Want To Make Your Startup a Success? Watch James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke

Lately, I've adopted a strange habit from my two twelve-year-old boys.

After a long day at work, rather than sit back on the couch and veg out in front of the television, I lie back and open...YouTube on my phone. Yes, it's happened—my boys have convinced me that it's more relaxing to watch 5-inch video screens than 50-inch ones.

That's how I came upon the viral YouTube hit Carpool Karaoke, starring Late Late Show host James Corden.

Apparently I'm one of millions who've become obsessed with the segment, because now it's become a full-blown television show. In a typical episode, Corden sings maniacally alongside his famous companions as he drives, belting out their tunes while needling them on sometimes awkward topics.

Corden's smash hit is a great example of how a tiny experiment can turn into a huge success. It's also a perfect illustration of The Lean Startup method, pioneered by Silicon Valley guru Eric Ries.

Ries, who was at Bloomberg earlier this year talking about his methodology, has long held the belief that entrepreneurs ought to throw out the old way of doing things. That includes months or years of research and development, not to mention a business plan. The problem, Ries claims, is that old-school companies end up building things nobody wanted—because they hadn't talked to a single customer beforehand.

Instead, companies should start small and lean, Ries says. They should build a minimally viable product—an MVP—and release it as soon as possible. Then, they should gather as much customer feedback as they can before adjusting the product to better fit demand. Sometimes, you'll find that your grand idea just doesn't work—simply because nobody wants it. In that case, you've got two choices: either abandon your idea, or "pivot" to another one. While this method doesn't guarantee success, Ries and his growing number of disciples swear that it reduces your chances of failure.

Looking at Carpool Karaoke's viral success, you could almost say that Corden was following the Lean Startup methodology. He made a small, lightweight online segment and tested the market. Corden actually originated the segment in the UK—his homeland—with singer George Michael. Nobody in America wanted to repeat the segment...until Mariah Carey stepped up. Once he landed his first high-profile American guest, the segment's popularity skyrocketed. Corden had discovered his "special sauce," and his product thrived.

Carey recently reprised her role as Corden's backseat driver in a special Christmas episode of Carpool Karaoke. The video garnered over 20 million views in the first five days after publishing.

The numbers say it all. Corden masterfully took an idea, tested it, got viewer feedback, tested it some more, got more feedback, and has now turned this funny little segment into a YouTube staple. But Carpool Karaoke is still far from the "going public" phase of startup/YouTube success. The next test will be seeing whether any network or channel will buy the segment as a full-blown television show.

The next time someone asks how you got your entrepreneurial inspiration, you can say with gleeful certainty: "I saw it on YouTube."

And if Carpool Karaoke isn't inspirational enough for you, check out this recent Radiate video in which we ask CEOs and thought leaders where they go to come up with their best ideas:

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