The Oprah Effect

Just as I was taking a break from my computer screen, I was channel surfing when I came across a show on CNBC called "The Oprah Effect" - a show about the effects that Oprah Winfrey has on the impact of a business when she mentions them on her show.  When reading the onscreen info about the show from my digital cable service, it was interesting enough to keep on watching.

I always had an interest in any show that highlight's an entrepreneur and stories about success in business, and this show captured some of that. 

It basically had related stories about either businesses that were struggling

to stay alive and on the verge of bankruptcy to others that were experiencing modest success but that were at the verge of hitting the "tipping point". Overall, the show covered 3 businesses:

• We Take The Cake - Lori Karmel
• Carols Daughter - Lisa Price
• LAFCO - Jon Bresler & Vincent LaRouche

that were highly influenced by the Oprah Winfrey show as in just a mention of their product and business on the show sent the companies phones into lighting up like a Christams tree -  to even causing a web site server to shut down because of the explosive increase in the traffic to the site. One company, just struggling to stay alive ("We Take The Cake" - a company that specializes in distinctive tasting and esquisitly decorated cakes)making only about $150,000 a year and barely breaking even to grossing over a million dollars a year after mention on Oprah's show. Incrediable, isn't it?

The show also had some extra features such as Robyn Okrant blogging about "Living Oprah" where she as put everything that Oprah recommends to the test by living the life Oprah suggests by buying the products and following the advice given on the Oprah Winfrey Show. To date it has been a positive experience to Robyn and has opened up additional unexpected opportunities for her. 

There was also Susan Harrow a Media Coach and author of the "Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah," where she outlines step-by-step strategy on how to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Overall, it was an inrteresting show it it revealed the impact that just being at the right place at the right time can have. Some of it through chance and coincidence ( like "We Take The Cake" - where one of their cakes got sent as a gift to someone on the Oprah Show and eventually ended up in front of Oprah) and other times through persistence in pursueing a goal and objective (like LAFCO - who tried for 7 years to get on the show and finally made it).

In the end it just proves not to give up on your dreams and goals becuase you never know when yuour opportunity may come knocking!

Check out the entire show -  "The Oprah Effect" - on the CNBC web site.

Who knows - maybe New Business Startup Guide will be the next company influenced by "The Oprah Effect" and will be catapulted into SUCCESS!