A Linux board is probably the wrong place to ask, but...

Anyone here familiar with Norman Schwartzkopf's Global Business Review? It shows on CNBC, Bravo, and an assortment of other places.

I have been invited to go on that show, but I am looking for opinions on the program before I commit.

No, but Norman Schwartzkopf is certainly not just off the turnip truck....

Go on the show an do what??? Are you a dancer, comedian......?

I would watch the show a few times before making such a decision. Ask yourself if you would be comfortable there.

It's WORLD Business Review.....
Google produces links saying that it is run by Schwarzkopf, but the website says it is Alexander Haig.

Forbes bio of Schwarzkopf make no mention of the program

?????????

Note: Schwarzkopf, not Schwartzkopf

D'oh! Yes. WORLD Business Review. Started with Caspar Weinberger, then Al Haig, now Schwartzkopf.

They want to feature my small business, which I would like to make into a much larger business. This might help. Might.

I have a demo DVD from them and the production looks sharp. But, then, they'll show me what they want me to see. I am looking around to see what others have to say about it.

Schwarzkopf---you won't be allowed on unless you spell it correctly

He must have taken over very recently....

Is this going to be an opportunity for some Open-Source publicity??

Boy, I'm doing well today, aren't I?

Sadly, no. My next generation product will run on Linux and Mac. The current generation is Windows-only. I am driven by the database that I use on the backend; it is presently windows only, but its next generation product will be multi-platform.

Dear Jiml8,

Think of your appearance on this show as way to advertise your product. (This is a lucky break for you, IMHO) Take for example the appearance of movie stars and other celebrities on radio or TV "talkshows", the real purpose behind the appearances are for the guest to "demonstrate and sell" something. So think of this opportunity as a way to sell your product or to promote your "brand".

I have a feeling that the show in question is watched by venture capitalists looking for the next killer app. So make your presentation as professional as possible keeping in mind that the viewers are probably going to be investors with money to invest.

Then after the show, you need to be prepared to send out investor information packets. I would also suggest that you review your business plan and write up new business document that explores the possibility of increased sales and rapid growth. Given your specific product line you do have the possibility of going global. Also even if you don't get any offers at all; at least consider creating a Spanish or Chinese language version of your product.

Congratulations, you have been discovered by big business.

Good Luck,

Thorn168

The thing is, though it isn't heavily publicized, I am expected to be a "sponsor" of the show. This is to say that I have to pay a substantial amount of money to be on the show. Now, the money I pay won't pay for all of the production costs (I don't think), and what I am promised from it appears extraordinarily inviting. Nonetheless, it is a risk and if it doesn't pay off then I have burned some money that I can ill afford to burn at this time.

Mine is not the next new "killer app" though it does advance the state of the art in my vertical niche market. I am less interested in investors than I am in large, institutional customers. The only thing I can do with investors is use the money to increase the advertising budget, and I can do the exact same thing if the show brings me customers.

An investor who wanted to make a big enough investment could change the dynamic for me, of course, but could also wrest control from me. I do want marketing support; I badly want marketing support, but I also want to retain control of a product that I have been working on since 1992 (used it in-house for years, which is where I "shook out" the core algorithms and made sure that everything was robust).