Kenneth Cole, A Killer Whale, and How They Relate To Me

One of my new favorite TV shows is the Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC, it is basically an interview show, with very interesting guests. Many of his guests are entrepreneurs and business owners. He has recently had a lot of people on who took a small idea and turned it into a huge business. For example he had the guy who started Vitamin Water, and the guy who started Sam Adams, and the CEO of Chick-fil-a. A few nights ago he had Kenneth Cole on, he of the high-end expensive shoes, who started with an idea; and turned it into a billion dollar company.

So during the commercials I was flipping around and CNN was interviewing one of the biologists at Sea World. Recently a trainer was attacked by a killer whale so they were talking to the biologist about killer whales, their life cycle, habits, etc.

I was flipping back and forth for a few minutes, and realized I am more interested in learning about killer whales and how the environmental changes are effecting them, than I am in learning about very expensive men's shoes. But I didn't want to watch the poorly dressed, and extremely boring scientist. I wanted to watch the charismatic and well spoken businessman.

It got me thinking about many things, first I can see why people don't take as much of an interest in the environment as they should. Many of the "spokespeople" for environmental issues are either boring scientists or very liberal "environmentalists." Both of these types of people turn me off, they are either uninteresting, or tend to be "holier-than-thou." Of course I am making extremely broad generalizations, but in my experience these tend to hold up. I think this is why Al Gore is trying to have more of a personality, and doing a pretty good job.

So how do they relate? Basically a well spoken, engaging, intelligent person will be able to sell you on just about anything, or at least keep you interested longer. It's not that people don't care about the environment, it's just that the "environment" doesn't have a great spokesperson.

As far as business goes, it reminded me of the importance of always putting my best foot forward. Whenever I meet with a potential client, or whenever I meet with anyone who can potentially help me, I need to present myself as someone who is organized, but also someone who is engaging and charismatic. I need to listen to the other person, and take a GENUINE interest in them as a person. By doing this, and being sincere, and having a passion for my work, I know that I will be successful. While I don't consider my a salesman in the typical way, I am always going to be selling myself and my business. And the best salespeople are the ones who are friendly, engaging and seem to relate to you on more of a personal level. All skills that I think I possess, but that I must always be consciously working improving.