Tweet

The Apprentice - Idiots, Stalkers and Automobiles

Written by: Andrew Rondeau

Article Overview: Be warned – this posting reveals who has been ‘fired’ from the tenth episode and the rest of the post is only my observation and opinion based upon 60 minutes of edited TV, nothing more.

The Apprentice - Idiots, Stalkers and Automobiles

This week’s task was definitely one for the boys, wasn’t it?

It that why Michael hated it and Claire loved it?

The task was simply “hire out 2 super-cars” – the team who brings in the most money wins.

Team Leaders this week were Lee and Michael. One had to be Michael as he practically begged Sir Alan Sugar (SAS) to let him prove himself.

Well this task did not bring out the best in Michael.

One, he hated cars.

Two, he was tired.

Three, he had enough – he had given up.

Four, he thinks he is a ‘natural born salesman’ (his words) – he is not.

So where would you pitch your car to hire out at extortionate rates?

Somewhere there are many boys with lots of money.

What about Harrods?

No, don’t be stupid!

Well that is where Michael first went and he asked a bunch of 15-year-old kids if they wanted to hire a super-car.

Sums Michael up really, doesn’t it.

Then to make it even worse, if that is possible, Michael’s second pitch was a fruit and veg market.

Lovely jubbly.

This was where Michael follows a customer prospect around the streets begging him to hire the Ferrari.

It was truly embarrassing.

What I didn’t understand is why didn’t they pitch both cars together, next to each other.

Then we had Lee’s team. They did pitch one of their super-cars in the Banking world of London, where they had many admirers. But Lee had picked the most expensive super-car to hire out at £2750 per day.

My first car was £50 and I owned it!

Now let us talk about Lucinda.

Some weeks I love Lucinda and others I think she is useless. This week was one of them when I thought ‘useless’.

She cannot sell.

She cannot do technology.

However, she is a good caring manager.

Only today, I saw a newspaper headline ‘Happiness is kind boss’.

A caring boss is more likely to make workers happy than big salaries.

But being a caring boss is not enough for SAS. I think he wants a rough ‘all rounder’. Someone who can manage, someone who can sell, someone who can build relationships and someone who can communicate.

SAS will then take that rough ‘all rounder’ and mould them into shape.

I do not think Lucinda is a rough ‘all rounder’. I hope I am wrong because as I say I do like her, she has had a lot of stick and criticism from some of the other apprentices and she has bounced back. If Lucinda won, I would be happy but I do not think she will.

Who else shall we talk about?

Lee.

Another one I love and hate.

I love his passion, his attitude, his hard work.

I hate his stupid outbursts and silly ‘motivational’ noises.

“THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT”

Shut-up, PLEASE.

This week one mistake which I thought Lee made which I didn’t see SAS pick up on – Lee’s sales technique.

Lee basically said to a prospect “Go-on hire this car. Make MY day”.

“MY day”!

As a customer, I do not care about making YOUR day. I am thinking what is in this for me, not you.

When selling you must paint the picture of the benefit for the customer not yourself.

So I now would like to talk about Claire.

Claire is listening to feedback and changing accordingly. This week she was a star. A selling star. SAS notices the effort and change in people over the weeks and this puts Claire in the front seat to win The Apprentice.

I have to hand it to Claire, she is good. She is determined. She is a good rough ‘all rounder’.

Helena – not worth talking about – she’s going in the next episode.

So who went this week. It had to be Michael. He had nothing left. He had given his all.

Back in week 6, I gave my opinion of who could win:

Claire – strong, driven, creative, decision maker

Raef – respected, charismatic, confident, great talker

Lee – confident, easily builds relationships, gets things done

Claire and Lee are still there.

I really don’t think Helena will.

I would love to see Lucinda win but I don’t think she will.

All three previous winners have been like Alex. Quiet, produces results when required and good at building relationships.

Will SAS appoint a different type this year? I think so and that is why I do not think Alex will win.

Therefore, that leaves Lee and Claire for me. Both excellent rough ‘all rounders’.

Is the winner Claire?

Or is the winner Lee?

If I were forced, I would pick Claire to win. The biggest change in an individual over the past few weeks and SAS likes that.

Who do you think will win?

Related Articles
  Is My Boss an Idiot? Clues you may have an IDIOT for a boss...
  The First Apprentice: Great Managers Work For the Team
  TP's "CEOs are Idiots20"
  I'm Sorry!
  A New Year's Observation

Article Tags: admirers, born salesman, boss, cars, ferrari, first car, happiness, harrods, london, lots of money, lucinda, newspaper headline, salaries, sas, sir alan sugar, sums, team leaders



Related Forum Posts
New Guy Here - Automobile Industry - Hi Everyone, My name is Ray and I work as a sales trainer in the automobile industry. I have just completed a new training curriculum for automobile salespeople in the industry. It is called The Baby Steps of Selling Automobiles. I am beginning my marketing efforts through press releases and seminar formats. I joined the community due to my continued desire to work independently creating my own happiness and growth. Thank you for having me and I look forward to more correspondence in the future.
The "Young" Apprentice - I think a cool new idea for "The Apprentice" would be to have all young contestants, rather than just selling sex (e.g. Season 6 in Los Angeles) or using celebrities for ratings. Maybe every applicant for the show would have to be between the ages of 15 to 18 or 18 to 22, since there've been seasons where younger contestants have been stereotyped and discriminated against for their age and limited business inexperience (e.g. Lee Bienstock in Season 5). So why not make the stomping ground fair? Why not have an Apprentice Season where only talented youngsters fight over a job with Trump? I mean, it gets kind of boring hearing the contestants say "I'm older and have more business experience than so and so.... and that's the reason you should hire me Mr. Trump." That's a ridiculous argument because many youths are smarter and more successful than people even twice their age.
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.
Re: Stopping Drive-by Spam - [quote="Trent Brownrigg":uara8jjj] In the time it takes them to do half this stuff they could have actually posted a legitimate reply. Idiots![/quote:uara8jjj] Hahaha... exactly! If only they could somehow redirect all of that negative and wasted work into something productive that will actually help them to achieve what they want. I guess they'll just never learn.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Severance and Separation Agreements

The Importance of Master Data Management (MDM)

Emotional Energy is Our Engine

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.