Business Lessons from Celebrity Apprentice (Ep 12)

I loved the interviews as part of the narrowing down process in the first few seasons of The Apprentice. I think the last couple of seasons they moved away from that, but now they brought it back. Considering that none of these people will actually be working for Trump, this time it seems kind of superfluous. What’s the point? Let’s get back to the game… and the lessons!

Business Lesson One: The quality of the team can make or break your success.

The team you put in place is just as important as the leadership at the top. When choosing who will or won’t work for you, it’s so important that you get people who are on your side, desire success just as badly as you do and are willing to do what it takes to achieve it.

I was absolutely shocked that Trace’s first pick was Lennox Lewis. The decision to pick him stemmed solely that Lennox and Pierce work well together. Sorry, that’s not a good enough reason. Lennox has been a poor contributor throughout the season and as a leader he’s been less than inspiring. When it comes down to it, I’m not confident that Lennox can step up. Pierce didn’t need him and Trace certainly didn’t either.

All said and done, I think Pierce got the team that Trace should have had. Trace, Baldwin and Carol Alt (who would have been my first pick) would have made a fantastic team. Trace had first pick and he throws that away. It’s a shame.

Business Lesson Two: Fuss over, but don’t fuss about, the details.

Details are everything. There are very few tasks that are not won or lost over the smallest of details. A small decision here, or missing something there, can make a world of difference in business. It’s important then to pay attention to the details, fuss over them, make sure you get them right when they matter.

But don’t fuss about them. If it’s a small matter then don’t get all worked up and certainly don’t put it off. Trace made a mistake, I think, fussing about the boy-band’s dressing room needs. How difficult would it have been to get all the stuff they requested? Not too much, I would assume. But by putting it off, wanting to talk to the band about the necessity of it all is not only a waste of time but you run the risk of pissing off “the talent”. This certainly isn’t worth Trace’s time as a PM or in the grand scale of the task.

Business Lesson Three: Sometimes it just ain’t right.

Carol Alt’s firing off Celebrity Apprentice was the single most unjustified firing I’ve seen on the show. And not just this season either. If there was ever a person deserving to make it to the next round it was Carol. For Trump to fire her simply because he wanted to see Trace and Pierce go head to head was pathetic and lame. They had no great rivalry. They had no burning animosity. They are simply just two different personality types.

Carol was robbed. That’s not how the game is supposed to be played. But it is what it is and life goes on.