My Dirty Life As A Snake Oil Salesman

Well, Mike Rowe started a site called mikeroweWORKS and decided that he needed a way to fund it.  mikeroweWorks is Mike's way of supporting the trades and a resource for anyone that wants an occupation in the trades.   Yesterday, I was reading the internet and noticed that Sears and Mike Rowe were getting ready to promote a new line of clothing that advertises Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe and MRWs.  I did a little digging on the site and realized that all of the items were IMPORTS!  So far, Mike has teamed up with Fenton Glass to produce glass items to be sold for his site.  This is fine because it means Fenton will have a way to keep more tradesmen employed and produce quality glass products to support MRWs.  It was a win-win for both and it was positive for promoting the trades.

But selling imports should not happen and gives the wrong message.  The message that we need to sell something that is not made by our trades.  Well, I can understand the complexity of trying to fund a website and Mike's Foundation but was Mike a snake oil salesman in another life?  So far, it looks like he is and he thinks people will fall for it but people are not dumb.  I wonder how long it will take for his fans to tar and feather him and send him packing?

I think Mike is the perfect salesman and QVC was the thing that started the ball rolling.  Mike made QVC $$$ for three hours at night selling fake diamonds.   He even sold dolls better than Marie Osmond. Maybe he could teach P. T. Barnum a few tricks of his trade?  Yes, Mike is a master showman and that is why he is devoted to the medium of TV and the false illusion it presents.  In real life, I'm sure its all about the money and how to create another succor.  It's unfortunate he is trying his snake oil on hard working people in the trades and trying to sell them what will kill off their trade.

Mike Rowe and Ben Franklin?

I ran across this on Mike's site,  mikeroweWORKS and had to laugh at the absurdity of the idea of Mike being compared to Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was a man of HIS time.   Ben was a printer, inventor, scientist, writer, and a statesman of the First Continental Congress.  I'm sure Ben was well known in the colonies and he didn't have a television program to get his face out there.  I mean the absurdity of trying to compare Ben's accomplishments with Mike Rowe's accomplishments?  What are people thinking?  Mike has yet to do anything that will put him in the history books.  He loathes science and doing the real dirty work.  There is only a few things that Mike and Ben can be compared.  I don't need to explain when you read this excerpt from the Discovery forums:

There was no farting on last nights show, at least nothing audible.

To my knowledge, there has been no farting on any episode of Dirty Jobs. True, I have said the word "fart" on the air more than once, but I would never stoop so low as to actually include the sound of a fart in the program.

That is not to say that farting does not occur during filming. I can assure you, it does. Doug and Troy, our cameramen, often fart simultaneously. Chris, our audio technician, can fart on command. In fact, he's farting right now. Adam, our trusted supply coordinator, can fart with extraordinary volume, and often does. During the coal mining episode, Adam farted so loudly that several miners, believing a timber had snapped, began to scream and run from the mine. Barsky is known primarily for the odor of his farts - think of an old egg in a sweaty sock left to dry on a radiator. He also farts whenever he sneezes, which is unfortunate, given his many allergies. Barsky's farts have actually stopped production. Once, during the candy making episode, he created an order not too different from that of an electrical fire, which sent the owners into a panic. (Poor Messie Bessie thought she was having a stroke, and responded with a wail of dismay and fart of her own. Tragic, really.)

Point is, you have never heard a fart on Dirty Jobs, and likely never will. Personally, I have never farted. Not even once. But if I ever did, and found myself offended by it, I would take comfort in the wisdom of Ben Franklin, whose many thoughtful observations are printed in a very entertaining volume entitled, "Fart Proudly."

You should pick up a copy.

Mike

Mike just likes Ben's ideas.  About farting that is.  And only sees the humor behind Ben's idea of "flatulence freedom."

This is from the Benjamin Franklin House in London:

In the heart of London, just steps from famed Trafalgar Square, is Benjamin Franklin House, the world's only remaining Franklin home. For nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775, Dr Benjamin Franklin - scientist, diplomat, philosopher, inventor, Founding Father of the United States and more - lived behind its doors.

While lodging at 36 Craven Street, Franklin's main occupation was mediating unrest between Britain and America, but he also served as Deputy Postmaster for the Colonies; pursued his love of science (exploring bifocal spectacles, the energy-saving Franklin stove); explored health (innoculation, air baths, cures for the common cold); music (inventing the delightful glass armonica for which Mozart, Bach and Beethoven composed) and letters (articles, epitaphs, and his witty Craven Street Gazette), all while forging a hearty social life and close friendships with leading figures of the day.

