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The First Apprentice: Great Managers Work For the Team

Written by: Donald J. Trump

Article Overview: It's been almost five years since that first season of The Apprentice appeared on television. The first winner was a young man named Bill Rancic, who has gone on to be a best-selling author, a guest advisor on The Apprentice, a public speaker and the host of his own reality show on the A&E Network.

The First Apprentice: Great Managers Work For the Team

It's been almost five years since that first season of The Apprentice appeared on television. The first winner was a young man named Bill Rancic, who has gone on to be a best-selling author, a guest advisor on The Apprentice, a public speaker and the host of his own reality show on the A&E Network.

Bill has done terrifically well since he became a celebrity after winning The Apprentice in 2004. I chose him above the other candidates because I knew he had the intelligence as well as the ability to be a combination of two things: a team player and a leader. He was outstanding in both areas, which is very important when you consider that all of us have to work together while maintaining our individual integrity and interests. Not everyone can find the equilibrium necessary to excel at both.

Shortly after The Apprentice premiered on NBC, it became the #1 rated show and George Steinbrenner had invited me to sit in his box for a Yankees game. Tom Brokaw, the esteemed television journalist and author, was also there and he tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Thanks, Donald, for what you've done for NBC. We really appreciate it." That was a perfect example of team spirit. He saw the success of my show as a success for everyone. He may be famous, but he knows his program isn't just about him, just as my program isn't just about me, either. We each have to be individually excellent, but it is also a team effort which will ultimately affect many people.

While we all work towards developing our unique talents and strengths, which is good and necessary, it's also good to keep the big picture in focus. Be a team player and know that approach will affect everyone in the most positive way possible.

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Article Tags: apprentice, bill rancic, public speaker, reality show, television, young man



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Re: The Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 10 - [quote="litekepr":3ax40azh]I don't agree with Piers just calling his friends to buy things, but in sales you use what you have and he has a contact list. Its a shame they did so many of that sort of projects this season -- I don't think it added to the show in any real way. Maybe one or two weeks that would've been fun to watch - but not this often.[/quote:3ax40azh] Hi Shri, I agree with you that we can't fault Piers for using his connections to win, but I think this week's episode would've been so much better had they not been allowed to invite their contacts to purchase art. The Celebrity Apprentice contestants should've been restricted to only sell to people who randomly visited the gallery on that night (just like in the 1st season of "The Apprentice").
Re: The Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 5 - [quote="Tami Szabo":214vsguq]Vinny really shot himself in the foot by resigning and then saying something about Piers being a stronger leader. Really, this is about finding the best leader and Vinny just confessed he didn't think he was. He didn't really leave Donald Trump much room to fire Piers after that statement. On the bright side, I was very impressed with Carol as a leader. She is someone I would definitely want to work with. She was respectful of her team and seemed to really utilize the talents of each. I have to say she shone! I haven't watch The Apprentice in the past so it's great to see some "nice girl" do well after some of the previous episodes where nice girls got sent home without necessarily showing their true talents.[/quote:214vsguq] I think the major difference between this season of "The Apprentice" and the previous ones is the fact that Trump isn't looking for the best leader or person to hire. Being the winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" is simply about doing whatever it takes to win the most amount of money for your respective charity (i.e. the last person standing has the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to his/her designated charity). It's all about following the show, "Survivor's" tagline of "outwit, outplay and outlast" and that's why Piers is a strong contender.


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