The Same Great Guy As Always
Okay… if you read the five previous blogs, you know that AJ Khubani, (Mr. As Seen On TV) and I met 26 years ago and I wrote and designed his very first advertisements. And I can tell you that without a doubt, after all this time, AJ is still the same wonderful person I had become friends with over a quarter of a century ago. I’ll put it this way… he truly is the most down-to-earth guy I’ve ever known – who drives a Rolls Royce and a lime green Lamborghini.
The dude works incredibly hard, loves his family, is very benevolent, and never forgets his friends. And I’ve never met a person more “on the ball” at his job. No, I really mean it. A couple of months ago he gave up his expensively ergonomic Herman Miller Aerion chair, in place of a large rubber exercise gym ball. I swear to God, the man makes multi-million dollar decisions every day atop an over-sized bouncy ball. He claims that it strengthens his core. I think it’s loosened a few marbles, but who am I to argue with a guy who is the best in the entire world at what he does.
And, what exactly does he do? I’m not sure he can really explain that, himself.
I told AJ a few months ago that he’s like a true to life Forrest Gump. No, he doesn’t run fast, have the IQ of a bowling ball or a friend named Lt. Dan, but he has always had this uncanny innate sense of “knowing” what will work and then going with the flow. Like anyone else, the guy has had his ups and 
downs, successes and failures, but in all my life, I (a guy who ran an ad agency with Fortune 500 clientele) have NEVER met someone who assesses a situation and moves with such immediate decisiveness. Like Gump, he just goes with what he’s given, no complaints, and I admire the hell out of that. I’m not saying that important business decisions are made impetuously, because there’s years of hardcore experience there. It’s that sense of “knowing” and not worrying that is so impressive.
For the first time, people are starting to recognize my Jersey brother in public, and he finds it pretty weird. He’s made countless television appearances over the past couple of years, and his stints on Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen has really heightened his popularity. People come up to him constantly with new inventions and product ideas, if fact so much, that now TeleBrands is holding official Inventor’s Days, where people come in from all over the world to meet the man that could make them a millionaire within five minutes. Within only a few minutes the man knows if an idea is worth looking at further and testing.
MR. K will tell you that there are three main factors that he looks for when assessing a potential product that is “right” for TeleBrands. And I say that because people often pitch really great ideas, but many just aren’t the right thing for this company.
“We’re looking for mass market, products,” says AJ. “Some niche markets ideas we see are great, but it needs to appeal to just about everybody.”
That’s good advice to you “would-be” millionaire inventor types. And to help even further, here are the three main points that Mr. Khubani looks for in a product that will make the grade…
1. It needs to solve a common problem
2. It has to demonstrate well on TV
3. It needs to be a good deal (coming in at either $9.95 or $19.95)
We’ll get more into the Inventor’s Days and how you could actually get a chance to pitch “The King” himself. No, not Elvis, stop asking me that.
Til Next time…
“Life is like a box of Ped Eggs… you never know whose foot you’re gonna find.”
- Tommy Z
TeleBrands The BLOG
Tags: $19.95, AJ Khubani, Ambervision, Anthony Sullivan, As Seen on TV, Billy Mays, Bottle Top, But wait there’s more, Discovery Channel, Doggy Steps, EZ Combs, George Foreman Grill, Heel Tatsic, Infomercial King, Inventor, Inventors Day, Jupiter Jack, OxiClean, Pamper Toes, Ped Egg, Pedi Paws, Pitchmen, Ron Popeil, Sham Wow, Shoes Under, Stick up bulb, Telebrands, The View, Tommy Zarzecki, Windshield Wonder
Tommy, this is becoming an excellent read. You make AJ sound like a great guy, which I’m sure he is. And I totally get the Forrest Gump reference. He’s a guy who doesn’t get caught up in the small stuff and relies heavily on his inner guidance. That’s very inspirational and I can’t wait to read more. Oh yeah, and you make me laugh. Keep it up.
