The Trump Blog

OK - I DO NOT like the NEW apprentice - The daughter should be axed and Caroline brought back - I do not think she should be working with her father - She is too bossy. And I do not like the fact that one team is living in tents. This is so stupid!! What happened to the orginial Apprentices - it was great. I also made it a point to be home to watch the last two Apprentices - but now I could care less. The whole show has two many dumb things going on with it. And lets change team managers every week like we use to. - In closing bring the teams inside - get ride of the daughter - bring the older man back that sat beside Trump - Mr. Trump, I met you at the Senior Bush swearing in as President of the US at the Capital in Washington, DC. you were with your first wife, she was wearing a big fluffy fur coat. A long time ago.

Although I am a huge fan I have to say that this season is too hokey for me to sit through. With all due respect, I believe that tent city is a very silly idea. I believe that while there may be psychological rammifications of living in tent city, "camping" has nothing to do with business and/or managment and your ability to do either. If this were the military, I would understand better, knowing that you might have to live in these conditions while fighting for your Life. I was not a fan of Michelle's, but have all respect her for her decision to excuse herself from these bizzare and demeaning conditions. If the idea of tent city was to see how far these people would go for a job, isn't that the definition of a whore? Doing the weekly tasks and 16-week interview is one thing but jumping off of a building just because you want to prove yourself is another. Being called a quitter is an opinionated bully response. If your self-respect is at stake, how can that be judged? I believe that Michelle should have been fired had she stayed, but I don't believe she should have been degraded for her decision. Please re-think the tent sillyness for next season and perhaps I will return as a faithful fan.

After this episode I went to the NBC Apprentice website because I wanted to know what Michelle's background was. I was shocked to find that she is supposedly worth $50 million and astounded by some of the other accomplishments listed. When I say "astounded", I mean that in the sense that it would seem like a total fabrication after watching this person in action. How could Michelle build an empire like this when she has to get a second and third opinion on the time of day? How can someone like this garner a fortune like that?

There was no doubt she was history. Her whole rationalization to herself that she was not "quitting", she was simply taking another avenue was total BS. She was gone and she knew it. But her comments about how "hard" this was (living in tents and all) was the most infuriating peice of television I think I have seen in a long time. You could tell this "princess" has no conception of what "hard" is. At one point in my life, I was so broke I actually rented a storage building with what little money I had and put a couch in it so I could have someplace to sleep at night. Constantly having to stay out of sight and hide from the owner of the complex. I am not proud of it, but I did what I had to do to stay alive. But I count myself lucky considering there are a lot of people out there in far worse shape than I was then.

Lady, you don't know what "hard" is. You are a quitter. I work with people like you everyday who get every break in the world like what was handed to you and complain about how "tough" it is. Meanwhile I slog away looking for ways to better myself like trying to get some of the material here which I cannot afford. But I do what I can and at some point I will.

William Harding
Kentucky

I'm thrilled to see you mention how effectively Aaron's team looked at what the customer wanted. James was able to give real-time feedback to the design process, and it made a big difference to the product.

But the thing I wrote about in my blog (www.kflowers.blogspot.com) that made the biggest difference was Aaron's enthusiasm to lead his team. Right from the start, when Mr. Trump asked for leaders, Aaron stepped up. Michelle was dragged into the role. Aaron did a much better job leading his team, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Trump is correct.

Winners never quit and quitters never win.

If the camping is the worst thing she have ever experienced in her life then she may as well be a princess.

She should have had the courtesy to quit with her team; not with all the players present.

She is just a good B.S.er. The only thing she really learned is that she is a quitter and that she cannot get along with her co-workers.

She is in Real Estate............so I rest my case.

Michael J. Mark, P.Eng.

www.workingclassengineer.com

I have to say I disagree with the previous comments. I think Apprentice season 6 is by far the best! I like the fact that Mr.Trumps daughter is there and his son was there last night. The Trump Organization is a family business, so why shouldn't Ivanka Trump be there? I think she is smart and can handle herself very well and she is very classy. As far as the show goes, the losing team sleeps out in tents. When you win, you win and if you look at Mr.Trump and we know that he wins, you can spot a winner. The way he lives and what he says he is a winner. As Mr.Trump has said, "It's all about winning" and he is right. When Michelle quit, I felt bad for her. I liked Michelle, but she seemed like something was very wrong. I don't know if she quit for reasons she said or something else. I can't help but feel that she knew getting into "The Apprentice" based on the first 5 seasons, what it would be like. While the living conditions changed this year for the loosing team, the overall run of the show is the same. It looked to me like Michelle was probably not cut out for high pressure tasks and that lifestyle. She seemed to have a hard time making decisons. Michelle will have a good future, but the Trump Organization just wasnt for her. I wish her well.

