Never Quit: A Lesson from The Apprentice

Personally, I think Michelle thought her entire team was against her and came to the conclusion it would be easier if she quit rather than have to go back into the board room and get fired anyway. I think Michelle said prior to quitting " I didn't think I'd be living in tents when I signed up for the show." I think this was just one of her excuses to exit the show.
As we begin to grow and mature, we are told by parents, coaches and friends never to give up. For example, this can pertain to athletics, after school clubs and in academics to name a few. People should strive to be the best and do their best at all times then at the end of the day, they can say they gave it their all....rickyl

Mr. Trump couldn't of said it better. Michelle just created career suicide in my opinion. Clearly the she made the wrong move which sent the wrong signal for those scouts out there looking to scoop up someone from The Apprentice. Why go that far and give up? Clearly The Apprentice LA is by far the toughest Apprentice so far.

Paul B

I don't believe in quitting either. I think once you were interviewed on Larry King, and you said the difference between success and failure was not education necessarily, but grit. However, I also believe in dignity, and I don't understand what is your reasoning behind "tent city" for a group of professonal business people. Whose idea was that? I think sometimes people's standards of dignity are fairly high ( as was Michelle's) and that's too much to endure. Anyway, that was my take on it.

Mr. Trump, I was shocked that when someone has been given the opportunity for a job interview of a lifetime, to simply quit rather than take her lumps, sure said she wasn't ready to work as a top level business person or to work with the Trump Organization.

Unlimited success in business or any goal can be achieved through a "Never Quit" attitude. No matter what you come up against, if you only see this as a barrier to overcome to achieve your final goal, anything is possible.

I live by this conviction because I know it to be true in my own life. Last spring I was offered a tryout for a professional CFL football team. No big deal you may think, but then consider this offer was made to a 42 year old rookie that has never played in even semi-pro, that is a different story. I turned down the offer for this dream job in respect to a current contract for my company required all of my attention, and I honor my commitments.

Did I quit? Not a chance, because I also hold honor as a high standard in my life, I was required to choose commitment over pleasure.

Not unlike my application for this showing of The Apprentice was not accepted, more so the fact I don't hold a green card and am Canadian and did not meet at application time completely the rules but had applied for US work visa. The committee can expect to see an application next season with a video far better than last ( http://www.nexruntechnologies.com/Apprentice_Video_Intro.htm ), and additional push that the Apprentice expand to pit a team of Canadians against a team from the USA, not unlike our great rivalry in Olympic Hockey.

I will go one step further and throw the gauntlet down and agree to take applications for the Canadian Team and hand pick potential candidates myself and lead the team on every challenge,,, not because I'm trying to be full of myself,,, simply in great respect for your company and my "Never Quit" attitude that I could prove to be a worthy opponent on the show and how seriously I take a job interview of this caliber, even though I prefer to be an Entrepreneur, and yes you can teach an old, well semi-middle age dog new tricks.


Sincerely

Richard F. Guyon

CEO NEXRUN Technologies Inc.
http://www.nexruntechnologies.com

CTO / SEO SIA Newsletters
http://www.sianewsletters.com

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Mr.Trump I completely agree. By quitting, Michelle showed nothing but weakness and insecurity. At least by being fired, you are going out with your dignity and what you believed in. She did not stand by what she truly felt was successful. She knew she was set up for failure from the very beginning of the task. Anyway, needless to say, job well done, and I whole heartedly agree with each decision that has been made in this season of "The Apprentice".

Donald...I love you dearly, but...

I think that The Apprentice has stooped to an all time low - in ratings and in living quarters.
But the most appauling thing yet; is asking adult human beings to live in a TENT!
I think it's absolutely degrading and disgusting!
These people may not work for your company, but, they are very professional and intelligent people.
How cruel is that? To ask them to stay in filthy, wet and cold living conditions is way below the belt!
Not only did Michelle quit - whether people liked her or not, but she never had your backing, I don't feel. I think in the same circumstances, I'd have quit also...if only to go home to a decent, clean and dry bed!
This season so far, is a real turn off for me...I don't know if I can watch another episode, Donald...:(

Mr. Trump,

with your permission, about never quit and follow the dream,
well, the one of mine to build a bit different, as we have talked before
(in the blog) proportion aurea principle , it lead me into a long journey (again from Leonardo da Vinci and his polyhedra form which is in fact a rhombicuboctahedron to the Last Day of the Saints mouvement and back to math *till Luca Paccioli and his complex point of vieuw regarding art of the build) journey which to be honest make
me scared a bit, are so many aspects to maintain into the right balance that impose the summ of a Team to be applyed properly.
I know how to ensure the highest level applying that ancians rules also for the weak points where to find the answers to refine it at the safety level.
Is another program which for the base design let us play the forms
*till the most optimal design fit in, the name of software is *Stella* but on base of that one will be transformed into another programs for the final design and structure calculations; the point is that we will avoid to complicate too much the structure the choosed form act as pre regarding many constructive aspects of the project.
My proposal is to apply (this still in need to be refined way of build) to the highest skyscraper which I hope you still plann to realize it, that way joining two big dreams with the proper team as whole, looke, I don*t know nothing about your interest that way, but I know that is the only way that with your Team my dream have a chance to ever become reality.
I care it from too long inside and is perhaps a too big dream but create that way I can*t stop to search the proper way to make it real, that is.
As much is needet to be learned to join your team, I DO!
As extreme job it is I do it too!
Respectfully wait your point of view regarding that unusual proposal.
I count hard on your experience, thank you in advance for the time and attention,
Dana Todescu

That is so true Donald. Sometimes it does not even matter if you have little or no chances in doing something. What matters is that you go for it and as a result, you learn something valuable and gain the respect of peers and others (that can lead to other opportunities). People are almost always more interested in your efforts and character than your assets or circumstances. Quiting is the only failure that exists. By the way, I just joined "The Trump Advantage Club". Love it!

Khosrow (Koz) Khosravani
Sr. Lecturer, UCLA Extension
CTO: www.expertstv.com

I agree.....and respectfully disagree.

If things aren't working out, think of another way of attaining your goal. Do an end run. Go around the obstacle. Occasionally, you need to think outside the box.

When you are at a complete dead end in a no win situation, sometimes it is wise to cut your loses and withdraw, such is in a real estate deal that has gone south. You can always come back at a later time.

I seem to remember reading in a book about a guy that had an option on some property in NY and let the option expire..............


gea.

Hi Donald,

Can I please have an autographed photo? :)

Some of people are very easy give up and some not. What Mr.Trump's said it is very true that we do not very easy to fed up. As a matter of fact, one question across in my mind, what if people surround Michelle against her? No matter Michelle shout to people's ear and people ignore her words, then what? Is it wrong if she left the room of Apprentice and she concluded that Apprentice is not for her? I believe many people in this world close their ear from new ideas. Especially when we meet with people who concluded the woman must one step behind from a man. Unfortunately, Michelle had face this situation and this is very bad to her!
Are you there, Mr.Trump? I believe Mr.Trump who likes listening tour, not like others who are deaf! (Sorry, my words sometimes very sharp like sword). In fact, I think some people not using their ears with proper way! I hope in next Apprentice more create strong people to convince their opinion and ideas. Good Luck to everyone!

This is the best move in Your show, (with beautiful mirrors:-) if they want to work in Your company, they must feel rains that built it!

Ina Matijevic***

I love who you are. Bless you as you fight those stupid regulations which restrict the flying of that BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN FLAG
Kathryn

Hello Mr Trump

i do watch your program , the Apprentice. Yes i agree with you that you should not give up on what you pursue. A baby will only learn to walk after several falls.

I totally agree. If she had applied my CTC- cycle i think she would thought twice before throwing the towel.

all the best
gazzali
http://three-points-corner.com

It's my birthday, and I was wondering what wisdom the Trump Blog would bestow on me today. I came over here, and found Donald Trump's second most famous principle expounded. And it is worthy wisdom indeed.

Most viewers were shocked when she announced her resignation. Some of us, like Mr Trump, disapproved, especially since she endangered the rest of her team by doing it. But others felt that what she did was right, because she knew she'd had it and was retreating gracefully. Some cultures, such as ancient Japan, actually respected the admission of defeat.

