Business Focused Reality Shows

I'm a little curious if it is because I have been to b-school, or it's just a general truth. I think there is a tremendous amount of knowledge to be gained by watching business focused reality shows. The apprentice is probably not so good, but Shark Tank and America's Next Great Restaurant have a lot of practical application if you are paying attention. If people respond to this thread, I'll throw in some episode notes for future episodes. Opinions?

I love those shows too... and I assume the google talks are similar to TED talks, which I love. I'm not really talking about trade secrets. I'm talking more about basic business school content being taught in a more socratic style. For example, there was an exchange on a recent shark tank: Pitcher: I'd like $100k for 10% of my business... [explains business model and product] VC: So, I'm listening to your model, and I don't see where the business is worth $1M Pitcher: I would not value it at $1M VC: So, why are you trying to sell me 10% for $100k? Obviously that's high school-level stuff... but if you really listen to the questions the VCs are asking about Channel Strategies, Competitive Environment, etc. it's pretty good. And I think America's next great restaurant is even better.

Yes, that's another one where you can learn a lot... in these cases, practical managerial skill. When things are disorganized or money is being lost... and you can see both sides of the story and the same workers producing much better after being managed correctly it is much more useful than anything you can get in a classroom. True dat, but I think any time you see "behind the scenes" you're going to see train-wrecks. I read once a very true statement about management: 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Good management means finding the right thing for the other 80% to do so they will be successful, and they will stay out of the way of the other 20%.

Not offended, but it is pretty true in my experience. The least productive workers spend a lot of time derailing the train, by messing stuff up, asking too many questions, etc. If you lead a team, you have a go-to person who you give the important stuff to, and you keep everyone else out of that person's way. The actual % numbers are arbitrary... but... not everybody is a genius.

I'm with you, but it's statistically impossible to do this everywhere.... not everybody is as capable as everyone else. Don't forget, people manage different types of teams. It's a very broad statement. Imagine if you're managing a McDonalds. Somebody has to fold napkins. That's not the person that is going to run the kitchen at lunchtime.