| Blog I wrote a year back after KBC 4… |
While watching Amitabh Bachchan in Kaun Banega Crorepati, my general knowledge has definitely gone up a notch or two. However there are bigger learnings to take away from the show and the megastar hosting it, who is seemingly unaffected by anything. While his contemporaries have faded into their retirements, Mr. Bachchan continues to march ahead like someone who has just started his career!!
There are multiple lessons an entrepreneur can draw from the super success of Mr. Bachchan, especially as host of KBC. Here are some which I have taken away-
Focus on customer connect
The audience and the contestants are equivalent to his customers. If you have noticed, he has some of the best one-liners for every contestant and he connects with almost each one of them in a personal way. An amazing amount of preparation must have gone into each of these interactions. As each contestant leaves, he/she looks very happy and satisfied with the experience. This is customer delight at its peak. All of us as entrepreneurs must strive for this in our businesses as well.
Adversity is a stepping stone
Whether it was the not so successful KBC season 2, or his own career, which has gone through many lows, Mr. Bachchan has continued to demonstrate that one can rise from the lows and overcome adversity, if one perseveres. The many ups and downs while building a business can be surmounted with persistence. Every entrepreneurial journey is a continuum and every low is just a stepping stone.
Reinvention and sustainability
Mr. Bachchan has reinvented himself – across his movies and even across different seasons of KBC – he keeps evolving to suit the latest audience. He has transformed himself to be relevant to the audience across generations. He connects with each generation at their level and in their ways. Very few brands have kept their relevance to such a degree over such long periods of time. Especially in these fast changing times and consumer tastes, this is a big lesson on how a business/brand can sustain itself over a long period.
Alertness
Nothing defines his presence on the current show more than his alertness – it is remarkable and contributes in establishing the connect with his contestants and audience. TV is not a medium where one can survive only with rehearsals. And therein lies the biggest lesson for entrepreneurs to learn -never let down your guard, always be alert to what your customers want.
Kaun Banega Crorepati is over now, but the lessons it brings to the fore will continue to guide all entrepreneurs.
Vaibhav Tewari's Blog 