Apprentice Blog

Episode Summary:

Piers Morgan becomes the first Celebrity Apprentice!

This season’s finale gave viewers three great experiences in one. First, it showed highlights of the season. Second, it delivered blow-by-blow coverage of Piers and Trace as they completed the season’s final task. And third, it took us live to the boardroom, where Mr. Trump named Piers the winner. What a blockbuster show!

Prerecorded footage showed Piers and Trace as they battled to win this season’s final task - a charity auction. It was interesting to see how both men made good on the strategies that they developed for winning the task. Trace held the line against the Backstreet Boys’ unreasonable requests and got them to present an excellent stage show. And Piers’ strategy work beautifully too. His high-end contacts spent tremendous sums of money at the auction. Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, paid $200,000 for two of the prizes. And Simon Cowell was happy to bid $100,000 to go shopping with Ivanka Trump.

When the auction earnings were totaled, Piers had brought in $376,000, to Trace’s $64,000; Trace had sold $38,000 worth of tickets to the event, compared to $12,000 for Piers. Yet the competition was about more than money. When the two men got to the boardroom firing (held live onstage this week), Mr. Trump also explored how well they had handled all the aspects of the charity event. Mr. Trump then brought the season’s other celebrity contestants onto the stage and polled them about whether Piers or Trace should win.

Finally, both contestants made compelling appeals to Mr. Trump about their charities. Trace explained the anguish that a food allergy had caused his family, and spoke compellingly about the importance of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. And to drive home the importance of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Piers invited wounded veterans onto the stage. Their appearance brought tears to the eyes of many members of the live audience.

With only a minute remaining in the show, Mr. Trump showered Trace with well-deserved praise for being such a wonderful human being. But Piers’ stellar performance in every task of the season won the day - and Mr. Trump named him Celebrity Apprentice.

This season, Celebrity Apprentice raised more than $1 million for the contestants’ charities - a sum that Mr. Trump augmented with an additional $250,000 of his own.

* * *

This season finale proved that doing business and doing good really can go hand in hand. Let’s take a closer look.

* * *

When Trace’s wife and two adorable daughters showed up only minutes before the start of the charity event, he was overcome with tears. Then he calmed down and refocused on getting the Backstreet Boys to present a great show.  

Success Lesson

Remember why you are building your success. It’s not for greed or dollars. It’s an expression of care for the people you love.

* * *

When Piers got his high-flying contacts to open their wallets and hearts again this week, he reminded us that you don’t have to build your success entirely on your own. The people who respect you will be glad to lend you support.

Success Lesson

Ask people for help. And do it with your head held high. They will feel good to help you - and you’ll build your success at the same time.

* * *

When Piers invited a group of injured veterans onto the stage, he brought the audience to its feet.  

Success Lesson

Fight for causes that are bigger than you are. If you serve others as unswervingly as Piers did this season, you will enjoy personal success too.

And a final thought about this season . . .

When Mr. Trump created Celebrity Apprentice,he decided that the all the prize money would go to charities. Tito’s charity supported children, Stephen’s supported breast cancer - and the list goes on and on. It was an entertaining season - but the fact that it helped so many people made it stand head and shoulders higher than most any other program on the airwaves.

We look forward to future seasons of Celebrity Apprentice. See you there!

Episode Summary:

The final four became the final TWO!

Only Carol, Lennox, Piers and Trace remained as this week’s episode began. But just as the four contestants were getting ready to do battle, Mr. Trump delivered a surprise. They would all undergo a grilling by two leading business commentators, Erin Burnett and Jim Cramer. Erin and Jim would then name two people for Mr. Trump to fire. In only two hours, only two finalists would remain!

Erin and Jim interviewed the candidates, then singled out Piers and Lennox to be fired. But Mr. Trump fired Lennox and Carol instead. He said that wanted to see Piers and Trace do battle in the final task.

Mr. Trump then announced the final project. There would be a major charity event, and the two men would supervise different aspects of it. One of them would handle the catering and a live charity auction; the other would manage the décor and the Backstreet Boys, who would perform at the event. The winner would be picked based on his ability to 1) sell tickets to the event; 2) raise money; and 3) handle his assigned tasks.

Then Mr. Trump brought back Carol, Lennox, Marilu and Stephen to help Piers and Trace. New teams were chosen. Trace’s would include himself, Lennox and Marilu. Piers got Carol and Stephen.

Piers and Trace divided up responsibilities. Piers would handle the auction and catering. Trace would manage entertainment, décor and food. 

Piers went to see Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York - the famous “Fergie” - who promised to bring in money. Trace chartered two jets to fly country celebrities to New York. His goal was to “fill the room with cowboy hats.” He also asked his country contacts to contribute guitars and other collectibles to be auctioned.

