Ever wish you could sit down with a super-accomplished person and ask, “What does it take to break into your industry? What’s it like to be you? And when you’re looking to hire someone, what does it take to impress you?”
With Pick My Brain, that’s exactly what we do. Enjoy this week’s installment featuring life coach and web series creator Susan Hyatt.
Question:
You’re a professional life coach, trained by Oprah’s personal coach, Dr. Martha Beck. You also recently launched your own web series, Life Is Delicious TV (which is now being syndicated on MariaShriver.com. Congrats!) Do you have any advice for someone who’s dreaming about creating an online TV series? What’s the very first move?
Creating an online TV show is crazy-fun and very rewarding. But I ain’t gonna lie — it’s a lot of work.
People are often surprised to find out how much time, effort and money goes into creating an itty-bitty fifteen-minute episode. Writing the script, finding the perfect guest, locking down sponsors, booking filming locations, rehearsing my talking points, and of course, the actual filming and editing… there’s a lot going on behind the scenes!
The end result is totally worth it. But you’ve got to really, really want it.
If you want to create your own online TV show, I’d recommend asking yourself:
: What’s my highest intention for the viewer?
Your answer to this question will shape everything.
Through your show, do you want to help solve a particular problem (like helping people lose weight)? Do you want to teach people something new (like how to cook vegan food)? Or maybe you just want to be entertaining and make people smile!
Get clear about your highest intention — the effect that you want to have on every viewer. This will give you a focus for the show.
: Who is my ideal viewer?
Let’s pretend that we’ve gathered a group of your ideal viewers around the table for a cup of coffee (or a shot of wheatgrass or vodka!).
What do your ideal viewers want? What are they struggling with? What scares them? What makes them happy? Where do they hang out? What do they read, watch, eat, and do for fun?
Get clear about who your ideal viewers are. This will shape your content (what you do + say, during your show) as well as your marketing.
: Why TV?
Let’s face it: there are plenty of wayyyyy easier and cheaper ways to reach an audience than through an online TV show!
You could blog (free!), start a podcast (also free!), hold workshops in your hometown, start up an advice column like Ms. Ellen did… there are so many options.
What is it that appeals to you about TV, specifically?
Does being on camera make you feel like the best version of yourself? Are there certain things you want to do — like creating instructional videos, or doing hilarious comedy skits — that could only be accomplished through the medium of video?
Get clear about why it’s gotta be TV. Then, commit to that vision, completely.
You don’t necessarily need a big budget or a team of stylists to make it happen.
You can start with a simple webcam, set up in your living room.
But whatever you choose to do, make sure that your focus is always on serving your viewers — inspiring, motivating, entertaining and striving to make a positive impact on every single person who’s watching.
Images: Susan Hyatt.