Home Sweet Home Shows

I'm a sucker for any show that graces the proverbial airwaves of HGTV. On the off chance that you live in a drab and so-not-Feng-Shui cave, "HGTV" refers to Home and Garden Television. The narrowcast cable channel launched in 1994, and now every time I channel surf past the sitcom reruns and the commercial laden blockbuster on TNT, I catch a glimpse of an HGTV show and I'm hooked. An endless stream of home improvement tips, design suggestions, and other domestic projects is always just a click away.

There are two things that really make the shows on HGTV so compelling. First, the subject matter is very personal. You spend a lot of time in your home or apartment. You decorate it to your tastes (or in my case to my wife's tastes) and it becomes an extension of you. Done well, home spaces can motivate you while welcoming others into a little slice that is your life. Thanks to HGTV, we even look at our "in-progress" home spaces in entirely new ways - brimming with wonderment and enthusiasm from their potential.

The second element balances the art of the home with the science of human behavior. The majority of home shows on HGTV are project-based and therefore goal-based. (No wonder I love them!) Look past the content of any of these shows and you'll see that each follows a tried-and-true formula that is very engaging. These shows adhere to a formula is predictable and reassuring, and effective.

In case you've never pondered the formula behind the typical home improvement show, let's dissect one together (no scalpel required):

Backstory. The show begins with an introduction to regular people. They're usually depicted outside of their home doing typical American family things - walking the dog, pushing a stroller, not voting. The backstory captures the "bigger life picture". In your own Goal Improvement Show, the backstory defines your life situation and sets the stage for the goal itself.

Goal. Fairly quickly, the show introduces the desired outcome of some design or construction project. Perhaps the homeowners want to convert an unused bedroom into a sunroom or to finish off their basement. (How hard could that be?) The show's narrator presents the goal first by way of its benefits and then by defining the project itself. In the case of your goal pursuits, this same order works very well. The benefits are the point of the effort - not the goal pursuit or achievement itself.

Process. The show walks the viewer through the sequential steps required to complete the project. Demolition, clearing, structural work, detailed work, finishing, decorating, etc. There's a linear process to things. There's no point in painting before sanding the floors. The process is sped up on television, of course, but you get the point. When pursuing your personal goals, you should have the same process-driven planning mindset and look to complete key milestones along the way.

Obstacles. Inevitably, something goes wrong. The homeowners notice a problem spot behind the refrigerator, face a budget overrun, or discover some other snafu that needs to be addressed. With a clear focus on the project's benefits and a team of supporters and experts at the ready, they are able to overcome the challenge. Guess what I'm about to say. So can you! Here's what we know: You will face obstacles in your own goal pursuits, but you can overcome most anything that comes your way. HGTV homeowners always look to others for help and you should too.

Completion. Finally, the work is done and the show walks through some finishing touches. Here, attention to detail and a project/budget review are often featured. This is a chance to reflect on the project and celebrate its completion. Be sure to take the same opportunity to reflect and celebrate achievements in your life. Don't be too quick to move onto the next project before taking in the energy and lessons learned from your freshly completed project.

Reveal. Most home shows end with a montage of clips showing the completed project from every angle. The voiceover of the homeowner relates just how happy they are with their shiny new room. You can strive for the same reinforcement of the original ideal in your own goals. Capture and document your feeling of achievement! Winning is addictive, and it should spur you on to future success.

Whether you're into home improvement or not, you have to give credit to HGTV. They cover home topics from many different angles, but they employ a very consistent formula. There's no mystery in the presentation, but most of us are so compelled by the content that we hardly notice. (Unless we're forced to by some introspective newsletter author.)

If you can apply a proven goal pursuit formula to your varied and wonderful personal and professional goals, you'll enjoy similar success. Think for a moment about the formula above and see which (if any) elements need a little "fixing up" when you apply them to your most important personal goal.

I'll go grab some popcorn, you get ready for the reveal.

KAED

Related Links

The HGTV lineup
HGTV's own foray into social networking
How to install a bathroom fan

Quotes of the Week

"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
- John Howard Payne

"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself."
- Louis L'Amour

Coaching Quickie: Home Sweet Home Shows

Check back next week for results!

Last Week's Results

Coaching Quickie: Success Shines Through
How thick is the smog that hangs between you and your full potential?

(11%) None at all - Negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors aren't a factor in my life whatsoever.
(33%) Just a bit - I'm mostly good to go with only a few gray areas once in awhile.
(44%) Quite a bit - My achievements are definitely being impacted by some internal challenges I'm facing.
(11%) *Cough* - It looks pretty grim right now, and I can't seem to get out of my own way.

If you missed it, you can read last week's newsletter online here.