Donald Trump's Apprentice March 14

[tchandy]

Thought I'd share for Apprentice fans. Put this on your calendar.
- Tom

The Celebrity Apprentice
NBC, March 14, 9 p.m. ET/PT
Many of the stars of the third season of Donald Trump's The Celebrity Apprentice are more infamous (former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, baseball's Darryl Strawberry) than famous (actress Holly Robinson Peete, sprinter Michael Johnson). Some used to be famous (Sinbad and Cyndi Lauper), some are reality-TV famous (Poison singer Bret Michaels and Sharon Osbourne), some are pro wrestlers (Maria Kanellis).
While the cast's business acumen may be questionable, it's all in the name of charity — the eventual winner receives a $250,000 donation for their pet cause — and of spectacular sound bites, such as from Blagojevich, waiting tables at a diner during the first challenge: "In some ways, this is just another form of public service." And Lauper, confessing to being fired on her first day as an IHOP waitress: "I kept getting the chicken pot pie confused with the fried chicken."

First Monday: New in business TV, movies, books, magazines - USATODAY.com

 

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[tchandy]

Background information on the celebrities.

The Apprentice - NBC Site

Tom

 

[hatterasguy]

The first couple of seasons were good, but I havn't watched that show in years. Went downhill quick.


They used to pick very competent business people, and it was fascinating to watch said people complete the challanges. Now they pick morons, more so every season.

 

[GuestAcct-10]

I live in the UK so we have our own version with Alan Sugar... the English version is probably better than the US version in my opinion, although I only saw a couple of episodes of the last series of the US one because the was showing them late one night in the UK. Seems to be more of an entertainment show than a business show.

 

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[hatterasguy]

Thats the problem, they are trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator with that show in this country.

However at first it was a good business show.

 

[Runum]

Seems to be more of an entertainment show than a business show.

Agreed. It was fun watching the first series go through problem solving and conquering challenges. Now it's about the drama and the stars. Not my cup of tea.

 

[tchandy]

Agreed. It was fun watching the first series go through problem solving and conquering challenges. Now it's about the drama and the stars. Not my cup of tea.

The format has changed but I look at the show for the decisions the managers make as well as don't make. Below is some points made from episode 1.

Tom

The Apprentice - NBC Site
Lessons Learned from Celebrity Apprentice Episode 901
from Trump University
Fourteen celebrities will compete for their favorite charities this season. The teams picked their names - "Rock Solid" for the men and "Tenacity" for the women - and got ready to do battle.
This week's project - Each team was put in charge of a Burger Heaven diner in Manhattan. The team that made the most money through food sales and tips would win and the winning project manager would claim bothem> teams' earnings for his or her charity.
The Project Managers - In a twist, Donald Trump had each team pick the project manager for the opposing team. The men chose Cyndi Lauper to lead Tenacity because she was hyper and would cause frictions. The women chose Bret Michaels to lead Rock Solid because he was suffering from jet lag and thought he would fizzle out.
The winner - The women of Tenacity brought in $29,559, plus a special $10,000 bonus because Joan Rivers preferred their diner. The men of Rock Solid raised $57,905 and won. Winner take all! When the dollars were totaled, Bret won a hefty $100,000 for his charity, the American Diabetes Association.
Who got fired? - Donald Trump fired Carol Leifer because she failed to win the respect of her teammates.
SUCCESS LESSONS THIS WEEK
This week's episode taught critical strategies for protecting and building your career. Let's take a closer look.
Lesson One: Delegate!
When Project Manager Bret Michaels turned over cooking responsibilities to Curtis Stone, he made sure that the foundation of his project - the food - was in the hands of a master chef. That let Bret turn his attention to other parts of the project.

The lesson for your success? It's smarter to give work away than to do everything yourself. In other words, delegate and let people do what they do best - even if that means sharing the spotlight with them. The result? In the end, you succeed.
Lesson Two: Keep Your Eye on the Prize
When the men started calling their powerful friends as soon as they began working on the project, they showed the focus that ultimately led to their win. At the same time, the women were having their pictures taken and getting bogged down in details.

The lesson for your success? Focus on your goal above all else. If you will win or lose based on your bottom line, then start bringing in dollars from minute one. Never lose focus.
Lesson Three: Nothing Is Invisible
Candidates on both teams made damaging statements that will probably come back to bite them. First Bret told his teammates, "I've been stoned since the third grade." And then Cyndi said negative things about the way Donald Trump had treated her friend Rosie O'Donnell and added, "Mr. Trump is not a thin man." Her comments were caught on camera, which could spell trouble for her this season.

The lesson for your success? Never say anything that you do not want to be heard - or repeated. Remember, nothing is hidden in your career or your life.
Lesson Four: Don't Be a Doormat
When Bret arrived late for the first meeting and Donald Trump commented on that, Bret explained that he had just rushed into Manhattan from the airport. He added that he had only slept an hour the night before, but that he was ready to compete. That impressed Donald Trump.

The lesson for your success? Don't take it lying down. If your words or actions are misunderstood, set the record straight.
Lesson Five: Don't Get Lost in the Details
When Cyndi left Carol outside the diner to bring in more and more customers, she made a critical operational error. The restaurant was already full of customers who were clamoring for service! Cyndi only called Carol back inside when Holly called her attention to the problem.

The lesson for your success? If you are in charge, you need to keep a wide perspective - even when you are dealing with emergencies.
Lesson Six: Praise Your Team Every Day
Only moments before the men's diner opened its doors, Bret turned to his team, praised their work, and said, "Now we just have to bring it."

