If You Are Not a Media Darling, Be a Media Whore

I can’t think of many scenarios where you would want to be referred to as a whore.  But I can think of one.  You want to be a Media Whore.  Let me explain. 

When it comes to garnering media exposure, there are quite a few entrepreneurial types out there. None are necessarily better than the other, but all leverage media exposure differently, for sure.   Statistically, it is unlikely that you are a Media Darling, the likes of PayPal, Google, and Salesforce.com.  But you can become a Media Whore. And as Martha Stewart, a Media Whore herself, says, “It’s a good thing.” 

Media Darlings – In the entrepreneurial world, this group is made up of the twenty something super successes; those Ivy League college drop-out miracle makers who had an idea, got funding and within three years have a billion dollar company.  The industry rags love these folks. They are entrepreneurial superheroes and are rightfully heralded in the media.   Inc. Magazine, Fortune, Fast Company and others plaster their faces on the cover of their magazine.  The fact is, while the Media Darlings receive 85% of the media’s attention, they make up far less than 1% of the success stories. 

Media Whores – These are the individuals who receive 14.999% of the exposure.  These individuals have a mix of extraordinary, to plain ol’ ordinary success stories.  But what differentiates these folks is that they know how to spin their success with their background to make a really interesting, media friendly story.  They know they can leverage the media to further build their business by providing them with an interesting story that in turn will increase exposure for their company.  In short, Media Whores offer a win-win, an interesting story for the press and increased exposure for themselves. 

Media Naysayers – These are the people who shun media.  Media is all about egos they say (which is true in part, but entrepreneurialism itself is all about ego.)  They tout they don’t have an ego, so they don’t want that exposure.  If you’ve ever read Rich Dad Poor Dad, you’ll know that this is clearly a flawed mentality.  It is the same mindset of people that think money is evil.  It is a defense mechanism to justify the fact that they don’t have what they want.  These folks get 0% of the exposure.

Media Oblivious -  This category contains the majority of entrepreneurs. These are all the entrepreneurs out there who just don’t get it and don’t care.  They neither shun nor seek media exposure.  They think that media exposure for their business is happenstance and wait to see what happens.  The result is that they receive about 0.0001% of media exposure, typically through the local newspaper. 

Most of us are not Media Darlings.  I’m sure as hell not.  Most of us are in fact Media Naysayers or Media Oblivious.  But I do aspire to be a Media Whore.  I actively share my experience and my story, and put it out there to the media.  I do it knowing that sharing my experience and my story will help others in their journey.  I do it knowing that media exposure begets more exposure and helps me grow my business.  I do it knowing it is an upward spiral, and while it will always be criticized by the Media Naysayers, it is in my own best interest and the best interest of the people I want to help. 

I have a growing list of ideas and strategies to become a Media Whore. For now, let’s suffice it to say that it all starts here with blogging.

You too should aspire to be a Media Whore.  If you are motivated to  help others, leverage your story and push for exposure, you will travel a wonderful upward spiral that should be admired.  That’s right. You will be admired for being a whore.

Posted by Mike Michalowicz

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Showing comments 1 to 4 of 6 | Next | Last

Shonika
Posts: 6

Offended by this...
Reply #6 on : Sat June 28, 2008, 14:06:18

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Uhhh, try spending some time in the city and working with young people. On any given day while I hear young kids and teenagers (of all ethnicities- urban and suburban- poor and affluent, drop outs and academic accomplished) say 10x worse than this. Who knows? If you are a parent, it might very well be YOUR CHILD!

Folks need to keep it real and get out of these cookie cutter puritanistic lifestyles. That's why we have all these people in the states on prescription drugs and all whacked out. The oversensitivity in everybody trips me out. Reality check, good things happen to everyone and bad things happen to everyone. There is darkness and there is light in each of us and in order to truly evolve you must be able to comfortably (and moderately) exist in both places from time to time otherwise you cannot really grow. Unless you are monk or a nun, I am sure everyone has their vices (or has had a vice), personal hardship or experienced something traumatic. And if you deny you don't have any sinful thoughts or have not had any sinful experiences from time to time or claim you never have, you are straight up fibbing and that is a vice in itself.

For crying out loud, if you spend time on the internet, watch TV or clicked on the link to read this trashy post, LOL, some devious thought crossed your mind at some point :) Otherwise, you would have simply exited the site.

Needless to say, EVERYBODY has a story! So what's yours? Essentially that is usually how you first get into the media. You keep it real and understand that selling the dream is about living in sync with your own reality. Your 'personal story' no matter how sad/depressing and/or meaningless it may seem to you may very well inspire and encourage somebody somewhere who is dealing with the same hardship or trauma to keep living or moving forward in their life. It may also release something in you and serve as your living therapy. As it is usually when you try to make a difference in someone else's life they end up making a difference in yours instead.

cynthia
Posts: 6

I love your blog
Reply #5 on : Fri June 13, 2008, 05:09:32

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I agree with you wholeheartly.You got to make noise sometimes to get notice and I love being notice. I want people to know if they do business with me they are dealing with someone who will get the job done. An I want to be recognized for it. I believe in the old addage there is no such thing as bad publicity. As long as your name is out there.

Mike Michalowicz
Posts: 6

Sorry to Those Offended, But I Won't Change
Reply #4 on : Mon June 09, 2008, 11:05:49

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Margaret,

Thank you for your candid feedback. While I'm sorry I offended you, I will not change. You see, when it comes to building a business we must be true to ourselves. For me, I have a certain approach, a certain sense of humor, that works for me. I know it will offend some, but others that are similar to me will like it. They will be "attracted" to it.

And I want to hang out with and be of service to people who have the same values as me.

So while I am sorry to offend you, I will not change. Instead I will continue to approach everything with my genuine true style. Naturally I am most talented at being myself. So I'm sure as heck not going to change and try to be something I am not.

One final thought is that I encourage you to start "preaching" your beliefs. Start your own blog (if you have one, shame on you for not providing a link in your comments). Do what you believe in. Like minded folks will come to you.

Thank you again for your comments! I really appreciate it, and enjoy hearing alternative vantage points.

I hope you visit again, just be ready to be offended.

- Mike Michalowicz

Lesley-Ann Trow
Posts: 6

Well, you got my attention!
Reply #3 on : Sun June 08, 2008, 20:51:37

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Great Post! I'm currently more of a Media Flirt.

Being an aspiring Media Whore (we all have to start somewhere I guess) I often think to myself "What would Richard Branson do?" when I'm writing Website Copy or getting ready for a Trade Show etc.

I don't aspire to be like Richard Branson exactly but having that thought always pushes me to do something a little more 'out there' than what I'd usually feel comfortable with. Something remarkable, worth talking about.

Showing comments 1 to 4 of 6 | Next | Last