But Trump is right; she didn't do it correctly. And 'Never Quit' is a worthy lesson indeed for me in the coming year. I'll be following The Apprentice on my blog (http://angrymedic.blogspot.com) all the way from chilly Britain. Here's to a good series, and a good year for all!

I bet Michelle would have been fired because all her team was against her. Look, this time everyone was against Marisa and she got fired without any choice. I feel bad for Michelle. She not only missed the opportunity, she betraied her team. Only Mr. Trump's decision to cancel the boardroom saved those poor guys.

Quiting is a weakness of human character. You can't quit if you want to be successful, but you can quit if you want to get out from one path to try another path. Tryers are quitters but good quitters. When they quit, however, they don't reach success, they gain experience that could help them to strive for more.

Michelle isn't even a tryer. She is a quiter. She left her team and the game at the weak point . She doesn't deserve any respect for that.

I hate quiting even if it's about trying because I hate wasting time. I always look for experience of people who followed that path before me than make a careful research and than strive for perfection. So far, this plan worked out well for me.

If you don't mind my saying, Donald- I could have told you that. There's a very simple reason why I'm still alive as I'm someone who has been kicked every day of their life- from day one. Something I've learned is that I think most people I've come in contact with would be happy if I were dead as me being dead is a way to get rid of the competition! So there's a very simple reason why I'm still alive despite that- because what I really am is like one of those punching clowns that when you punch it- it pops right up again- and then hits you in the face. Over and over again. I'd like to say that the latest in a long string of males who was just forced into letting me go- has left me feeling hurt- but I'd be lying to you. Actually the way he really makes me feel - is that he's nuttier than a fruitcake as the only kind of person who could have messed up the relationship he had with me- is someone who is not looking for a long term relationship- with anyone! Of course marriage is a tool for use to legitimize one's self eh- the successful business owner with the beautiful young wife, eh? And of couse she is second fiddle to him and does whatever he says because she's a syncophant and her appeal is that she is young and pretty and not an equal so can be thrown away. And replaced with the latest fresh face! The kicker of all this is that the rest of the world is a bunch of idiots who came down on me and told me I was crazy for claiming I was even in a relationship with him and refused to acknowledge the relationship. Not because I wasn't in a relationship but because that was an excuse to step on me. This situation has really opened my eyes to the world and made me realize that the real reason why other people keep stepping on me is because it's a way to get rid of the competition. BLAH BLAH BLAH! http://www.myspace.com/98656180

Do you have to repeat everything I say all the time. Why not come up with something original for a change?

I would like to take back my comment about Michelle not being suited for the business world based on 2 recent happenings.
#1: My husband ,who does NOT watch "The Apprentice" got up to leave the room when this weeks (episode #4) started. As they were showing the candidates, Michelle's name and photo came on,and my husband said "How come they are showing Michelle, didn't she quit?" Hmmmm and
#2: She seems has generated a fan club on the blog.
If someone who doesn't watch "The Apprentice" knows who she is. How many more people who watch "The Apprentice" will know and remember her.
So I guess no publicity is ever bad publicity.
Move over Donald; someone just stole a page from your book!
i-sell-homes@msn.com

Dear Mr Trump,

I guess she tried to hold her fate to show her angry and complaint about other people's "backfire" rather than after having all the bitter stuff, and then get your "you are fired" as the last slap in her face.

But it is obviously wrong to do so. I agree, it is quitting as a loser. No matter what your excuses are.

If she can see the comment, I want to say, if you really want to complain, go ahead, especilly under this circumstance! Fight to the death!

Er, perphaps people may show a lot of dark sides of humanity in an "overcompetition" environment because they are desperate for success.
Take care of it!

By the way, I really appreciate your ideas of this program:)

Life is life, competition is important but not whole:)

Best Regards
D.K.

I personally think that to be a great businessman you have to be tough. So if a week in a tent city is too hard to take , how do you expect to survive in the "real" world? Not everything in life will be peaches and cream.....Michele Grow up!!

Mr. Trump,

I met you a few months ago when you were showing your beautiful new homes out here in Rancho Palos Verdes. I came away telling everybody that you're the most confident human being I'd ever met. Your confidence was palpable...pervaded the room like an otherworldly energy and I was honored to be a part of the evening. Your son impressed me in much the same way...we had a chance to chat and I guess it's true that the acorn doesn't fall too far away from the tree.

Michelle is a personal friend of mine. We attend The Agape International Spiritual Center founded by The Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith (see The Secret @ www.whatisthesecret.tv ) and she's, quite frankly, cut from a different cloth. We learn and are taught to be true to ourselves. First and foremost. Michelle didn't quit, she just CHANGED HER MIND which as a human being, we're ALL allowed to do.

You make a big deal out of the "respect" you would have had for her had she stayed but what does that matter if she loses her SELF respect? We all CHEERED her when we saw her at church this week. CHEERED!!! And why? Because our little Michelle had the nerve to stand up to the most confident man on earth and say...."It's not for me thank you very much." Don't know if you know this, but "Letting Go" is a very old spiritual principle and being a billionaire or a business giant isn't the only way to measure self worth or one's worth to the planet. King, Ghandi, Jesus....heard of them?

Whether Michelle was about to be fired or not wasn't the point. The point was maintaining her self integrity. Putting it all on the line in front of America and the world and saying, "I thought this was important....but it's not. Not really."

She, with as much class as I've seen in a while said, "Thank you for the opportunity to learn things about myself (strength of character, what it is she finds important in life) and you have nothing better to do than call her a "quitter". Well that's your perogative but don't for a minute think that real people....REAL people think that about her at all. We don't.

Love your show...don't know why you've changed the format so dramatically....one project leader till they lose? How can anybody else get to shine? I thought your show was number one. If it ain't broke...why are you trying to fix it?

Peace 'n Blessings to you,

Fletch Rainey
Chairman, The Spiritual Posse

"THE APPRENTICE" IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER, WHICH IS FANTASTIC IN ITSELF, BUT BY INTRODUCING THE TENT-PENALTY,
YOU HAVE ENTERED WHAT´S KNOWN AS THE "BALOON-TO-BALOON-STYLE", THAT IS TO SAY: STUFF WHICH IS NOT RELEVANT FOR THE BUSINESS-CHALLENGE.
THE BALOON TO BALLOON-STYLE IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD NOT ENTER, BECAUSE THE GRAND THING ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM, AS OPPOSED TO EVERY OTHER PROGRAM, IS THE BUSINESS RELEVANCE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE BRIGHT AND DIRECT IN THE APPRENTICE.

Mr. Trump is a great business man, but I very much disagree with him on this one! There is a time for fighting - and a time to cut your losses and make better use of your time elsewhere. I think that's what Michelle was doing. I think the "tent" situation on the apprentice is a HIGHLY unprofessional move by the Trump organization. Granted, this is a game. But on the other hand, in the real world, we do our best to prepare ourself for the daily fight and grind. Not allowing team members to get a good night's sleep and feel comfortable in their surroundings is not allowing these professionals to be at the top of their game. This isn't Survivor in the wild - it's survivor in the board room! So Donald, you made some bad calls on this one. How about being a true leader and admitting your mistakes?