I agree that this tent thing is taking it too far. I also am a big fan of the Apprentice, but this season is too much. It's not boot camp. This kind of treatment borderlines on abuse and I will not continue to watch. Is this how you taught your children? I applaud Michelle for courage to do what was right for her. You go girl!!!

Mr. Trump, Michelle won a power struggle with you. She knew you wanted to fire her, and she chose to leave on her own terms. You tried to persuade her to stay just so you could have the satisfaction of firing her. There's a difference between quitting and refusing to put up with a bad situation. Haven't you ever walked away from a bad deal? Michelle recognized a bad deal in which you were determined to demean her, and she wisely chose to walk away.

Mr. Trump, I respectfully disagree with how this season's Apprentice has been constructed. I don't know what all Michelle was going through, and I hope that I could have stuck with it myself, so it is hard for me to make a definitive decision on her decision to resign tonight.

I stuck with a tough job recently despite an uncommon and unfair (that is, more unfair than would be normally considered acceptable) working environment. To the bitter end, I struggled through, persevered, and actually was doing pretty good business. However, my boss pulled the plug and terminated my employment. Had I resigned, I would have been able to keep more integrity with my co-workers and others in the community. Instead, my boss made up a vicious story that made me look unprofessional and dishonest, and enabled them to not pay severance (and they tried to deny unemployment compensation). Instead of having a clean record with an agreeable solution, the water is very murky, to my disadvantage. Luckily, a few close people who know my character of integrity are in my corner and have cheered me on to turn these lemons into lemonade, as much as possible.

The tent city scheme is likely to backfire. I want these candidates to have, other factors aside, an equal footing to show their true performances. I do not like watching the tent team doing their projects, only to have in the back of my mind questions about why they are making their decisions. They likely slept with a rock under their back and shivered through a sleep-less night, while the other team is high on morale and sleeping great. This decision to uncommonly segregate the teams' living environments may seem like a typical business scenario to you, but it has detracted from the show. Unfortunately, I also believe you are getting much less out of your candidates because of this, a loss both to you and to them. Oh, also it's a loss to the fewer numbers of us who are still watching the show, hoping that this mistake will be retracted and respectfully apologized for.

Think about it--don't you want for your valued employees to be in good health, mind, and spirit when they come to work, to show you their best, and to improve themselves?

I don't necessarily disagree with the tents. How about putting BOTH teams in them? Then reward the winners with a night out on the town, after which they return to their tents. Then we can see who is truly an overcomer, and who was just sneaking under the radar previously because they had a warm bed to sleep in at night.

I’m sick from the thought of Quitting,,,, How could Michelle even be so foolish to say she would apply via regular channels if she wanted to join the Trump Organization? Mr. Trump wouldn’t likely even give her application a glance if it came across his table. I could hardly believe the opening left for Apprentice applications last time when it was not specific that you had to be a US citizen in one of the 50 states to apply. I was a little ahead of the rules with my application, because I hadn’t yet applied for or received a green card. It’s too bad, because I’ve personally camped out in 32 degree F and enjoyed it. Will I quit applying or pushing for my Apprentice opportunity,,, maybe once I was in the grave, because I never quit when I want something.

Sincerely

Richard F. Guyon

60 Seconds of my Trump Video Application
http://www.nexruntechnologies.com/Apprentice_Video_Intro.htm

Ok... here's the deal. The show is beginning to sink. Yes, it is interesting but it no longer feels like a classy business competition. Rather it sounds more like a "Survivor or Big Brother series." It seems juvenile and simplistic. The show is quickly losing the 'cool uniqueness it had when Carolyn and George shared their years of experience and knowledge with the contestants in each episodes. George and Carolyn were right on every time; they did not make mistakes. Their insight was flawless. And Donald Trump was 'always right on' with his decisions in previous episodes. Ivanka and Donald Junior are delightful, full of bright ideas and courageous!! But they lack the experience for the colossal assignment they have been given. The concept of peers judging peers in a job/interview competition such as "the Apprentice" falls short of the mark. The contestants should not have to factor in 'trying to please/influence the Trump children' in order to win the task! And to maintain audience credibility for the series, the contestants must be judged by credible professional, experienced , powerful and insightful people. The 'tent display ' is foolish and childish and is beneath the 'mind ' of someone like Mr. Trump. Whose idea was it anyway? And the 'quitting of Michelle' was great TV!! Michelle rocks for standing up for what she truly believes. If she doesn't care, she doesn't care...at least she was honest about the whole thing! Had she not been forced to live in a grimmy tent, she may not have quit. Whatever...I loved the way she left. She was very articulate. I also loved the way Mr. Trump accepted her resignation. Pure class! And kind of sexy!!! Even the great Donald knows when he's been done!~!

