Business Lessons From TV Favorites: Part 2

As requested by many of my followers, this is the second installment of “Successful Business Tips from TV Favorites”. Surprisingly, I’ve had many people mention how they have a new perspective about watching their favorite television shows and its usefulness in finding helpful tips to improve their business.

Two more television favorites are filled with ideas and tools to make your business run smoother.

“The Game” –Although cancelled from the CW earlier this year, BET (Black Entertainment Television) is running reruns of this comedy, which chronicles the lives of professional football players and their wives/girlfriends/mothers, as they try to balance the challenges of life on and off the field. In one particular episode, Tasha Mack, mother/manager of the star quarter back decides to open her own sports management firm (Tasha Mack Management). She hires an assistant, who happens to be her closest friend, Kelly Pitts, wife of the veteran receiver. Pitts is also the president of the Sunbeams, a social organization that serves as a support group for the wives/girlfriends of the players. Mack believes that Pitts cares more about the “Sunbeams” than growing the business. She gets angry with Pitts and forces her to choose between her job at Tasha Mack Management or the Sunbeams.

Lesson 1: Err on the side of caution, when mixing business with pleasure. I’m a strong advocate of giving people opportunities. However, just because you enjoy spending your downtime with your friends doesn't mean it will make a great working arrangement.

First of all, we accept our friends for who they are. We don’t try to change them. But as a small business owner, you are in charge and responsible for herding the flock. If there are employees who get out of line, it’s your responsibility for you to address the issues and reprimand those who insist on going against the principles set for your company. There may be times that you will have to have those uncomfortable conversations with your friends. I have heard many horror stories about business owners who tried to integrate a friendship into a business partnership only to have it end in turmoil. A great friend gave me a book by the name of “The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business”. The writers, Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, were friends who started a successful public relations company and wrote the book to help other small business owners avoid the pittfalls of opening a business. In the book, their friendship/business partnership was mentioned. They attributed their successful friendship/partnership to having an understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses and clearly defining the roles they were responsible for accordingly, in the beginning of the partnership.

Lesson 2- Clearly define the roles, initially.

In the episode, Tasha Mack mentions that she had clearly discussed the requirements Kelly Pitts was to adhere to in her position as assistant. But there was another lesson that Mack clearly needed to learn when considering the requirements of the position.

Lesson 3- Set realistic expectations. Mack demands that Pitts eliminate her duty as President of the Sunbeams to focus more on being her assistant. Pitts and Mack have an argument where Pitts reminds Mack of all the times that she's stayed late, came in early, and forfeited on lunch to get things done.

In the real world, we all lead busy lives. It's unreasonable to ask someone to devote all of their time to your business. Keyword:Yours! While we can ask for some exceptions to be made ocassionally, prohibiting your employees to take part in things outside of work, may lead to work overload, which has been known to cause significant health issues, such as high blood pressure, migraines, and/or depression. It's so important to remember that as a business owner, our businesses become like our children. Do you think it's appropriate for one to ask you to be the sole provider and nurturer of their kids? Personally, I don't think so. Now this doesn't mean that the employees won't care about the business, but the degree to which they take interest will definitely differ.


In a different episode, Tasha Mack tells her assistant Kelly Pitts about an opportunity for her to regain her son, Malik Wright as a client. However, Pitts out-stages Mack to get the opportunity for her husband.


Lesson #4. Recognize when a no-competitive clause is necessary. In a slowing economy this is going to be more prevalent than ever. I had a recent client who had this same issue. She would hire employees only to have them take the knowledge that she had shared to open a similar business. By adding a no competitive clause in your employment contract, you have an opportunity to recognize who is genuinely interested in becoming a part of your team and can successfully help your organization to grow. You can quickly identify those whose ulterior motives are to learn your secrets and quickly move on to something apart from your company.


“The Monique Show” is growing to be another BET favorite. One of the greatest lessons learned was when she did her monologue addressing how other radio talk show hosts were saying distasteful and belittling things about her and her response led me to one of the greatest lessons in the business world.


Lesson #5 – Keep it classy. Monique could have said nasty and irate things in response to the negative things she’s heard. But instead, she chose to say, “I got nothing but love for all of you!” I admire her and thought this is the classiest thing she could have done. Positive begets positive in the long run. There is enough business out there to go around. It’s not necessary to bash an organization in order to make your business seem better. Let your business speak for itself.


Lesson #6 –Address your customers’ suggestions and apply whenever possible. In the same episode, Monique also mentioned that she’d read comments about things that could make her show more enjoyable. One of them was her fans’ request that she not scream so much. So when she stepped on the stage, she didn’t scream and holler. She explained why she had been overly excited in the past episodes, but acknowledged that she’d try to control her emotions better in the future.

She could have been arrogant and conceited and made the decision to do nothing different, all in the name of it being called “The Monique Show”. However, she understands that viewers keep her with a show. These simple changes will not only strengthen her relationship with her current fans, but serves to also grow her viewership. People may be more compelled to give her another chance, because she’s shown that she listens to the people and values their opinions.

There is inspiration everywhere. No matter what you do in your life, it can quickly be applied to your business matters as well. I hope you’ve found these tips valuable. Stay tuned for more weekly “Business Tips from TV Favorites”!