If you grew up watching Martin, you know that the show is in a league of its own. The fictional Martin Payne navigated his late twenties and early thirties with dangerously low levels of chill. The silly antics, relationship drama, radio shenanigans and foolish friends made for a perfect '90s sitcom. Even in its rerun glory, you won’t find an ounce of educational value in this series.
Actually, I take that back.
The sitcom came with notable comedy and homeboy spun wisdom from Martin’s insane adventures in Detroit. One episode, in particular, is a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs.
Martin was fired from his job as an on-air personality at WZUP. And, unfortunately, his local celebrity wasn’t enough to get him back into the workforce. As he hunts for the next opportunity, Martin takes a leap into entrepreneurship in the season finale of season two. He recruits “Brotherman” (or Bruh-man from the fifth floor) to be his business partner in a get rich quick scheme on the night of Whitney Houston’s concert. The two went into this partnership with one common goal.
But of course, nothing is ever that simple, even on TV
"Babe that's Bruh Man in a bad wig" pic.twitter.com/9fUkr43J9j
— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) January 26, 2016
Ah yes, the “Whitty Huton Wuld Toor.” I had forgotten about this infamous scene. It will totally go down as one of my favorite (right next to the Jodeci and Varnell Hill moment). I hadn’t put much thought into Martin’s job loss until I viewed this episode again recently. The scene, purely for entertainment value, is actually familiar to just about any entrepreneur. What seemed like a great idea, didn’t exactly go as planned. Matter of fact, your dreams were soon crushed at the sight of failure. Trust and believe every eager innovator has some form of a “Whitty Huton” shirt. Business deals turned sour. Products that flopped. Lawsuits. Low sales. Unforeseen circumstances are imminent, but is it possible to prepare for them?
Let’s study the scene. Martin is out of work and desperate for cash. His idea of fast compensation is far from foolproof. Print, sell, cash in hand. Easy, right? A simple money machine is often too good to be true. He did not research the market, oversee production or fully utilize his resources. Gina warned him that distributing goods at a public place required a permit. In his anxiousness and despair, Martin's measly business plan and verbal contract with Bruh-Man did not cover the risks associated with t-shirt sales.
Brotherman was the ultimate risk and liability.
Dead Giveaway
Even his past ventures were a flop.
Fortunately, Martin returned in one piece with a fine, leaving his business partner in the wind. However, he lost two valuable components of entrepreneurship: money and time. If only he had spent time creating a solid business plan, Martin could have avoided such a quick downfall. The t-shirts didn’t work in his favor, but one fiasco didn’t diminish his talent. He pressed forward, realizing fashion was not his ministry. In the midst of this low moment in his life, Martin couldn’t see what was on the horizon. More failure (remember the Hoochie Burger drive-thru and the janitorial gig?). But a grand opportunity was awaiting Martin's arrival. A television host gig. He went back to the drawing board, submitting a pilot for his own talk show. The audition tape yields another trainwreck, but still, he was inching closer. His circumstance quickly turned around in a way he hadn’t imagined.
The same goes for your ideas. Some will work. Others won’t. What matters is how you advance to the processes that will work in your favor. Every idea seems good in theory, but the key is to execute them in good faith and not out of impulse. Be intentional and never allow a lack of resources (or inadequate business partners) to impede your projects. Once you print a few “Whitty Huton” shirts, you’ll immediately realize which strategies are your friend. Mistakes and time are the greatest teachers.
Study your market. Ease into partnerships. Provide top notch customer service. But first, study your motivation and work ethic. Most importantly, listen to your advisers (i.e. Get you a Gina). Thorough execution and value will always provide a solid payoff.
Watch The Full Scene