I think it is clear what people have learned or not learned but what I am soooo amazed by is the posters that are clearly part of the organization or personal friends. The link to the workingclassengineer, is obviously just now being created, in order to facilitate positive comments about trump. And the post that begins with "Trump is correct"...please !!!! Maybe he is maybe he isn't but it smells of a troll. I doubt that it feels good to post comments in order to brag about yourself, but then again, you are accustomed to it.
"I'm thrilled to see you mention how effectively Aaron's team looked" ....Now who would make a statement like that, unless they had an agenda?? who ?? It is so evident that 4 of the posters are "insiders" ,of some sort.

Susan Babcock
262 Materials Science and Engineering
1509 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1595

Comments on all three episodes.
Episode One- the person that was fired did have a strange persona, but I feel the task was lost due to the loss of 45 minutes making flyers on copy paper "strange idea", and then having to make posters. 45 minutes is a lot of cars. How much did the fired guy sell compared to the others??
Episode Two- did you guys notice the little bitty man's bikini on this weeks show "Vegas." So HHHHOOOTTT!!!!!, and I am a straight female. It will now be the next look for this summer. I understand what is like to be cutting edge. I have been ahead of the curve for awhile, and usually the customer comes back to me saying they wished they had listened to me.
Episode Three-Tent City, interesting, funny, but. It is hard enough living in this situation, and then add on the fact that no one likes you. I would have insisted on everyone's approval as well, due to the fact of sabotage. And I think it is important that the team agrees on the project, as obviously they did NOT and hated every minute, and really did nothing to contribute to the brainstorming of the idea. All they did was **** and complain once a plan was set into motion. Would I have left, that is a diffucult question. Sometimes life is too precious.

<<Winners never quit and quitters never win.>>

But there is more than one way to get to the prize. When you can not get what you want from the small people, go straight to the top/source. NO is only a two letter word.

First of all, it is so great to have video on NBC.com so I can watch it in Croatia. This *tent* thing is a blessing, I am blessed with all my *tent* situations in life, it is given possibility to be grateful for villa, so You can appreciate it.

Respectfully,
Ina Matijevic

http://www.cvjecarna-luna.net/main.html

BRAVO to Michelle, the contestant who resigned in this third week of the 2007 season! She showed courage, class, dignity, intelligence, and awareness in both her decision to do so and in the simple manner in which she carried it out. She was calm, direct, and respectful while explaining her position—that this just wasn’t what she signed up for—to Trump, who rudely interrupted, bullied, and insulted her, calling her a "quitter" and a "loser," trying to humiliate and unnerve her. But Michelle held her position quietly and with dignity, a state of maturity that Donald Trump apparently does not understand or visit often. With Michelle’s simple act of honest reality, suddenly the rest of the show took on a ridiculous "Playschool" feel with those in tents in a time-out and a self-important leader wallowing in a less-than-important position. This was especially evident when the rest of the team was informed no one would be fired this week and the men actually jumped up and down and squealed like little children. Bravo and continued good luck to you in the professional world, Michelle!

All these "you go girl" follow up comments in support of what Michelle did are a joke. Go back and watch the episode again. Go back and watch the first three episodes again. Michelle didn’t quit because of some noble idea that this was beneath her. Michelle QUIT because she knew her time was up and could not grasp the concept of being terminated from something. She is not a leader, she had to be dragged into the Project Manager position when Mr. Trump put her on the spot instead of stepping up to the plate. To this she even admitted. Her indecisiveness was her downfall and she should have been gone in episode two. But she was smart enough to know when her time was up and the one time she actually made a decision on her own was to save her own pride, nothing more. Michelle would have never made it to the end and was lucky to get as far as she did.

As for this "tent city" thing, get over it folks. If this was any ordinary job you might have a point. But it isn’t. This is THE APPRENTICE. It’s a television show and more importantly a fast track to a nice paycheck and fame that about a million other applicants would run over you to get. It doesn’t matter if it’s the best idea or worst idea in the world, it’s what you have to deal with now. People out there in far worse situations every day making a lot less and getting very little (if any) recognition for what they do. People who would trade places with any one of the whiners on this show now.

Lastly, let’s drop the whole "I don’t like this so I will never watch your show again" routine. You will watch. You know it , I know it and everyone else here knows it. That line has become such a tired cliché. I am sure that Donald Trump and Mark Burnette are losing sleep that you are so upset about "princess" Michelle having such a tough time camping and having to quit that they must, must, must bring her back because Sally Nobody won’t watch us again. Get real.

