A Different World Recipe: Finding Your Unique Value Proposition (Hot Sauce) as a Founder

I never thought I'd use hot sauce as an example to explain the importance of founders identifying their unique value proposition on LinkedIn, but here we are!

"I mean, it's like…there was no hot sauce on the table". As an avid A Different World (ADW) fan, I have heard this quote in countless interviews about the show, and if you have ever watched it, you would know there was a significant difference between season 1 and the remaining seasons. That difference was Director-Producer, Debbie Allen and her 'hot sauce.' I believe that hot sauce was metaphorically her unique value proposition that brought flavor (pun intended) to the series, which led it to become a top-rated show portraying students and their experiences on an HBCU campus.?

A startup's unique value proposition (UVP) is the core benefit or solution that differentiates its product or service from the competition and positions it as the best possible option on the market. In addition to their startups, a founder must identify their UVP.?

Often it's skills and characteristics that are so second nature you overlook them. As an example, the creators of ADW brought Ms. Allen on board to make the series culturally relevant to the audience. Debbie Allen's unique value proposition that helped differentiate season 1 and the later seasons was her:?

1. Experience: She had firsthand knowledge of the show's setting, having attended Howard University. Additionally, her experience on the set of Family Ties taught her the importance of bridging the communication gap between the actors and the writers. On other sets, she realized that actors and writers would not give each other notes, so she broke those barriers to create a culture that gave each stakeholder a voice. As a result, she developed a collaborative work environment that increased productivity and yielded incredible results.?
2. Audience-first Orientation: Season 1 didn't resonate with any audience because of its 'universal' story approach. Debbie Allen made the show relevant and dynamic by incorporating cultural nuances because she understood the audience was not monolithic. Not only did she add hot sauce to the table, but she also developed the cultural DNA by adding Greek life, step shows, and more multidimensional characters from various socioeconomic backgrounds to resonate with each audience segment. But most importantly, she incorporated controversial storylines relevant to the audience, bringing me to the final and most important part of Ms. Allen's UVP…
3. Fearlessness:?It is very easy to compromise on your vision, especially when you need investment from others to execute. However, remaining firm in delivering value to your customers is key to your startup's success. A Different World was a network TV show which was traditionally known for quick, feel-good laughs. Still, Debbie Allen decided to maintain the humor while focusing episodes on topical issues that affected the target audience, including (but not limited to) apartheid, racism, colorism, workplace harassment, and AIDS. Although network executives did not favor these episodes and advertisers ultimately pulled ads, Debbie Allen knew the global impact the show could create if these societal issues that often made this audience feel unseen and unheard were addressed.?

As you develop the strategy for your startup's unique value proposition, remember to factor in what you innately have that you can extend to your business that no competitor can replicate. The best part of identifying your unique value proposition is that it is the sum of experiences, characteristics, and expertise you already have that has gotten you this far! However, you need to understand the power of that value and how it will play a critical role in your startup. After all, it was Debbie Allen's experience, audience-first orientation, and fearlessness that led to the show inspiring a new generation of careers for marginalized communities, tripling college enrollment during the time frame it was on the air, and leading me to a position where I can now explain UVP in a hot sauce metaphor.

Animation Credit: toniartblue.com