Stephen started to try to get celebrities to attend the event, but simply stopped trying when his contacts were not available on short notice. And Trace was having a tough time with the Backstreet Boys, who were demanding two dressing rooms equipped with a lavish assortment of drinks and health foods.

The charity event will not be shown until next week, but as this week’s episode drew to a close, the battle lines are drawn. Can Piers bring in enough bucks to score a win? And can Trace rein in the Backstreet Boys and bring off a blockbuster show?  We’ll know next week!

* * *

This week’s episode taught important lessons about winning when the stakes are high. Here’s a closer look.

* * *

When Lennox seemed uneasy during hisinterviews with Erin and Jim, his lack of polish gave his competitors a critical advantage.  

Success Lesson

Always have an “elevator speech” ready. It’s a short, well-rehearsed explanation of your accomplishments and plans. Write one and practice it - it can be critical to your success.

* * *

At the props house, Lennox kept yelling “Done!” to force Marilu to make quick decisions about décor for the event. He was trying to stop her from repeating her scattered performance on the QVC task a few weeks ago.

Success Lesson

Yes, Lennox came on too strong. But sometimes you have to act forcefully to prevent colleagues from repeating crippling mistakes.

* * *

When Stephen simply stopped trying to get celebrities to attend the charity event, he showed a total lack of initiative that will permanently tarnish his image as an Apprentice contender. Sure, he couldn’t get James Gandolfini or Ben Stiller to come to the phone - but why did he stop trying there?

Success Lesson

Never say die! Your ability todig deeper and solve problems ultimately determines your success.

* * *

When Piers decided to give 20 valuable event tickets to wounded veterans, he was hoping that their presence would inspire people at the event to support his charity.

Success Lesson

Lofty goals and business success really can go hand-in-hand. When you see an opportunity to do well by doing good, explore it.

* * *

When the Backstreet Boys presented Trace with an unreasonable list of demands, he told them flat-out that there was no way he could meet their requirements in time for the event.

Success Lesson

Be assertive and say no. Whenpeople are being unreasonable, say so fast - and then explain why. You have to set guidelines quickly about what you can and cannot do.

# # #

What will happen next week? It will be one of the most explosive Apprentice finales ever. See you there!

Episode Summary:

As this week’s episode began, only five celebrities were still in the running. They were Stephen and Trace at team Empresario; and Carol, Lennox and Piers at Hydra.

The teams designed sandwiches for Quiznos, and then sold them without calling on any of their high-powered friends. That meant sheer salesmanship and pavement pounding as they couldn’t rely on any big spenders to pay big bucks for a single sandwich. Whoever sold the most sandwiches would win.

At Empresario, Trace stepped up at project manager. Although he has brought in a lot of money for his team during past tasks, he’s yet to earn money for his charity with a win as project manager. At Hydra, it was Lennox’s turn again as team leader. He took the helm with the ever-present Piers offering suggestions at every turn.

When it came time to create their sandwiches, the teams took different tacks. Team Hydra chose to make only a minor modification to Quiznos’ most popular sandwich: a fairly basic turkey and cheese concoction. They named it the Champ Sandwich after, who else, but their resident champ, Lennox. Over at Empresario, Trace came up with something much more original, a unique sirloin creation called the Cowboy Club.

Both teams took to the streets early to promote their sandwiches. At Empresario, they immediately had flyers printed up (featuring both Trace and Stephen in cowboy hats) and were handing them out well before selling time started. Things were rockier at Hydra where the flyers didn’t come through until minutes before the sandwiches were ready to be sold.

Both teams seemed to do a good job drawing people into their restaurants. Hydra used the Lennox star power, promising autographs and photos with the boxer to anyone who bought a sandwich. While Hydra’s Piers was yelling like a carnival barker, over at Empresario Trace had a much more laid-back approach, wooing customers in a calmer, more low-key way.

Although it looked like both teams had a steady stream of customers, in the end Hydra won, selling 313 Champ Sandwiches to Empresario’s 253 Cowboy Clubs. In the boardroom, Trace was willing to take the blame for the loss. “I made every call. I called every shot,” he admitted to Mr. Trump. “The onus is on me completely today.”

But Ivanka pointed out that Trace has consistently raised more money on every other task than Stephen and, when Mr. Trump asked who wanted this more, Trace spoke up and emotionally spoke about how much he wanted to win for his charity. In the end, although Trace was project manager and had led his team to a loss, Mr. Trump felt that his past performance made him more valuable than Stephen, so Stephen was the one to go.

* * *

This week’s episode taught important lessons about marketing and self-promotion. Let’s take a closer look.

* * *

Hydra stuck with Lennox as its celebrity draw and sold a variation of Quiznos’ most popular sandwich. Instead of trying something new, they marketed with tried and true.