Have a great day,

William Harding
Kentucky

I wholehardedly agree. The customers ultimately decide if you win or lose. I'm in sales and I try to live by that principle every day. I also love how Donald is managing the whole competition. He is definitely being tough on the losing teams but he is teaching them valuable lessons.

hey hey hey guys..... It is good to picture something that I can't follow on time ... hopefully you guys are lucky on the Apprentice ... you are watching season 6 right .. well a sista here "me" saw season three half way and finished the rest of the story from online blogs. Well Can you suggest any means of watching the episodes other than internet... because ... don't even think of my connection speed it lets me see the whole trump site also with prayers... now what am saying .... is can i get it to africa on a DVD form.... Please tell.

By the way, Where did George the wise guy go? I know that Carolyn is fired and Ivanka replaced her ... but most people are saying that she is not as sharp as Carolyn .... however ... we all can learn braveness and strength through experience... and please let the girl get on her stages... we all need to tell her how sharp she has to be and how strong and brave to do so on the coming events rather than picking on her and put a personal type comment .. we enjoyed carolyn but again what we have to do is .. not criticize ... but tell the mistakes based on the subject . Blessings

The contestants are successful in their own right. They are on the show to compete for a chance to learn more for themselves from someone who they respect and is also successful. To make ones that do not win a contest live in tents is disrespectful from the Trump Organization. Also the revolving team management was a better idea. I do hope Mr. Trump changes his approach before The Apprentice ends up like Rosie or Martha.

Myself... I have never quit something I wanted. And I never tried to fix something that wasn't broken.

I'm not generally someone who posts here, but I feel the need to give Mr. Trump some positive customer feedback in light of some of the other posts.

To give you some background on myself, I'm a Harvard Student who is currently renovating a building in Cambridge, MA with money gathered from my roommate. I have an art/design background and have worked as a gopher doing legal research for a number of Boston real estate investors. I am paying for Harvard myself and am the first person in my family to go to an Ivy League school. I also have private funding for my mathematics research from an investor.

In terms of living in tents, I think Mr. Trump is trying to teach a lesson. Before moving to Cambridge, I lived in Dorchester in an tiny apartment meant for one person with two roommates, slept on the floor, ate rice, beans, and peanut butter and didn't do any fun that wasn't free for a few years. The apartment had rats, cockroaches, a poor heating system, and bad noise issues. It was very hard to get sleep at night. Someones one must make sacrifices to get to their goals. During the time that I was living in Dorchester, I learned a lot about being resourceful, a skill that is getting me a lot in life. In order to get to a place of being able to perform well in comfort, one must earn it if one does not have it already. If you don't win right away as an entrepreneur or as a student or in any profession for that matter, you end up out on your ear unless you have family money. If you have family money, you may not end up out on your ear, but you are likely unhappy with yourself (see the film, "Born Rich," by Jamie Johnson).

One must learn perserverence. The biggest difference I've noticed between many of the people I have met in Cambridge who have Ivy League educations and people who I met in Dorchester who were working by the hour is hope and access to resources that can help them improve themselves. If one is to be successful, one must recognise that the world is not fair and that one make the best of their own situation. Yes, some of my classmates learned math and 5 foreign languages from their families, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try just because they had a head start.

If there is any change that should be made to this season's Apprentice, I would only recommend that Mr. Trump fully explain the analogy of the tents to the streets when one is a beginning entrepreneur. I think such lessons might need to be spelled out more clearly since much of the country is middle class and has not been through such a high-stakes situation.

I only saw Season #5 of the Apprentice so I can't compare Season #6 to any others but #5. I am enjoying the show and I've attended The Trump Wealth Building weekend seminar which was GREAT. But I am shocked at the lack of talent in the show so far. I can't believe that these were the best candidates. They all had impressive resumes but but where is the substance. So far no one seems to be the entrepreneur type. I can't believe Michelle was a successful real estate salesperson. She probably is a nice person but totally not suited for the business world.

You have lost another viewer. I cannot sit back and watch this show that is becoming the LA wussy version of Survivor--for the unlucky half only. This season does little to represent the business world. I would not want my "potential apprentices" to be subjected to sleeping in tents, cold showers in the rain and non-functioning sinks. You expect them to go out and represent you, the Trump organization, on little sleep while getting sick with little ability to make themselves presentable in a business situation? If Ivanka is really Mr. Trump's eyes and ears out there, let's see HER sleep out there, try to eat, and make herself presentable without properly functioning bathrooms! Living in the backyard may have seemed like a good idea for tv ratings but it is backfiring big time. If you warned your contestants about the conditions ahead of time, then they could not complain and this should be known to the viewers. Survivor contestants know they are signing up to starve themselves and to live in primitive housing. The Apprentice contestants are signing up to prove themselves in the BUSINESS world.

