Perhaps somewhat off topic, I thought I would point out an interesting show that’s been airing on the Sundance channel. Called “House of Boateng,” it follows the zany misadventures of Ozwald Boateng (seen left), a London-based fashion designer, in his attempts to penetrate the US market. Along the way, he meets wild and wacky investors, throws tempter tantrums and alienates employees in his attempt to make it big across the pond. (He also does this strange dance when he feels uncomfortable, or is in the spotlight, and that alone makes the show worth watching.)

Now, ordinarily, you wouldn’t find me watching much reality television – especially on the Sundance Channel – but in all fairness to myself, this is the summer season and good TV is hard to find. In any case, the reason I mention it here is that Mr. Boateng is like a lot of small business owners. While exceptionally talented at what he does, and very successful to boot, Boateng’s domineering style and penchant for micro-management results in all sorts of fun-to-watch chaos as the business leaps and lurches it’s way to growth.

In the last episode I saw, Boateng’s head of sales decides to leave the company right at the start of the selling season. Boateng responds by convening the entire company to come up with a game plan – and hilarity ensues.

While on the surface the meeting was a way to come together as a team to solve a problem,  it revealed a complete lack of planning on Boateng’s part. That no one else knew the business, that there wasn’t an obvious game plan, that he didn’t understand the skills of all his employees enough to transition smoothly to plan B revealed his management weaknesses. While the loss of a senior person at any organization can be a huge blow – good companies of all sizes know who they’ve got – and have way to provide a smooth succession process.

In any case, watch House of Boateng. It’s more honest than The Apprentice, and it’s fun to watch the very serious Ozwald dance through his decisions as he plots his takeover of U.S. fashion. You might also learn a thing or two about business while you’re at it.