Dear Donald Trump:
I am surprised at you, and for the comment you made, do you recall the industrial revolution? The need to transformation from trains to locomotives? This is what your position the apprentice offers, for the individual whom is creative,a humanitarian, good decision maker, planner, staffer, problem solver, knowledge of the product, setting behaviors, and keeping the mission statement of your organization the first priority.
I believe Michele's perception was using a checklist, it made the rest of the team dislike her, perhaps her behavior drew out a coward type of behavior along with the aloofness. In all honesty, I percieved a woman who wanted your respect, whom firmly believed, she was Donald Trump material.
Her strategy was I am not going to get hurt, when people do not like you in the work force, he or she normally utilizes things which can contribute to fear. Those seeds were put in Michele's head on national television. Michele thought by leaving, the rationale would be obvious, the others had to learn how to work with all personalities; without making it difficult for the employee. Equal opportunity, pursuit of happiness was her right, yet her team felt, Michele has to suck it up or leave!
Michele not only left but she sat at the table in front of her enemies and conveyed the message to quit. The rest of the team, reacted like they were astonished. They replied "What?" if a group of strangers were attempting to make life hard for you, throw your body chemistry off and disrespect you continuously, perhaps you could go on, but the pain sets in. The body is a magnificent machine but when a group think instantly chooses to mind beat a person, it may affect him or her in a way that you may not be aware of. Mr. Trump your job offers force people to compete anyway he or she knows how. Sometimes it's not worth it, I know I suffer right know from spine problems and 4 spine surgeries. There are times I wish I would have left, but I thought things would get better. Things got better, I got left behind.
This is not used to upgrade or down grade, but to deal with reality, we are people, and we are not hired because someone likes us, we are hired because we know the job, we care about the safety of everyone involved and we follow the mission statement of the organization

FINALLY someone with some integrity - you go girl, Michelle!

Not everyone has to follow like lambs and agree with everything a pompous idol says.

BTW - Trump is still my Hero

Mr. Trump - I have to disagree with on this one.

Sometimes in life and business the smart thing to do is to indeed quit. Count your wins and losses and if the losses are overwhelming - move on. Michelle was on a team that had made decisions based on who they thought she was and she was on a one way ticket to being fired. Who needs that?

Speaking from past experience I left the world of the Corporation to live blissfully as an Entreprenuer because of such back stabbing and game playing. The difference is I hung out until I heard the words "Your Fired" after working my tail off and bringing in many successes for the Corporation. Was it worth it to hang out and continue to give it my all until someone else decided my destiny? A resounding NO from this business woman.

I say way to go Michelle for standing up a power house like Donald Trump and so "No More"! I have a much higher respect for her than someone who lets others decide their destiny.

And thanks to you and the Apprentice for letting the subject be raised

Cheri Ruskus
Boulder, Colorado
www.businessvictories.com
cheri@businessvictories.com

Some people just aren't cut out for a job like that. Maybe sometimes being able to realize your limits and stopping before you go too far is better than going on and failing later. She didn't have much of a chance, and even if she wouldn't have been fired that week, it would have happened in the future.

Frankly Michelle did the very corporate thing, cut your losses and get out of the market, especially when the competition is so fierce. Better to have the strength to come back another day perhaps in a different marketplace than to waste a lot of time and resources on a losing battle. This LA Apprentice show is like a "Survivor" show and it is putting down business managers and MBA's by forcing them in tents? C'mon I bet Mr. trump never slept in one of those tents , especially in the rain. This is beyond belief to think any serious innovative manager can really come out of this experience with any confidence or ability to lead a real company. This show goes against the meaning of the word apprentice and seems to be demeaning the participants to the point that the only survivor will be a naturalist, good camper, and team friendly person that will be more of a follower than a true leader.
Please come up with a more innovative approach to a business show. Because I don't plan to watch the "humiliation factor" show again.
PS Mr. Trump should know a thing or two about quitting, that's how he got some of his early start is quitting on his investors, right Donald?

I think she was right. She did not stand a chance.

If Mr. Trump thinks any less of her. I will hire her. I would hire any professional that quits on someone who makes them sleep in a tent. I am suprised more did not stand up and just have a mass exodus.

Fair is Fair.

Reka

I have not seen the episode of Apprentice but i understand Michelle. Although i do not believe in giving up, i know that succes is how you see yourself and there is reason why you should expose yourself to a humiliating defeat just because you have an undefined and not very realistic oppotunity. I am sure that Mr. Trump will agree with me that continuing down the wrong road, after you know you went wrong, is a waste of scarce resources with an alternative use. We are all individuals and we must follow our hearts and what we believe to be right or wrong. If you don´t feel comfortable in the position you occupy - step down! I think Michelle did just that!

Jan Gottliebsen

Having watched every Apprentice show ever; it was shocking to have someone just quit. I felt that she was just trying to beat you to the punch and she knew that she was going to be fired. However, she beat out One Million People for the chance to be on the show and to eventually work for you. She seemed to be a woman that was not very compromising; and reading about what she does for a living; well it makes sense to me that she would be that way. It is always amazing that people that are smart and educated can be flakey and give up when it gets tough.

While I appreciate Mr. Trump's position on this matter, we can easily allow ourselves to get off course or become temporarily lost in our focus by dwelling too long on Michelle's decision. While there were others I felt should have gone instead of Michelle on that particular week, inevitably, Michelle would have been fired soon enough. The bottom line is to forget about it, and quit pouring energy into someone else's bad personal decision making process. Cut your losses quickly and strengthen your bottom line. Business is not about being adult babysitters to those who whine!

Jim Tanner

Have not seen this episode yet but I have it on TiVo for viewing later. So my comments are based on what I am reading in this blog. I agree that a job working for Donald Trump is a major dream job. And just getting on the show even if for one episode can be a career booster. I mean who would not love to be able to put on a resume they were a contestant on the Apprentice. The competition just to be selected is fierce therefore just getting on the show is impressive. And having just one day in the company of the Donald is enough for me to be happy about getting fired off the show. But that's me. This notion I keep reading in the blog about how Michelle should have gone to the board room verses quitting seems quirky to me. If you KNOW your chances of getting fired from your job are pretty solid and you had a choice between quitting or having your boss fire you. What would you do? Like the saying goes "Boss: You're fired! Employee: You can't fire me. I quit!" That might have been Michelle's thinking. Personally, it sounds like she choked and got scared but if this was her real job then quitting before getting fired may be in her best interest. I think most people would quit first if they knew getting fired was definite. But this is a t.v. show so if everybody quit before getting fired that would boring to watch. I guess it just depends how bad you want to learn everything you can from Donald Trump. At least when you get fired by Donald Trump he will tell you why he fired you and that in itself will be valuable information on what you can improve about yourself. Now about this living in a tent. That to me belongs on those "other" reality t.v. shows. I expect a more intellectual spin to the challenges on the Apprentice.

I think that Michelle will be hearing a lot of people say, "Don't take it so hard." But I believe she should be taking it very hard. If she doesn't and continues to lay down, she'll never have the fight it takes to get back up, get back in there, and get the job done.
The best we can hope for her and she can hope for herself is that she examines her life, and either changes career options, or learns from this and sets her mind to "never give up."

Personally, I think Michelle was right to quit. First of all, she has a right to do whatever she sees fit for herself. Trump should not bad mouth her in here. He has money and he's the interviewing employer; but it doesn't make him a master and the other people as his slaves. Money can buy a lot of things; but can not buy integrity. I dislike the other guy who acts was the first project manager in their team. He acts like a big Monkey. I want to throw up when I saw he was jumping up and down when he heard Trump's message that they don't have to go to the bordroom waiting to be fired. He acts like a big losser to me. Money can buy him. He will do anything for money!

Nobody likes to loss. The punishment of staying in a tent, in the cold under the rain is inhuman. It's TV commerical. Trump's advertistment.
In a real world....it's not easy to look for talent and usually talent would be treated like kings. No one would put them in a tent to be tested. Only losser would take such a humiliation. If they can find something better to do they certainly won't stay in the tent.

We all saw that Michelle can not make a decision of her own and she doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself and their project. That's why the project was failed! She would never make it to the finalist. She makes a smart decsion to quit, to enjoy her life, and be productive!

Donald - I have never watched The Apprentice, but from what I glean from publicity about Trump operations and reviews of the show, I believe you go about finding "winners" on the basis of their obsequiequise-ness to you. I am a "quitter," but only l) because of health reasons, and 2) to go for a better opportunitiy. The first, I couldn't do anything about; the second, I was always on the look-out for "greener pastures." By changing jobs, I always moved up, and increased my earning power and success in business. Your treatment of the interns is deplorable and only feeds you arrogance that you can get away with treating people like children - "Come into the Boardroom and get your spanking!" From all those out there who agree with me, I say, "Grow Up, The Donald," or you'll miss your most appreciative audiences.

