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Business Rule #12:
Stay True to Your Vision
November 25, 2004
Excellent Thanksgiving Day episode of The Apprentice! I’ve been waiting for an episode like this one all season long, an episode where you can see real strengths and weaknesses. Here was an episode that clearly showed off true leadership skills and team productivity.
Donald Trump’s piece of advice at the beginning of the show was both solid and timely. Trump made the point that a good leader doesn’t try to be everyone’s friend—for the leader who does so will surely fail. I’ve written many times that success is not a group effort; it takes a single undeterred vision to make it happen. Comedic legend Phyllis Diller once said, “If everyone loves you, then you are definitely doing something wrong.” I’m hated, because I choose to get up and make things happen—my way. My employees hate me when I’m feeling especially tyrannical in closing a deal. People outside my company dislike me because I’m able to do things the way I please, and they can’t. I don’t let it bother me. Remember, even negative publicity is still publicity.
Sandy Ferreira, I really didn’t know that you had it in you! You stood up and fought like hell in that boardroom! You listened to what people were saying; you absorbed it all; and you used that information to pummel Andy Litinsky into the ground. Survival of the fittest—that’s what this competition is all about. She fought and never became emotional; she simply sucked in useful information and controlled the situation. She’s a fighter and that fight in her will serve her well.
Jennifer Massey, you also fought like a wildcat, but I’m beginning to suspect that your ways are catching up to you. We’re able to see the cracks in your armor, and that’s not good. You should have seen how dumb that bottle idea was and come up with something else! After all, this team was your new home after Apex unceremoniously dumped you. You should have come in determined to exceed expectations. You should have put your former team to shame.
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Poor Andy, what happened to you? You did so many things wrong here that the beating you took in the boardroom was the least of your concerns. Did anyone else cringe at the sight of Andy “tipping” the Pepsico people $100? That really smacks of someone with a great education and a complete lack of any real world experience. That little “incentive” was completely demeaning and perhaps even a bit demoralizing. It’s not a professional thing to do at all.
Kelly Perdew is now officially “The Man.” The military approach he employs with his “It’s my way or the highway” attitude is the way to go. I’ve often advised business people to use the very techniques that he does. You must stand your ground when you know you’re right. Kelly wouldn’t rest until he got that hole cut into their Pepsi Edge bottle, and his determination paid off. That’s the great thing about having vision: when you see it, you can achieve it. Kelly certainly had the formula to success in his mind and he translated that effectively to his team and creative staff. His dedication to his vision was inspiring to behold.
It didn’t take all day for Kelly to come up with his idea either. He did something amazing here: he entertained the input of each team member and offered criticism on what he thought worked and what didn’t. That was fantastic. His final decisions were well thought out and commanded the respect of his teammates. They never doubted him once. Once you have a great idea, you have to act on it—and Kelly did exactly that.
I especially loved it when Ivana Ma said that she felt as if something was wrong, as if they had forgotten something. She is so used to running on all cylinders right up until the bitter end, that being fully prepared and ready to go felt awkward to her. There are a lot of people who go into business with that mentality. They feel that if a decision comes quickly, sounds good, and works on paper, then something must be “wrong” or missing. Well, something is wrong: you’re not out accomplishing your goal! Get the product on the shelf, get the idea out to investors, call that lawyer, and get that marketable thought or item patented!
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You must stand your ground when you know you’re right.
