the masterful way that reality shows feature their sponsors. On Project Runway, they had the fashion designers go to the Saturn Showroom and make dresses out of car parts. On Dancing with the Stars, they have the Macy’s Stars of Dance showcase. Give credit to the people and companies who make your dreams possible.
Business Secret #5: Give Back. The new generation of reality shows focus on giving back. Oprah’s foray into reality shows was the Big Give. Her contestants gave away money to deserving people and causes. The winner, Stephen Paletta, got $500,000 for himself and $500,000 to give away. Celebrity Apprentice and Top Chef Masters also have the contestants give back to their favorite charities.
To learn more about Linda Hollander, check out her web site Wealthy Bag Lady.
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