I applaud Michelle for admitting this is not what she signed up for and for getting out now. That took courage to do in front of a national audience. After all, there is no million dollars at the end of this game. It's ONLY $250 ,000 for the opportunity to work for a year for a man who wouldn't put his daughter in this situation! The "winning" team should not be seen laughing at the other team because when it's their turn to get no sleep, even on a night when there is no task to be dealt with, they are going to wish they could take back every little comment and laugh. Give them all their beds back and make it about proving yourselves in the business world.

This reminds me of a good chuckle we just had while writing this. Remember Lee, the young gentleman who got out of not one, but two tasks, because of his religious holiday? He made it pretty far for doing absolutely nothing for two whole tasks and he had a bed to sleep in, a kitchen to cook in, and a working bathroom. I liked Lee then and I do now for sticking up for what he believes in. I worked for a top 6 accounting firm for 10 years and respected the Apprentice til now. Good luck Michelle in your future endeavors.

Quitting isn't such a bad thing: Check this out!

Alcoholics sometimes quit drinking
Obese people sometimes quit eating so much
Drug addicts sometimes quit drugs
Smokers sometimes quit smoking
Bullies sometimes quit teasing and bullying others
Small children quit throwing temper tantrums as they mature
Small children quit wetting their pants as they mature
Some young adults quit extramarital relationships once they marry
Abusive people sometimes quit their destructive behavior with therapy
Some people quit gossiping as they mature
Students sometimes quit the college they attend and go to another one
Students sometimes quit their initial course of studies for new ones
Professionals sometimes quit jobs that do not resonant as authentic or that do not produce the anticipated outcomes: job satisfaction
Some people quit professions and jobs that are destroying their health
**Why is it such an abnormality to quit a project, game or competition if it no longer resonants truth and authenticity for the person?
**Be true to yourself
If you refuse to be a quitter at the expense of causing harm or suffering to others and/or yourself, I suggest you re-evaluate your intentions.

I believe that this season has an appraoch that all the previous did not. Previously we saw many capable, intelligent and savy business people compete for a job position with the Trump organization. Most of the candidates are already wealthy and used to the high class lifestyle and now they have to face the true consequences of failure withought all of there riches. This will make them realize that failure is something that can often be avoided and that you must work as hard as possible todo so. Living in a tent has a lot of advantages. You appreciate the presence of the other much more and you learn to get along with your pears and in this case coworkers if you will. A team with a better relationship is more likely to work better together and more likely to succeed. Living in a tent will allow team arrow to learn things they would have never learnt before without this experience. It is not often that you get to camp and sleep in tents with coworkers. I think they should cherish this experience and learn as much as possible.

Justin

When they say they are freezing at night ( in LA ) in the tents makes me laugh! They should be happy that there are no mosquitos!

In Canada is gets to -30 degrees F here in the Winter and we live with it. Some Canadians Winter camp in this weather too.

Send them North to Canada to TOUGHEN THEM UP!

I am enjoying this season, they mixed things up a lot to make it interesting.

Good Job!

Michael J. Mark, BSc EE, P.Eng.

www.m2engineering.com

www.workingclassengineer.com

www.bookexpoamerica.com

Mr. Trump,
I am disappointed that you did not fire the entire group that worked under Michelle. They did not in any way step to the plate for the task at hand. Nicole was unco operative and did nothing but complain. Frank likes to talk about his fire--he had a great opportunity in the face of Michelles supposed weakness to step up and show what he is made of. None of the team did that, they chose to be difficult, instead of showing how much they want to get out of living in a tent. Not one of these candidates holds much promise for your organization and the show would be alot more interesting without their constant whining.
I cannot understand how you didn't see the weakness of the entire group, and let them all go.
BTW, the show is interesting this year, it is very challenging to rise up out of poverty and work harder, even though you are tired and cold and hungry... nice metaphor. I guess we will see if they can overcome the obstacles.

Bravo Michelle! Never, ever, stay in a situation where there is a 100% probability of total and complete humiliation. If you do, then you are consenting to emotional abuse. In this situation, where the team was already going in for the kill before the results were posted, where Trump was already talking about the poor attitude of the team- there was better than a 95% chance that staying would give Donald Trump the advantage of calling you a total and complete loser in front of millions of people. There was a minimal possibility that Donald would decide that your team was at fault for failing to support you as a leader. I think that was the case- perhaps he would have thought the same. But without the support of Arrow, you wouldn't have a chance unless by some miracle Donald decided to mix teams the following week. Until then, if you won- it was back to the tents and more ostracism- if you lost- then it was more abuse. Instead, you kept your dignity and your pride, accepted your losses and left with dignity. Great moment! Thank you.

I began watching The Apprentice this year, as a result of reading the Trump/Kiyosaki book, in which Mr. Trump indicated that the TV program was, among other things, educational.

So I have no other seasons with which to compare this season, and I was only able to watch the last half of Episode Three.

