This Week: Don't Neglect Your Reputation

When people start their careers, they don’t have many assets working for them, apart from their appearance, attitude and possibly their education. After they start to work, they begin to build their greatest asset.

You might think that I am referring to experience, but I am not. Because the greatest asset of all is your reputation. It sees you through hard times and saves you when blame is flying around. It is also your most important asset if you are looking for a job. Your experience counts then, true, but not as much as your reputation does. When many people are saying positive things about you, you enjoy a tremendous advantage over others.

So, why am I starting my commentary this week with such a philosophical discourse? Here is the reason:

Only a few of this season’s candidates are building good reputations

Let me share some observations on what the celebrities are doing . . .

Reputation depends on staying true to your word. I was surprised this week when Brian said that he wanted to leave the show - in essence, give up on a commitment that he had made to Donald Trump. Compare that to the action taken by Natalie last week. Mr. Trump asked her if she would like to quit the show so she could go compete in a golf tournament and make more money than she was earning on the show. To her credit, Natalie answered, “I gave you my word that I would do this.” So that is the difference right there. You either honor your commitments or you don’t. Even in today’s rather cutthroat world of business, you word should still be your bond. That is one reason why Natalie is still very much in the running to win this season, despite her youth and thin business background. She does what she says she will do, and that alone puts her ahead of older, more seasoned competitors.

Reputation depends on a good work ethic. Now, the expression “work ethic” sounds a little dated. But it isn’t. Look at Jesse’s performance this week. At one point, he actually had to get out of a car, go into a portable toilet, and throw up. Later in the boardroom, we learned that he had been throwing up often during the course of the competition this week, but that he had worked hard anyway so he would not let his team down. Compare that to the performance of Dennis Rodman a few weeks ago, when he drank too much and then hid in his room with a hangover. Who do you think Mr. Trump would prefer to hire, Jesse or Dennis? So you see, the concept of a work ethic is not so dated after all.

Reputation depends on your ability to deliver. As project manager this week, Brian did a pretty good job of assigning tasks to his team. But then he sat back and relaxed while his people failed to perform. He didn’t supervise work to make sure it was getting done. As a result, a team of carpenters in Brooklyn spent hours waiting for his team’s designs to arrive. So remember that great ideas are nice, but results are much more important as you climb toward success. Potential only counts for so much.

Reputation can’t be built by playing favorites. Every time anyone looks crosswise at Melissa Rivers, her mother Joan goes on the warpath. I wonder if Joan realizes how much harm that is causing to herself and to her daughter. Joan’s own reputation is suffering, and so is Melissa’s. In fact, I sincerely wonder whether Melissa could win this season at this point, simply because her mother has diluted her reputation as someone who has the substance to go it alone.

I was interested to see next week’s task begin midway through this week’s episode. It is the kind of task that really teaches a lot - a simple auction of jewelry selected from Ivanka Trump’s boutique. It will afford the remaining eight candidates a chance to show off their merchandising, marketing and networking skills. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. We are approaching the season’s end game now, and that is when the real leaders begin to distinguish themselves.
 

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