Big thanks to reader Chris who sent me a clip of this amazing 2 legged dog. Love how they used their own innovations, so smart and loving.

I know I have some Homemade Millionaire (no new HM news) and Shark Tank etc. contestants check in from time to time. I came across this in the news last night, it looks so fun! I needed to share it with my inventor friends. Before doing this, I would protect my idea, but who couldn’t use a little pitching practice and maybe a little bump in cash. Check out this site www.5×5night.com and if you decide to come on over to Grand Rapids, Michigan give me a shout out, maybe we could throw back some wine to toast to your success☺.

Mommy Millionaire, Kim Lavine is having her HOME opener tonight; this event is an invitation only event. Kim is a dynamic business woman that is trying to get a million businesses going. She has raised big money and is looking to help you do the same, check her out
http://www.amillionnewbusinesses.com I am wishing them the best of luck on both of these ventures—Looks like Michigan is done with the depression and is moving toward a Renaissance state. Rock on!

Photo by Bob Campbell
I’m looking forward to start my new year by a friend’s invitation to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids lunch that will feature Charles Spencer, the Ninth Earl of Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, as the speaker. The topic will be how the Princess’ philanthropy helped Britain throughout the world. Really Princess Diana was able to rebrand the royal family into a more human family by being relatable and compassionate truly “the Peoples’ princess.” By Princess Diana’s unintentional rebranding of the royal family she was able to energize her philanthropies and charm the World toward Great Britain.
One of her strengths was her ability to show love and compassion. Can love be strength in “branding”? Yes, especially if it adds a human component that is lacking in the company. Britain was very well regarded and the pomp and circumstance, who could do it better? But the “stiff upper lip” needed a bit softening. Her humanness juxtapose against the crust of the upper crust created just enough conflict and oddly welcoming intrigue. People wanted to meet her, touch her, see her, and be her. Not only was she a boon for the tourist industry but she was able to draw attention to land mines, AIDEs and many other philanthropic causes partly because she was imperfectly human, compassionate, relatable, and vulnerable. At times she seem to be in conflict by doing what was “right/correct/royal” and doing what her heart really wanted to do. Often she chose love and her heart over correctness and people couldn’t get enough of her. In the harsh realities of business, we can be inspired by Princess Diana when faced with our own business questions. Is your love showing in what you’re doing, if not, how’s that working for you?

1) Be there early. If they say audition is at 9: be there at 7:00
2) Practice your pitch OUT LOUD in front of people before you go to the audition. Don’t make it a burden to listen to you.
3) Network with the people at the audition. Not in some smarmy way, but in a genuine information exchange way. Some of these people will become your friends. Bring business cards!
4) Have Fun Homemade Millionaire season 1 (six episodes) 18 inventors got some pretty great PR and only 6 lucky FRIENDS got the big Kahuna! WOW that some pretty slim odds, have fun with it.
5) TV is a different product. IF you are a control freak, you may not want to try out for a show.
6)LEAVE. You can talk to the other hopefuls, but if you didn’t get a golden ticket, call back, wink or whatever. DO NOT CRY, POUT WHINE or BEG. ” Be proud that you did what you came to do; TRY OUT. You pitched. EVERYONE thinks their stuff is “the shit.” You networked, made friends and you have somewhere else to go, like another tryout, a meeting with investors, a new prototype maker, a mixer with other business people, a presser, a meeting with a manufacturer, or a lunch date. You have other opportunities to seize, and maybe they can catch you if they can…..best of luck! Hey contestants add your tips in the comment section. Include where/what you tried out for current product, blog, website.
Coming soon… “Tips for TV Producers” ☺…. The latest tryout I heard about was on Oprah’s new network, www.oprah.com/own/casting_calls.html and Everyday Edison at www.Everdayedison.com. Check out www.productx1.blogspot.com and at www.welladjustedorsotheysay.blogspot.com/ for more great conversations. Be sure to read all of the fine print and have a lawyer go over any contracts.

