Business and Life Lessons from MTV’s “Jersey Shore”

If there has been a sign in recent years of the upcoming end of the world, it would have to be the popularity of Reality TV. And with MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” it appears that the final seal has been broken. There is nowhere else for Reality TV to go…

I’ll admit to getting sucked in and watching the display of awful humanity that is “Jersey Shore.” Since I like to say, “laugh at anything, learn from everything,” a friend recently challenged me to write a Motivational Smart Ass blog post pulling lessons out of this show. I suppose I could have copped out and had there be only one lesson: don’t be stupid! But as I thought about, I realized that there are some things we can takeaway…

Whether you have seen the show or not (and if you haven’t I suggest you check out an episode – at the very least, you’ll feel better about your own life, no matter what condition it’s in right now), here are 5 lessons you can learn from MTV’s “Jersey Shore”:

1) First Impressions Matter

The first episode starts off with a bang, and it is apparent that no one on it ever bothered to consider the power of a good first impression. Angelina shows up with her clothes in garbage bags. Jennifer introduces herself as “JWOWW.” Yes, she introduces herself as her nickname. You can’t force people to call you a nickname! Especially when it’s a ridiculous one like “JWOWW.” One of the Rhodes Scholars on the show even points this out. And I’m curious, what is the extra “W” for? And when she introduces herself, does she say, “My name is JWOWW, with an extra ‘W'”?

But the winner for bad first impressions is “Snooki” (another nickname). Within five minutes of showing up Snooki starts doing shots. As you might expect, she gets plastered. Then she strips down to her underwear and hops into the hot tub with the boys. Then she gets out of the hot tub and passes out. Everyone else goes out to party. The next morning she is late for work because she is puking in the bathroom. She spends the rest of the day whining to the camera about how everyone hates her, misjudges her, and has the wrong idea of her. Gee, I wonder why…

Here’s a tip: If you don’t want people to think you’re a promiscuous lush, don’t get drunk, take off your clothes, and hop into a hot tub with strangers!

The Lesson: First impressions matter. It may not be fair or accurate, but people will judge you when they first meet you. So make it a good one.

Bonus Lesson: Don’t be stupid

2) A Little Communication Goes a Long Way

What would a reality show be without a little romance and a lot of drama? Boring I tell you, boring!

On the second episode, Ronnie and Sammi become an “item.” (This is much to the chagrin of Mike, who refers to himself as “the Situation,” and who also refers to his abs as “the Situation,” and who also refers to getting women into bed as, “the Situation.” Mike thought he had a Situation with Sammi, bit the real situation was that Sammi, while appreciative of the Situation’s Situation, fancied the situation with Ronnie more than the Situation’s Situation. Got it?)

By the end of the episode there is more drama (whoo-hoo!) Ronnie hits the dance floor and starts dancing with a woman. Makes sense, because a bunch of Jersey Shore guys dancing by themselves in a circle would just be odd. To Ronnie, this is no big deal, he’s just dancing. Sammi sees this and so she starts talking to her male friend. The guy asks for her number and, since she’s pissed Ronnie is dancing with another woman, she gives it to him. Ronnie finds out and storms off in a huff, ’cause he don’ wanna get play’ed, yo!

Perhaps I’m too rational, and maybe I’m the idiot for expecting people on a show like this to have logic, but wouldn’t a little open communication go a long way in situations (not, “the Situation,” of course) in cases like these? A simple, “hey, if we’re together, why are you dancing with her,” or, “hey, if we’re together, why are you giving your number to that guy?” If you don’t like the answer, you deal with it or break up and move on.

Of course, I may be looking at this the wrong way. In Sammi’s mind the two were not together, because in her words, “Ronnie never said, ‘you’re my girl.'” Evidently in the microcosm that is “Jersey Shore,” men simply proclaim women as their property. I have so much to learn…

Clearly, solid communication is not a cornerstone of Jersey Shore relationships. But for the rest of us, it matters.

The Lesson: Communicate! If something is bothering you, don’t bottle it up, don’t fester, and don’t storm off. Clear up confusion, get to the root of issues, and solve problems. Sometimes it can be that simple.

Bonus Lesson: Don’t be stupid

3) Be Accountable

If there’s one thing the people on this show lack, it’s a sense of accountability. People don’t like Snooki because they are closed minded and cliquey, not because she made an awful first impression. The Situation doesn’t get Sammi because he brings skanky women back to the house and hops into the hot tub with them in front of her (while Ronnie avoids the situation (and the Situations) and stays out of the tub. There’s a man who understands the situation), but he is upset at her and Ronnie.

