Call “The Hoff” a Genius

David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff is an Actor, Singer, Producer and a Business Owner who creates success out of opportunity.

He doesn’t wait to go viral.

When NBC didn’t see a future for Baywatch, The Hoff took the show into syndication broadcasting his work to where his fans are. This created a global brand which was watched by almost 1 billion viewers across 140 countries. He solidified his status among the world's foremost television personalities.

In April 2006, fans of The Hoff launched a tongue-in-cheek website "Get Hasselhoff to Number 1" in an attempt to get the 1989 hit "Looking for Freedom" to the top of the UK music charts through Internet downloads of the single. The grassroots effort attracted attention on British radio and television broadcasts, in the national press and on the Internet. Over 40,000 people signed up to receive the "Hoff Alert" email when the time had come to purchase the single.

Later the campaign shifted to his single "Jump in My Car". On October 3, 2006, the “Hoff Alert" email was sent out, and Hasselhoff promptly gained his highest ever UK chart entry at No. 3 on October 8 of that same year.

And when he goes viral he leverages the opportunities.

Hasselhoff stood in a bucket crane and performed his song Looking for Freedom at the Berlin wall on New Year's Eve 1989. The performance has had a lasting impact on German pop-culture, becoming a No.1 hit in the German Pop charts and his album went triple platinum across Europe. The song became an "anthem" and "song of hope" for the people of East Germany before unification.

He continues to use the New actionable habits any business owner can afford to practice every day.

As an expert in his field, The Hoff became a judge on NBC’s America’s Got Talent as the TV show’s ratings climbed by 36 percent. He remained for 4 seasons, then later, replaced Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent judging panel.

Hasselhoff has also leveraged his success with a talk show in Sweden and later in Finland.

In just this past year alone, The Hoff has been developing too many projects to mention here. He is venturing into new broadcasting opportunities. They include “The Hoff Bot” where Hasselhoff’s lines were generated using AI technology to communicate in the style of his TV hero characters. In addition, new movie soundtracks, movie appearances, and TV productions continue to cover the world.

Apply a little of that Genius in your own company’s marketing. Then, join me in wishing David Hasselhoff, who set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV, a Happy Birthday.