If you're dead anyway you might as well go out in a blaze of glory instead of running away. Seems like a no brainer. It didn't work out for her but she could have left with some dignity to carry forward to her next task on The Appentice or some place else instead of the complete capitulation experience that she chose.

The Lesson in my view is that Michele and anyone who watched or heard about the Apprentice episode that she exitted on, learned that she is someone who cannot deal with basic diverse atmospheres such as nature in a posh backyard setting, working and co-existing with a small group of people cooperatively, respectfully, and/or with their consideration in mind, and completing a task or goal in a manner of dignity or deserving respect.
There are very wealthy people in this country who started their success without anyone's help and with a lot less than what is being provided for the 'losing' team on the Apprentice LA and in some of those ground-to-penthouse success stories you can include the children and/or spouses that needed to be provided for also, they may not have found that LA very 'offensive' at all.

Connie H. Spencer-Plante

DONALD.........

Move the show back to NY.

Living in Tents! You are better than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get back to basics. Give the apprentice show more real life tasks. BUSINESS tasks that relate to real estate.

Fletch -- Well said. I don't think Michelle was a quitter either. She was decisive. You have to know when to leave a deal if the project isn't what you anticipated. Michelle obviously stuck to her personal vision for her future, with a great respect for her sense of self-worth. It took courage to do what she did.

Mr Trump, The new format does not allow for a fair competition between the prospects. The tent living may be viewed as a motivating challenge by you and your co-producer, but I see it differently. I feel that those living in tents, will have less tools to compete with. The physical discomfort alone can limit their mental acuity and energy levels. These people are not accustomed to tent dwelling while spearheading new business plans. The possible insult to their self-esteem pushes that limitation further.

So while that process hampers the effectiveness of the tenters, you have the opposite effect happening with the winning team leader. The winning team may win because of the strength of certain team members rather than the leader, but it is the leader that will gain in confidence and perceived effectiveness.

Your new format lessens the true and fair competition that made your show number one. The winning team non-leader members do not get to show their stuff on an equal basis. You do not get to see in what manner people step up to the plate to take over as leader as you did in past formats, and the tenting team becomes more and more disadvantaged over time.

I may be wrong on all this, but if I am right, then Mr Trump, you have also limited your own game. You won't discover what everyone is truly made of in the real world of business that you expect the final candidate to operate within.

I am in the process of changing my business interests to create more leverage, income, and excitement, from my home-based endeavors. Your show has always inspired me. It was compelling to see how each person in turn managed -- or not -- to pull a rabbit out of the hat to bootstrap a viable business almost overnight. I feel some of that magic has been lost in your new format.

All the best though. I'll keep watching.

John Rocheleau -- Kelowna B.C. Canada

You may not want to look at it this way, but Michelle "won" in the only way she could. She was clearly in a position of defeat within the confines of the "Apprentice" world, and she knew her days (or more likely, minutes) were numbered. So she grabbed what power she could – by deciding her own fate, she took that power away from you. She diminished your weekly power trip by not allowing you to say, "You’re fired!" after that episode. And that clearly bothered you. You went on a tirade about never quitting and all that (which is certainly a basic truism), but this was not about quitting in that sense. If she was just a random member of the team tired of losing, or quit in the middle of the task, yes, your lecture would be valid and applicable. But this ended up becoming more of a clash of ego and power. And in this case, in the only way she could, she won.
-Steve N.

I think the tents are just an excuse. They are really not all that difficult to sleep in especially in California in the summer! I know I live here. Hasn't any of these people ever been in the Boy Scouts/
Girl Scouts? The tents were just an excuse for her quiting. Quiting was definately not a wise move. Yes, she probably would have gotten fired but so what, everybody but one person on this show is eventually going to get fired!
I went to The Real Estate Expo a couple of years ago and found some would be apprentices that DIDN'T Win still managed to have a life after the show! Also doesn't the person who DOES win have enough executive authority to decide who will work for him or her? In my opinion getting hired by and working for the winner is not a bad second prize!

She was not good. Wasted too much time. Not a decision maker.

So true, amen. A common thread in most people that attain excellence and success is that the word "quit" is not in their vocabulary. Like we read in current events, religious, history, and science books...God, survival of fittest, leaders, world class athletes, true champions, and winners never, never, never, quit. If you quit you never give yourself a chance to become a winner.

Never quit ha? That is the best lesson you can give. Well you are wrong, WRONG, dead wrong. Who is writing this crap anyway?

So the fact that Napoloeon didn't quit and in the process froze so many people is the answer? Or you Donald bankropting all these companies? Hmm, sounds to me like quitting, so maybe you should not throw stones in a glass house.

Also, quitting can be a good thing. You see, you didn't quit taht bickering with Rosie, and guess what, one has to punish a child for its deliquent behaviour. Well, I am not watching your show and I was a fan.

Or how about your marriages. Hm, also sounds like quitting. AGain, what authority are you to pass that message.

Maybe you have to learn a lesson of quitting. Also putting your Apprentice on a public blog is also below the belt. Wortons must be embarassed with you. I have to say that I also lost a personal respect for you as well. I want to be rich but not in a silly and arrogant way. Maybe you should look up to Bill Gates. You might learn a thing or two, a story of success and not quitting. Here is made sense, but I am sure there were projects and projects, e.g. windows 98 and ME that they just realized that the prudent thing is to quit.

Sometimes we learn from quitting. Have you?

It was a collaborative effort on the teams part to oust Michelle, and with good reason. She was not decisive. She couldn't even decide who to bring to the board room with her. I have learned, when you have someone that is as disliked as Michelle by all of your employees, it is best to term the individual. It is more costly to replace 6. SHE couldn't do the job!!

If Michelle had been at a job she wasn't happy with and wanted to leave, that would have been fine. We are responsible for our own stability, happiness, peace of mind. Which she took responsibility for. But, in this case, she made a commitment to you and your organization for a specific period of time and she should have seen it through. I think she confused this situation with a job in the work force. Meaning, most companies do not place a time limit on the amount of time they expect an employee to stay. They simply give them a time limit for which they must pass through in order to keep their job, otherwise, they will be terminated at the discretion of the employer. Like the 90 day 'test trial' to see if you're 'qualified' to actually do the job, in case you look good on paper when hired, but don't perform when in practice. In your case, Mr. Trump, you probably deal with contracts where time limits are given all the time for a job to be completed. Even if an employee is given a time line to complete a task, they have no contractual obligation to stay with the employer as most employers do not have contractual obligations with employees to guarantee they remained hired for 30 years, 5 years, or even one more week.

I'm into staying until the bitter end....no matter what. Ironically I think it took alot of balls for Michelle to quit. She had to know it would be an unpopular choice. But she didn't like the setup and knew she was going to be fired any way. She knew she was out of her league.... and she didn't want to be in the "league" anyway. She pulled a "snaggelpuss and exited stage right"!!!!

She shouldn't be condemed. It was bad enough losing as project manager and living outdoors. So what if she quit. Let her go peacefully and focus on the ones who want to freeze until they hopefully win the gold ring. Move forward. Get out of the problem and into the solution. Don't look back babay.

I would like to thank Mr Trump and all those that work for him. The work you are putting in is not going unnoticed. I look forward to reading your thoughts and advice; they help me to keep my dream alive (to not quit) and my feet planted in reality (to work hard).

Thanks Again and God Bless,

Steven Dickinson
http://www.marshwiggle.com

I have read some of the remarks regarding Michelle's decision to leave before getting fired. What most people don't realize that in business, regardless of you educational background, connections etc.. that you have rudiments that will always be standard and one of those rudiments are:
" You are no longer the Top dog, Big Boss... etc In this situation
they had to work as a team hmmmm....??? In any business dealings

" The team is the most important factor" Why you may ask or don't know because it is combining of the minds involved that orchestrate the efforts for the common goal.

One must decrease self , peel back layers of others to find their niche, to fit into the equation and be the expert in that particular situation.

Arrogance seems to surface when one has to operate where they may not be used too, however that is the definning moment that dictates who you really are. For all of us the top is not where we started. We had to work our way to that point and keep working harder or smarter to stay there.