Success Lesson
Don’t mess with what works. As Ivanka pointed out, there was no need to reinvent the wheel. And it worked. People flocked to see Lennox and they bought the sandwich in droves.

* * *

When Lennox took over as project manager, Piers immediately began throwing out ideas left and right. Carol complained that Piers always tries to take control but Lennox stayed cool and took the suggestions that were good ones.

Success Lesson
Be willing to listen. Very few good leaders lead by dictatorship. When your team members have something to say, hear them out. In this case, Piers has had lots of good ideas in the past and his ideas - to use Lennox and a twist on the best-selling sandwich - probably won the task for Hydra.

* * *

When it was down to Trace and Stephen in the boardroom, Trace gamely took the blame for losing the task. However, he quietly pointed out that he thought overall he was a more valuable player who had raised more money in the past than Stephen. 

Success Lesson
Know your track record. Everyone makes mistakes. But don’t let one poor performance take you down. In a professional manner, remind people about your past success and hopefully, as in Trace’s case, your past performance will outweigh one bad outing.

* * * 

Also, when Mr. Trump was in the boardroom deciding Stephen and Trace’s fate, Stephen talked to Trace about his likability. “I think they like you more than they like me,” he said, matter-of-factly. Even Mr. Trump commented about the cowboy, “He doesn’t talk much but, when he does talk, it’s something special.”

Success Lesson
Be likable. In the cutthroat world of business, this seems like some unusual advice. But in this situation, it was apparent that Trace’s likability had a lot to do with the fact that he earned a spot in the final four while Stephen was fired.

# # #

What will happen next week? When the final four candidates were announced, Mr. Trump called Trace, Piers, Lennox and Carol back into the boardroom and announced that four more would go home before the end of the evening. He gave no hint about how he’d decide which two would stay but the remaining four are all strong contenders. Piers is probably the most colorful, bombastic player but at this point, it’s anyone’s game.

Episode Summary:

Donald Trump called it, “The biggest slaughter in the history of The Apprentice!” And numbers don’t lie. He was right.

The teams faced artistic challenge this week. They each had to pick one artist represented by the Moti Hasson Gallery in New York. The team that made the most money selling works by their artist would win - and they only had one evening to sell.

Omarosa, who got fired because of her performance in a similar project during her previous Apprentice season, claimed the job of project manager at Empresario. She said she had “something to prove.” At Hydra, Piers took the leadership post for a personal reason too - he wanted to destroy Omarosa.

Both teams met with the owner of the Moti Hasson Gallery to select their artists. Hydra picked artist Shirley Shor for a strategic business reason: she was the only artist whose works were available in limited editions. That meant that Hydra could sell multiple copies of her works and have a large inventory to sell, despite the limited wall space in the gallery. Meanwhile, Empresario decided to sell works on paper by David Kramer. 

With their artists chosen, both teams started to call their high-profile friends, inviting them to buy artworks. Piers called the British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and other high-rollers, who agreed to come buy art.

As the teams set up their display rooms, Lennox realized that his team would be displaying their works in the back rooms of the gallery, behind Empresario’s display area. It was a big disadvantage. Before buyers could even see Hydra’s wares, they would have to pass through Empresario’s selling area.

As the buyers arrived at the gallery, Omarosa stood at the front door and shuttled people toward her team’s display. When Lennox saw what she was up to, he positioned himself next to her and directed traffic back to his team’s rooms.

A few of Stephen’s contacts showed up - but a lot more of Piers’ did too, and they bought heavily. Things were not going well for Empresario. One of Stephen’s contacts even blew right by him and bought something from Carol on the other team!

When it was time to tally the sales, everyone could sense that Hydra had outsold Empresario by a wide margin. Omarosa looked ashen. Empresario had, in fact, sold only three out of their available 16 paintings, earning only $7,000. In contrast, Hydra sold 14 out of their 20 works, earning a stunning $164,000.

Mr. Trump quickly dubbed the defeat, “The biggest slaughter in the history of the Apprentice.”

Piers gloated about his “personal” defeat of Omarosa. Rhapsodizing over his win, he suggested that Mr. Trump fire two people on the Empresario team because of their staggering defeat.

When the Hydra team left the boardroom, Omarosa immediately began to play the blame game, saying “I am only as good as my sales team.” But Ivanka and Mr. Trump were not buying it. In a last-ditch effort to save her neck, Omarosa then started to attack Piers, saying, “I know some things about him.” When Mr. Trump asked her what those “things” were, she made incredible statements that Piers was gay (“I think he’s in the closet”). As proof, she pointed out that Piers had asked both Trace and Stephen to take their shirts off in previous tasks this season. Mr. Trump then invited Piers back into the room to defend himself. Piers took him up on the offer by dashing into the room, kissing Trace on the cheek, then dashing out again. Piers’ ploy worked well and made Omarosa’s attack on his sexuality seem doubly absurd.

