Donald Trump and executive producer Mark Burnett have a hit on their hands:
"The Apprentice." This NBC reality series plays rather like Burnett's old CBS hit
"Survivor"-- except that the contestants split up into teams face the challenges
of the business world, rather those of untamed wilderness. If they fail, instead
of being "voted off," they are fired by Trump, who brings his years of business
experience to bear on the strategies of the newcomers.
"The Apprentice." This NBC reality series plays rather like Burnett's old CBS hit
"Survivor"-- except that the contestants split up into teams face the challenges
of the business world, rather those of untamed wilderness. If they fail, instead
of being "voted off," they are fired by Trump, who brings his years of business
experience to bear on the strategies of the newcomers.
Those who noted the silliness of "Survivor"'s various incarnations will note
some of the same flair for melodrama here. And Trump's hairstyle is as
shudder-provoking as some of the infamous highlights of "Survivor," like the
contestants' drinking of cow's blood. Despite all the goofiness, the show's 20
million viewers also get a lesson in fundamental business principles-- more
people, in fact, will draw valuable lessons from the show than from business
school. The trappings of popular TV shows like "Survivor" provide a palatable
packaging of principles of finance and leadership for the TV-watching masses.
some of the same flair for melodrama here. And Trump's hairstyle is as
shudder-provoking as some of the infamous highlights of "Survivor," like the
contestants' drinking of cow's blood. Despite all the goofiness, the show's 20
million viewers also get a lesson in fundamental business principles-- more
people, in fact, will draw valuable lessons from the show than from business
school. The trappings of popular TV shows like "Survivor" provide a palatable
packaging of principles of finance and leadership for the TV-watching masses.
What kind of lessons do viewers learn?
1. Sex sells, of course, and several of the female contestants have learned this
rather quickly.
rather quickly.
2. Results count; this sounds self-evident, but it takes failures of the sort
witnessed on the show for the supreme importance of this idea to really sink
in. In the private sector, one bears one's own costs; and it will be quickly
apparent if one's achievements are inadequate.
witnessed on the show for the supreme importance of this idea to really sink
in. In the private sector, one bears one's own costs; and it will be quickly
apparent if one's achievements are inadequate.
Lessons like these are vitally important in a nation like America, since the goal
of personal success constitutes a major part of the nation's history and
founding ideals. America is a country of immigrants. Millions of people around
the world have dreamed about moving to the United States to achieve the
"American Dream"--to start over, work hard and achieve a life of success. The
very basic foundation of America comes from the Protestant work ethic
brought by Pilgrims in the 16th century. Prosecuted for their religious beliefs,
they moved to the New World in search of a better life. In the span of only a
of personal success constitutes a major part of the nation's history and
founding ideals. America is a country of immigrants. Millions of people around
the world have dreamed about moving to the United States to achieve the
"American Dream"--to start over, work hard and achieve a life of success. The
very basic foundation of America comes from the Protestant work ethic
brought by Pilgrims in the 16th century. Prosecuted for their religious beliefs,
they moved to the New World in search of a better life. In the span of only a
couple hundred years, America underwent a major transformation from being
the colony of the British empire whose "sun never sets" to an influential,
wealthy nation of its own.
the colony of the British empire whose "sun never sets" to an influential,
wealthy nation of its own.
It was American dollars and common sense that have made America rise from
its status as a relatively new country. Business has always been the essence
and core of America's intrigue to the rest of the world-- the means to produce
a comfortable living in a land of boundless opportunity, regardless of personal
background. Andrew Carnegie, one of the nation's richest entrepreneurs, was
an immigrant from Scotland and started working in a textile mill as a boy in the
dawn of the industrial revolution. He later founded US Steel, the largest
steelmaker in the nation to this day.
its status as a relatively new country. Business has always been the essence
and core of America's intrigue to the rest of the world-- the means to produce
a comfortable living in a land of boundless opportunity, regardless of personal
background. Andrew Carnegie, one of the nation's richest entrepreneurs, was
an immigrant from Scotland and started working in a textile mill as a boy in the
dawn of the industrial revolution. He later founded US Steel, the largest
steelmaker in the nation to this day.
Many like him have done the same and moved up through the ranks to
become highly successful. "The Apprentice" gives us one of the foremost
modern-day examples: Donald Trump, who got his start in his father's real
estate business and quickly moved up from there. A decade ago, he found
himself in huge debt but managed to come back bigger and better than ever
before. The unrelenting drive to succeed and to maintain that success
especially in times of trouble is now dramatized in his own show.
become highly successful. "The Apprentice" gives us one of the foremost
modern-day examples: Donald Trump, who got his start in his father's real
estate business and quickly moved up from there. A decade ago, he found
himself in huge debt but managed to come back bigger and better than ever
before. The unrelenting drive to succeed and to maintain that success
especially in times of trouble is now dramatized in his own show.
3. Finally, "The Apprentice" fulfills the vital task of promoting
entrepreneurship in women and minorities. Contestants like Amy Henry and
the African-American Kwame Jackson provide positive examples with their
ambition and intelligence. In these days, when so many college humanities
departments teach students, minority or otherwise, to view
themselves as victims of capitalism rather than its potential masters, "The
Apprentice" provides encouraging and empowering ideas and information for
the masses of people on their way to the top. While one can get a more in-
depth training at business school, "The Apprentice," whose teams feature
"street entrepreneurs" as well as contestants with college educations,
demonstrates in an entertaining and accessible fashion that even without
technical study, holding the right values can get one far in life.
entrepreneurship in women and minorities. Contestants like Amy Henry and
the African-American Kwame Jackson provide positive examples with their
ambition and intelligence. In these days, when so many college humanities
departments teach students, minority or otherwise, to view
themselves as victims of capitalism rather than its potential masters, "The
Apprentice" provides encouraging and empowering ideas and information for
the masses of people on their way to the top. While one can get a more in-
depth training at business school, "The Apprentice," whose teams feature
"street entrepreneurs" as well as contestants with college educations,
demonstrates in an entertaining and accessible fashion that even without
technical study, holding the right values can get one far in life.