I thought Michelle was remarkably poised in her setto with Mr. Trump. Until reading other comments, I didn't know her background and really didn't see enough of the program to evaluate her performance on the assignment.

One thing struck me in the boardroom confrontation. Michelle was berated for being a quitter, rather than sticking it out and (possibly/probably) being fired.

In the real world, employees are often told they are going to be terminated, but are offered the 'opportunity' to resign because 'it will look better on your record.'

So in the real world we are encouraged that the right course of action is to quit, but the same decision on the TV show is not right. What's wrong with this picture?

I believe that no one changes their mind about anything. What we do is make a new decision based on additional information.

I think that's what Michelle did.

I agree with Trump that a quitter never quits but I believe that that works best when you know your aim and purpose then you won't quit no matter what. Here, Michelle was truly affected by the conditions of the "tent city" which she said was making her feel insane. Since becoming an apprentice was not her primary purpose or goal in life, then it makes sense for her to quit. If, however, she wanted the apprentice title no matter what, then you would probably see a different "Michelle." I would like the season to change the "tent city" thing, but I know that will not happen since we are watching taped-shows. But the tent city is more a test of someone's "pursuit" of what they are really, really wanting; otherwise, they will become a victim of the "tent city." I cannot wait for the next episode and I love everyone's comments. This is the best of it all.

I don't think I like this season as much as when the staging area was Trump Tower. Although I do believe in the carrot and stick approach to management, I would have sentenced the losing team to one night living in tents, or until the boardroom, whichever is longer. After that, the losing team should be able to come inside the house, get cleaned up, a hot meal, a good night sleep, and start on a clean slate on the next task. There is probably nothing worse than visiting a new client for a task and to look (and smell) like you're on the losing team. The "stick" should be just that. After 3 weeks the stick has become a harpoon. I don't blame Michelle for quitting. I say let them back in the house.

I must say,Michelle stuck to her covictions.You really must love what you are doing.Maybe she just was not cut out to be part of the Trump organization at this level. To take a step like she did is hard when your future may hindge on the out come.
After 20 years of working at a carreer I thought I loved.I took a leap of faith when a package was offered company wide.
Today I love the new carreer I choose while off getting payed and continuing my education.
I feel a new sence of freedom and a greater potential for aways being able to make money in the place I am at now.
Good luck to Michelle where ever she may find a career she truly loves and feels comfort.
All the best for sucess
Ray Czenszak.

Whoever changed the format of The Apprentice should be fired.

I'm watching the show from Romania; I've seen seasons 2 and 5.

To me, The Apprentice is about business decisions, about smart people coming up with bright ideas and about teamwork. It's not about living in tents, humiliation and odd decisions (what was it with exempting a team from the weekly challenge?)

This is not The Apprentice Goes to Hollywood - this is Survivor:LA with Donald Trump.

Yes, Michelle was a lousy project manager that deserved to be fired. And yet I applaud her for taking a stand. Her resignation was a form of protest against the new rules. If I'm employed in a company, I expect the company to treat me well and I expect the company to treat all employees equally - is that simple. If a real company did that to their employees, it would be in the news all over the place.

Second, having the winning PM judge the losers is adding insult to injury and it's stupid too, since they can't be an impartial judge, so what's the point?

Third, I like Ivanka as a person. But she ain't no Carolyn.

I'll give the show one more chance. If I don't see any improvement (and I don't really expect to see any changes in rules since that would be admitting they were wrong), I'll just watch something else.

I was a Business Professional for 22 years outside of the home and gave up big bucks to be a stay home mom after our children were born. As my husband and I began watching episode three of The Apprentice, I looked at him and said, "you know, if I had to live in a tent in those conditions, I sure as heck couldn't be mentally prepared 100% to give my all for Mr. Trump. I don't blame Michelle for quitting. I love camping and the outdoors but, when I have to put on high heels and pantyhose and makeup, and have my mind going 110%, I sure as heck can't maintain professionalism in someone's backyard trying to get ready and look presentable. Get rid of the tents Mr. Trump. And please bring Carolyn and George back. Let Ivanka and Donald Jr. go out in the world and make success's of themselves. It's just not as good with your two kids sitting beside you. Carolyn and George really made the show. I don't like the same project manager with the winning team either. Let them take turns and sweat a bit. Keep them out of the boardroom unless they are on the losing team. We love your show up North here Mr. Trump, but we like the old Apprentice better. God Bless. Karen from Canada.

