I confess I've had a crush on Ty Pennington since I first saw him goofing around on the set of Trading Spaces several years ago. He has that irresistible appeal of little boy mischievousness combined with grown-up charm. I had a chance to meet him in person last year at a movie premiere and was pleased to discover that is he is as genuinely nice and authentic in person as he is on TV. (The movie, Ocee Nash, was his first acting role. He's a much better TV personality than an actor, but since I'm neither, who am I to judge?)
So, it's a real pleasure to see him be so successful with this ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Ty's a talented, smart guy. But the tuth is, the show works because of the team's ability to make everything about their project relevant. The families who are selected to receive a new custom homestead would probably be just as happy to receive any house, but what they are presented is a beautiful, custom home that reflects their personalities, hobbies, dreams and memories. It makes for riveting television, but more importantly, it makes for happy families that are often overwhelmed by the experience of being an Extreme Makeover family.
The way Ty and team are able to make each room relevant is by asking a lot of questions, paying attention to the smallest details and then going to great lengths to incorporate the family's input into everything from the design to the smallest accessories. Beyond creating a fascinating TV show, they have also made it matter beyond the Sunday night episode we see. People who participate in the "it takes a village" approach also contribute to the show's blog about their experiences so viewers can learn more about what goes on behind the scenes.
Imagine if we could delight our customers the way Ty's team delights theirs. We probably can, if we're willing to truly understand the power of doing what it takes to ensure we remain relevant to those who do business with us. All it takes is the willingness to ask questions, absorb the input and act on it. I'd love to hear more about how you've remained relevant. What's your secret?
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