Trump's idea of the tent's is a great idea and allows him too see the true temperment of the so called executives that he may someday hire to work in his organization. Dicipline, commitment and the willingsness to do what others won't do or can't do defines a true winner in business.

It's like "Art" either your a natural or you are learned.........By being a natural ' Artist" one see's things completely different than others.....

If you are learned one must be told what to do....It's 'HOW YOU HANDLE THE INDIVIDULE PROJECT OR HOW YOU HANDLE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS DICTATED TO YOU, FOR THE PROJECT.......MM

ah

As said many times in life....excuses are simply excuses. There may be legitimate reasons that "justify" why one chooses a particular excuse, but the bottom line is that one faces failure for quitting.

Had she been told beforehand that there is a possibilty of living in tents, would she have given up her chance to get on the show? Consider the many potential contestants that did not get on the show, how do they feel about seeing someone simply "walk off the show"? Were they told that they would be living in tents, I can believe that many would say...Hell yeah, I would "suffer" living in tents for that golden opportunity of becoming an Apprentice.

I am also amazed that there are those that haven't learned from past seasons. If you were a business executive looking to possibly hire a "losing" Apprentice contestant, would you hire one that simply quit? Or would you give a chance to someone that had a bad draw of poor teammates, but the potential to do better under the right conditions?

"The Donald" is right. She simply did not stand up and fight for herself. Apparently, she has not experienced competitive sports. Another sayiing is, "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going". I guess she isn't very tough.

Well, enough said. It was a tough business lesson that hopefully she'll learn from.

My husband and I had a lot of respect for Michelle for what she did. The post from Flecth Rainey expressed very well how we saw it. It came across to us as having a lot of integrity to decide to change what she was doing. We did not see her as a quitter at all but as someone who decided that The Apprentice as she was going through it, was not the way to get there for her.
We feel that Mr Trump took it personally as a slap in the face. We feel that she did not mean it as such and Michelle was very grateful for the learning opportunity. Remember Mr Trump-It's just business. And it was a business decision for Michelle not to be a part of your company. That's all!

In response to someone who had posted they did not understand why you have tent-city in this version of The Apprentice, here is my take. To me is does simulate real life. When you are poor and hungry, you do not have the advantages that others have, but you still are expected to compete for the same opportunities. No one will give you "extra credit" because you have to get up earlier to catch the train and bus into town and had to skip breakfast because you only have enough money for the transportation fare. And just because you only got a few hours sleep because the "hood" you live in is very active with police and emergency vehicles and people yelling, you are still expected to show the same enthusiasm, mental sharpness, and focus as your competitor who has come from the upper-class suburbs.

With this kind of simulation, I do appreciate tent-city and proving you can still perform. As Mr. Trump believes, "No excuses. Just perform."

Perhaps it is a wise choise for Michelle to give up,even though she survived from the boardroom last time,she is still not qualified to be the apprentice of Mr.Trump;every candidates came here to win,if she already knew she was not the one,why can't she give up?

Mr. Trump,

Fletch Rainey makes some valid points in the first post of this thread about Michelle's integrity. I am a great fan of yours and your business style, and I agree with your statement about "not quitting", but I don't look at this particular event as Michelle quitting.

I have also been a student of the "secret" and am a fan of Dr. Michael Beckwith, and many of the other stars of the movie The Secret.

Dr. Joe Vitale, whom I consider to be a personal friend of mine, lives just 15 miles to the east of me here in the Texas Hill Country, and makes the statement in his book The Attractor Factor, that one has to "let go" of certain things and then take action on the ideas and impulses that we are given.

I saw the episode the other night where Michelle quit, rather than face termination in the boardroom, but after reviewing the episode on replay, I had to agree with Michelle that she stood by her principles and integrity. She just didn't "fit in", and no matter how much money and prestige could be gained from working for you didn't seem to matter.

Personally I think it would be an honor to be in your employ, and I know you're driven to excel, otherwise you wouldn't be where you are. But I think Michelle will go a long way for holding on to her beliefs, because it is the "belief" in herself that she won't compromise.

I commend you both for your tenacity, and learn a lot from your show. I recommend it highly to all the students at our high school.

I have my own business and manage one of the largest groups of agents in the satellite TV business at http://www.powersatellitetv.net in the United States. I apply your principles of "never give up" and pass the same along to my agents, and we are making an impact in this industry.

I've read every book you've written and every book written about you, and apply what I've learned to my business.

I look forward to watching the rest of this season and hope you can stop by the Texas Hill Country in Blanco, Texas and enjoy some of our hospitality sometime.

Sincerely,
Ernest O'Dell
National Training Director
Power Satellite TV
Blanco, TX - USA

The same people who say never give up are also the ones who, as Dr Phil says, PICK YOUR BATTLES. You can get burned up or burned out trying to answer every call, say yes to everyone. It's the difference between Jimmy Carter, who had to see, know, and touch everything, and Ronald reagen, woho delegated,delegated, delegated, and napped the rest of the time, Ha, Ha ! Question, does character count.? If a situation is abusive, do you stand up, or lie down? Enron people don't answer

I am an aspirant entrepreneur from South Africa and I admire shows that give a light on how to get there, I’m totally against quitting, to me is a sign of weakness. Regardless of living in a tent there are a lot of people who will do more than sleep in a tent to achieve their goals, yes you might have a nice bed at home but is that the same bed you want to sleep in for the rest of your life or do you want better. People seem to be comfortable with the little they have and are so scared to go out there and challenge life. As one successful man said "the road to success is not easy and it differentiates the lazy from the persistent".

If you want something, you should get out of your comfort zone.

Hello Mr. Trump,

Love your show and your absolutly right on the button, why you should never quit.....

My life lesson is indeed this lesson.... I would like to know if you would concider listening to an idea, a vehical, in the sence that I belive would astound the would. If you would evaluate this potentially brilliant invention.....

I do know that your time is valuable and I am serious about this time of yours..

Michael Urueta

The only thing positive I can respond to this is to say that you must admire her honesty, I give her respect for that. It seemed the more she was grilled by Donald, that she almost started being untrue to herself. She was never meant to be on the show from the beginning and never exhibited the true essence of an "Apprentice".

You're darned if you do, you're darned if you don't.

Sure she's throwing away an opportunity of a lifetime but the shame here belongs on the selection panel as far as the show goes but one thing I've learned through life.....

NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP!

I was on my death bed with a less than 10% chance of living and although I was in a coma, I fought like hell when I came too. Best of all this was at the hands of a Doctor's mistake, right after getting divorced & with my twin sons fighting in Iraq.
I almost lost my house since being unable to work due to this doctor's bad judgement. 5 operations later, I went back to work full-time (retail even) and picked up my college course that I had to drop since (well it's hard to study in a coma now) and graduated at the top of my class a year later.
I sued, the most you can get in Texas is $250k and out of that you have to pay your ins. co. back, your attorney gets about half, then medical bills and repay the loans you gathered from being on short-term disability......I pretty much ended up with pocket change!
I DO HAVE MY SPIRIT, MY HEALTH (pretty much-had a severe gall bladder attack/episodes and had to get it out this last year) and MY WILL TO SUCCEED!

I'm not done yet with this world and I'll bet dollars to donuts you'll be hearing my name on day in the future!

Denise

Didn't see the episode. However, I hope she learned something from this failed business venture. Personally the excuse that everyone was against her, and not being there, is No one likes a whiner. Winners do not, must not surround themselves around negative people. Lead, Follow, or Get the hell out of the way. Sure Tent City was made for ratings. Shake up things, look for new angles. Hey, if you can't stand the rain, get out of the tent. Like her teammates, she was fired whether she went to the boardroom or not.

Mr Trump, with all respect, I am not a follower of reality TV shows but I do enjoy the odd hour or so in front of ‘The Apprentice’. I can see how this act of defiance has created a lot of conversation on your blog and by followers of The Apprentice which is great for your show and for its marketing. I cannot however agree with your assumption that someone is weak and a quitter by the fact that they are able to see what is blindingly obvious and take steps accordingly. In sensible business that is a strength and not a weakness. I would dare to change your initial statement, if I may, to ‘ …never give up, but you will also never be successful in business if you follow like a sheep’.