In the wake of the biggest rout ever on the show, Mr. Trump had hardly any choice. He fired Omarosa, the project manager.

* * *

This week’s episode taught important lessons about networking, selling - and more. Let’s take a closer look.

* * *

When Carol urged Hydra to pick the artist whose work they could sell in multiples, she showed terrific business wisdom.

Success Lesson

Never forget the law of supply and demand. You will always have a greater profit potential with a bigger inventory, period. Marketing counts - but you still need to have something to sell.

* * *

When Omarosa said that she “knew some things” about Piers, she wasengaging in classic character assassination by implying that she had some “dirt” that she did not wish to reveal. Then when Mr. Trump called her bluff, she fabricated absurd, un-businesslike accusations against Piers - and her political house of cards collapsed around her.

Success Lesson

Sooner or later, lying always gets exposed. When Mr. Trump is in control, it gets exposed even faster. If you don’t play fair, you will eventually get trapped by your own lies.

* * *

When Omarosa accused Piers of being gay, she stepped completely outside norms of acceptable business behavior.

Success Lesson

In business today, you cannot discriminate against people on the basis of their race, religion or sexual preference. Let’s get real here! But Piers was no shining knight this week either. He threatened to hit Stephen! Threatening violence against a colleague will get you fired from any job - maybe even locked up.  

* * *

When Omarosa pulled Stephen away from making high-value networking calls and forced him to do Internet research instead, she was showing terrible management skills. (Or was she trying to set him up to be fired?) Stephen had many more moneyed contacts to call than Omarosa did - yet she took him away from an activity that could have generated sales for her team.

Success Lesson

Use your resources strategically if you are the leader. Know what your team members bring to the table and deploy their strengths strategically.

# # #

What will happen next week? With only five contestants left, the competitive heat has been turned all the way up to broil. Carol, Lennox and Trace, who were quiet players early in the game, now look as strong as anyone ever has on the show. What will happen? It’s anybody’s guess. See you there!

Last night’s episode was, in the words of Donald J. Trump, “The biggest slaughter in the history of The Apprentice.”

In my mind, this episode set an Apprentice record for something else too - and I’ve been writing about the show for four seasons. It set the record for discriminatory, unprofessional behavior on the part of one of the contestants.

I am referring to the fact that Omarosa tried to smear Piers by “accusing” him of being gay. It only took Mr. Trump and Ivanka about half a second to expose her attempt at character assassination. But the real question is, isn’t it pretty late in history to try to destroy a colleague by making innuendoes about his or her sexual orientation? You bet it is.  There was a time when our gay and lesbian colleagues had to hide their sexual orientations from view, living in fear that exposure would end their professional lives. Isn’t it wonderful that those medieval days are now over? And what did Omarosa hope to accomplish by "proving" that Piers was gay? Did she actually think that Mr. Trump would fire Piers because of his sexual orientation? And the fact that Piers is a married man with children made her failed vendetta all the more riducolous.

But when you look back at this terrific season, some pretty curious events have stood out. Early on, Gene Simmons declared himself to be “King of all the women!” And he directed belittling, sexist comments at Ivanka Trump. If you engaged in behavior like that in just about any company today, you’d be tossed out the door in minutes. And no other company would let you inside its doors.

Then a few episodes later, Piers and others were poking fun at Vinny Pastore because he is an Italian-American and therefore, a gangster. Vinny seems like such a fine gentleman to me, and what a commanding actor he is. Imagine what would happen if such stereotypes were thrown in the face of people in your company, based on their heritage. Such thinking diminishes everyone.

There was also the time that Omarosa accused Piers of being a lousy father. If somebody at work leveled a charge like that against you, how would you react?

Then last night, Piers threatened to hit Stephen Baldwin when he thought that Stephen was spying on his team. I’d invite you to threaten someone at work with physical violence - and see how long you keep your job.

Finally, last night we had Omarosa try to “out” Piers for being gay.  

These events stand out glaringly because most of the contestants have usually exhibited such positive, professional behavior throughout the season. Piers has been wise and organized. Marilu was a great, empathetic colleague. Omarosa has been focused and assertive. Lennox has been a solid foundation that has kept his teammates grounded. Tito and Trace, complete gentlemen. Nely, resourcesful and energetic. I know you could join me in loading praise on every single one of the candidates for the fine things they achieved.

But there’s another lesson to be learned this season. It’s that to succeed in your career today, you have to learn to work with everyone around you. Do you have to love everyone? No, and they don’t have to love you. It might be business and it might be tough. But face facts. Aren't we all in it together?