TT
Thanx, Tot… or is it tater?
AJ really is a seriously good person. And, he has a great sense of humor, allowing me to make this a “fun” read. And he really does sit on a large rubber ball instead of a chair. Can’t make that kind of stuff up.
I’d bet anything that TeleBrands is a terrific place to work. I know a job is a job, but when someone like AJ is at the top, you know the entire place shares his enthusiasm. Wow, would move to NJ in a minute if I could work there. Nice blog, I am a new fan.
Thanks, Julie, glad you like it.
I’ve made some nice friends at TeleBrands, and while I certainly don’t know everyone, I will say that you’re “dead-on” about the work atmosphere. AJ has created a very warm and inviting culture and it is not the typical corporate grind by any means. TeleBrands is indeed a very cool place.
I’m not a blog person & I swore I’d never write to one but I love these products and even had a chance to say hi to AJ at the TV show, The View. What a very charming guy. I love the story of how AJ & Tommy met and how fate has him writing AJ’s blog so many years later. Fate is interesting to say the least. I am fascinated by the fact that the simplest idea can change people lives. Now I’m hooked trying to think of inventions. Guess I’m now a blog reader! Great job guys!
FreeBoid says: and even had a chance to say hi to AJ at the TV show, The View.
OKAY, NOW I AM OFFICIALLY JEALOUS! All right I’m not a stalker, just so you know. Just really hot for the guy with the lime green Lambo!
That car is sick!
Tommy please ask your buddy – What year is the Lamborghini? How fast does it go?
Talk about jealous! Dayum!
Brent, I’ll see what I can find out. Unfortunately, the chief hasn’t let me drive it yet. When he does, I’ll report on t first hand.
I noticed that the Go Duster and the Windshield wonder both match the Lamborghini.
A coincidence?
TT
No coincidence at all, Tot… or is it Tater?
I swear to god I know somebody who uses a ball instead of a chair. He swears it’s made his back and legs stronger. Why the heck aren’t you people selling this as the next great Telebrands item?
I love this crowd… always thinking! Or should I say ALWAYS on the ball? Okay, that was bad… next…
About 10 years ago I came across the blue ball (sturdy yet light weight) that would be the perfect switch-off for my swivel computer chair, when my bum got sore from just a few straight hours of sitting. The ball measures 6 feet in total circumference and about 24 inches in height. The only problem would be the cost which would be at least double Mr. Khubani’s price set forth in Rule # 3, and maybe more.
Each time the grandchildren visited there was always a bee line made for the soft blue plastic globe. It brought a lot of joy to them as they took turns rolling around the living room floor. Now with fewer and fewer visits to the grandparents’ house (high school and college do make their demands) the great blue ball sits patiently by the picture window, perhaps waiting in anticipation to once again be looked with favor upon by the little ones who once so eagerly rolled head-over-heels on its light blue skin. – But those days are past, and it is grandpa who now graces the ball, typing away at his computer as he tries to figure out the immediate concerns of the day.
If AJ can make multi-million dollar decisions on his over-sized bouncy bally maybe grandpa can solve a few problems that each day presents to the man who has not as yet figured it all out. Like why the main stream media are purposely avoiding telling the whole story of say AGW (sometimes not even acknowledging there is any story) of what’s going on here and all over the globe, all the while cajoling us with, “Just let’s move on. Nothing to see here. No need for discussion or debate. It’s a given. You’re in good hands. Leave everything to your government.”
I remember the legendary gun expert in the film “Shooter” telling Bob Lee Swagger, former Marine scout sniper, “The minute you think you got it figured, you’re wrong.”
And it’s at about just this time that my oldest boy would tell me, “Enough, enough already!”
Tommy Z says:
January 11, 2010 at 10:29 am
No coincidence at all, Tot… or is it Tater?
It must be Tot, because Tater is Ron White, the cigar smoking, scotch swilling comedian.
True Dat.