So, many of the things done by Ben, Mike has  not done.  Mike has never embraced politics and has never sat in front of his window naked (would I like to see Mike try that one!).

I sincerely think that if Mike even attempted to try science, a city block would be blown off the earth.  But after posting such a wonderful photo of Mike sans cloths, maybe he can be at the forefront of the "GET NAKED PROUDLY" campaign.  I think it is catchy and will definitely get him famous. (Not like Mike hasn't gone shirtless on so many episodes, but that is another story for another day)

A Critical Look at mikeroweWORWS

Just like every celebrity, Mike Rowe decided to have a cause and put up a website to bring attention to it. In this case it is a PR campaign for work that is introduced in the Labor Day video from September 1, 2008. The site is called mikeroweWORKS. The video of his mission statement was in place before any site was done and I assume it was a way of getting people behind him and his cause.

Well, it has been one year and the site has gone live. They kept saying there was going to be a hard launch but it was delayed many times before the REAL PR campaign was to begin. Since I've organized a few sites and I'm an administrator for one, I thought I would give it a critical look since people are claiming it is a great site.



The first thing I look for with any site is the GOALS or look for an "about" link/tab on the site. None was present so first off the goals or purpose for the site are not clearly stated. No single written statement to say what the site is claiming to do for any people that visit. I think this small line or statement would do the trick if I could lend some help:


A resource site for working people. Information on employment, the trades, occupations, education, financial aid and more, brought to you by Mike Rowe and supporters.


I thought this would help start it out and remind people not to be confused that the site was not aimed at the trades per se but to all working people that support the many parts of our national infrastructure. That to me has to be one of the confusing aspects about the site. Trades people are highlighted on a "Ask a Tradesmen" section but the site is about ALL jobs that support national infrastructure and that seems to make the site confusing.

The "office" seems to be what an mission statemnt page needs to accomplish but I really wish there were a front page to the site that included what the site contained, tradeshows that are up and coming thoughout the US, etc.  My idea for the front page is similar to the New York Times Blog, where the web page is sectioned off like a newspaper. The idea I have for a great intoroductory page or contents is to use this blog as a blueprint and show what is contained or highlight the sections of the site, thus making easy entry points into different parts of the site.

Another aspect of the site is the organization of the resources. I lose interest in sites that display their links in a linear format. I give up after three or four pages and stop reading. One thing about very successful sites is the organization of links. Only a single link is necessary and allows a first time person on a web page have a better ability to peruse the information and choose their link of information. Also most of the single links are just in alphabetical order. Grouping them by occupation is better. As with every site, there will be dead links and I was annoyed to check out the links for my own state only to find dead links and nothing as far as programs to get people interested in the trades. A definite lack of schools or training programs.

The whole site as far as information is scattered and some of the topics and articles are not necessary (How many blue collar articles can a person read!)

The tradesmen section is confusing. The site is about all types of work and not just about people in the trades. Why not just call them the "Experts?" Call the section "Ask An Expert." And why are the programs not highlighted more than the experts? I notice no one wants to engage with them on the site. Maybe they should not be that big of a focus but making the programs to get people interested in skilled trades or occupations more prominent.

The information on politics is very distracting and I really don't see why this is placed on a site like this. Political agendas and that information needs a site of its own and should not dominate a site that needs to just focus on getting people in the right occupations.

Lastly, in order for the site to be taken seriously, the site has a tug-o-war between celebrity and the intended goal of the site. The biggest problem seems to be the "fan" aspect of the site or the Scrap Yard section. How many celebrities have their own screen savers, professional photo section and their photo all over the site? I'm sure the site administrators are using Google Analytics and can see the hits to the pages. Also, why use the blog for personal stories when it doesn't even relate to work? So, Mike has no real stories to relate about the people he has met with his show Dirty Jobs? Is this site about Mike and his need to be celebrated or about the need to celebrate work? And why does Ford have to be mentioned again and again?

Hello? Mike, Ford isn't paying you to give them free advertising!

When it comes to having a site with a purpose, it takes focus and great organization. Clearly, mikeroweWORKS is a great idea, but it is definitely appears to be a site with an identity crisis after ONE YEAR.


Just my opinion.



Mike, I sincerely hope you the best of luck with this endeavor.