X Factor season kicked off with a bang last Saturday. We're in
the audition stage: thousands of hopefuls singing their hearts out
in Glasgow and London, hoping for a golden ticket to stardom. For
the next few weeks, each contestant will try to win over Simon
Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and the guest judges, pitching
themselves to the expert panel much like the Dragons Den candidates
would pitch their businesses. So, are there any lessons to be
learned for entrepreneurs. Can the auditions reveal some tips on
pitching, presentation and body language? Here are ten things that
SMEs can learn from the X Factor.
1.) Mum's not always right
The number of completely deluded people who routinely appear on
X Factor is astonishing. These contestants claim that their
parents, partners, friends and colleagues have all told them they
have a great voice. But it's never true. As @LifeofPip points out
via Twitter: "Seek honest, objective criticism to improve on before
the big day. Just 'cause your mom says you can sing doesn't mean
you can."
2.) Always prepare
On Saturday's X factor, Katie Waissel told the cameras that she
had prepared extensively for her audition. And yet, when Simon
Cowell dismissed her original song choice, she was completely
thrown. Granted, it was a tough break. She had planned to sing Etta
James' At Last, and aced her rendition of that song later.
But she had also claimed to be a huge Freddie Mercury fan - right
before forgetting the words to We Are The Champions. The
lesson: Don't just rely on Plan A, have a Plan B and even a Plan C
up your sleeve. And don't just rely on your innate talent - or gift
of the gab - to help you wing it. As Satish Jayakumar, co-founder
and COO of online ad exchange AdJug points out: "It's not
enough to just believe. Commitment, experience and results are
clearly what separate the winners from the losers."
3.) Aim big
What do all X Factor contestants have in common? Big dreams.
When group Diva Features was asked where they would see themselves
in six years, they responded: "Performing at the Superbowl at half
time." That's thinking big. There's no point setting low targets if
you want to build a growing, successful business. The trick is to
challenge yourself, while being realistic. Few X factor hopefuls
have mastered this knack.
4.) Choose your partners wisely
Heed the cautionary tale of double act G&S (Gay and
Straight). Peter and Caroline performed Journey's Don't Stop
Believing' as a duet on Saturday, but it soon became apparent
that Peter was, quite franky, terrible. "Strangling cats," I
believe was Louis Walsh's summation. At Cheryl Cole's insistence,
Caroline had a bash at singing on her own. The difference in
quality was vast. Be careful in choosing your business partners,
especially when they're your friends. With the best will in the
world, they could just hold you back.
5.) Personality goes a long way
Smarta does not have the words to describe Shirlena Johnson's
rendition of Duffy's Mercy on Saturday's show. Let's just
say, it was... different. Nevertheless, the single mum has made it
to the second round simply by virtue of her personality. "You're
completely crazy. I love you," said a usually stony-faced Simon
Cowell. Don't be afraid to show a little character in business.
Sure, you won't offend anyone by being conservative and sensible,
but you won't be very memorable either.
6.) Take risks
The real star of last week's show was Zimbabwe-born Gamu Ngengu.
The 18-year old wowed judges with her rendition of Katrina &
The Waves' Walking on Sunshine. But she took a big risk in
changing the lyrics and reinterpreting the vocals. It could have
backfired horribly. Instead, she received four 'yes's from the
judges and a whole raft of compliments from Cowell: "I really,
really like you," he said.
7.) Never beg
Begging never works on the X Factor. If the judges don't like
your performance, no amount of pleading and crying will change
their minds. It's the people who thank the judges for their
comments and leave the stage with heads held high that come off the
best. The same is true in business. Sarah Downham had this to say
in our Smarta forum: "Know when to walk away! I can't believe how
many of those awful acts will continue to argue their case when
they're clearly not going to get through! If someone's not
interested in investing in your product, try to convince them by
all means, but don't argue with them! Ultimately it's their
decision, and their loss!"
8.) There's no substitute for "face to
face"
Pop trio Jahm could be the worst group I have ever witnessed on
the X Factor. Props to the editor for including their whole
audition - Jahm absolutely murdered Lady Gaga's hit Bad Romance -
although the autotune did take the edge of the caterwauling. The
group formed via the internet, with rehearsals taking place over
the phone and via Skype. It showed. Sometimes, to really test
whether there's a good fit between a business and a supplier, or
prospective employee, there really is no substitute for a bit of
face to face.
9.) London isn't the be all and end all
Comparing the London and Glasgow auditions side by side threw up
some interesting points. Firstly, the quality of the performances
in Scottish city was markedly higher than down in the Big Smoke.
There may be a higher concentration of businesses in the south
east, but this in no way reflects the quality and expertise found
in firms based elsewhere in the UK.
10.) Don't lie
There have been a couple of stories in the press this week about
X Factor contestants who have been caught telling whoppers. Katie
Waissel may yet be disqualified for failing to mention a possible
record deal with a US label Chamberlain Records, while 'crazy'
Shirlena Johnson has lost her place in the Miss Great Britain
beauty pageant after it was revealed she was too old to take part
(the competition is only open to 18-28 year-olds). Johnson
also faces the chop from X Factor after it was revealed she, well,
actually suffers from severe mental illness. Entrepreneurs would do
well to remember that, in this digital age, liars always get
caught. Don't inflate your financials or your experience: your
little white lies may well come back to haunt you.
Written by Rebecca Burn-Callander