Usually I like to tune into our local PBS station on Sat. afternoons as they usually run cooking and home improvement shows. This probably coincides with watcher who plan on doing the same thing and thus like to get a little inspiration be it cooking a special Sat. or Sun. meal for the family or doing some landscaping in the yard. The particular cooking show that caught my eye sadly was a bit of a turn off. The set was perfect and polished and this chef’s came across as the young ladies cooking we so polished and perfect in their speech I seriously had I hard time taking them seriously. The show is called, “Everyday Food” but to me nothing about the show communicates “Everyday Food.” This show is a Martha Stewart Production is you can tell it’s in the Martha Stewart Style of “over perfection.” The kitchen looks more like microchip clean room or hospital waiting room. Honestly I have a hard time relaxing with such a presentation. The hosts seemed to tense and “perfect.” It’s not that the production values aren’t good, they are top notch. The big problem I have is their slogan on their web site says, Real People, Real Situation, Real Solutions. Maybe if they show had been called, “The Perfect Kitchen” or even if they had stressed the word “Simple” but I felt nothing “real” about what I saw.

I must sound kind of crabby lately critiquing these things I experience in the media but as yesterday when I talked about keeping it fresh and today I’m talking about being real. Keeping it real in your communication with others involves the following;

• Show a little emotion, especially humor
• Express your personality through your treasures, how you dress, what makes you laugh etc.
• Share your experiences - People love stories of why you are passionate about something. Instructions and news are important but unless you are a journalist people are reading and watching YOU and want to know what you think.

I realize that when I first meet people I may come across as a little less than real. I’m reserved by nature but deep down I have a bizarre sense of humor, an eclectic taste in music and food. I’m working hard to communicate who I am to a greater degree. One thing I have done recently is express my opinions, although somewhat negative in these past few post. I feel you have to know what bothers me as well. That is part of what makes me tick and forms my values. How are you expressing the real you or the story of your business in your communication with others? Have you had experiences where you didn’t feel comfortable because things didn’t seem real? i.e. visiting someone’s house that feels like a museum to the point you felt too nervous to even sit in a chair?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am and is filed under Tips, branding, marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.