This Week: Lessons from the Best Losers

In the days since the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice, Blogs and articles have been buzzing about whether Annie Duke or Joan Rivers really deserved to win. There is much to be said about that question, to be sure. But I would like to make some observations about something else entirely today, by analyzing why some of the strongest candidates did not win.

Case Study One: Brande Roderick
Brande was a terrific candidate at the start of the season. In the very first task, she parked her team’s truck right in front of Playboy’s New York headquarters so that her colleagues there could come out to buy her team’s cookies. But in the weeks that followed, Brande rarely sought the spotlight. She seemed content to avoid the critical role of project manager. Finally, when she came under attack from Piers Morgan two weeks ago, she bared her teeth and showed some strength that she had been hiding inside.

Through the season, it was almost as though Brande was buying into the stereotype that Joan Rivers and Piers Morgan ascribed to her - that she was a just a ditzy blonde, not a smart and capable woman.

My advice to you, if you want to succeed, is to be sure that you are not knuckling under and agreeing to be stereotyped by other people. Look at me. Early in my years after coming to the States, American businesspeople could have written me off as another Brit who was ill-equipped to cut it in American business. But I didn’t let that happen. I outsold them, outmaneuvered them, become Donald Trump’s Apprentice, and went on to found WaveSys, a multimillion-dollar international enterprise.

Remember, you are not a stereotype! You are not just a pretty young woman, or a member of a minority or a particular religion, or a gay man or a lesbian, or a poker player, or a former football player - or anything else. You are what you are, internally. The more people try to marginalize you, the more you need to step out and show them your unique personal strengths.

Case Study Two: Jesse James
I have to admit that for the first half of this season, I really expected Jesse to win - or to come very close to winning, at the least. He seemed to embody many traits that Mr. Trump values - he was quiet, determined and hardworking. When other candidates were squabbling and acting up, he stood at the sidelines and quietly got his work done.

But then - and this was astonishing - he started acting like a spoiled adolescent when Clint refused to implement his ideas for a magazine layout. That happened very late in the year - in episode 10 in the 12-week season! Suddenly, the steady old Jesse was gone. The new Jesse sulked, swore, and destroyed the whole image of quiet competence that he had built in the first nine weeks of the season. His chances of winning fell away like a house of cards, and he had only himself to blame.

So the lesson is that, in one day, you can easily destroy a career that it took you years to build. One indiscretion, one fit of anger, one unconsidered word is really all it takes. If you are determined to succeed, you need to practice the lost art of self-control.

Case Study Three: Scott Hamilton
You might be wondering how much I could have learned from Scott’s candidacy this season. After all, he got fired in the second episode, long before anyone could really assess his leadership abilities.

Still, there are important lessons to learn from Scott. Despite the fact that he seemed to have all the traits of a leader - he was a proven competitor in his Olympic years, a sympathetic listener, and a very smart man - he made one very big blunder that got him fired. When he felt pushed to the limit because his team would not make a decision about creating an action hero to represent the Zappos brand, Scott made a snap decision and insisted in naming their action hero EEE (for Everything, Everywhere, Everytime). In contrast, the women named their hero Miz Z, which resonated perfectly with the Zappos brand.  

Under pressure, Scott completely blew it. And he got ushered out the door before he had a chance to prove himself. I have seen that happen to many young professionals. In the early years of their careers when they should be making careful decisions, they act impulsively and get fired or mischaracterized as weak performers.

Don’t let that happen to you. In your early career years, be sure to show cool composure, no matter the pressure you are under.

In summary . . .

This was a fascinating season. Some of the losers had great strengths. Some of the finalists had great weaknesses. But perhaps that is a realistic depiction of life in business.

As you navigate your way through the complex terrain of business and build your career, I wish you every success. May you, like Joan, reach the highest levels of success through your intelligence, determination and hard work. 

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