The Reality TV I'll Admit to Watching

I have to admit it...I'm a Shark Tank addict. Even though I wouldn't buy a lot of the products on the show, one of the things I love about it is how the program champions the value of the "speed pitch", a concept most entrepreneurs struggle with. Getting quickly to an easy-to-understand value proposition is the first place most pitch folks trip. I always know when the Sharks ask a presenter, "what are you actually selling?" that things will go south fast. 

Another common refrain that forebodes "no deal" from the Sharks is "what you are saying is that you want me to work for my money?" Sharks then go on to lament that the entrepreneur is merely a poseur, and not adequately driven to make their potential business successful. 

For more lessons to be learned from watching Shark Tank, click here to read the Fast Company rundown.