The Apprentice: Weekly Performance Review, Episode 5 – A Reshuffled Deck Deals a Bad Hand

When I heard about the teams being reshuffled this week, I made the comment that if one team got both Bill and Kristi, the other team would be in trouble. That didn’t happen, although Bill and Nick (who were in agreement on the “Kwame Jackson” incident last week) ended up on the same team. Omarosa was separated from both women she had fought with previously, Ereka and Katrina, as well as Amy, who tried to act as peacekeeper. I have to think that Versacorp came away the strongest, but time will tell.

Also, last week I received a tremendous email from Christian Marashio, owner of NetWorkingGirl.com and writer of a blog on sex and dating that is linked on the above site. Be warned, there is some adult content on the site (mostly in written form, as opposed to dirty pictures, you perverts). Among other things, Chris point out that Ereka and Omarosa are in this week’s TV Guide, dressed like sluts on either side of Donald Trump. Kind of goes against the whole speech he gave them in the previous episode about them using sex too much.

New Versacorp

Tammy: You remain the weak link on a strong team, once again showing your ignorance by making your first comment to George Steinbrenner a note about his ring. I liken this to a child, distracted by the bright lights and shiny sparkly things. You obviously have no idea what it means to be a leader, having disdain for Nick’s leadership (which I’ll get to in a bit). The only reason that you haven’t been considered for firing is that your team has won every time, through no contribution of yours. You need to show some ability, or your team’s first loss will be your last.

Ereka: As with Tammy, your saving grace has been that you were on a good team, and you have yet to contribute in any meaningful way. But often you seem like an emotional trainwreck, and not terribly confident. Your current non-performance might keep you around a while, letting others who made grand mistakes go first. But it will never win the job.

Katrina: I think you did a better job this week than last, but that’s only because you are a better follower than a leader. Not an aspect that bodes well for your chances.

Amy: You’ve come a long way since my initial disdain of your original pride in your dot-com investing. You’ve shown that you have a good head for business, and Nick was smart to include you in the decision-making process.

Bill: Once again you prove yourself a valuable asset, as you sought out Troy to apologize and mend fences over the “Kwame Jackson” incident. What’s done is done, and since you both survived it, it’s time to put it behind you. You also were the first one to realize that, with the bad weather and limited customers, the rules had changed. You had to settle for lower margin to sell a maximum amount, rather than raising prices and pricing yourself out of the game. Whether it’s bailing rainwater off your tent or selling furiously in the background, you’re always doing something. I can’t wait to see you as Project Manager.

Nick: Last week, I told you, “make a big splash this week, and you’re golden.” Guess what? You’re golden. Trump was obviously impressed that you grabbed the bull by the horns and brought home a victory.

Unlike some others (Tammy, for one), I don’t think you were too weak in your decision making. On the contrary, I thought it was important to earn the respect of your new team. Your four new teammates might not have liked taking orders from someone whose previous team had lost four times in succession, so it was important to let them know how much you valued their input, whether you know anything about ribbons or not. But once you got their advice, you made the decision. Is it any wonder why the whole team gushed about your leadership skills?