Regards,
The street-wise businessman, now with a top MBA.

I don't think living in tents is degrading rather it is a learning experience. Much of the world lives in poverty without electricity, personal phones. There are millions of people who live in cardboard boxes and use discards to furnish their homes. Surviving together can be a team building exercise. The next lesson from living in tents is to understand the effervescene of wealth. It only lasts a moment and it makes no difference in who we are. Whether I live in a tent or in a fancy mansion, I will still be who I am. I agree with Mr. Trump about giving up. Never throw away what you might have. Going to the board room while painful, still would have been a learning experience. Part of being a leader is going to the "board room" at times and taking responsibility for the mistakes made instead of blaming others. A honest look at oneself never hurt anybody. Mari Ann Chell

Can you possibly be thinking, Mr. Trump, that because this is Los Angeles and the weather is more mild here than it is in New York that it is all right to have people living in tents? It is still quite cold at night. The living situation you've got these folks in is both dirty and uncomfortable. Anyone that had previously seen the show had no reason to think that they were about to be treated so badly.

There is no law of business that says that one has to sacrifice one's health or integrity to get ahead in life. I don't have any problem at all with what Michelle did. It seems to me like she was one of the few who finally gathered her self respect together and spoke up to you. Good for her!

Mr. Trump,

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Michelle never should have quit the show. She demonstrated several things here. She quit in the face of adversity. She did not find a way to work together with her team, so she quit. She demonstrated self-centeredness and an inability to be a team player. She sulked when her team didn't agree with her. In most organizations, you must be a team player. Sometimes your ideas get shot down and sometimes your ideas are utilized or reworked and utilized. Living in tents is a terrific lesson for these apprentices to learn just what it will be like working on a real estate development project. You cannot be afraid to slop around in the mud either working on or showing a project to customers. As a real estate agent myself here in Northern Virginia, I have had to show projects and gotten a little dirty. Do you quit because you get your shoes and/or your car dirty? NO, you do not. You get your car washed and clean off your shoes and learn to carry boots in the trunk of the car. Michelle demonstrated that she did not do her research before agreeing to be on the show. She came on the show with a "Private Benjamin" mentality of the Army of Country Clubs and tennis courts. God help her if she broke a nail.

Michelle not only demonstrated to you and your organization that she is a quiter, but she did it on national TV in front of millions of viewers. Who on earth will hire or do business with her now. She is selfish, has no backbone and lacks good judgement. I wonder what she said on her application to get on the show.

I disagree with Mr. Rainey the Spirtual advisor from The Agape who said:
"You make a big deal out of the 'respect' you would have had for her had she stayed but what does that matter if she loses her SELF respect? We all CHEERED her when we saw her at church this week. CHEERED!!! And why? Because our little Michelle had the nerve to stand up to the most confident man on earth and say...."It's not for me thank you very much."

The quote from Mr. Rainey just makes my point. Mr. Rainey and his group cheered her because she stood up to a "Man of Confidence", that comment in itself, Sir, demonstrates what a weak mind you have. You are jealous of the attributes instilled in Mr. Trump and others like him. If Michelle needs you and your touchy feely group to stroke her into thinking she did the right thing. You are sadly mistaken. You Soul needs work, Mr. Rainey.

Probably if Michelle would have had a friend or someone she could have communicated the team's difficulties perhaps she would have selected a different path. Not everyone has a Trump to confide in. Maybe Ms. Ivanka Trump can be a mentor to some of the people on the show. Even though she may be in her early twenties in age, she thinks more like a seasoned business veteran. I couldn't picture her quitting. In fact if she weren't Mr. Trump's daughter, she could compete and win an Apprenticeship hands down. I would definitly align myself on her side until the final two people. Then I would try to out trump her for the victory :)! It wouldn't be easy but it is possible.

If Ms. Ivanka Trump were to pick a worker at a counter at McDonald's and mentor that person; I fully believe that the person would win an Apprenticeship. I'm not joking! She has the tools to even take a homeless person to victory on The Apprenctice. Provided the person had no mental illness or drug/alchohol problem.
It's amazing how the contestants that have been on the show and lost think. Or do they think? I mean it's not that hard. I could be wrong, but it doesn't appear to be 'rocket science.'

On another note. lobby the residents to obtain a majority of the proxies for the subdivison with the flag problem. Then fire the board and institute a new board out of American loving residents.
Also, go after the board members jobs and mortages if you can. Then if one mortgae payment is even one day late foreclose on the mortage and get them out of the subdivision.

The problem with many of these boards is that they have elected retired spinsters that have nothing else to do with their life but micro-manage the subdivision. They are normally petty and the highlight of their day is calling improperly paralleled parked vehicles in the morning to the parking police. They have no life, but they project what little power and value they have on to the boards of these homeowner associations and it fulfills their non-productive existence. These spinsters ride around in their cars at 8:30 in the morning and look for people parked the wrong direction on a curb and then call it in to the authoriies so the people who parked in the wrong direction get a ticket. Then they drive home and start drinking wine before none while watching The View and other male bashing idiotic daytime shows. That is the life of a board member on a subdivision or homeowner assocation.

Quiter are loosers who should stop wasting winners time. If you can't deal with it get out.
D.T. your the best.

Dear Mr. Trump:

Thanks once again for your encouragement which is so needed! I hope to get going in your Real Estate Classes soon!

Warm regards,

Maria L Jones

"Thinking Small"
It's an individual right to choose ones own outcome!
Are we god or think we are better than that individual to second guess their decision on their own personal outcome or direction!

"Thinking Big"
If we choose and have a passion to communicate about the potential things that can benefit the whole universe, rather than focus on one individual!

We need Individual thinking, for the betterment of the universe not the universe thinking of the individual!

A team is not where you have a leader and followers (Sheep) because you cannot have one without the other!

WBS

Hi Mr Trump I presume the experience for any one that enters the boardroom is extremely nerve wrecking. Everyone's competing with each other and things can get ugly and disappointing at times. It's difficult to be in that situation especially when a person holds certain expectations of oneself and that expectation didn't materialize. Be it with himself or concerning those around him. Resigning may not the the best move in this situation if she wanted to fight for herself , then again some people are really sensitive towards being fired on air. Perhaps just to perserve that little bit of dignity or whats left of it. Nobody really feels good to be fired by someone or an organization they wish to work for. Some put on a real brave front and head home and weep. But to really survive in the business world i think they should show more tenacity and mettle. Against all odds!

psssssssst hey you over here
anybody home?
you who.............
I read that book you know, "How to Get Rich"
pretty much read them all
did the homework
not looking or a job
but fell for one
haha
big hug
group hug
by the way what was the name of that book you recommended written by Nancy what's her name? She's a Top Author, Forbes Magazine did a story on her, no?............
Something about from Rags to Riches, a good old fashioned Cinderella kind of gig.

She is a moron and deserves to be called a loser.All Liberals are morons.

It is never a wise decision to quit. Quitting tends to block mind and success. No successful person on this planet earth would say he or she never came accross challenges, which always come to make us better if we decide not to quit. The best thing to do at a time like this is to continue moving and never submit to the temptation to quit. Stephen Dauda, Nigeria.

I personally think that Michelle was ultimately responsible for the loss of the task, and that her choice of quitting is just an easy way out. She would have been fired herself, even you Mr. Trump said the same. She wanted to protect herself too much, that is why she said that she had no opinion in on of the tasks so noone could blame anything on her, but overall she was the "bad" person in the task. She was the one who was ultimately responsible. She made a bad decision by quitting because she had the opportunity to work for one of the greatest businessmen in the world. Mr. Trump you accepted her into the company as a candidate for the apprentice.....Mike

all i know is give me the same opportunity she had.

there's really nothing more to say.