JWOWW has a boyfriend (of two years) and on the very first episode she strongly says, “I will not cheat on my boyfriend.” By the end of the episode she has danced and grinded with DJ Pauly D (another house resident), and while lying in bed with him had the opportunity to discover that his penis is pierced.

When her boyfriend comes into town later, she doesn’t admit it to him (what are these people hiding? Don’t they realize they are being filmed??). He suspects though, and he says to her, “if you cheat on me while you’re down here, we’re done.” Her logical response? She gets pissed. Of course. How dare your boyfriend tell you that if you cheat on him he will break up with you!

Later, she does admit it to him, and he gets understandably pissed. She doesn’t want to lose him. So what does she do? The next night she ends up bumping and grinding with Pauly D again! Brilliant. When word gets back to her boyfriend he asks her about it and she gets pissed again.

In “As Good as it Gets,” Jack Nicholson’s character, when asked how he writes women so well, says, “I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.” I’m not going to jump into the hornet’s nest and say whether I agree with that, but I will say that the model for a voyeuristically brilliant realty show is to take a group of people with little reason and accountability and supply them with stupid activities and alcohol. That is Reality TV gold, my friends. Gold…

Have some accountability. If you mess up, admit it. Then change the behavior!

The Lesson: Stand up and be accountable. Great leaders and successful people take responsibility and action. Losers look to blame and deflect responsibility.

Bonus Lesson: Don’t be stupid

4) Get Some Perspective

There’s more than a little self-delusion going on with the people on this show. I’m all for confidence, but this goes a bit far.

Snooki claims to be the “Princess of Poughkeepsie.” This comment made me sit up and take notice because

1. I grew up in Poughkeepsie
2. I didn’t realize that Poughkeepsie had converted to a monarchy
3. I’d like to believe the if Poughkeepsie did have a princess, we would have a recruitment/review process that would weed the Snooki’s of the world out
4. Claiming to be the “Princess of Poughkeepsie,” is kind of like claiming to be “the #1 ‘Homeboys from Outer Space’ fan in the world.” No one cares, it’s not that impressive, and no one is going to challenge you for the crown.

Snooki is clearly not the princess of Poughkeepsie, but I am guessing that she is the the Princess of the tiny microcosm that is “her friends and family from Poughkeepsie.”

Then there’s Angelina…

Angelina doesn’t want to work at the tee-shirt shop because…well, I don’t know exactly why. I think it’s because she thinks it’s beneath her, even though part of the agreement they made to be on the show was to work at the store. On the first episode Angelina says, “I’m a bartender. I do great things.” Yup, it’s recorded for all time. She doesn’t want to work in the tee-shirt shop because “she’s a bartender. she does great things.”

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with bartending. I love bartenders. Should bartenders take pride in their work? Absolutely. Can bartenders do great things? Sure – look at Tom Cruise from Cocktail as an example. Do I think Angelina from “Jersey Shore” does great things? No. Not. For. A. Second.

There is nothing wrong with a little self-importance. The problem is that when you start believing your own hype you develop a sense of entitlement. That leads to ego, annoyance, and you sitting around waiting for people to do for you. These are not good things.

The Lesson: Have a little perspective and realize that the world is a very big place, and chance are, you are not all that. Confidence is great, but don’t be stupid. (whoops! looks I jumped ahead to the bonus lesson…)

Bonus Lesson: Don’t be stupid

5) Do What Works, Not What Sounds Good

Now here’s a contrary point: something we can actually learn from what the Jersey Shore folk are doing right…

On some level, these people have figured out what’s important to them. They want to drink, party, and hook up. You and I may not have the same short or long term goals, but to each their own, right?

If those are their goals, they have figured out how exactly to achieve them. If you want to party, get drunk, and hook up, then clearly spending time at the Jersey Shore, getting a deep tan and tattoos, working out a whole lot, being scantily clad, spending 30 minutes on your hair (for guys) of three hours getting ready (for girls), dancing like a fool, getting loaded, grinding with anyone and everyone, and being blatantly forthright about what you want seems to work. They’re not staying home surfing Match.com or waiting around until their mom or friend sets them up. They are out there going after what they want. And who are we to judge?

You may disagree with their goals and strategies, but you have to admire the fact that within those goals and strategies, the Jersey Shore crew have their tactics down pretty well.

Many businesses could learn from this example…

The Lesson: Be clear on what you want. Find the locations that are already filled with hungry prospects. Craft your marketing message to them in a way the market responds to. Don’t let your goals and tactics be dictated by what others say you should do. Do what works, do lots of, and let go of the rest.

There you have it. Five lessons from the moral wasteland that is “Jersey Shore.” Now go set your DVR to record the next episode! And above all, remember:

Don’t be stupid!