What is the cost of "success" ? Reading the comments about Michelle's decision to leave, it is easy to see what a disconnect there is between the world of business and humanity.Why do people want to work with an organization that seems to have the architecture of a pyramid scheme, people making money so more people can make more money, where the goal is to be rich?
There are many good people who amassed great fortune through the opportunity of free enterprise who are using that fortune to affect change. Social entrepeneurs are making decisions with a social conscious that is not about greed but about ending poverty. It does not appear that Donald Trump is one of them.
Even if Michelle would have ultimately been fired, she stilI trumped Trump by keeping her cool in the boardroom and taking the decision to leave. In turn, Trump exposed the emptiness of his wealth and the condescending tones that often permeate priviledge.
As an artist and educator I have been entertained by the show and the tasks laid out for the contestants. I have often imagined how much more interesting and useful the results would be if there were a team of artists instead of business majors. Never did I see or hear any insightful information (on this show) about dealing with people or achieving objectives that I didn't learn in graduate art school.
However, for sheer entertainment, it was worth the barrage of commercials to see the look on the three Trump faces that someone did not want to play by their rules. The shock that resonnated in their expressions showed just how out of touch they are with the rest of the world. Their refusal to accept Michelle's resignation with any professionalism and refrain from a demeaning attack on her revealed the shallowness of those Trump family/business values.
It is sad to see so many Americans set goals that ascribe to the Trump idealogies because they are inflated and subject to burst. As most artists will concur, wealth has nothing to do with success.

Artemisia in CA

I think the poster who suggested that both teams stay in tents had a good idea. Sure, give a night in the house for the winning team (or a single night in tents for the losing team), but then have both work from the same disadvantages--or have them all indoors and comfortable and having the same advantages. There's nothing wrong with offering the winner some extra reward, but the problem with keeping the playing field uneven after the first episode is that psychologically the barriers become more and more difficult to overcome, and the results become more predictable.

True, the tent city doesn't seem all that bad--the members of the tent team aren't sleeping on the ground, but on beds, and there's a cooking/shower set up that Survivor players would envy. And so would a lot of people living on the street. But consider what happens when someone gets into a cycle of poverty: the condtions become much, much more of a trial to overcome. The inner city kid who graduates from Harvard with an MBA is seen as a miracle, a fairy tale come true, not as the norm. And this is not because poor people are by definition less worthy than rich people. Often a rich person will live a comfortable life and not achieve any more than his/her counterpart in Harlem, because of taking life for granted. But the poor person has had to endure shabby schools, unsafe neighborhoods, substandard housing, and more. Those who find their way out of that to achieve their dream have a longer way to go and have achieved a lot more than the person born into comfort. But why should it be that way? Do we have lives and abilities to waste in that way?

Applying this to the Apprentice program, it just seems to me, Mr. Trump, that you'll get a better picture of people's true abilities if everyone is dealing with similar conditions.

As for Michelle, while I don't know what kind of personal crisis she was experiencing off camera, generally speaking, quitting gets a bad rap, and I don't think that it's an either/or question. The "quitters never win" is a bit too neat of a summation as people leave a bad situation for various reasons, some of which are not only legitimate but the best choice possible. As an example: I've run seven marathons, attempted 8. Some of them have felt very, very hard, but I never for a moment wanted to drop out, and although some of my races were much slower than I wanted them to be, I still felt a satisfaction in staying the course. In one, however, a twinge in my calf muscle kept getting worse and my form suffered from it to the extent that I thought I could worsen the injury or develop another simply by favoring the leg. At sixteen miles, I decided that it was time to accept that this was not my day and that risking a more extensive injury by finishing would not be smart. Naturally I was disappointed, but I don't look back on that race and think less of myself for quitting. I look back and think "it's about time you got smart and stepped out!" You have to know as the saying goes, "when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em." I came back a few weeks after that marathon to run my year's best 10k, rather than having to nurse an injury. So I am in fact pleased with my decision.

Even if I'd thought the decision was wrong, however, I don't think regret is productive, and I hope that Michelle experiences none. You make the best decision you know how to make under your current circumstances, and if it was a mistake, you learn from it and move on. No use can come of holding on to mistakes and feeling one must be defined by them.

Let's all say this together folks, "it's a television show".

So many posters here who defend Michelle are using real world examples which simply do not apply here. It's almost like none of you have even seen THE APPRENTICE before now. It's a competition people. You compete, you produce or you get eliminated with Donald Trump being the final decision maker on that.

YES, you can quit. But Michelle's decision would have meant a whole lot more if it had been at some point other than when the guillotine was about to fall on her head. But anyone (including myself) who has been in a position of having to terminate people for their inability to do the job has heard the old phrase "you can't fire me because I quit" before. It's nothing more than a reflex action of a person who cannot rationalize in their minds that they FAILED. Given the outline of this show you would be dealing with people who are supposed to be remarkably successful anyway, so those egos would take major bashing. Like Mr. Trump said at one point in that show, I am also suprised that more people haven't quit before now.

