Practical Accountant is always trying to leverage its brand. So, I am considering jumping on the reality show bandwagon and pitching to the networks a series entitled, "Practical Accountant's Super CPA--2004."
The editorial staff would choose a number of CPAs who, one by one, would be eliminated in this weekly series until the Super CPA is crowned and awarded an SUV with a million dollars in tax-exempt bonds in the glove compartment.
How would the CPAs be eliminated? I envision a series of contests such as:
Your New Business Card--The winner might be a CPA who designed a business card with a picture of the CPA meeting with clients, or maybe with a 20-second voice message, or as part of a mini-CD brochure that could be loaded into a computer.
The Typical Client's Financial Plan--Each CPA would have to develop a financial plan, including insurance needs, for a remarried 49-year old business owner with two college-bound teenagers from the first marriage, a toddler from the second marriage, and aged parents. Because of the many issues and choices such as how much life, disability, property and casualty loss, business interruption, long-term care, and other insurance to buy, it will probably be a two-parter.
Reception Area Overhaul--Each CPA would be given $10,000 to redesign the reception area for their firm. With a little imagination, I could see a wireless Internet terminal on the handrests of the chairs and a plasma screen with a constant running video of the services offered by the firm. Of course, it wouldn't be bad if sensors were built into the chairs so any changes in a client's risk tolerance could be instantaneously identified when he or she sat down.
Web Site to Die For--How about asking the CPAs to develop a Web site that clients will return to everyday? It could have the aggregation of a client's financial information, a running total of a client's mileage rewards, monetary incentives for using online organizers, a mortgage finder, a discussion group with similarly-situated business owners, a video cam showing where their kids are, etc.
Best End of Tax Season Party--Locale, party favors, and food would all be judged. High points would almost certainly be given for a low-carb menu and amino-acid-enhanced drinks plus having celebrities like Paris Hilton or Tiger Woods in attendance.
Listen in order to make my pitch work, I am going to need some help. I was thinking that interested CPAs could send in a 30-minute videotape to the Practical Accountant indicating why they should be picked to audition for the show. Oh by the way, the tapes would have to be in our possession by April 14th. Please don't complain that this is your busiest time of the year. You got to remember that this reality show winner is Super CPA!