I’ve tried out for 2 reality tv shows,ABCs Shark Tank and made it to the 2nd round of TLCs (maybe OWNs) Homemade Millionaire. The Sharks are back for another season and I’m not sure about Homemade Millionaire, here are 6 tips to help the hopeful for their tryouts for SharkTank, Homemade Millionaire, or any other reality competition show, American Idol, Amazing Race etc… I am also calling out my fellow contestants to add their pieces of advice, along with what, and where they pitched/tried out, their products, blogs and websites. Here are my 6 tips
1) Be there early. If they say audition is at 9:00am in the ballroom, be there at 7:00am. They don’t owe you a try-out. They may run out of batteries, time, money, or patience. You may lose your nerve the longer you stew over things. Some people may think being last will be more memorable, that may be a strategy, it’s your call.
2) Practice your pitch OUT LOUD in front of people before you go to the audition. I am a more fabulous pitcher in my head than out loud. You will feel like a dork. You need to get rid of, umms, ahhhs, I’m so nervous….If you act totally nervous you make other people nervous or feel bad or pity for you….oh yuck! Be authentically you, don’t try to play a “character” you just don’t have the time and most likely not the talent to pull that off. Get books on how to pitch library or bookstore. Go to local networking events, the SBA or SCORE to have people help your pitch for FREE. Don’t make it a burden to listen to you.
3) Network with the people at the audition. Not in some smarmy way, but in a genuine information exchange way. Some of these people will become your friends. No one else can relate to this bumpy road; or analyze every word or movement of the production team like your fellow line mates. The people in line with you are not really your competition because you really don’t know what the game is with the show and the rules of this crazy tv game change. Cheer for the people who make it to the next round, even if it wasn’t you. Your time may be later. Support your inventor friends–that’s what friends do.
4) Have Fun. Enjoy the unique experience. This is not “it” for you. Out of thousands that tried out for Homemade Millionaire season 1 (six episodes) 18 inventors got some pretty great PR and only 6 lucky FRIENDS got the big Kahuna! WOW that some pretty slim odds, have fun with it. It doesn’t mean your invention wasn’t good or you weren’t good, you just will not know why you didn’t get it. If you understand that gamble then you can have fun. It’s Vegas BABY no Crying at the craps table, you didn’t bet your whole house on this anyway.
5) TV is a different product. Think of how many set-backs and twists and turns you may have developing your product. That is the same for TV. IF you are a control freak, you may not want to try out for a show. The timelines get screwy. People that pitched over a year and a half ago are just seeing the show now. The producers do not have the power of when the tv show will air. Read over your contracts and have your attorney read over them. Understand that this is a calculated risk, but still a risk. If you sign a contract that will obligate you to a time period, know that there may be some other opportunity costs and that is part of the risk. You have to ask yourself if that will work for you. Think of the worst case scenario; the tv show gets cancelled or you don’t get picked to go on air and you used up a year of time, can you handle that? You may not be wired for that risk. You may be asked to keep your mouth shut for a period of time, are you able to do that? You may get the chance to be filmed and you think you got 2 minutes of air time and then dogged, can you stomach that (perceived) diss? Think..it’s VEGAS BABY
6) “Girl don’t go away mad…girl just go away….” After you try out, LEAVE. You can talk to the other hopefuls, but if you didn’t get a golden ticket, call back, wink or whatever. DO NOT CRY, POUT WHINE or BEG. I have yet to see anyone say “oh, hey you begged so well, why sure, you’re in!” IF you cry, pout, beg after a producer, you look like a pathetic looser and no one puts their money on a pathetic looser (see Fatal Attraction). Instead, you should be proud that you did what you came to do; TRY OUT. You pitched. EVERYONE thinks their stuff is “the shit.” No one will say to you, “wow your stuff sucks”, no one in line, not the producers. No one. Take the experience for what it’s worth, EXPERIENCE. They may have put a camera in your face, hey, that might be a new experience for you. You networked, made friends and you have somewhere else to go, like another tryout, a meeting with investors, a new prototype maker, a mixer with other business people, a presser, a meeting with a manufacturer, or a lunch date. The producers will call you if they want. You left every way possible to contact you. But you have other opportunities to seize, and maybe they can catch you if they can…..best of luck!
Coming soon… “Tips for Tv Producers” ☺…. The latest tryout I heard about was on Oprah’s new network, www.oprah.com/own/casting_calls.html and Everyday Edison at www.Everdayedison.com. Check out www.productx1.blogspot.com and at www.welladjustedorsotheysay.blogspot.com/ for more great conversations. Be sure to read all of the fine print and have a lawyer go over any contracts.