Goal 1: Get on Oprah
Goal 2: Find a Publisher
Strategy:
Expose all the nitty-gritty details of life as a young entrepreneur: my failed cold calls, begging the ‘rents for investment money, smuggling ‘community’ library office supplies and oh so much more.
Operation Oprah is my journey–and desperate attempt, told through videocasts and blogs to start and grow a business on my allowance. In May of 2007, I (finally) graduated college, emptied my bank account (there wasn’t much to empty), founded my corporation and published “You’re Grounded!” book. Now I am working on a project for my next book: Teen Entrepreneurs.
The only problem…I have no publisher, and no money. Yet, I will not stop until I reach my goals and prove that anyone can reach the top from nothing.
What’s in it for you:
Well, you can laugh with me (or at me), learn from my experiences and see true net-geners in action. And…Guess what? I have decided that you, my wonderful, fantastic readers are now my Board of Advisors. After all, who can keep me more accountable, who can motivate me to keep going, who could be more supportive (I am grasping at strings here) than my users?
The Plan:
I promise to give you weekly updates of subscriber numbers, income tally’s and if we–or lets be honest, I–have met the monthly BOA (that’s YOU) goals. Please, subscribe, RSS, Share (and click on a few ads while your at it) to follow my ups and downs depicting my comic and sometimes exasperating struggles, successes and tactics. Send me your tips, ideas and constructive criticism.
Of course, I will be posting my usual tip-filled, joke-ridden blog posts for parents and teens. I will adhere to the following Outline and intersperse regular posts with my “OO” articles and even throw in a few “Oprah Watch” posts on the status getting onto Oprah.
(for those who know about David Letterman’s fight to get on Oprah, just think about him, but without my own show…and without a famous name…and without money)
…Publishers: get ready! Oprah: here I come!
Operation Oprah Post Outline:
This is my outline of posts to get on the Oprah Show and find a publisher, as I write them, the outline will turn into links.
I. Getting Started
A. For all of you non-readers: Video Explanation of Operation Oprah
1. My First Pitch: A Video Listing why I should be on Oprah…drawings included.
B. What is a Teen Entrepreneur? And How Parents Can Be Supportive
1. (Show Pitch to Oprah) What Happy People Have: 6 Ingredients to Friction Free Families
*Sending this to one of the show producers Ellen Rakieten (worked with her for 20 years so amazing) I am a little worried because I haven’t done anything ‘on-screen’ for them to see, oh man, I hope they will still give me a chance.
C. ‘The Idiot’s Guide Told me to:’ The Pro’s and Con’s of Starting a Business
D. Revealing my ‘Authorial Persona’…whatever that means.
This post explains why I started to write You’re Grounded and when I decided to make it my life goal to work with parents and teens.
II. Creating a Business
A. The. Business. Plan. and My Mission Statement
1. “Why isn’t there a free word template for everything?”
B. Business Legal Stuff for Newbies: Incorporation, Copyright, Trademark
1. “Are any legal offices nice?…and why does everything cost so much?”
C. How to Make An Income: “Vanessa what are you living off of?”
III. Spreading the Word
A. Kits, Press Releases, Pretty Pictures and Bios Oh My!
….I am planning ahead, but not that far ahead, stay tuned.
9 responses so far ↓
1 rob // Dec 3, 2007 at 12:31 pm
you’re so awesome…i’ll keep tuning in and supporting you…keep up the good (and entertaining) work!
2 Pamela // Dec 4, 2007 at 9:21 pm
As I said in the email I just sent you, I’m very impressed with your site! I just saw your guest blog post on Zen Habits, which brought me over here. I’ll be checking back often to watch your progress. You seem so motivated and outgoing that I’m sure you’ll be extremely well known in no time. When you make it to Oprah, I’ll be telling all my friends, “I was the sixth subscriber to her site!” :-)
3 Michael Gentry // Dec 10, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Enjoyed hearing you on Sirius radio today. Sounds like you have good ideas on bringing out the best in children. May God bless you in yoiur efforts
4 Vanessa // Dec 10, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Michael-
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed my hour today, it was really fun but i was nervous..i am hoping i can get the word out to more parents and more children one person by one person
5 C. Biscuit // Dec 12, 2007 at 1:48 am
Operation Oprah?!?
Dude, we think alike, check out a similar idea that NCNM did back in February of this year. Tis aptly named “operation oprah” as well:
http://www.helfgottblog.com/operation-oprah/
Best of luck to you…!
6 Judy Zweig // Mar 17, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Vanessa,
You are a terrific communicator. A friend of mine turned me on to your blog and I have been hooked ever since. I have 2 daughters 10 and 15 and I am trying to soak up all of the information you can give me. My 15 year old is having trouble with some boys and cyber bullying. I would love some of your advice on this and just finished reading your article on it, but would love some specific advice with this situation.
Anyway, best of luck to you, you deserve everything good that comes your way. Keep up the good work!
7 Vanessa // Mar 17, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hi Judy!
Oh thanks so much, I am so glad it has been helpful. I could cover your topic in maybe six posts, lol. But the one major thing I try to address with some of the girls I work with is that being sexy, or representing yourself to boys is a process. It is really important not to put everything out there. This includes overly flirting online, wearing inappropriate clothing and the way you act around boys. I always try to talk about the fact that it is much more attractive to show your collar bone than cleavage, etc. I hope this makes sense, because at that age I remember it was all about getting attention and being attractive to boys.
So finding ok and appropriate ways to be attractive and get attention is key
Vanessa
8 Rob Van Petten // Jul 27, 2008 at 10:19 am
Vanessa - How are you? Time marches on and I was wondering how you are progressing. Just keep at it and don’t get discouraged. If you need a pep talk let me know. I have done everything I set out to do since I was a teenager, and it was just by setting goals one at a time. And then you find your suddenly there. You’re clip is still Haha. Good Luck. Your somehow distant cousin. RVP
9 Vanessa // Jul 28, 2008 at 9:32 pm
hi rob!
My imaginary distant cuz! Thanks so much for the support, just you coming back and commenting makes me happy. And I am always glad I can make you haha
Vanessa
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