Earlier this week, we began the process of selecting just the right contestants for our premiere season with a question:
What’s the biggest goal for Prosperity’s Kitchen?
While we’re certainly aiming to create something entertaining here — both fun to watch and engaging to play — our ultimate goal is to create the best learning experience possible.
Not just for the contestants. But for those watching and playing at home. For YOU.
After all, this whole idea was born from a need to make quality business education accessible to everyone.
And accessible doesn’t just mean you can get the content if you’ve got an internet connection (although that’s a big part of it).
No. It also means that you (as the viewer) can relate to the folks you’re watching every week. That you can identify with them as peers. That they’re learning the same things you need to learn.
After all, it’s easier to root for someone who could — given the circumstances — be you.
We received 78 applications for just 15 contestant (plus 2 alternate) spots.
In order to choose who moved on to Round 2, we created a scoring system. Here’s how it worked:
Each applicant started with a score of 5 points. Points were then deducted for:
- Weak or unclear branding (1 point)
- Uber-polished websites (1 point)
- Marketing professionals (2.5 points)
- Marketing related professionals (2 points)
- Spammy or Adult-themed/NSFW (3 points)
In order to move to the next round, you needed a score of 3 or better. There were 16 applicants who didn’t meet that criteria.
Everyone got the news early this morning.
Round Two & What’s Next?
The next order of business is for applicants who made the first cut to submit a 3 minute video that tells their story.
That deadline is midnight, November 15, 2012, Pacific Standard Time
The video MUST include the face and voice of the person who will act as the contestant for our show.
Why? Because we need to see how folks carry themselves on camera.
Applicants can tell their story any way they like, but we urged them to make it interesting.
Some things we’ll be listening for:
- Why was this business started and what is its mission?
- What is the owner’s perfect world vision (as it relates to the business)?
- What makes this business unique from the rest of the millions who do something similar?
NOTE: We’re NOT looking for something worthy of the Oscars, here. This isn’t about being slick and polished. This is about telling a story.
And we’ve cautioned our applicants to NOT hire this out. We want to see what they can do with what they’ve got.
What are your marketing strengths and weaknesses?
Why? Because we need to understand how much they already know about marketing. It’s important that our contestants don’t come to this with an unfair advantage.
As soon as the videos are ready, we’ve asked our applicants to upload them to YouTube, and then share a link to them on our Facebook wall.
We’ll add them to this website and begin soliciting comments from the public, our Advisory Board, and our guest mentors through mid-December.
Remember: This is NOT a popularity contest. A spot on Prosperity’s Kitchen will not be determined by a public vote.
If the decision is close, we may ask finalists to provide us with web traffic reports and/or other statistics.
Again, the goal is to find people with the most interesting stories who are all at about the same skill level.
Now to you: As a viewer or someone who might play-at-home, what personal qualities or skill levels would you find most interesting? Let us know in a comment.
About Tea Silvestre
