I
don’t recall, find as many things to watch on TV as I used to, but one of the
more rewarding shows that I’ve seen in the past decade is Showtime’s Shameless. This seven-year-old series about a family of
grifters, addicts, and dysfunctional beings is just about the best TV can
produce. Of course, there are lessons
one can draw from the hit show that apply to life, but I see things that book
marketers can hold onto as well. Here
are some things you can draw upon:
1. Life
is going to now you down, but you need to keep clawing to survive. You need to commit to survival – in life –
and as a writer or book marketer. Get up
when something knocks you down.
2. Be
an opportunist. Too many times in this
show we see how a character turns a situation to his or her advantage,
sometimes unexpectedly. Take hold of
your situation and really think hard, perhaps out of desperation, how you can
capitalize on something.
3. Get
out of your own way. Many times, the
show’s characters hurt themselves with impulsive behavior, bad judgment or a
dependence on alcohol, drugs, or sex.
Don’t succumb to your own stupid issues.
4. Hard
work pays off. Many of the characters work two jobs, double shifts, or have a
side business, often an illegal enterprise but you must keep pushing yourself
beyond 9-5 to move ahead.
5. Have
a dream and keep pursing it. Each of the
characters is driven to achieve or obtain something. They succeed because of their relentless
determination.
6. Take
a risk. Often because they have no
fallback cushion or choice, the characters take some big risks and wild chances
flirting with poverty, violence, and arrest.
You may not have to take such extreme chances, but you will need to move
out of your comfort zone and risk losing something in order to gain far
more.
7. Use
whatever strengths or gifts that you have.
Characters use their ability to lie, scheme, and negotiate to get what
they want. They also rely on their looks
and sex appeal. They depend on people
reacting to them in a predictable way in order to be able to take advantage of
them.
8. Rely
on your close family and friends. They will be the ones to give you support –
emotionally, financially, or other. Even
the strongest-willed and self-sufficient can benefit from the words, wallet, or
hand of another.
Ok,
so Shameless may not be for everyone,
some crazy things happen in a series that’s featured prison, death, overdosing,
fighting, divorce, panhandling, stealing, addiction and so many other aspects
of life that few may experience – like this family has. But it is fascinatingly funny, dramatic, and
life-affirming. It also features a
steady stream of gratuitous nudity. No
complaints there.
If
you want to enjoy not just a great TV series but one that could give book marketers
a few insightful lessons, Shameless is
for you.
All-New 2017 Book Marketing & PR Toolkit
Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2016 ©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby
http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 
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