Watching tv programmes like X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, and Masterchef which all concluded recently can be good for your business. Working out who keeps the audience interested, and who learns and develops the most is fascinating. Of course technical skill is a requirement but winners show a magical ingredient which is beyond technical. Your customers have to keep on voting for you, so in many ways you are constantly in the business of reality tv!
Are you wowing your customers?
Do you keep your customers interested as you learn new skills and approaches?
The new judges on X Factor this year added a whole extra dimension. Unjaded by previous years they were passionate about “their” people, and in some ways the vote was for the judge as well as performer. Little Mix were voted the winners because their voices were better, but they had an excellent story as they were created into a band on the show. In addition Tulisa was a passionate champion of “ordinary” girls, and – the final boost – no band has ever one, so it was a chance to make history. (Remember Obama’s victory? Same impulse.)
Do you have a good story?
Is working with you a chance for them to redress an imbalance and make history?
The Masterchef series was for professional chefs. We knew the result in the final programme before we were told. When Michel Roux and Gregg tasted the first mouthful of the 3 dishes from Ash, the winner, their eyes lit up and they looked at each other and smiled. They were surprised, and utterly delighted. The other contestants were excellent both technically and in terms of presentation, but there was something more than excellent which wowed them about Ash’s food. They had found unexpected magic.
Do you delight (and surprise) your customers – beyond reason?
Sometimes the contestants have no previous interest like Harry Webb the drummer from McFly who won Strictly. He appeared in the studio pigeon-toed and with no particular interest in dance. His dance partner Aliona, provided the choreography which would help him shine, trained him, and created a bond. He had moments of not being sure he wanted to be on the show, but once he decided he did, he began to enjoy it and worked hard. His dancing was technically good enough, but – more importantly for the final count – his looks, his unassuming and warm personality, and his drumming wowed the public who voted for him. As Len, the “senior” judge said at the end that, like the rest of the nation, he had fallen in love with him.
Do you look good to your customers. Not in terms of a six pack, but is your appearance pleasing?
Do you have a personality that they warm to?
Do you have flair?
In your own business can you find new ways in 2012 to provide solutions to these opportunities?
- How are you wowing your customers?
- What new skills and approaches are you excited about now – which will interest your customers.
- Your Story. Look again at where you have come from. It will probably be a story that your customers can relate to even if it is not rags to riches. From hopeless to confident and assured, inadequate to fulfilled and generous will be more than good enough. Don’t be ashamed of the bad stuff ….
- Is working with you a chance for them to redress an imbalance and make history?
- Do you delight (and surprise) your customers – beyond reason?
- Do you look good to your customers. Not in terms of a six pack, but is your appearance pleasing? Do you get compliments about your jewellery, your clothes, your emails?
- Do you have a personality that they warm to?
- Do you have flair?
- Are they “in love” with you? (think you are great, tell other people about you, pay up and show up.)
As long as your technical knowledge is good enough, you should make the most of your magic. The chances are that is what they are buying. And that is especially important in this economy.