The lesson for your success? Mix inspiration with delegation. Don't wait until a project is over before saying, "Job well done."
Lesson Seven: Your Network Is Your Most Important Asset
When customers at both diners were voluntarily paying $1,000 or more for lunch, that built both teams' bottom lines. But those high-paying customers hadn't wandered in off the street - they were friends of the team members.

The lesson for your success? Never forget your network. It will be there to support you when you need it most.
Lesson Eight: Tell the Truth
In the boardroom, Donald Trump told Rob Blagojevich that Joan Rivers' food had arrived cold at her table because Rob had been wasting time chatting with other customers. Rob, thinking like a politician, said, "I don't recall having that conversation." It was a lie that caused the faces of all Rob's teammates to fall. Will they be able to trust him in future weeks?

The lesson for your success? Lying to cover your back will lose the respect of your team members, your bosses and everyone else. People who lie never make it to the top.
Lesson Nine: Get Back on Your Feet
When Donald Trump fired Carol Leifer, she turned to him and asked him to contribute to her charity, the North Shore Animal League. He agreed, and personally donated $10,000 to her cause.

The lesson for your success? Be resilient and snatch victory from defeat.
What will happen next week?
All the women were being very polite to each other in the boardroom. But when Donald Trump pressured them to name someone to be fired, they suddenly turned on Carol. That sudden mood change could trigger lots more skirmishing next week.

 

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[tchandy]

After watching this week's episode, you could tell early Sinbad didn't know how to lead his team. Thus, his early exit.

Tom

Lessons Learned from Celebrity Apprentice Episode 902
from Trump University

This week's project - The teams moved into empty stores and created promotions for the Kodak Moments line of digital photo products. Two Kodak executives would pick the winner based on originality, brand messaging and the quality of the customer experience.

Who led the teams? Sinbad led the men this week. Maria led the women.

Who won? The Kodak executives named the women's team, Tenacity, as this week's winner. Maria claimed $20,000 for her charity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Who got fired? - Sinbad, this week's project manager for the men.

SUCCESS LESSONS THIS WEEK

We learned critical lessons about leadership this week. Let's take a closer look.

Lesson One: Today's the Day to Show You Are a Leader
Both team leaders were eager to step into leadership roles. , Sinbad said, "It's time to get my feet wet . . . I don't want to hide in the shadows." And Maria said, "I thought this would be a good chance to show my creative abilities . . . I love being a leader." She added that even though she lacked the experience of some of her teammates, she was a "fighter." Great gutsy moves on both their parts!

The lesson for your success? Seize opportunities early in your career. The sooner you stand out from the crowd, the sooner you get to the top.

Lesson Two: Inspiration Is Not Enough
Maria started communicating her vision to her team as soon as she took control of the project. On the men's side, Sinbad was all over the map. Although he was inspired about his concept, he couldn't explain it to his team. The result? All the men were wondering what their leader wanted them to do.

The lesson for your success? Creative vision is not enough. You have to communicate, delegate and motivate too.

Lesson Three: Focus on the Goal
Both teams heard the same instructions from Kodak. Their success would be based on three factors -- originality, brand messaging and customer experience. But only the women emphasized brand messaging, by putting Summer in charge of an attractive product display. The men simply put Kodak products on a table and let the brand message die.

The lesson for your success? The people who determine your success -- your bosses, clients and customers -- will often tell you exactly what they want from you. Learn to listen carefully and deliver it.

Lesson Four: Learn to Build Success on Success
Bret established a great leadership profile last week when he was project manager. He listened to his people. He delegated effectively. He motivated them. Then this week, he destroyed that image when he went to the store's basement and sulked because he felt that Sinbad was not delegating work to him. Compare that to Michael, who jumped in and started working, despite Sinbad's poor leadership.

The lesson for your success? If you let your emotions get in the way, you won't stay a leader for long. So discipline yourself and stay on track.

Lesson Five: A Strong Plan Can Protect You from Disasters
When the electricity repeatedly failed in Tenacity's store, it looked like the women were headed for a devastating loss. But they won anyway, because they emphasized the Kodak brand.

The lesson for your success? A great plan can save you from setbacks and come out a winner.

Lesson Six: Don't Just Plan, Execute!
The men prevented a bottleneck by letting their customers claim their photos on a website instead of waiting at a printer in the store. But they didn't tell all their customers about the website -- and some of the people they didn't tell were Kodak's secret shoppers.

The lesson for your success? The best ideas in the world won't bring you success if you don't make sure that they are implemented.

Lesson Seven: Tie Your Success to a Higher Cause
When Maria brought in children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a photo shoot, she reminded her teammates that they were supporting a great cause -- not just trying to win this week's competition.

The lesson for your success? When you remember that your work benefits something bigger than yourself -- like your family or your children -- you put a foundation under all your efforts. Remember, the things that matter to you can motivate you to win.

Lesson Eight: Tackle Problems as Soon as They Arise
In the boardroom, Sinbad admitted that he "couldn't handle" Bret when Bret started to act up. If Sinbad had been able to control Bret while the task was in progress, Bret might have gotten fired in the boardroom -- and Sinbad would have survived to compete in future weeks.

The lesson for your success? Tackle tough problems as soon as they arise. Good leaders don't avoid unpleasant tasks -- they welcome them.

What will happen next week?
Maria really shone as a leader this week. Yet Summer stood out too, by being a terrific spokeswoman for Kodak products. Don't be surprised if she steps into a real leadership position in the weeks to come. Her star could shine all the brighter because the men's team is in disarray.