5 Strategies for Promoting Yourself Like a Reality Superstar
By | March 22, 2012
Reality show fans, hang on. There’s a new sheriff in town and the name is “Eastwood.” That’s right, Clint Eastwood’s family is coming to a reality show near you, namely for E! Entertainment. The folks at Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal division must have been dancing the rhumba when they got a call from the Eastwoods to join the ranks of reality show stars such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Snooki.
The gist of the show, according to the Wall Street Journal is this: “Mr. Eastwood; his wife, Dina; and two of his children, 18-year-old Francesca and 15-year-old Morgan, will appear in ‘Mrs. Eastwood & Co.,’ a reality series that tracks the family in Los Angeles, at their Carmel, Calif., home and beyond.” The show also follows a South African singing group that Mrs. Eastwood manages and was included on the soundtrack of her husband’s 2009 film “Invictus.”
Truth is, this is quite a coup for E! Entertainment, given that the network is looking to attract more male viewers without putting its female fans out to pasture. And what a great way to cross-promote between other network personality-driven shows, starring the likes of Joan Rivers, Chelsea Handler and Mrs. Eastwood.
You may be wondering, what does "Mrs. Eastwood & Co." have to do with you? Plenty! There’s a lot to be learned from E! Entertainment’s latest addition. As thought leaders in the cable industry, here are 5 lessons you can glean from the move:
- Look for ways to cross promote yourself. It’s one thing if you think you are fabulous. What if others think you are great, too, and promoted you as well? Identify your advocates and discuss ways they can be your champions on an ongoing basis. It’s a terrific way to bolster your professional brand.
- Do something off-the-wall, with minimal risk. Who would have ever thought that Clint Eastwood’s family would be in a reality show? Yes, it’s out-of-the-box thinking. However, the risk in minimal because America has already embraced Clint Eastwood. He’s a legend. There are likely millions who would be interested to know more about him and his family.
- Continue to provide great value to your established base while looking for new fans. If you are looking to grow your leadership, continue to provide value for those who know and support the work you do, while continuing to cultivate new relationships and contacts.
- Know the company you will keep. The Eastwoods are now entering a whole other world—reality television. And there is a different kind of celebrity that comes with such renown. As you decide to shift your leadership—whether style or career path—carefully consider your newfound identity and associations. Consider whether they dilute your leadership value or enhance it.
- Fame gives you license to different avenues. The fame and legend of Clint Eastwood has opened the door to make this television show possible. In fact, E! Entertainment President Suzanne Kolb called the show a “key piece of programming…that name [Eastwood] is a gender neutral, larger-than-life, iconic name.” By investing in your growth and development and doing what you can to be a thought leader in the industry, the greater opportunities you can seize—and will come your way.
And a little reminder: In an age in which Snooki, the Kardashians and Paris Hilton get top billing over the likes of global insurgencies and the U.S. Presidential elections, never underestimate the power of someone who has presence, a good story and the staying power to pursue their dreams.
(Esther Weinberg is a leadership expert and a cable veteran with a 20-year track record in the industry. She currently creates strategies for such companies as ESPN, Microsoft, Scripps Networks, NBCUniversal Cable, Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., Motorola, Headline News Network and MTV Networks, among others. She is the contributing author to the leadership book “Breaking Through,” by acclaimed author Barbara Stanny. Esther is a Board Member of NAMIC-Southern California, a mentor for WICT Southern California and a member of the Cable and Telecommunications Human Resources Association. Sign up for her FREE leadership newsletter with valuable information at www.mindlightgroup.com.)