Mr. Trump:
I think you are a great businessman and a leader in the corporate world. I have never missed an episode of "The Apprentice" and have even thought of applying myself as I'm a Real Estate Broker in Pennsylvania. That is until this show. I would never live in a tent and have to shower outside, sleep in all kinds of weather outdoors, etc. I give these people credit for coming this far but I myself wouldn't do it. I have all the comforts one could possibly want and I enjoy living in this manner. But I would never lower my standard of living which I have fought so very far to get to in the hopes of becoming the next Apprentice. Why would you put people through a survival tactic? I hope you go back to the way it was before, treating these professional people like the pros that they are and allow them to live indoors with comfort. I think you will see a difference in their thinking and their behavior by approaching each new day well rested with sharp minds and feeling like they're on top of their game to hopefully win the new "Apprenticeship". Treat them with more respect then this, treat them in the same manner as you would want to be treated. Lose the Tents!
Randi B.

Donald, I have had my say, but, I still love you...:)

I was wondering though where I can find a "Donald Trump Calendar."
I have searched everywhere!
If you haven't done one yet, would you think about doing one for 2008?
Thank you.

I so want your handsome face on my desk every day...:)

Donald,
Is it valid to quit if your company is abusing you and treating you as if you are a slave? I am a hard worker and I get things accomplished. Your show inspires me and I wish there were more challenges per episode. Recently, my boss left me in a lobby for a full hour while he talked to a colleague. I was in the car with him and out of town and thought this was rude. Both of them came out of the office apologizing. However my boss blasted me for being upset that I was left in a lobby while they chatted.......talk to me someone.

I used to enjoy the show until this season. I believe the contestants have earned in their own way a right to be treated like a professional. They ALL started at the bottom and had to work their way up... way up, to even be considered for the show. And then the producers decide to degrade the losing team physically and emotionally for their own enjoyment.

The playing field is not at all level. And if these professionals made it this far, they deserve a decent meal, warm bed and hot shower. This is not the "PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS" reality series.

I think that Michelle did the right thing by realizing very soon in the process, that this employer and corporation was not a good fit. She is a confident, smart and successful lady and it shows.

Michelle .... I applaud you..... CLAP.....CLAP....CLAP... !!

Wendy

She already knew that when competing for this one can't be a quitter. If anything, she should have stayed on just to be in some more episodes. It doesn't make sense. She lost out completely by quitting. (Unless she had a family emergency or health issue)

'And if you quit, you don’t stand a chance' - D.T.

You Are Right!

But, haven't we also heard -
'You should know when to quit'
and
'He who runs away today returns to fight another day'

-with great regards,
Gopal Pillai (India - DOB 14.06.1946)
gopal_14@hotmail.com

I think the main lesson in life is to Never Quit, and take chances or risks as a friend pointed out to me just recently!

I was told that I take a lot of chances and that I never give up, until I get what I want! But, that's me!!

I'm not sure that I agree with you on this one. Although, like you I don't believe in quitting...my history has shown, that I am a survivor and a fighter....I just don't think she wanted to give what it took to deal with the situation. She joined the game thinking she wanted a position with your company, and to work with you. Once she came on board, she realized that the cost to her personally just wasn't worth it.
Although, personally, I wouldn't have quit, why should she waste her time if she wasn't willing to pay the price, and no longer wanted the goal at the end. Doesn't Mr. Trump himself teach us that you have to know when to move on? You have to know which opportunities are for you, and which aren't? Timing is everything?

Member1462304- Here is my response. Did you go back to the office where your boss was chatting after about 15 minutes of waiting and ask if everything was OK and ask if there was anything you can do to help? Or did you just sit passively in the lobby for an hour? People at work are not your friends. They are a bunch of people who see you as competition to step on so they can get ahead. So that means if you want to get ahead- you have to do this yourself. That means you look for opportunities that you can use to advantage to shine to get yourself promoted. So if your boss is talking to a client and you are waiting in the lobby to leave- you go back after 15 minutes- eavesdrop- and come up with a comment to make the client more likely to buy- and then interject it at a key moment to help your boss get the sale. Enterpreneurial doesn't just mean owning your own business. You can be enterpreneurial at work. Being enterpreneurial is really about taking initiative to start things on your own - and doing what is needed to get them done. So you can be enterpreneurial as a way to get yourself promoted. If you've thought of things you'd like see changed around the office or a new idea for a product- rather than griping about it and doing nothing or asking your boss to do it- develop a business plan as to how to get it to work and why people should go forward with it, on your own time- and go get a meeting with the people who have the power to approve it , give them a sales pitch to get it approved and that will get you ahead at work and promoted over the competition big time. It sounds like the real reason why you are being treated like a slave is out of a failure on your end to take ownership of the situation and be a leader at work and be the one to come up with the big ideas that will get the company ahead. You don't have to be in charge to do that. You just have to be daring enough to come up with a plan of action on your own and follow through with selling the powers that be on getting the plan approved so you can be the one (or an important part of the team assigned to) to implement it- in the process of which- get yourself a promotion and the respect you clearly crave. http://www.myspace.com/98656180

Personally, I dissent. If you are on the Titanic, do you say, "I won't quit!!" Or do you use the rest of you energy to escape?
Those who fight but run away, lives to fight another day. I remember a job when supervisors were making it hard for me to work, despite doing good work. You don't value my work? Fine! See how you will do without me.
I am not in a position where you can make me your puppet, fearing not being able to make enough, using that fear against me. Peace of mind. That is more important to some people.

Michelle not only was a coward and took the easy way out, she left her team hanging. She's lost a lot of respect and credibility. Future clients may think back to this and wonder if their job becomes too tough, will she quit too.

FYI - I caught he P90 Extreme workout informercial. Guess who's on it? Yup, Michelle.

I added this comment to my original post on my blog site after stumbling on Mr. Trump’s blog site about Week 3 and Michelle quitting. I am even more convinced then ever that Michelle choosing out of the process of her 14 week interview was just that - a CHOICE. An interview by definition is a formal consultation usually to evaluate someone’s qualifications. If that is true, and it is. Based on what I know, either party can terminate the interview at any point in the process. That is truly what Michelle did. Why go through the brutality of the boardroom. It wasn’t necessary. For all the opinions about whether she quit, including Mr. Trump’s opinion, Michelle ultimately made a CHOICE. And we all have the same option. Whether we are in a 14 week interview with Mr. Trump or whether we are interviewing for a much less visible organization. We all have the right to terminate the process if it is not working for us. Mr. Trump lost the opportunity to fire Michelle, that all. She played the ultimate "trump card", pun intended and that is what bothers Mr. Trump. Had Michelle been offered the job and quit, I might have found Mr. Trumps lecture to her more appropriate. But this was not a job offer, nor was she an employee having a bad day. It was an interview and by Mr. Trumps own admission, it is a tough interview. Michelle chose out of that process.

You can find my full comment on this matter on my blog site: toughquestionsgreatanswers.com.

Mr Trump,

I completely agree with everything you said. I was so frustrated with her for quitting. How many people wanted to be on the show, wanted to do whatever it took to make it in your business and were not chosen. She will never taste true success until she is able to face adversity without giving in to the lesser road. Success never came from easiness; it's something that has to be fought for. It's sad Michelle wasn't a fighter...she wasn't good for your company anyway!

Dear Donald Trump: Response to "A Lesson from The Apprentice: Never Quit".--- Michelle –a Quitter"? 1/30/07.

I agree that, under normal circumstances, it's not a good idea to be a "quitter". Once you commit to a task, it's important that you work to accomplish the task. However, in the case of Michelle Quitting The Apprentice show, it's possible she recognized that there was dissension and in-fighting within the team. The dissension within the team created an unfavorable work climate that negatively impacted their effectiveness as a team. Sometimes the office politics is so destructive that the effort to correct the work climate takes far too much energy to positively impact the team/s potential for future success.

In addition, Michelle recognized that the team members were so focused on getting rid of her. This was the primary reason they lost sight of their objective. Consequently, they failed to commit to the assigned task. .

I particularly noticed that the winning team was a losing team before the new team leader volunteered to join them. I think the key to their success was due to the new team leader setting the ground rules for the team. He effectively created a positive work climate which required each team member to commit to a certain work ethic. He insisted that each team member focus on the task, support each team member and get rid of dissension and competition within the team. So perhaps Michelle didn't feel she had any options left.

