The Apprentice 3 Weekly Performance Review, Episode 5: They Can't Even Fail Creatively

Alex and Kendra: I'm so ready to get rid of the excess people so that we can actually SEE some of the other contestants from week to week.

Erin: Whatever will you do next week, now that Michael is gone? You did a good job of going out and selling, but I attribute that more to your looks than any appreciable skill. Trump said it best when he said you "give good lines of crap." You talk a lot, but don't say or do anything.

Stephanie: Whether or not it brought your team down, you were incredibly negative during the task. The worst part is, you didn't have any better ideas. You didn't come up with a good idea for the trailer, you didn't tell Bren about your problem with getting the food until after it was done. You didn't think someone with a business would help "a competitor." Who did you THINK would help them with the massages? Did you expect to give the massages yourself? Back to the Burger King task, you just sat back and let Danny run all over you with the marketing. I gave you the benefit of the doubt back then, but this has become a trend. If you're going to argue, for pity's sake, have an alternative! One thing that pisses managers off to no end is someone who complains but doesn't offer any other suggestions. Welcome to the bubble. Ask Michael how he enjoyed it.

As for your problem with massage services in the mall, I've used them, and I know many others who have. Dropping into the store for a ten minute massage while Christmas shopping? Ooh, nothing better.

Bren: You're right, the reason your team lost was due to a lack of creativity. You guys might have done better setting up in front of a busy shopping area. Or, depending on the guidelines of the task, started out in a busy business locale like Wall Street, and then moved to a shopping center after the work day. Or considering how late some badly-stressed executives work, you may not have had to move. How about sparing someone who was standing around yelling for no good reason, and having them go into some of the businesses, offering a volume discount for showing employee ID's, one day only? I came up with a couple of ideas from two minutes of thinking - you couldn't think of anything after a day?

That said, I don't think you were a bad leader. You got the team behind you and almost pulled off the win. You were quick to take advice, especially from Marie, the masseuse you hired. You played well with others, and when Stephanie complained, you fired back with rational arguments. And you didn't pull punches in the boardroom. I think you impressed Trump by admitting that the team needs help, and being willing to accept help from some people from Net Worth. You don't want to solve the problem all by yourself, you wanted to get the right resources. That's a mark of a quality leader. My problem with you is that you need to find better ideas. Massages and cucumber pornos just won't cut it. On the plus side of that, you KNOW your weakness and want to fix it.

Michael: Here's what I said last week: I really don't see the point in wasting my time giving you advice. You're on borrowed time after last week, no doubt about it. Eventually, a boardroom will come where there's no one that REALLY messed up, and your number will be up.

It just happened quicker than I thought. It doesn't speak very highly for you that Stephanie did horribly, yet you were the one to go. Either way, bye. Maybe now (not counting Stephanie, because she's the new dead person walking) we've gotten rid of most of the dead weight and can actually see some management and business principles put to use. Don't hold your breath.

Mike DeGeorge has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, and has almost ten years of management experience. He is also Associate Editor of RNO. Email Mike at mikmaria@charter.net.

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