I would like to compliment Artemisia for a well written blog even though most of your opinions on the subject are blatantly wrong for the reasons I stated above. Michelle did not acheive some small victory by denying the Trump's the obvious outcome of the show. Quite the opposite actually. The Michelle I saw on all three shows showed a unique ability to not be able to make a decision of any kind other than one to try to save her own dignity at the eleventh hour. Even with this, she begged for an opportunity to apply for a job with the Trump Organization outside of this show (which I might add was quickly shot down by Trump's daughter and rightly so). But all the defenders of Michelle seem to forget that little part of it.

As for poster 1488921 and your analogy of comparing this to a race? OK, let's do that. In NASCAR if you are driving a car that is damaged and causing the other cars in the race to be handicapped, you get black flagged and eliminated from the race. In the last Olympics, there was a skier from some small country who was the only one who showed up to represent them in cross country. This person was allowed to compete but told that if they could not keep up with a certain time or pace (much like qualifying for the Olympics), they would have to leave the race. It's exactly the same here.

Even though you volunteer to compete on THE APPRENTICE, you know going in that if you don't produce or deliver, you get terminated because only ONE person wins. All of the people who have applauded Michelle for quitting have failed to mention (as I said before) her begging in that show for an opportunity to apply for the Trump Organization outside the realm of this competition. Seems to me that this makes many of your points moot about one upping the Trump's. I also don't see anyone saying she had the ability to make it to the end. In all honesty, could anyone here say should could have made it to the end? Would YOU hire this person?

Finally in regards to "tent city". Also as I have said in a previous posting, it was an idea. Good or bad it's what you have to deal with this season. I doubt it will be back (in this form) for the next version, but it was something thrown at the competitors to shake up the competition. Looks to me like it's working pretty well honestly. We all get thrown curveballs in trying to get things done in business everyday. But THE APPRENTICE is an extreme case and in the past episodes the only punishment you got for failure was going back to the luxury loft (and eventually the boardroom) and not being able to rake in whatever reward was offered. This just took the punishment to the next extreme and to that I say "deal with it". That I say to both the competitors and the people here posting against it.

Have a great day,

William Harding
Kentucky

Hello everyone;

I seldom have the time to blog anywhere because I am busy building an empire for the future of myself and others. If no one objects I would like to post a few short comments.

First I would like to say that anyone that posts a website or link to their own company(s) or a personal website is violating the terms of the blog. This blog is not set up for your own self ingrandishments. I hope ingrandishment is a word, if not I apologize.

Secondly, I really admire Ms. Ivanka Trump. Those of you that criticize her possibly can not measure up to her standards which appear to be at the same level of her dad's or possibly at a higher plane. What a great wife she will make for the lucky guy out there. She doesn't put up with nonsense and what a tremendous asset she would contribute to a mariage. Can you imagine what would happen if someone messed with you needlessly and they were wrong? She would tear into them to the point they would be distressed for several days.

Thirdly, I have not seen the new season of the show yet. Based on what I have read though it appears most people expect cush living while conducting business. Has anyone thought to negotiate with the hired help around the mansion? Just being gratious and respectful would be enouh to be invited inside to sleep in a room somewhere. You could probably learn more about being successful the Trump way more by interviewing the hired help more than being on the show.

Lastly, I doubt Mr. T ( thats T for Trump in this case not Mr. T) has the time to read most of these posts. He most likely has someone read all of them and then he probably reads the most bizarre posts. Infact the tv show probably does that and they track the number of posts and relate that total to a matrix for determining a criteria for the shows success.
I mean do you really think that Mr. T has time to read our garbage?
Thanks for your time.

Randy Locke

First Of All..I love this Show!!!! & I lOve Donald Trump.
So whats the big deal about tent city?? I think having the prevalige to live in the mansion is an incentive to fight to get the job done!! Fight to win!Those people act like living in a tent is so down grading.....it just shows they have no clue about the real world. And about Michelle she was just a sore looser.......
Anyway I think Ivanka is doing a good job! Keep it up!

I have to agree with this season being a disappointment, I am still hanging in there since I am such a big fan of the show. I think the public likes to see the business world as it is and could be, you know the avereage person like me, enjoying seeing the finer things in life. I think these contestants worked hard to get where they were chosen, why send them to the tents, glamour and money is what this is about in some ways. Donald, please go back to what worked , I am surprised you took this risk, but I guess you wouldn't be you if you didn't.
But please, lets go back to the old format, it was a show I looked forward to, to root for certain people etc. This tent thing hasn't really shown us anythiing about whomever is living in there.

So, Mr. Trump, you told Michelle she was a "loser" and a "quiter" and you'd rather "be fired than quit." Then at the same instant that ABC pulled the plug on The Apprentice, you said you QUIT!