I am fascinated by the Trump Empire and interested in how and why it's so successful.
I have watched The Apprentice from its' beginning debut in New York. I'm also on the E-mail list for Trump University. I'm always interesting in learning something new. As an African-American Female with a successful career in management and Accounting and Consulting, I find the show educational and relevant to today's work climate. If I were not retired, I would apply to be an Apprentice on the show. However, I would be interested in being a guest manager/professional to review the team's performance and assist you in the boardroom to evaluate team performance and recommend who should be "fired".
Thank you for making business careers so attractive!

The Apprentices on this show are not only vying for the top Apprentice Position within the Trump Organization, they are "Open For Hire" by other Corporations who either are participating or viewing the tasks given to the various Project Managers. This is a talented group of individuals and as such need to rise above being combative or being one of the "petty" finger pointers and disruptive individuals and work together to show their individual strengths and leadership styles that will set them apart in this competition. It is an opportunity for them to build and foster business contact relationships that they will build on for many yers to come, with everyone involved or remotely involved in the Apprentice Show. It is a small world and for Marisa, it is even smaller. Quitting is never an option it will haunt her and anyone else like her who takes the easy "Exit" out. Had this talented individual summarized the learning experience failures, Mr. Trump perhaps would have fired a team member who contributed to the teams undoing on this task or taken another approach, perhaps Mr. Trump would have fired the entire team to set an example to future Apprentices that disruptive and combative behavior is unacceptable and mutiny in the Corporate world, in Trumps world is not tolerated. I would rather see him take the winning team and break them into meaningful projects with longer task time for completion that to watch a group of undeserving applicants self-destruct. But where would the entertainment factor be without them.

Mr. Trump,
I was surprised that Michelle threw away the opportunity she had. As an inexperienced, licensed aircraft mechanic and a 20 year old woman, I ran into several people who didn't believe I could do the job and gave me a hard time, both while training for the license and while looking for an employer who would give me a chance to shine. I still do not have a job and I am going to school. I know it is going to be hard, but unlike Michelle, I am not going to quit! At my age, you either learn to live on dreams and spaghetti-os and go for it or as my high school history teacher liked to say, "We could always use more ditch diggers."

I once heard an active smoker say

I am not a quiter ...

(c) Isabelle Morgan

As I have spent a considerate amount of time engaging througout the forum this week it came to my attention Michelle's space might be available for February 23rd in Miami ?

I would like to confirm these elusive comments and ask:

Can I take Michelle's place ?

I have a passport that has expired however having received some support this week Friday at 5pm I was told to hurry and see if in fact I could overcome any obstacles my passport my pose ?

I have no criminal record but nor do I have a visa. It has been my experience that the employer petitions for the visa of any given employee but under these conditions this is University Schedule ? So would I not be a student abroad ?

I want to earn my way, and for this reason I don't want to loose by default that there was too much work left up to the University to enjoy my ambitions ?

I am that confident that I feel I can have my passport current by Miami's February 23rd deadline. I might be wrong however I have already petitioned in my local community for airfare in the event I am right.

If necessary can I email Mr Bush for his approval ? I want to be creative.

(c) Isabelle Morgan

I think she did right. There are times that you have to count the cost and determine whether something is worth your time and attention. In this case, I do not believe that it was worth her time and attention. There are many options available in the world, she can move on to something else that is more suited as far as the opportunity and the people with whom she chooses to work.

It is my opinion that an employer should never make an employee do anything he would not do. All the initial Apprentices' applicants are successful in their own right. Donald Trump should never make any of the Apprentices' applicants do anything he would not do himself. Donald Trump would never, ever, stay in the tent conditions he is making these Apprentices' applicants stay in.

If you are afraid of fighting your 1% chances then it is not your future that you are looking after – it’s your ego. A nice counterexample is of the actor who played Falconetti in "Rich man poor man". He was hit with biblic stones in the street be people who took the serial too seriously, but he continued to go to work and play a negative character for the benefits of us, the learners

Mr. Trump,

I was truly inspired my your wisdom. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a country music artist like Randy Travis and Reba McIntyre. My mom would dismiss my dreams and tell me I can't sing right and the songs I wrote were a waste of paper. She beat me down until I gave up on my dreams. She pushed me into becoming an aircraft mechanic like my stepfather and wanted me to become an aerospace engineer. Several months ago, she told me I wasn't good enough to continue living with her, and I moved in with my dad, stepmother, two stepsisters, and two stepbrothers. They have been really patient and supportive as I recover from my mom's mental abuse, but for a time I felt the only thing I could do was continue chasing my mom's dreams instead of my own. One day I watched The Apprentice and heard what you said when Michelle quit. I went online and watched a previous episode where you told an audience in Minnesota "if you love it, stick with it." Everything you said hit home for me, and I dropped my mom's dreams and picked up my own. I was so inspired that I wrote a song about it; I even mentioned The Apprentice and quoted you in the song. I have sent you a copy of the lyrics, and I am learning how to play the guitar so I can score it. I hope you like the song. I don't know what the future holds, but thanks to your wisdom, I know that giving up is a mistake I will never make again. I hope someday I will have the opportunity to thank you in person for this.

Megan Molargik

Hire the best people and then don't trust them.

Mr. Trump

By this blog, I can see a high dose of courage that you show in case of Michelle. In my opinion, Michelle suffered of a symptom called –insufficient support of the team, that finally brought to the final decision.
That decision of Michelle is very encouraging for everyone, because it makes her uncompetitive in business and creates an image that she can’t face to problems.
It is like in the army: you loose the battle if you don’t fight, or chances to loose the battle in a war that you don’t enter are 100%.
Courage is very important component of a human, it affects many times directly to you: either to take a decision or not; either to take an action or not; either to do anything or not. The answer must be always positive; Yes, I will do it!
Driton

In my opinion, Michelle seems to be a person with a total lack of acceptance of anything she can't control. In life there are things we can and can't do to change things and learning to discern between the two can show us where to focus our energies. Sometimes all of the effort in the world can't change an outcome to what we would like it to be, but that is life, and we must learn from it and move on. Life is fair in the sense that it is unfair to EVERYBODY at times. The wheel of fortune spins both ways-the up side and the down side. At least if she would have went into the boardroom, she would have had a chance, even though it was a small chance. It's a shame for someone nameless person who just missed the cut for this seasons players, as they were robbed of an opportunity by someone who really didn't want to be there. The be chosen as Mr. Trump's next apprentice would be the ultimate honor of my hard work, intelligence, abilities, inborn gifts and sense of timing. To be fired by Mr. Trump would be also be an honor of sorts in that I actually worked for the man to begin with.
jailnurse_93

In the least, she could have been respectful enough to try to give Mr. Trump a two week notice of her resignation. Who knows, he may have found that to be creative and amusing and kept her on another two episodes.
jailnurse_93

I see this from a different perspective - this was much more than the act of saying those two little words "I quit" or "You're fired". This whole situation was actually your responsibility as much as hers, but it was nobody's failure - unless you lose the lesson in the experience.

In your blog, you said "She said her Apprentice experience wasn’t what she had signed up for. She didn’t expect to be on a losing team, living in tents in the rain. She said the negative adventure just wasn’t worth it to her."

What this was actually about is unmet expectations. A marketing nightmare. Let me share a short excercise I used to explain this to kids. Hold up a Hershey kiss and ask if anyone wants a kiss. Give out a few this way (one to each volunteer). Then, surprise the next person by giving them 3-4. Just blow a kiss to the next person raising his/her hand. Now ask how the first people felt when they received their kisses. "OK". Ask the person that received several - they are pretty happy (they feel special). Ask the person that just got an air kiss, and they are usually a little upset, definitely disappointed.

The lessen is this:

Reasonable expectations that are met are taken for granted. They don't keep customers or lose them. Your product is just OK till the next thing comes along.

Reasonable expectations that are exceeded bring satisfaction. They are what builds a good customer base.

Reasonable expectations that are not met leave disappointment.

This little lesson is also very important in personal relationships. Find out what the expectations of your partner are, then exceed them.

I admire Michelle's courage and honesty, in a difficult situation, under national scrutiny.

So, how can you better communicate what to expect and what you can expect in return?